Growing Daisies; streaming daisy audio books through local Dutch public libraries

Growing Daisies; streaming daisy audio books through local Dutch public libraries

It is the ambition of service providers of books in alternative formats, such as Daisy Talking Books, to reach more people who can legally benefit from these special services. At the moment only 12% of the estimated target population is being reached. The goal is to double that number, so that percentage wise the active reach of the special library service is up to the standard of active mainstream library users (25%). Integrating the special Daisy Talking Book service into the mainstream library services is instrumental in accomplishing this. With the establishment of a new library network which is supported by a new library law in the Netherlands, the right conditions for integration seem to be there. A national digital infrastructure for all public libraries to make use of centrally available services such as eBook-lending has been created. This provides an excellent platform to start a Daisy Talking Book service for the print disabled through the local Dutch Public Library. Streaming Daisy titles through your own local library is only the next step on the road to full inclusive library services. Integration with the mainstream eBook service is one of the many challenges still to be faced.