We lived in Houston for 21 years and my husband, who is legally blind, was
able to sign up for the Books-by-Mail program without any charge.  He
didn't use it much, preferring to go to the library by bus.
The $40 charge, as I remember, is for any person who wants a Houston Public
library card (i.e. check out books), but does not live within the city
limits.  It is not a charge for the Books-by-Mail program.

Jean Caswell


At 04:56 PM 6/9/1998 -0400, you wrote:
>Greetings from Tampa,
>
>I've a brief story to tell...
>I run the Books-by-Mail program here at Tampa Public.  We mail books to
>customers who, due to physical disability, cannot come to the
>library.  One of those customers is moving to Texas.  He is a stroke
>victim and cannot speak easily.  He communicates with me via e-mail and
>orders his own books by dialing into our library database.
>
>I contacted the Library Director in the small town in Orange County
>where he will be living.  I was given a litany of reasons why they have no
>comparable service...shortstaffed, not on line, small town, new on
>job...etc.  She had no comment when I mentioned the ADA.
>
>I contacted the Books-by-Mail program at Houston Public Library.  Their
>service costs $40.00 a year (ours is free to our patrons).  I then talked
>to a reference librarian in order to get a web address (of course, as soon
>as I mentioned to word "disabled", he quickly tried to transfer me back to
>Books-by-Mail - who gave me the reference librarian's number in the first
>place!).  So he can dial in and search, but not place reserves (??)
>
>It looks like my customer will be able to have library service after a
>fashion.  It took me 7 phone calls and quite a bit of searching online to
>find it.
>
>My motives for telling you all of this are:
>1.  I'm frustrated (and more than a little angry at the small town
>librarian who refused to help.
>2.  I'd like any advice the group can give me on what my customer can do
>next.
>3.  Anybody out there from Texas with knowledge of this type of service?
>4.  It just helps to vent to like-minded folk sometimes!
>
>(P.S.  I just read Mike Gunde's eloquent response to the Music by Mail
>question and forwarded it to my customer.)
>
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>*  Leigh Johnston Myers            *  Tampa Talking Book Library        *
>*  Library Services Specialist     *  900 Ashley Drive North            *
>*  (813) 273-3609, fax: 273-3641   *  Tampa  Florida  33602-3704        *
>*  [log in to unmask]      *  "That All May Read"               *
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>

=====================================================================
Jean Caswell, Systems Librarian             Voice:  504-549-3954
Southeastern Louisiana University           FAX:    504-549-3995
Sims Memorial Library, SLU 896              E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Hammond LA 70402
=====================================================================