One of the services that CTLS offers to our member libraries is access to and use of more than 4,000 Large Print titles. The circulation of large print books within central Texas increases the variety of reading materials available to your visually impaired patrons. CTLS will send you a collection of our Large Print books to house in your library. There are two Large Print collection options and you may choose both:
Deposit Collection – a collection of books published before 2007. Sixty-five CTLS member libraries currently have Deposit collections. We have plenty of books, so you may ask for as many books as you can house, and you can keep them as long as you like. Some of our member libraries are putting deposit collections in local retirement homes or senior centers. This is a great way of making your library visible in the community! Most libraries decide it is time to exchange deposit collections after having them for a little less than a year.
Circuit Collection – a collection of 50 newer books published after 2007. Currently fifty-one CTLS member libraries participate in the Circuit. Your library will keep a circuit collection for four months and then rotates them to a partner library. As we purchase new Large Print books, we send them out to our members with circuit collections to replace older books.
Large Print FAQ:
- Does this cost anything? No! CTLS houses the collection and purchases new Large Print books. Also, large print is considered matter for the blind and is able to be shipped via the United States Postal Service for FREE!
- What genres are in the collection? The genres we have are General Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Horror, Non-Fiction, and Western. We just recently obtained a lot more Fantasy and a little Science Fiction, which we haven’t had much of before.
- What are Large Print Statistics? We ask that our member libraries report the circulation numbers for any CTLS Large Print books (deposit and circuit) at the end of each month. We turn these in to the State Library. This tells them that the program is being utilized and is worth funding! This is very important.
- Who is my partner library? Contact Katelyn Patterson at the CTLS office. She will assign you a partner library if you are interested in participating in the Circuit.
- When does the Circuit rotate? Rotation always takes place on the first Friday of the month of Rotation. So for Fiscal Year 2011 the rotation dates are September 3rd, January 7th, and May 6th.
- How do I get started? Contact Katelyn Patterson at the CTLS office: 512-583-0704 or 1-800-262-4431.
- How do I boost Large Print circulation? Katelyn suggests taking a look at this guide from Thorndike for best practices.