Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: acknowledgement of the work on Thomas Luxton as foundation president, having a stand at the Royal Melbourne Show, acknowledgement of Joan Cunnington for working 50 years as a transcribing and producing the most volumes (789) of any transcriber, display of a thermoform map designed by 2nd year Architecture students of the Melbourne University campus, Sir Paul Hasluck winning the Braille Book of the Year award, first edition of Library Talk audio magazine, congratulations from the Federation of Blind Citizens on providing 2 track cassettes, retirement of Alice McClelland and Geoffrey Wilson, and a delegate attending the Australian and New Zealand Association of Teachers of the Visually Handicapped conference,1 volume of illustrations and textbraille and talking book library, annual reports

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: celebration of Alice McClelland's 88th birthday (and 58th year at the library), the first time a book of poetry has won the Braille Book of the Year award, movement of 30,000 Braille volumes into Braille Hall due to the need to expand the audio collection, increased government funding as restrictions on lending to visually impaired are extending to those with physical or perceptive inabilities to read standard print, report identifying the need for more audio production facilities and possibility of establishing more studios in Geelong, retirement of E. Webb, C. Griffin, Elizabeth Fraser, Ray Hannah, Dudley Sherlock and appointment of Norma Brumley, David Hume, Dr Simon Haskell and David Blyth.1 volume of text and illustrationsbraille and talking book library, annual report

APH began producing it's own line of products to satisfy it's clients, outsourcing the manufacturer to overseas companies. This talking book machine, had an optional carry case, and dials to control tone, volume, speed, front buttons to record, rewind, forward, play, and stop tape. Playing both 2 and 4 track tapes, it also had Braille signs next to some of the buttons.Plastic rectangular light brown audio player with buttons for navigational controls, power cord, outlets for ear or head phones and black vinyl protective zip up cover Model no. 3-5194A.audio equipment, royal victorian institute for the blind

These minutes contain information on attendees, meeting chairs, apologies, matters arising out of minutes, correspondence, subscriptions, donations and general business. Reports are also included from Honorary Treasurer, Finance, Corporate Services, Accommodation Services, Rehabilitation, Library Services, Marketing, Mitchell Manufacturing, Administration Support, Information Technology and Personnel. 6/9/1993 The General Manager reported on the Strategic Overview and Implementation Plan. The core services would be Library Services, Rehabilitation Services and Technology Services. RBS would withdraw from providing Mobility Services and Talking Magazines unless by contract. In both cases there was existing services of a comparable standard and hence clients would not be adversely affected. RBS reduce its staff by 38 positions. 25/11/1996 Council members agreed that the Library Services Department be merged into the Information Technology Services Department. 28/1/1997 The CEO stated an opportunity for RBS to become a member of an international consortium known as DAISY (Digital Accessible Information SYtem). Whose main goal is establish a World Standard Digital Talking Book System for people who are blind and vision impaired. 1/4/1997 it was reported there are now 6 agencies including RBS comprising the Australia & New Zealand Group, as member of the DAISY consortium. Council approved that the CEO attend the first meeting of the Consortium on April 18-20. 1 volume of printed sheets glued to pagesroyal blind society of nsw, audio books

These meetings were held at the Kooyong office and the minutes include Present, Chair, Apologies, Minutes, Matter arising from minutes, Correspondence, Life governors, Election of nominees, Nominations, Reports from Finance, Welfare, Brighton, Ballarat, Kooyong, Regional Centres, Nursing homes, Blind Members' auxiliary, Social activities, General business, Guest speakers. The AFB Blind Members' Council Annual Reports are also included beginning with June 30th 1977. Some highlights include: 25/5/1976 it was reported that the newly formed Tandem Bicycle Club would be holding their meetings at Kooyong the first Sunday of each month. 30/6/1978 it was reported that in April the Kooyong complex of buildings was named H.M. Lightfoot Centre after the immediate past President of AFB. The Council has been successful in having included in the learner driver book of road rules a question on the significance of the white cane. 30/7/1979 The Chairman, Mr Sitlington, represented Blind Members at the opening of the Ballarat Day Centre, Kelaston, in April. 30/6/1980 it was reported that the BMC welcomed 119 new members during the past twelve months. The Chairman, Mr Sitlington, represented Blind Members at the opening of the new George Vowell Nursing Home and Day Centre. 20/2/1981 a letter from the Chairman of VicRail, Mr Reiher, giving assurance that audio announcements will still be made in conjunction with the computer board. Minute book for Blind Members Councilassociation for the blind, blind members council

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: the launch of 'In charge of the mess' cookbook with the Gas & Fuel Corporation of Victoria, fundraising cocktail party at 'Onions' restaurant (opposite the Library), Life Governor's Certificate to Edward Webb, production of Braille VFL and Cricket fixtures, subsidy of 33.33% on production of Braille and audio books, doubling of qualified librarians, continued increase in loans, retirement of staff members Elsa Wiltshire and Charlotte Riley, and committee members Norma Brumley and Dr John Foster, and appointment of Barbara Johnson and John Cockayne.1 volume of text and illustrationsbraille and talking book library, annual report

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: CEP (Community Employment Programs) allowed for duplication of master tapes for storage off-site and development of computer catalogue records, budget estimate requires raising $600,000 in funds which has resulted in 1987 facing serious financial challenges, negotiations with RVIB broken down as print-handicapped philosophy not shared, Braille Book of the Year judges (Joyce Nicholson, Barrett Reid and Stephen Murray-Smith) shortlisted titles for readers to vote upon (John Bryson, Evil Angels) and best narrator (The Bathurst) went to Sean Myers, organisational restructure, resignation of Barbara Johnston and David Blyth, appointment of Jill Keeffe, new borrowers now waiting 11 months to receive first book due to limited staffing levels, bright orange cassette containers introduced (replacing pouches), Otari duplicating system first year in use, 'In Future' and 'Australian Geographic' began, 45 audio magazines including 1 Greek and 3 Italian now circulating, Braille Reading Marathon held, large print collection expanded due to Fitzroy Public Library discarding stock, Versapoint embosser purchased and link with Royal Society for the Blind in South Australia through Braille book catalogue.1 volume of text and illustrationsbraille and talking book library, annual report

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: consultants used to streamline structure to reduce costs, take advantage of computer catalogue and resignation of Iris Whittaker and Seija Makinen, legacy from Valmai Jean Grey Bequest, Anne Barca, David Scott and Peter Walsh joined the Board, Braille Book of the Year panel (Joyce Nicholson, Stephen Murray-Smith, Barrett Reid) continue to short list titles for readers to vote on and Australia Council funds production of these titles, increased wait times to 18 months for new borrowers, introduction of computerised Profile matching for readers, full audio rights secured for six titles by LBP Ltd (Louis Braille Productions) and tone indexing introduced on to magazines at beginning of 1988.1 volume of text and illustrationsbraille and talking book library, annual report

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: the continuing financial underfunding by government, Paul Carter joined Literary Panel of Joyce Nicholson and Barrett Reid for Braille Book of the Year shortlist, property purchased opposite library was sold as expected monies did not come through, David Scott appointed and later resigned as Treasurer, Mike Janes has taken appointment, Fred Gaze resigned, Peter Corrigan and Ron McCallum have joined the Board, appointment of Robert de Graauw to audio production, continued fundraising by Benalla Auxiliary, removal of wait list time for borrowers, and only 16 people receiving Clarke & Smith books since movement towards cassette.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual report, braille and talking book library

Articles in the annual report include: official opening of a new library building at Enfield, over 1 million items circulated in the library, passing of Sir Robert Drew and Nola Dekyvere, first production of Il Globo and launched by Prime Minister Bob Hawke, launch of Bookline - a telephone ordering service for talking books and winning the first Australian Audio Book Award for Children's Books for The Clinker narrated by Bill Conn. 1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: launch of Vision Assist service to help people use their remaining sight, providing advice on Olympic and Paralympic accessibility and providing an audio description service to the associated arts festivals, establishment of VocalEyes Productions, became an RTO (Recognised Training Organisation), joining with RVIB library service, launch of JobPhone, and piloting of Braille Week.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

The Talking Book Library of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind is celebrating its 50th anniversary during 1984. This service began in 1934 with 78 rpm records. These were later superceded by 33rpm records which remained in use until 1960. The first cassettes were imported from England and weighed 7 lb. along with the player which weighed 28 lb. These 18 track cassettes usually contained one whole book. In the early 1970's a change was made to smaller cassettes containing 12 hours of recorded material on 6 tracks. The latest system currently being introduced is the Library of Congress 4 Track System utilising cassettes which play for 6 hours and machinery which is adaptable to the conventional 2 track system cassette. The Talking Book Library today provides services to 2500 readers as opposed to only 500 in 1964. The service is free of charge to anyone who is visually handicapped and includes talking books, talking book machines, mail service, servicing of machines at regular intervals and any modifications that may be required. Over 1600 cassettes are handled daily. The library currently holds over 3500 individual titles. Catalogues are available in print, audio and braille format. Once selection is made, borrowers may receive at least 3 books at any one time. Other services include current magazines, foreign language books, newspapers and magazines and regional country newspapers. Many books are recorded at the R.V.I.B. by our volunteer readers while others are bought from similar agencies in Australia and overseas. The department of the R.V.I.B. relies almost entirely on voluntary donations from the public. Other services provided by the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind Community Resources Section, Aids & Equipment Shop, Tertiary Resource Service, Industrial Department, Retired Personnel Allowance, Children's Services, Social Services, Housing Loans, Vocational Development1 digital image of typewritten pageroyal victorian institute for the blind, talking books

The first tape based talking book machine from the late 1950s, produced by Clarke & Smith, that allowed the listener to hear up to 20 hours of recordings. Although bulky (each tape cartridge alone weighed over 2 kgs), the MK1 was the first magnetic, multi-track tape produced and considered quite novel for it's time. The cartridge designed to be played on the Clarke & Smith Model12 Talking Book gramophone was designed to house the pick up mechanism (the phono cartridge which contains the stylus) in the lid, so that visually impaired people could just close the lid to play the record. Initially these players designed to handle only 24 rpm, but soon added 33 rpm and 16 rpm options via the dial located on the left hand corner of the disk base. Directions for using as well as reminders to use on alternating current only are located inside the lid. On the side of the player are two plastic dials: one for turning on and volume, the other for tone.Metal record player housed in a brown wooden carry case, with a speaker grill in the front, two plastic dials on the side and an electric cord extending from the back of the case.Manufactured for Nuffield Talking Book Libraryaudio equipment, clarke and smith

Annual report providing overview of activities and achievements including: launch of the Life Ready program and Big Visions book series, departure of Andrew Moffat as director and Chair, acknowledgement of Dorothy Hamilton's 40 year involvement with AFB/VAF/VA, partnership with ACMI to conduct audio-described tours, expansion of Seeing Eye Dogs in NSW, and held 100K Your Way and Bay of Fires trek fundraising campaigns.1 volume with illustrations providing overview of organisational achievementsvision australia, corporation records, alessandra dimarco, andrew moffat, ron hooton, bill jolley, graeme craig, natalie kaine, sekinda senan, dorothy hamilton, ellie hudson, craig shanahan, matt formston, sam rai, alex lonsdale, jacqui birchall, bill shorten, chris edwards, john barlow, nicola cotton, rolf geerlings, kylie gersch, abi howes, jess mckenzie, ashleigh reeves, koa reeves, jake reeves

Annual report providing overview of activities and achievements including: due to a second year of COVID disruptions 20% of services were delivered by telehealth, launch of "Happy Pants" program for children under 10, audio description services provided for Melbourne Theatre Company streaming of 'As You Like It', Feelix Library now offering Lego Braille Bricks kits to borrowers, partnership with Amazon to connect to VA offices through Alexa, and return of the Bendigo Easter Egg Hunt.1 volume with illustrations providing overview of organisational achievementsvision australia, corporation records, andrew moffat, ron hooton, katie spence, sanjiv rajendran, laura hendrey, gurleen chona, kieran jiwa, jessica gallagher, katie farrell, anthony carbines, nastasia campanella, callum padgett, ellie hudson, michelle percuoco, carly shedden, natalie kaine, rebecca kent, stephanie micallef, tones and i, lina xi, paige coleman, walter mcguire, bec murrell, natasha maclaren jones, tony broun

Annual report providing overview of activities and achievements including: the launch of educational tool Code Jumper, use of Zoom to complete training with people with new Seeing Eye dogs, successful trial of Check In and Chat webinars, successful lobbying with ABC and SBS trialing a 1 year audio description service, and the introduction of Australia's first tactile bank notes. 1 volume with illustrations providing overview of organisational achievementsvision australia, corporation records, nicole migani-roberts, ron hooton, andrew moffat, paul kapeleris, hannah sutherland, gordon gray, david hodgson, nadia mattiazzo, tim boyle, gareth ward, kim rulach, jane bradley, caitlin jung, tony wu, matthew layton, ian edwards, karen wolffe, nemoy malcolm, jenny abela, sybil smith, alimata karimu, june smith, joy nuske, liz chen, mary delahunty, stella glorie, victoria pymm, lindsay boulton, chris edwards, marion dickinson, max schroder, susan diver, ian finlayson, nastasia campanella, tanya savva

Articles in the annual report include: establishment of Vision Assist service to help people use their remaining sight, creation of an Equipment Resource Centre at Enfield, a 1300 number set up to improve access to services, development of JobPhone to listen to employment classifieds in Fairfax newspapers, Talking Newspaper Service in Lismore, Narooma and Manly celebrated their 10th birthdays whilst the 29th title was launched in Lake Macquarie, introduction of an Audio Description Services for arts lovers, operation of several primary and high school aged camps for peer support, beginning of joint venture with RVIB to combine transcription and library services, and being named 'Australia's Best Run Charity' in 1999 by The Australian newspaper.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Oral history recording and transcript of interview of Margaret Fialides by Alan Nuske. Recorded as part of 'The Years Between: an oral history of the RVIB 1866-1991'. Staff recall how they came to be involved with the organisation and changes made during their tenure.1 oral history interview with Margaret Fialidesroyal victorian institute for the blind, allan nuske, margaret fialides, 3rph radio station, library, burwood school, oral history

Oral history interview and partial transcript of David Blyth and Margaret Bull by Alan Nuske. Recorded as part of 'The Years Between: an oral history of the RVIB 1866-1991'. Former students and staff recall their days at RVIB, the impact of what they learned and experienced there, and how the attitudes to blindness and low vision changed over the years. 4 audio recordings of recollections from former RVIB attendeesroyal victorian institute for the blind, allan nuske, david blyth, margaret bull, oral history