Greetings!

From July 9-31, the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center
be testing Virtual Reference Services for the Visually
Impaired using OCLC Question Point Enhanced Software
courtesy of the Illinois State Library and OCLC! With
the enhanced software, we will be able to test service
with audio chat(voice over IP); application sharing;
text-based chat; and co-browsing! We are one of the
first talking book libraries to try this service and
so we are eager to get feedback from our readers and
other librarians! Here is the url for the service if
you would like to look at it:
http://www.mitbc.org/ref.shtml

If possible, we would like to schedule an appointment
during these dates between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to test
the service with you and get your feedback. If you
would be willing to do a 30 minute test with us,
please e-mail me at lbell@...
with 3 possible dates and times: July 9, 10, 14, 16,
17, 21, 22, 23, 24, July 29, 30 between 9 a.m. and 4
p.m. and I will get back to you with a time to set
aside to test the software and service with you. We
appreciate any feedback you could provide! Or, stop
by and just try the service if you want.

Here are some of the questions we hope to answer
during this trial:
Does audio improve the transaction in any way?
Does it work well over dial-up bandwidth?
Is it troublesome to have to download a plug-in to use
the audio ? To use any audio or video application
over the Internet, an individual has to download a
plug-in.
Can audio be effectively used over a dial-up
connection?
Does audio make a difference to a user who is visually
impaired?
What text chat software is accessible for someone
using a screen reader? In an earlier search for
accessible text chat software, not all programs are
accessible or usable for someone using a screen
reader.
With audio capabilities, does the screen reading
software remain important for interaction?
With audio, how is a session recorded – with text, the
chat session can be easily saved for statistical
purposes.
In using audio, does the librarian have to do a lot of
troubleshooting with the patron?
What features of the software are most effective in
serving the visually impaired? Those without vision
impairments?
Thanks in advance,

Lori Bell, Director

Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center

845 Brenkman Dr.

Pekin, IL 61554

(800)426-0709


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