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Page 19 Vol. 67, No. 1, Spring 2003 Mississippi LibrariesWhat’s So Special About…Edited by: Peggy Price, The University of Southern MississippiA Different Kind of Library: Toy Libraryand Technology Learning CenterBy Sara JacksonAssociate ProfessorDivision of Education and PsychologyUSM – Gulf CoastSara.Jackson@usm.eduToy Library and Technology LearningCenter (TLC), located on The Universityof Southern Mississippi’s Gulf CoastCampus in Long Beach, is a speciallibrary filled with toys and equipmentdesigned to improve quality of life forpeople with disabilities. TLC’s expertise inthe area of assistive technology makes itpossible to provide necessary training toindividuals, their families, teachers, andother related professionals in the field.The goal of the Center is to make assistivetechnology a reality for all individualswith disabilities in South Mississippi.Just like books in a “regular” librarythe specialty items in TLC’s inventory canbe borrowed by anyone with a disability.The extensive library of assistive technologyincludes:• Specially adapted toys like drums activatedby switches for children who haveno movement in their hands or arms;• Environmental control devices allowinga person with paralysis to activateeveryday household appliances;• Specially designed computer accessdevices for children who cannot use akeyboard or a mouse;• Augmentative communication devicesfor persons who are unable to speak;• Adaptive fishing devices for personswhose disability makes it impossible tofish independently;• Special wheelchairs, some designedfor use on sandy beaches and some forhiking trails;• Tennis wheelchairs;• Flotation devices for children whosedisabilities make it difficult to swim;• Recreational devices such as a bowlingdevice for a person in a wheelchair.All of these assistive technologydevices are purchased by TLC andloaned free of charge to any person with adisability. Since this equipment is veryexpensive for an individual to purchase,the library ensures that those who needthe technology have access to it.TLC first performs a technology needsassessment for each client. After individualneeds are determined, a trial and errorapproach is used with an array of availableequipment. After selecting the bestdevice, TLC trains the individual and theindividual’s parent or teacher in the use ofthe technology.But TLC is not only a library; it is amodel demonstration/training programthat delivers services that are not otherwiseprovided in the community. Providingconsultation for special education teachersChristy Sellers plays a computer game by using theIntellikeys, an alternative keyboard that enables studentswith physical, visual, or cognitive disabilitiesto easily type.in the area of assistive technology hasbeen an ongoing activity of TLC since itsinception. The Center provides trainingand consultation to teachers in the localschools to assist them in providing an educationto students with special needs.Because new developments in technologiesare growing at such a rapid rate, TLCstaff members make staying informedabout technology applications a priority.Staff offer special education professionalsin the field a readily available consultant torecommend equipment that can enhancethe education and quality of life of childrenand youth with disabilities.Consultation services of TLC havegreat potential to positively impact schooldistrict expenditures by eliminating thechance that what is purchased throughcatalog sales is not a “good fit” with theindividual’s needs or disabilities. The Centerprovides a hands on technology labwhere teachers and USM Education studentshave the opportunity to “try out” varioustechnology and software which supporteducational goals for children with disabilities.TLC staff demonstrate the proper utilizationof assistive technology to in-serviceand pre-service teachers. The modeldemonstration lab of state-of-the-art technologyhelps train teachers before they everenter the classroom about the power oftechnology solutions for students with disabilities.TLC takes the position that theteacher is the key to effective implementationof assistive technology in the classroom,and that it is essential that teachersenter the profession with a working knowledgeof current technologies.The Toy Library and TechnologyLearning Center is located on USM’s(continued on page 28)
Mississippi Libraries Vol. 67, No. 1, Spring 2003 Page 20People in the NewsSherrell Dedeaux, part-timeemployee at the Pass Christian Library,was the recipient of a $1,500 scholarshipto study art awarded by the officers of theCollage Group in Pass Christian.Dee Horn recently joined theGeorge E. Allen Library in Booneville asthe new branch librarian.David Juergens, Collection Development/AcquisitionsLibrarian at RowlandMedical Library, recently served as aSenior Subject Advisor for The BestBooks for Academic Libraries – Volume2 – Medicine. In addition to medicine,Volume 2 also includes the subjects ofnursing and psychology. The BestBooks for Academic Libraries is a tenvolumeset which “was created to fill aneed that has been growing in collectiondevelopment for college and academiclibraries.” Approximately 60,000 booksare included and are organized based onthe LC MARC records. For further information,including cost, please contactThe Best Books, Inc., P.O. Box893520, Temecula, California 92589-3520; Voice 888-265-3531; E-mailcustomerservice@thebbooks.netMeg Meiman, Information ServicesLibrarian at The University of SouthernMississippi, received the GALE/SELAContinuing Education and ProfessionalDevelopment Grant to attend the SoutheasternLibrary Association conference inCharleston, South Carolina.Jody Wayne Perkins joins the staffof Hinds Community College-JacksonCampus Learning Resource Center as alibrary assistant. Jody is a graduate studentin the School of Library and InformationScience at The University ofSouthern Mississippi. Jody lives with hiswife and daughter in Jackson, MS.Sheila Peters moved to Biloxi, MSfrom Conway, AR in October 2001. Sheserved as Children’s and Youth ServicesLibrarian at the main library in Biloxi for ayear before receiving the promotion toHead Librarian of the Pass ChristianLibrary in January 2003. Peters holds aB.S.E. in Secondary Education/Englishfrom the University of Arkansas in Fayettevilleand a M.L.I.S. in Library and InformationScience from Louisiana State Universityin Baton Rouge. A former editorof Arkansas Libraries and a new memberof the Mississippi Library Association, sheis grateful for the appointment as chair ofthe MLA Publications Committee in2003. Having been an academic referencelibrarian for twelve years, Ms. Petersis excited by the challenges of publiclibraries and the opportunity to serve theGulf Coast community.Loretta Robinson, Reference Assistantat the Gulfport Library is now theChildren’s Librarian for the Biloxi Library.Janice Williams joined the staff ofthe Carnegie Public Library in November.She had previously worked at the libraryat Parchman Penitentiary and at the Drewpublic library.Editors’ note: Please contact MaryHamilton at Mary.Hamilton@usm.edu tosubmit items for People in the News andNews Briefs.
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