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NNELS 101 for Sitka Libraries in BC

Thank you so much for your interest in and support for this project! We're looking forward to working with you. If you are not a Sitka library in BC, please contact NNELS Support (support@nnels.ca) with your questions.

 

Quick Links: Form: self-declaration |  Form: competent authority  |  Sign-up instructions for patrons (coming soon)  |  How to burn a DAISY disc

 

1. How do eligible patrons register for NNELS?

First-time NNELS users from Sitka libraries can follow these steps:

  1. Contact their public or post-secondary library to confirm print-disability and ensure they have been assigned the correct patron-type.
  2. Click on the "Sign-up" link on the NNELS website.
  3. Locate your local library.
  4. Click on the link to log in with library card number and PIN. 

Please ask patrons to contact the library if login does not work.

Should your library need one, we offer sample Self-Declaration and Competent Authority forms. Please contact NNELS Support if you have any questions about process or eligibility. 

 

2. What do library staff need to know about patron types in Evergreen?

  • In Evergreen, assign eligible patrons to the patron profile called "PL- Print Disabled" if you're in a public library, or "Post-Sec Print Disabled" if in a post-secondary library. 
  • If you already keep track of print-disabled patrons by using a different patron type, please change their type to this one: it will allow those users to log in seamlessly to the NNELS site using their library barcode number and PIN.
  • For NNELS and other borrowing, please assign new print-disabled patrons to this patron type.

Please notify existing patrons with print disabilities about NNELS, and if you have questions about the p-type, please email NNELS Support. 

 

3. What do I do if a patron reports having trouble logging in to NNELS?

  1. Has the patron has been assigned the correct patron-type in Evergreen ("PL- Print-Disabled" and "Post-Sec Print Disabled" -- please see previous question for more information)?
  2. Is the patron is entering her/his barcode and library-issued PIN number correctly? If the PIN is incorrect, you can change it in your ILS and notify the patron. 

If problems persist, please contact NNELS Support. 

 

4. How do our patrons find out about NNELS?

For now, patrons learn about NNELS from you and other library staff. Please notify your existing patrons with print disabilities that they can use NNELS. Like you, if they have problems or questions, they can email NNELS Support at any time. 

 

5. How do we add a link to NNELS on our website?

Since this is one way that your patrons can access the NNELS site, we ask that all libraries add a link to NNELS on their websites. Please put the link in an obvious place so that people with print disabilities have an easy time finding it (if you'd like a suggestion, please email NNELS Support). You are welcome to use any of the following pieces of information:

  • To download a NNELS logo: PLEASE CLICK HERE.
  • Please use this text or a close approximation: "Digital talking books for people with print disabilities available from NNELS. This library is participating!

**Please link from your website to https://nnels.ca/user/login**. Many libraries are putting this link on both their e-resources page and their programs and services page. 

Banners and highlights are available for LibPress sites (please contact LibPress staff for more info): banner example | highlight example

If you have questions about any of these components, please contact NNELS Support. 

 

6. What kind of content is available from NNELS?

Content is predominately popular fiction and non-fiction for adults, though there are some juvenile titles as well. Approximately 10,000 titles are currently available in the NNELS catalogue and most are in English; we are adding content in French and other languages all the time.
 
Content is selected through a legally-verified process and is based on requests from readers with print disabilities.
 
Most titles are in DAISY format, although there are some e-braille and e-text books. 
 
Questions? NNELS Support is always listening. 
 

7. How do we request books for our readers?

Our shared goal is to make it easy for everyone to come into a library and get the information they're looking for. If you or one of your patrons are searching the NNELS database and discover that the needed information does not yet exist in an accessible format, please use our title request form.

 

8. What technology should we be using?

Many librarians ask what technology we recommend and, unfortunately for those who prefer simplicity, every person has different needs, particularly when it comes to living with a print disability. Currently, we know that many devices (including DAISY readers, tablets, smartphones, desktop computers, and some MP3 players) support DAISY books and other kinds of content available on the NNELS site. 

Rather than be prescriptive and advise you to buy certain devices, we encourage librarians to conduct their very best reference interviews to learn as much as possible about their patrons' needs.  

If you feel stuck, curious, or uncertain about what to do, please contact NNELS Support -- we're here to help.