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KLASUsers Group

  • 1/11/2024 KLAS LBPD Users' Roundtable: Volunteers

    Join us at 3 PM ET for a KLAS LBPD Users' Roundtable to explore how libraries for the blind and print disabled use volunteers and how KLAS can manage, support, and track their contributions to your library and patrons!

    Volunteers makeup an important part of the Library for the Blind & Print Disabled (LBPD) / Talking Book Library community and contribute greatly to their success. Each library utilizes volunteers uniquely; from shelving and circulation to readers advisory to recording content. Join the KLAS program committee for a presentation from a few of our outstanding network libraries discussing how they train and deploy their volunteers, and how they use KLAS to support and manage them.

    This free, online session was held via Zoom on January 11th at 3 PM Eastern / Noon Pacific.

    Recording

    Downloads

  • 2/22/2022 KLAS IRC Users Roundtable: APH Census

    KLAS IRC Users' Roundtable! Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time / Noon Pacific. Bring your APH Census related questions, great ideas, and feedback to share with Keystone Staff and other IRC / IMC Klas users

    For this quarter’s IRC webinar, we had a Roundtable on the APH Census, with discussion on how you go about the census process and how KLAS can better support that work. It was held on Tuesday, February 22nd.

    Roundtable speakers were:

    • Jared Leslie, Director of Media and Development, Foundation for Blind Children in Arizona
    • Sally Shreck, Specialized Media Coordinator, Maryland School for the Blind IRC
    • Allen Huang, Director of Accessible Instructional Materials and Outreach Services, Tennessee Resource Center for the Visually Impaired
    • Kathy Segers, Educational Consultant, Tennessee Resource Center for the Visually Impaired

    The recorded webinar is now available:

  • 2018 NLS KLAS Users' Group Meeting Minutes

    Below are the minutes taken during the KLAS Users' Group meeting held at the National Library Service 2018 Conference.

  • 2019 KLAS Users' Group Bylaws Update

    An updated version of the KLAS User Group bylaws was presented to the KLAS Users' Group on at the annual business meeting on June 6, 2019. The members of the Users' Group then proceeded to vote online to accept the bylaws with all suggested revisions effective July 1, 2019.

  • 2021 in James' Rearview

    A street sign with two arrows pointing in opposite directions. The lower arrow points left and has 2021 with a red slash over it. The top arrow points right and has 2022 on it. In the background is a green traffic light, signaling that we are good to go for 2022!
  • 2021 KLAS Users' Conference Take 2

    2021 KLAS Users' Conference Take 2

    First, we want to thank everyone who responded to our 2021 KLAS Users' Conference Planning Survey. We heard you, and we're moving forward based on your input.

    The Program and Logistics Committees, the KLAS Users' Group Officers', and Keystone staff have been working diligently to figure out how to shift the conference to an online event. We're really embracing our conference theme of "Challenges, Changes & Creativity"! In the past few weeks, we've shifted our planning timeline and had discussions about dates, schedule, event management software and services, registration costs, session proposals, and more.

    Today, we're excited to share that the 2021 KLAS Users' Conference will be June 7-10, 2021 with the below proposed schedule for each day:

    Eastern Time Pacific Time Session Type
    11:30-1:30 PM 8:30-10:00 AM General
    1:00-1:10 PM 10:00-10:10 AM Break
    1:10-2:00 PM 10:10-11:00 AM Breakout
    2:00-3:00 PM 11:00 AM-Noon Lunch
    3:00-3:50 PM Noon-12:50 PM Breakout
    3:50-4:00 PM 12:50-1:00 PM Break
    4:00-5:00 PM 1:00-2:00 PM General

    To give all our attendees the best experience possible, we're planning to use an online event platform. We've evaluated a number of different ones and currently plan to use PheedLoop. Last week, the Planning Committees and Users' Group Officers had an opportunity to see the event participant side of the platform and were impressed with their available features for networking, session scheduling and access, and extensive accessibility options.

    Using this platform, conference attendees will be able to attend sessions live or review the recordings later on, message each other privately or in subject groups, and even share files with their fellow users. While it can't fully replicate the feeling of all sitting around the same table, we hope that this format will allow us to bring as much of the full conference experience as possible.

    Individual and group registration rates are still being finalized and will be announced soon.

    We're hoping more KLAS Users will be able to participate in this year's conference than ever before, since there is no travel required! See you there!

  • 2021 KLAS Users' Group Business Meeting Minutes

    Screenshot of the first paragraph of the 2021 KLAS Users' Group Business Meeting Minutes document.

    The minutes of the 2021 KLAS Users' Conference which occurred on Thursday, June 10 at 11:30 AM Eastern Time / 8:30 AM Pacific during the 2021 KLAS Users' Conference are below.

  • 2021 KLAS Users' Group Vice President & Secretary Election

    Blue Ballot Box icon

    As directed and defined by the most recent update of the 2019 KLAS Users' Group Bylaws Update, an election to select a new Vice President and Secretary needs to occur. Therefore, current KLAS Users' Group Officers met to discuss and determine a timeline for such. Below are the relevant dates as approved:

    • May 20 = KLAS Users' Group Vice President / Secretary Nomination Period Opens
    • June 1 = KLAS Users' Group Nomination Period Closes
    • June 4 = Nominee Bios & Headshots due
    • June 7 = Nominee Bios Published
    • June 10 = If only one candidate is nominated for an office the election will proceed at the Users' Group Business Meeting. If more than one nominee for an office, an online election will occur within 30 days after the conference.
    • July 28 = KLAS Users' Group Officers' Transition Meeting
    • August 1 = Official Installation of new KLAS Users' Group Secretary and Vice President

    The duties and terms of office of the Secretary and Vice President as defined in "Article VI. Officers" of the KLAS Users Group Bylaws include:

    Duties:

    Secretary: The Secretary shall take minutes for the Users’ Group business and administrator’s meetings as well as those for other committees unless otherwise provided. The Secretary shall also serve on at least one committee outlined in Article VII.

    Vice-President:The Vice-President shall serve in a mentoring and leadership capacity to learn about the responsibilities of the Users’ Group, and shall assist the President with designated duties. May be required to perform President’s duties if the President is unavailable. The Vice-President shall also serve on at least one committee outlined in Article VII. The Vice-President assumes the office of President at the end of the term of the standing President in office.

    Terms of Office:

    The Vice President is an elected position that serves a term of one year and then becomes the President

    The Secretary is an elected position that serves a term of two years and can stand for re-election at the end of their first two-year term.

    All names for nominees or questions about the process should be sent to Jen Buzolich (), President, KLAS Users' Group, and Michael Lang (), Vice President, KLAS Users Group.

  • 2021 Online KLAS Users' Conference

    2021 Online KLAS Users' Conference

    Below you will find the latest udpated about the 2021 ONLINE KLAS Users' Conference. Please let us know if you have any questions or need additional information.

    2021 KLAS Users' Conference Website & Attendee Portal:

    Theme: Challenges, Changes & Creativity

    Overview Schedule:

    Screenshot of KLAS UC 2021 Overview Schedule

    Format:

    To give our attendees the best experience possible, we will be using the PheedLoop online event platform. The Planning Committees and Users' Group Officers had an opportunity to see the event participant side of the platform and were impressed with the features for networking, session scheduling and access, and extensive accessibility options.  

    Using this platform, conference attendees will be able to attend sessions live or review the recordings later on, message each other privately or in subject groups, and even share files with their fellow users. While it can't fully replicate the feeling of all sitting around the same table, we hope that this format will allow us to bring as much of the full conference experience as possible.

    Registration:

    Go here to begin your 2021 KLAS Users' Conference attendee registration

    The deadline to register is 8:00 PM Eastern / 5:00 PM Pacific Friday, June 4. If you have any questions about the group registration process, check out this step-by-step for a detailed explanation with screenshots.

    Conference Registration is now open!To make this year's process easier than ever, we chose to use the PheedLoop platform to handle registration and even credit card payments. Yes, you can pay via a credit card this year! If you prefer or need to still pay by check, you can also download an invoice directly from the registration page.

    • $25 for individual attendee tickets
    • $50 for small group tickets (2-5 persons)
    • $100 for large group tickets (6-10 persons)

    Group Ticket Purchases: Example: To purchase one Large Group Ticket for 10 people, select 1 "Large Group Ticket" with your name listed as the "Attendee". Then proceed through the payment and checkout options and then add the other 9 persons as "complimentary ticket" holders when prompted to do so. Each listed attendee will be emailed their ticket info separately. An organization can purchase whatever combination of individual, small, and large group tickets makes sense for the number of staff they want to attend. For example, a library can purchase one small group and one large group ticket for a total of $150 to cover up to 15 attendees.

    Registration fees go towards the conference platform and video streaming services. This is not intended to be a profit-generating event! That said, the math on this kind of thing is difficult. The per-attendee cost of the event will vary significantly based on how many attendees we have, and while we have a lot of experience budgeting for and operating an in-person conference, an online conference is new to us. If we find that we undershot on the registration fees, Keystone will cover the additional costs. If we end up generating a little extra, it will be used towards the next conference.

  • 2022 KLAS Users' Group Bylaws Update

    A wooden gavel lays on top of a white keyboard.

    An updated version of the KLAS User Group bylaws was presented to the KLAS Users' Group at the business meeting held on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. The members of the Users' Group then proceeded to vote online to accept the bylaws with all suggested revisions effective July 1, 2022.

  • 2022 KLAS Users' Group Vice President Candidate

    Traci stands in front of a green wall wearing a black shirt and cateye glasses and red lipstick. Her red hair is pulled back from her face.

    Per the KLAS Users' Group Bylaws, upon the vacancy of an officer position an election must be held to replace the officer. As such, we are now conducting an election for the office of Vice President of the KLAS Users' Group. Please meet your candidate for the open Users' Group Vice President position, Traci Timmons!Traci stands in front of a green wall wearing a black shirt and cateye glasses and red lipstick. Her red hair is pulled back from her face.

    A link to vote for Vice President will be sent to each KLAS organization / library's designated representative in the near future.

    KLAS Users' Group Vice President Candidate

    Traci Timmons, Managing Librarian, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library

    Biography:

    Traci Timmons joined the team at the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) in March. She has been a librarian in special and academic libraries for more than twenty years. She was drawn into the LBPD world because her son is dyslexic, a patron of WTBBL, and she saw firsthand the incredible work these libraries do. Prior to joining WTBBL, Timmons was the head of libraries and archives at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) where she was the administrator for SAM's ILS, EOS.Web. She has also worked at the University of Washington Libraries, the University of South Florida Libraries, a large accounting firm library, and was a web developer for several software companies. She has an MA in Art History from the University of South Florida and an MLIS from the University of Washington. She is looking forward to further developing the art programs at WTBBL!

    Statement of Goals:

    At WTBBL, I am the KLAS administrator. As a new-ish employee, I'll be the first to admit that I am not a KLAS expert, but, I am striving to become one. I learn through doing, through making mistakes, and from listening to others. In my short time at WTBBL, I have really come to appreciate how KLAS uniquely addresses the work of LBPD and IRC libraries. I have developed some great relationships with Keystone staff and many of my LBPD/IRC colleagues throughout the U.S. In my work life, I have demonstrated that I am a great advocate, collaborator, and problem solver--and will bring those qualities to my KLAS Users work. I see this position as an opportunity to learn more about the needs of colleagues throughout the country, how we can best support one another, and how we can work positively and collaboratively with Keystone to solve problems and advance ideas.

  • 2022 KLAS Users' Mini-Conference

    Promotional graphic with the same text as the article for easy saving or sharing.

    As announced in an earlier Keynotes Blog Post, Keystone staff and the KLAS Users' Group Program Committee are teaming up to bring you an online KLAS Users mini-conference the afternoons of May 3-4. Today, we're sharing a bit more info about what we have planned.

    Sessions with interest for all KLAS Users will be held on both days, and we hope you can join us for this free online training and networking event!

    • Dates: Tuesday, May 3 - Wednesday, May 4, 2022
    • Time: 1:00-5:00 PM Eastern / 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Pacific
    • Format: All sessions will be held via Zoom with a dial-in for audio option provided. Also, concurrent Birds-of-a-Feather sessions will be held in 3 separate Zoom breakout rooms.
    • Access: Zoom links will be emailed to registered attendees approximately a week prior and posted on this page a day or so before the event.
    • Session Recording: All Tuesday sessions as well as the KLAS Users' Group business meeting will be recorded. Birds-of-a-Feather sessions will not.

    Agenda:

    Tuesday, May 3

    Tuesday sessions will be Keystone presented and focused on sharing Keystone company and service updates and new KLAS features and functionality for LBPD, IRC, and others.

    TimeSession TitlePresenter
    1:00-2:15 PM ET KLAS Updates for Libraries for the Blind & Print Disabled Katy Patrick, Keystone Systems
    2:30-3:30 PM ET General Keystone Updates James Burts & Andrea Callicutt, Keystone Systems
    3:45-5:00 PM ET KLAS Updates for Instructional Resource Centers Katy Patrick, Keystone Systems

     

    Wednesday, May 4

    Wednesday features a KLAS Users' Group Business Meeting followed by user-moderated Birds-of-a-Feather sessions. Birds of a Feather (BoaF) sessions are an opportunity to exchange ideas in a casual, group discussion setting. Topics range from making the most of KLAS features to exploring broader service-related ideas. These sessions are not formal presentations with slides or software demonstrations. Instead, moderators launch the discussion and keep the conversation on topic.

    Each of Wednesday's concurrent Birds-of-a-Feather sessions will be accessed via one Zoom link. Once you enter the meeting, there will be 3 breakout rooms you can choose to join (one for each topic).

    TimeSession TypeSession TitlePresenter / ModeratorZoom Info
    1:00-2:15 PM ET General KLAS Users' Group Business Meeting Michael Lang, Kansas Talking Books
    2:30-3:30 PM ET Birds-of-a-Feather 1.  APH Integration 
    2.  Circulation
    3.  KLAS Administrator
    1. Jared Leslie, Arizona Foundation for Blind Children
    2. Maureen Dorosinski, Florida Talking Book Libraries
    3. Michael Lang, Kansas Talking Books
    3:45-5:00 PM ET


    Birds-of-a-Feather


    1. IRC Queries & Reports 
    2. Reader Advisor
    3. Tech Services & Equipment
    1. Jared Leslie, Arizona Foundation for Blind Children
    2. Sam Lundberg, New Mexico LBPD
    3. James Gleason, Perkins Library

     

    Dial-in Audio for ALL sessions:

    Use your phone to call the applicable phone number and then enter the appropriate Meeting ID and Passcode for the session when prompted.
     
    Dial-in for audio numbers:
            +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
            +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
            +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
            +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
            +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
            +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
    Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbdOJuBB39
     

    Registration:

    Registration is not required, but it will give us an idea of how many attendees plan to attend. Also, persons who register will receive an email approximately one week before the mini-conference with the agenda, Zoom links, and dial-in for audio numbers.

     

  • 2023 Julie Klauber Award Finalists

    The text "Congrats 2023 Julie Klauber Award Finalists!" is written on a green background surrounded by gold star confetti.

    Congratulations to Kimberly Tomlinson, Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library, and Maggie Witte, Kansas State Library, Talking Books Service, our two finalists for the 2023 Julie Klauber Award!The text "Congrats 2023 Julie Klauber Award Finalists!" is written on a green background surrounded by gold star confetti.

    You have each made a significant impact on your library, patrons, and your community! We hope sharing selections from the nomination submitted for you lets both you and others see just how much work you have done and how your efforts inspire others.

    The selected recipient of this year's award will be honored during a ceremony held on Monday, July 17 in Nashville, TN as part of the 2023 KLAS Users' Conference.

    Nominee: Kimberly Tomlinson, Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library

    Nominated by: Zarina Mohd Shah, Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library

    What service(s) has the nominee done in the spirit of Julie Klauber?

    Kim's work with the Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement (ABLE) is one of her outstanding achievements. ABLE is a nonprofit organization that works with WTBBL by brailling and recording Wisconsin authors, our "Bulletin Board" quarterly newsletter, DVD catalogs, Milwaukee Magazine, and more. ABLE also provides essential services to the visually impaired and print disabled in local communities, schools, and other institutions and individuals nationwide, including braille transcriptions, tactile representations of graphs, diagrams, pictures, and audio recordings, at an affordable cost.

    ABLE relies on donations and grants to offer services for the print-disabled. In writing local grant proposals, ABLE needs, for instance, KLAS Readership and Circulation statistics to add support for their services. Kim performs the crucial role of diligently gathering and delivering valuable data to ABLE, including the number of WTBBL patrons in each county, circulation numbers of a recorded local author from a specific county, and other interesting facts from the KLAS data (and NLS BARD) ABLE could work with.

    The number of local grants received with help from data compiled by Kim from KLAS makes it possible for ABLE to offer their services. ABLE appreciates Kim's important role in supporting their organization and mission that has a lasting impact on our print-disabled communities.

    How do they affect your library / community and / or the KLAS Users’ Community?

    Kim's knowledge and understanding of KLAS were invaluable in assisting WTBBL's successful migration to the new DOD system at the end of 2021. In hindsight, our work seemed seamless during that busy period. Kim's efforts were instrumental in helping WTBBL staff complete the migration smoothly. For example, Kim trained staff to modify and update patron's records in preparation for DOD and for patrons to pick up their books in the new format. Kim's guidance helped us complete the migration smoothly. WTBBL staff appreciated the new system and shared the knowledge of the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the new DOD system with patrons. For instance, there are no longer due dates for digital audiobooks. WTBBL did our best with Kim's guidance and sealed our expectations of her as our KLAS Guru.

    Nominee: Maggie Witte, Kansas State Library Talking Books Service

    Nominated by: Michael Lang, Kansas State Library Talking Books Service 

    What service(s) has the nominee done in the spirit of Julie Klauber?

    Recently, Maggie has coordinated and led the network LBPD summer library reading program working group. The group allows library staff to share ideas for accessible summer reading programs. I don’t know if others agree, but I feel that NLS’s new commitment to providing resources to support summer reading is a direct result of this working group. Maggie is also an active member of the NLS summer reading committee.

    This year she created a circulating braille awareness kit. The kit, filled with braille books, games, and activities, will introduce sighted children to the braille alphabet and teach them the importance of braille for readers.

    Last year Maggie partnered with the Wamego Public library to provide braille overlay labels for their StoryWalk. Since then she has provided braille for four more Storywalks and plans to continue this project with WPL and hopefully expand to other libraries. She continues to lead virtual monthly and a quarterly book discussion groups and provides excellent individual service to our users.

    How do they affect your library / community and / or the KLAS Users’ Community?

    The summer reading resources shared from the working group and the increased support of NLS promise to create a much more robust and accessible summer reading program for talking book users nationwide and allow for libraries with fewer resources to provide a wonderful program.

    With her programs, she creates a community of patrons across Kansas, who share many commonalities, but due to distance may never had met if not for Maggie.

    She continues to advocate for and raise awareness of the accessibility needs of print disabled through activities like the StoryWalk, braille kit, and presentations at professional conferences.

    Overall, she provides empathetic friendly service to our patrons, working hard to find solutions that fit their needs.

  • 2023 Julie Klauber Award Info

    Screenshot of the Julie Klabuer Award winners page from klas.com.

    The Julie Klauber Award is one way we at Keystone Systems recognize the invaluable support that volunteers and staff provide to their organizations and their patrons. Each organization may nominate one staff member or volunteer using the Julie Klauber Award Nomination form. The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 5.

    Who was Julie Klauber?

    Julie Klauber was a national expert and leader on disability issues and was instrumental in helping develop Keystone's growing national presence. In 2012, Julie received the ASCLA Francis Joseph Campbell Award recognizing her work advancing library services for patrons who are blind and print disabled. Julie served as the director of the Talking Books Plus Library in Suffolk, County, NY and authored several articles on library resources and services for people with disabilities. Additionally, she created and maintained the newsletter Disability Resources Monthly and the corresponding website www.disabilityresources.org. Julie passed away on September 3, 2002 after a long, brave struggle with cancer.

    A word about Julie Klauber from her former coworker:

    Valerie Lewis sent the below email to the KLASUsers listserv on January 24, 2011:

    It has been more than eight years since Julie passed away. Her name comes up every day.....truly, it does. I work with 5 other people who worked with Julie for many years. I sit in the office that was once hers. Her husband and sons are often in my home. I work with her husband Avery, to continue the important work that she and he started many years before I was lucky enough to meet them.

    Julie was a librarian, but more she was the truest advocate for access to library programs, services and materials for all, particularly people with disabilities.

    In addition to being the librarian for the sub-regional library that served Long Island, NY, Julie and her husband established a non-profit organization that provided information and referral resources for librarians, service providers and individuals living with disabilities.......long before and into the earlier days....of the internet.

    Julie spent truly all of her time making sure that people with disabilities had access to information.....all information. She created partnerships with local and national corporations that brought assistive technology to local libraries. She created library resources in alternative formats and worked with libraries and librarians across the country, to promote accessible library services.

    It has been my honor to be a member of the Julie Klauber Award Committee. It has given me the opportunity to read about lbph staff and volunteers who create new and innovative ways of making library materials, services and programs accessible to their patrons. Something still so difficult to do, even in these technologically advanced times.

    You may think that the daily practices and procedures of operating a library for the blind and physically disabled are hum-drum and nothing out of the ordinary, but think again. It is through the work and creativity of each and every member or your organization, that people with disabilities have access to information....something we treasure so dearly and take so for granted.

    On that note, we encourage you to think about how the wheels of your organization turn and who are the people turning it.

    With warm regards,

    Valerie Lewis, Director
    Long Island Talking Book Library

    Who can be nominated for the Julie Klauber Award?

    Each KLAS library or organization may nominate one staff member or volunteer who: 

    • Works with KLAS in their daily job functions.
    • Has demonstrated outstanding service to their organization and / or their community in the spirit of Julie Klauber during their time with the library.
    • Will appreciate and benefit from attending the KLAS Users' Conference.

    Please use the Julie Klauber Award Nomination Form to submit your nominee's info before the Friday, May 5 nomination deadline.

    What does the award recipient receive and how are they selected?

    The selected Julie Klauber Award Recipient receives a trip1 to the 2023 KLAS Users' Conference to be held in Nashville, TN July 17-20 and will be honored as part of an award ceremony held Monday, July 17 including receiving a personalized plaque to commemorate their achievement.

    Award finalists will be selected from all nominated individuals by the Julie Klauber Award committee2. James Burts, CEO of Keystone Systems, will then determine the 2023 recipient after consulting with all the finalists' supervisors.

    Biographies of previous Julie Klauber Award Recipients are available at the Julie Klauber Award Winners page.


    2 2023 Julie Klauber Award Committee Members include:

    • Chandra Thornton, Palm Beach County Library System, 2016 Julie Klauber Award Recipient
    • Teresa Kalber, Colorado Talking Book Library, 2011 Julie Klauber Award Recipient
    • Lisa Nelson, Utah State Library Program for the Blind and Disabled
    • Kimberly Tomlinson, Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library
    • Pepper Watson, Oklahoma Library for the Blind, Accessible Instructional Materials Center
    • Erin Pawlus, Arizona Talking Book Library
    • Andrea Ewing Callicutt, Keystone Systems, Inc.
  • 2024 KLAS Mini-Conference IRC Track Recordings

    Screenshot of the title slide from the KLAS New Features for IRC sessions

    Below are the recordings, presentations, and other resources shared in the instructional resource / materials center (IRC / IMC) track of the 2024 KLAS Users' Mini-Conference.

    Note: You must be logged in to view / access content.

  • 2025 KLAS Users' Conference

    Start Your Engines! KLAS UC 2025 logo with a white checkered flag and tire tracks in the grey background.

    Start your engines! logo for the # KLAS UC 2025 conference with a white checkered flag waving out and an asphalt grey background with tire marks.Starting Monday, March 17, 2025 Keystone Systems and the Indiana State Library, Talking Book and Braille Library Service come together to host the 2025 HYBRID KLAS Users' Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    Below are all the resources and info you will need during your 2025 KLAS Users' Conference attendance:

    2025 KLAS Users' Conference Zoom Event

    • ALL conference attendees will use the 2025 KLAS Users' Conference Zoom Event throughout the conference. 
    • The conference logo graphicto the right is a direct link to the KLAS UC 2025 Zoom Event.
    • Important notes about the KLAS UC2025 Zoom Event:
      • Use your individual Zoom account credentials to log into the KLAS UC2025 Zoom Event.
      • Session times are based on your local time zone.
      • General Sessions will be in a webinar format and streamed directly to the lobby. Virtual attendees will be able to comment / ask questions via the chat function, but can't use their computer camera / mic.
      • All Breakout sessions will be in a meeting format in which virtual attendees can be on camera, use their microphone, and / or the Zoom chat function.

    Using the KLAS UC2025 Zoom Event

    • How to initially access & navigate the KLAS UC 2025 Zoom Event
    • You will use the KLAS UC2025 Zoom Event to:
      • bookmark sessions, create a personal schedule, and export your schedule to your personal calendar
      • view speaker information
      • watch and join conference sessions virtually
      • access session slidedecks and handouts
      • chat with other attendees
      • get conference announcements and updates
      • watch session recordings after the event
      • and more!

    {slider Conference Agenda & Overview Schedule}

    KLAS UC2025 Agenda & Overview Schedule

    Below you will find MS Word and PDF versions of the latest 2025 KLAS Users' Conference agenda and overview schedule documents.

    {slider Getting To / Around Downtown Indianapolis}

    Here's some links and other resources to help make your travel to and stay in Indianapolis a bit easier.

    Indianapolis Airport to Downtown

    The Indianapolis International Airport has multiple transportation options to get from there to downtown.

    • Uber or Lyft from the Ground Transportation Center on the first floor of the terminal garage.
    • Taxis are also an option, but charge a minimum $15 for all fares from the airport.
    • IndyGo's Route 8 bus service provides non-express, fixed route service from the airport to downtown for $1.75 / ride.

    Downtown Indianapolis

    All conference locations are located in walkable distance from the Embassy Suites Downtown Indianapolis except the location of Monday night's Welcome Reception for which Uber Vouchers will be provided.

    Below is a custom Google Map indicating the location of the Embassy Suites, Indiana State Library, the Biltwell Event Center and the Eiteljorg Museum.

    2025 KLAS Users' Conference Google Map 

    Downtown Indianapolis Restaurants

    Wondering about where to eat while you're at the conference? Check out this list of downtown Indianapolis eateries recommended by the Indiana State Library Staff.

     {slider Conference Hotel - Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown}

    The bar in the Lobby of the Embassy Suites Indianapolis Downtown

    Conference Hotel:

    Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown
    110 West Washington Street
    Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

    Rate & Reservations:

    Conference Rate: $133.00 / night + tax (or the prevailing government rate at time of booking + tax)

    Amenities

    • Free WiFi
    • FREE Hot Breakfast Buffet with made-to-order omelets, eggs, and other items
    • Free evening reception
    • Suite style rooms with separate bedroom and sitting room with microwave and mini-fridge in each
    • $46 parking / night (valet only)
    • Indoor pool and hot tub
    • Workout facilities
    • Lobby bar and room service serves light dinner options

    {slider Conference Sessions Location - Indiana State Library}

    The Indiana Authors Room at the Indiana State Library has wooden book shelves lining the walls filled with books behind glass doors. In the center of the room is a u-shaped table setup with chairs in front of a projection screen.

    Conference Sessions Location:

    The Embassy Suites is approximately .3 miles from the Indiana State Library where all conference sessions will be held. The walk from the hotel to the library is via relatively flat sidewalks with well-marked crosswalks at each intersection.

    Indiana State Library
    315 W. Ohio St.,
    Indianapolis, IN 46202

    Indiana State Library Floorplans

    Here are floorplans of the Indiana State Library to help you navigate the building.

    {slider Conference Registration - Open Now!}

    Conference Registration:

    Registration for the 2025 KLAS Users' Conference is still available!! 

    Virtual Attendee Registration Deadlines & Prices:

    • Virtual Attendee (after December 31, 2024) = $100 per attendee

    In-Person Attendee Registration Deadlines & Prices:

    • In-Person Late (after February 16, 2025) = $300 with late fee

    Important Registration Information:

    • You must register using the email tied to your Zoom account.
    • If you don't have Zoom account, you will need to create one. You can sign-up for a free, basic account here: https://zoom.us/signup#/signup
    • If your registration payment method is not a credit or debit card, OR your organization is tax-exempt, please email  with the ticket type and the email address associated with your Zoom account. We will send you an invoice, and apply the registration to the provided email.
    • If you register via the 2025 KLAS Users' Conference Zoom Event using a credit or debit card, Stripe will charge a 2.9% + $.30 per transaction processing fee.

    Registration Link:

    To register for the 2025 KLAS Users' Conference using a credit or debit card, go to the 2025 KLAS Users' Conference on Zoom Event.

    How to register via debit or credit card:

    1. Go to the 2025 KLAS Users' Conference on Zoom Events.
    2. Select the "Register' button.
    3. Select your desired ticket type.
    4. Complete the required registration information including using the email associated with your Zoom account.
    5. Submit payment via a debit or credit card.
    6. Your will receive a registration confirmation email upon successful completion of this process.

    Screenshot the 2025 KLAS Users' Conference Zoom Event with the "Register" button outlined with a red rectangle.

    {slider In-Person Hands-on Training & Library Tours Registration}

    In-Person Hands-on Training & Library Tours Registration

    To help us prepare for the in-person hands-on training and library tours sessions that will occur during the 2025 KLAS Users' Conference, please take a few minutes to indicate which one(s) you're interested in attending. Full session descriptions can be found in the latest 2025 KLAS Users' Conference Agenda. 

    Thank you! If you have any questions, please email:

    {slider Eiteljorg Museum Networking Event}

    Eiteljorg Museum Sign

    Eiteljorg Museum Lunch & Tour Networking Event

    On Thursday, March 20 after our final general session join us for an optional networking event at the Eiteljorg Museum in downtown Indianapolis which "explores the intersection of the arts, histories and cultures of the past and present by sharing the diverse stories of the American West and the Indigenous Peoples of North America".

    We will walk to Eiteljorg and enjoy a delicious boxed lunch in their cafe followed by a group tour of the museum.  

    Payment for the tour and / or lunch is due Friday, March 14Cost per person = $11 tour + indicated boxed lunch options

    Please use the form below to register, select your lunch, and indicate your preferred payment method.

    {/sliders}

  • 5/20/2021 KLAS Users' Roundtable: DoD Tips & Tricks for Serving Patrons

    Sam Lundberg moderates the 5/20/21 KLAS Users' Roundtable.

    Below is the recording and chat transcript for our KLAS Users' Roundtable: Duplication on Demand Tips & Tricks for Serving Patrons that was held on Thursday, May 20, 2021. (57:24 Run Time)

    Chat Transcript

  • 6/21/2023 KLAS Users' Roundtable: KDAC Q&A

    Join us June 21 @ 3 PM ET / Noon PMfor a KLASUsers' Roundtable offering an opportunity to meet your KDAC Reps, bring them your KLAS improvement suggestions, & more!

    On Wednesday, June 21 at 3:00 PM Eastern / Noon Pacific we held our most recent KLAS Users' Roundtable: KDAC Q&A.

    During this online session KLAS Users had opportunity to meet KLAS Development Advisory Committee (KDAC) representatives, ask them questions about being on the committee and / or how it operates, share ideas for improvements to KLAS, and more!

    Current KDAC Members include:

    • Dan Malosh, Committee Chair, Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library
    • Traci Timmons, KLAS Users' Group Officers' Liaison, Washington Talking Book and Braille Library
    • Barnaby Camp, Georgia Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
    • Christina Quintana, Arizona Instructional Resource Center
    • Donald Salvato, Xavier Society for the Blind
    • Dorothy Hughes, Maryland School for the Blind
    • Jesse McGarity, Virginia Beach Public Library, Accessible Resources and Services
    • Pepper Watson, Oklahoma Accessible Instructional Materials Center
    • Sally Shreck, Maryland Instructional Resource Center
    • Sarah Smedley, Palm Beach County Library Talking Books
    • Zoelinna Schar, Nevada Talking Book Services

    KLAS Users' Roundtable: KDAC Q&A Chat Transcript & Recording

    Follow-up notes from Katy: The instructions for changing font size in KLAS are now available in the Knowledge Base!

    However, to add or remove stopwords, you must contact customer support so that the appropriate indexing can be done after the change. Additionally, we believe all libraries are set up with the usual stopwords (a, an, the)--if that does not seem to be the case for your library, please contact customer support with example screenshots.

  • A Valentine to All KLASUsers

    Two red hearts sit in the lower left with the text "A Valentine for ALL KLASUsers'" written in all black, all caps in the center of the image.

    On February 16, 2024 Maureen Dorosinki, Vice President, KLAS Users' Group shared the below message on the KLASUsers' listservs. Based on the overwhelming positive response to it, we're also posting it here so it is easier to find and share with others.


    Valentine’s Day means a variety of things to many people in various stages of life. It used to mean buying a pack of assorted valentines shaped like Garfield and writing your name 30 times to sign them and sneaking in a smiley face to the cute boy. It meant hoping you were going to get a carnation in high school, and be able to carry it around, and then, have your face burn with embarrassment when you didn’t get one. It meant finding The One, and today means you are happy making chocolate chip cookies from scratch after work because those are the only sweets you can justify eating on the terribly restrictive cholesterol diet you are on.

    At work, it also means something altogether different, it has turned into caring about something bigger than us and doing it for the most part without ever meeting the people you serve. It means staying late to make sure the e-readers are plugged in so they can go out the next day. It means sticking with the call even though you have 20 more to do and the phone keeps ringing. It means trying to get ahead on the hamster wheel because you care. You care about the thousands of people you don’t see, as much as you care about the few you might talk to.

    But I’m asking all of us to do one more thing this Valentine’s month. Take a day where you can allow yourself to fall off the hamster wheel and make one extra call. You could call that person who always has something positive to say and is so lovely you wish everyone was like them. No, I challenge us to call that person you dread calling. The person who you know lives alone…and is crabby. Call them and just say hello. Call them and thank them for being a patron. Reach out with empathy. You may think you know their story, but we only know one page of their story. Maybe even a half page, with something spilled on it.

    Make this Valentine’s include giving without expecting something in return. You gave the gift of yourself and made someone’s day a little brighter, a little easier.

    Speaking of easy, KLAS makes all your days easier. They can get us out of a pickle and show us that maybe something is going to be easier than you thought.

    Post something on the KLAS Users forum! You may get something done that changes your procedures and moves your department forward.

    Valentine’s Day used to mean waiting for gifts and being able to show off what you got. Now it means giving quietly because you truly care and know what working for a higher purpose means.

    Maybe not everyone is completely there, but trust me, one day you might be.

    Thanks for all you do to support each other, and the patrons.

  • APH 2021: KLAS IRC / IMC Users' Meeting

    Screen capture of the KLAS IRC / IMC Users' Meeting at APH 2021 meeting recording.

    The recording of our October 12, 2021 KLAS IRC / IMC Users' Group Meeting held as part of the APH 2021 Annual Meeting is now available.

    During this meeting, we shared IRC-specific features and functionality added to KLAS since our August 24, 2021 KLAS New Features webinar, upcoming development, Q&A, and discussion including a status update on the ongoing project to integrate KLAS with APH. At this time, we expect our customers to be able to submit APH orders from KLAS in the fourth quarter of 2021, and we plan to be able to automatically pul APH catalog info into KLAS by the first quarter of 2022. 

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