Beyond the Stacks: A blog from the MD LBPD

 

MAT Program: Accepting Materials

Contributed by Joseph Beckett, Program Coordinator for MAT

The Maryland Accessible Textbook program, like much of the country, was, for the Fall 2020 semester, wandering through a maze of unknowns. Covid-19 had dominated the headlines, emotions, and hearts of most of the world, paralyzing normal existence, changing how we live our lives, and extinguishing our peer interactions. The effects from this ‘new normal’ produced creative processes for the Maryland Accessible Textbook Program. Surprisingly, we experienced unexpected successes; assisting colleges and students with hard-to-find textbooks and supplemental materials, registering new students, consulting, and providing expedited services for students needing immediate conversions. Maryland State Library and the Library for the Blind and Print Disabled were instrumental resources, providing support and materials to ensure that there were no issues with our service. 

As we begin the process of returning to the office, adjusting to the structured environment, and processing the once normal changes, we are perhaps better prepared for the upcoming semester than we were initially aware. We look forward to continuing to providing top service to our clients and are excited to be back on the grounds of LBPD.