This month I met with Philip Ross, the main coordinator for the City of Torrance "Words on Wheels" organization, or "WOW". WOW has been set up to provide seriously disabled local citizens who cannot take advantage of the facilities of the local Torrance Libraries with some form of access via a network of volunteers. Philip is the Branch Manager and Senior Librarian at Walterier Library. We met in one of the conference rooms of the Audio/Video center of the Torrance Main Library.

Philip told me that there were currently ten WOW volunteers catering to seventeen patrons, but he hopes that this will steadily increase as the word gets out. Normally one volunteer will take care of one patron, but he told me that there was one volunteer that helped out three or four patrons who all live at the same assisted living facility. The patrons are those folks who love to read but are unable to get out because of various health problems. Although WOW is not involved in the "Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic" program, there are several patrons who are blind or partially sighted, requiring the use of Books on Tape or CDs. WOW also makes available the service from the Braille Institute that provides small tapes that play on special yellow tape recorders supplied by the Institute. There is no Due Date on these particular items and they can be returned by being dropped into any convenient mail box. This requires a separate enrollment from WOW but the volunteers are able to supply the form, if necessary, and have it certified by a librarian

Philip Ross told me that, although he is the main coordinator for WOW, he also acts as one of its volunteers and gives presentations on the organization at many locations. The illustrations on the left and right hand side at the top of the page also give a brief synopsis of volunteer requirements and organiztaion objectives.

Philip said that volunteers have to be at least 21 years of age and hold a valid Caifornia Drivers License. Although retired people currently fill most of the volunteer positions, the field is open to anyone within the above limits. Two or three of the current volunteers are actually City of Torrance employees. All volunteers get a regular Torrance Library Card that incorporates a special computerized profile that permits a six week check-out period rather than the normal three week period. The only exception to this ruling involves DVDs which still retain the normal check-out period of one week. As a City of Torrance volunteer, it is also a requirement that applicants obtain fingure prints at the Torrance PD prior to being allowed inside a patron's residence.

Patrons supply their volunteers with their own guidlines regarding the type of material that they are interested in; such as "Cosy Mysteries" and Polotcal and Film Star Biographies or Travel. They can also request works by specific authors or specific titles.

Philip Ross told me that he originally got involved about three years ago when the Torrance Public Library applied for a grant from the State Library that was ultimately funded by the Federal Government using funds allocated for "Improving Library Services for People with Diabilities". The Torrance Library Administration assembled a team of Librarians and Administrators to do tyhe research that was required prior in applying for the grant. One of the first outcomes of this grant involved the installation of special computers that are located upstairs at the library. Some of these provide the option of displaying large type and there is also a scanner that converts scanned documents into an audio voice file that can read aloud what is displayed on the page. Of course, this is for people that can actually make it to the library although they may be otherwise viually disabled. The "Home Confined" service was then added as a complementary option.