Eye on Gaston: Library Renovations and The Pillar of Enlightenment

The library is featured on this week's episode of Eye of Gaston. As the Main Library goes through major renovations, library staff are rethinking the library's spaces. This video gives a brief explanation of one of those parts of this ongoing project. Juan Logan's masterpiece, The Pillar of Enlightenment has been gifted to our friends at the Gaston County Museum of Art and History, where it can be restored and put on display for future generations to come. For more information check out the video and the press release below: 

FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 2021 

• Library donates Juan Logan Sculpture to Gaston County Museum to be preserved and displayed in area of prominence 

• Logan’s sculpture, Pillar of Enlightenment, was installed at Gaston County Public Library’s Main Branch in 1995 \

• Gaston County Library and Museum collaborate to make art accessible to public

Sculpture by Contemporary American Artist Juan Logan moves to the Gaston County Museum in Dallas from its original location at the Gaston County Public Library’s main branch. Before being displayed at the Museum, the sculpture will reside in the Museum’s newly renovated collection storage area on Dallas Cherryville Highway where it will undergo conservation treatment. “Public art requires a level of care that Pillar of Enlightenment has not seen in recent decades. Museum staff are keenly aware of the need to preserve this important work by Juan Logan and look forward to making it accessible to the public in a new setting” said Museum Assistant Director, Ali Pizza. Pillar of Enlightenment was commissioned by the library at the request of the Margaret McConnell Holt Estate to highlight a significant regional artist with the intent that it would be accessible for the public to appreciate and enjoy for generations to come. The museum intends to place the sculpture in an equally prominent location once conservation is finished so that the museum can interpret it’s meaning for visitors, and allow them to explore the sculpture themselves. Library Director, Susan McDonald, said of the donation of Pillar of Enlightenment, “the Library has been extremely appreciative and honored to be the display venue for Juan Logan’s work, as well as the works of many other artists. However, the Library is now facing a time of change in order to serve our patrons most effectively. We are restructuring our floor layouts and optimizing our space to meet the needs of diverse audiences. Having an opportunity to collaborate with the Museum, and to know that these works of art will be professionally cared for, interpreted, and made available for public viewing is the best choice for the artwork and in keeping with the gracious intention of the donors who gave them to the library.” The donation of the Logan sculpture comes at a time when Gaston County Leadership is striving for better collaboration between departments. Museum Director, Jason Luker, says “it has been very rewarding to work with the library on bringing artwork such as Pillar of Enlightenment into our care. It is our shared goal to preserve the art and history of this county and have it available for future generations to enjoy and study.” For more information, contact Alexandrea Pizza, Assistant Director, 704-922-7681 ext. 105 or Alexandrea.pizza@gastongov.com

Accessibility and the Library App

Many Libby updates throughout 2021 have been focused on improving Libby’s screen reader experience. OverDrive is partnering with Fable—an accessibility platform powered by people with disabilities—to interview blind and low vision users directly and hear their feedback on Libby’s user experience. Based on the feedback we’ve received so far and informed by industry standards, like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), we’ve made several improvements, including: Screen reader support: Low-vision and blind users can use screen readers to browse, borrow, read ebooks and magazines, and listen to audiobooks in Libby. Currently, Libby is tested with screen readers on the native mobile apps for iOS and Android, with plans to expand testing to desktop screen readers like NVDA and JAWS in the future. Read From Here: When using a screen reader, low-vision and blind users can enter "Read From Here" mode to have the text of an ebook or magazine read aloud. Navigation Bar labels: There's an option in the in-app menu to add labels beneath each of the navigation bar icons. Note: This setting is currently only available in the English language. Adjustable text size: Libby uses the text size setting of the user’s device and scales the text in the app accordingly. Users can increase the text size in ebooks manually. Adjustable playback speed for audiobooks: Users can choose from 48 speed settings to find the speed that best suits their needs. Keyboard shortcuts: Shortcuts in Libby’s ebook reader and audiobook player supplement the keyboard navigation. Lighting options: Libby uses the device’s built-in lighting setting and displays the app in light or dark mode accordingly. Users can also choose a lighting option (light, dark, or sepia) in the ebook reader manually.

Additional accessibility updates coming in early January 2022: Screen reader and voice control improvements: We are refining the labels and descriptions of all interactive elements, making it easier for users of assistive technologies to understand and interact with the app. Keyboard focus indicators: We are making improvements to help users navigate Libby with a keyboard or any other assistive technology that does not have a pointing device, like a mouse or touch controls. New accessibility features (under Settings > Accessibility Features): Reduce Color Variation: By default, Libby adapts to the colors of book covers and the user's active library. A new toggle will allow users to reduce such adaptive changes, favoring neutral colors with good contrast. Reduce Text Variation: The app uses a variety of font styles to convey meaning, such as italics for important actions. Users will be able to adjust this setting to simplify text styles. Reduce Motion: This setting will reduce most of the transitional motion in the interface. Users can also set this preference in their operating system or browser preferences, and Libby will apply it automatically. Reduce Haptics: On devices that support subtle vibrations (called haptics), Libby uses these to provide feedback on certain touch interactions. Users can either turn it off at the operating system level or in the new "Accessibility Features" menu. Orientation Locking: By default, Libby uses a "smart orientation" setting that chooses the device orientation that best suits the content. WCAG guidelines recommend that users should be able to override the default orientation of the app, which will be adjustable in the “Accessibility Features” menu. Full screen menus: The in-app menu will no longer open from the side of the app. Instead, it will open full screen. This makes keyboard and screen reader navigation more consistent and helps all users concentrate on the task they are trying to perform in the menu. Updated menu icon: The in-app menu button (currently ) will be changed to a familiar icon, providing a more intuitive navigation experience for all users.