Personal Stories

Carl Keehn is the regional librarian for the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The post is a second career for the lifelong librarian who moved to North Carolina from the Prince George County Library System in Maryland. He worked there for 31 years, ending his tenure as the young adult unit head.

Carl just wanted to move closer to his aging parents in Brevard when he took the NCLBPH job. It was an open position he was well suited for, and so he moved to Raleigh in 2007 to assume the role of the assistant regional librarian. In doing so, he got a lot more than he bargained for and is grateful for the opportunity.

"It is so nice to work where people are grateful for what you do, instead of complaining all the time," Carl says. "Here, I really appreciate the patrons."

Carl's father was blind in one eye from a childhood accident, eventually losing vision in the other eye. Carl got him signed up for library services right away.  He tells his staff to treat every patron as if they were serving his father — because they very well may be.

"This has turned out to be a very personal job," Carl says. "Turns out there are very practical reasons for me to be here."

In his previous work, Carl did not encounter many people who were blind or visually impaired. He came to the job with some of the preconceived notions many people have about the blind. But he was quickly dissuaded from those stereotypes.

Gary Ray, president of the friends, was still working at the library when Carl started. "I was very impressed seeing the capabilities of Gary and other visually impaired people, and I continue to be impressed every day."

Carl appreciates the work of the 100-plus volunteers who serve the library every year and says that he strives to create an atmosphere where they want to come in. He says that every volunteer is his favorite.

The Friends provide a supportive relationship, Carl says, that he also values. He knows that many patrons feel more comfortable contacting the board than him directly with questions, and he appreciates when board members pass on member concerns and questions.

"The board also provides valuable financial support, but more than that, it's their outreach that really makes a difference," he says. "The board is made up of an outstanding array of people. It's just an incredible group of talented, dedicated individuals. I'm continually astounded by what we are able to achieve together."

- Carl Keehn, Raleigh, NC Deborah Barnes, known as Deb to her friends, has been a patron of the NC Library for the Blind and the Physically Handicapped since she was about eight years old. The Governor Morehead School where Deb attended had a wonderful library, but in the summer, books weren't available through the school. Her principal John Calloway helped her apply for services with the NC Library for the Blind.

This changed Deb’s life forever! One summer, she even got an award for reading the most books. And her love of books has never waned. Today, she downloads books directly from the National library's Braille and Audio Reading Download site, commonly referred to as BARD. Deb reads almost constantly when she isn't at work at the Library. She also teaches others how to download the digitally formatted books and helps them with the downloads when they get frustrated or think they can’t do it.

Deb was a part of the Friends of the NC Library for the Blind since its inception. She was once the Friends' secretary and is honored to still be a part of the organization. "Without the Friends, it would be a dark day for the patrons of our state," Deb says. "The Friends provide help in all aspects of the library's operation." Deb has seen first-hand some of the purchases made by the Friends, including embossers, Braille paper, and studio equipment. The Friends helped repair the embosser. During budget crises, the Friends even bought a tape, binders, and other supplies needed for the daily work.

Deborah Barnes is the Braille Coordinator at the library. The Friends and the library staff are very supportive of the work Deb does and she's excited about the job she has. "It's a fun job," she says. Deb has always been proudest of her ability to help those in need and feels it's a day well spent if she can bring happiness to someone by giving of herself. Helping patrons meet their needs for getting information or gaining access to Braille materials keeps Deb moving forward. She especially loves to help people who haven't been able to find assistance anywhere else.

Deb wants to continue to help people when she can and wants to see the Friends and the Library have a strong, positive relationship that will continue to benefit North Carolina library patrons.

Deb is a graduate of Campbell College and was in the Agency Counseling program at NC State University. She has worked in the secretarial field and in counseling and teaching.

- Deb Barnes, Raleigh, NC