NEWSLETTER

April 2011

Hello to all the Library's readers,

As you may know, the library has gone through great turmoil during the past year. The last assemblies held by the association were the arena for events that did not add much pride to this institute, which is so dear to the blind persons' community in Israel. 3 months ago, the representatives of the association have signed a recovery plan consolidated by the Registrar of Associations. As a result, the association has been granted a "Proper Management" badge of approval. Upon receiving the approval, the library's designated budget for the 2010 fiscal year has been advanced to the library and so, much to our delight, the threat to shut down the library has been removed.

On Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011 a general assembly of the members of the association was held. The agenda of that assembly included a ratification of the procedures in accordance with the recovery plan, the modifications and alterations made in the association's Set of Rules and further documents. In addition, the members of the association have elected a governing council, a chairman, a PR person and spokesman, a Technological committee, a Public Applications committee and an Audit committee. The assembly was conducted in perfect order, with all members taking part in the discussions held, asking questions in regard to the different documents and receiving full answers, in a civilized manner and with a display of mutual respect. Following this assembly, the association was granted, as above mentioned, a "Proper Management" badge of approval for 2011 and so the library will receive its budget from the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sports for the coming year as well.

Now, we are looking towards the future. We all want to promote the library and to lead it towards the use of cutting edge technologies. We are looking forward to cooperating with all the relevant elements in Israel, including other libraries, for the benefit of our readers.

We hereby deeply apologize for any offense caused to our readers, employees or other people who are in touch with the library, and to those people whose names were mentioned in the previous letter mailed to the readers. That letter did not add much respect to the library which is so dear to us!

We take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Uri Cohen, the former chairman of the library, for a term that lasted more than 30 years. During his term, the library saw progress in every aspect. New technologies were brought into use, the number of books increased, the library produced recordings of tens of magazines, newspaper articles and the like. The number of readers has grown and the extent of the services provided by the library has also seen great development. Uri Cohen's actions for the benefit of the library and for the welfare of its readers should be widely commended.

We all hope that the library will march on towards the future, while cooperating with all the relevant elements while pursuing an accelerated technological development for the benefit of all our readers.

Next year, the library will celebrate its 60th anniversary. We shall do our best in order to turn this 60th anniversary into an event that will promote the library, improve its financial status and its public image, and secure the position of this important institute as a central establishment for the entire community of blind and visually impaired in Israel.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank my fellow members of the new governing council: Sisi Ben-Simon, Dani Tayeb, Hava Lotan, Dalya Meizan, Yair Marcus, Elli Peled, Gil Shavit and Yoram Shilo, and the members of the audit committee: Ruth Fried and Avraham Kurtz.

I also wish to say a special thanks to the outgoing management headed by Mr. Gil Shavit, who remains with us as a part of the current administration. Gil Shavit has done wonders by keeping the library away from turbulence and by further promoting it.

I hope and believe that all of us, with our mutual cooperation, will promote the library for the benefit of the readers.

Best Regards,
Zvi Engel, Chairman of the Library's Management.