Swedish Agency for Accessible Media

A Braille library was established in Stockholm in 1892 by Amy Segerstedt, director of Tysta skolan (lit. 'the Silent School'), a private school for the deaf. It moved into the same building as the Swedish Association of the Blind () in 1895 and was taken over by the association in 1912. The Swedish Association of the Blind began lending audiobooks in 1955. Library activities continued when the association changed its name to the in 1977. The Audiobook and Braille Library became an authority in 1980. When the agency was established, all books were transferred from the Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired to the agency, which thus became the lending center for audiobooks and braille books. On 1 January 2013, the Audiobook and Braille Library changed its name to ('the Agency for Accessible Media'). One of the reasons for the name change was that its assignment has been broadened from audiobooks and Braille books to include other accessible media. == Publications ==

Since 2015, MTM has taken over the state's responsibility for publishing and distributing easy-to-read literature and making easy-to-read news information available through the publication of the easy-to-read news magazine . The agency publishes three free publications, , , and . == Nordic cooperation ==

MTM cooperates with similar agencies in the Nordic countries: the Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille, Nota in Denmark, in Finland; and the Icelandic . An agreement was signed in 2009 which allows accessible literature to be shared between these countries. The agreement increases user access and also eliminates unnecessary duplication of work in creating accessible versions. == MTM's awards ==

MTM has two awards: ('Reading Ambassador of the Year') and ('Reading Gold'). The award is presented to a reading ambassador or narrator (for recordings) who has made outstanding efforts to promote reading in the care sector. recognizes organizations or institutions that do an excellent job of enabling people with reading difficulties or disabilities to read on their own terms. Previously, the Amy Award () and the Best Easy-Reading Library Award () were awarded, now combined and known as . Current awards ('Reading Gold') is MTM's accessibility award, presented to an individual or organization that has made an exciting or progressive contribution to accessible media during the year. Formerly known as the Amy Award, it is named after Amy Segerstedt, who founded the Association for Braille in 1892, a direct predecessor of MTM. Recipients • 2018 – The ('youth reading for the elderly') project by Helena Pennlöv Smedberg and Laven Fathi at Gottsunda Library in Uppsala • 2019 – The Sustainable Poetry project in Trelleborg, project leader Maria Glawe • 2020 – Eva Fridh and Martin von Knorring for a cookbook for the visually-impaired The award ('Reading Ambassador of the Year Award') is presented to a reading ambassador or narrator for efforts to promote reading in care for disabled or elderly people. Recipients • 2012 – Marie Schelander, Härryda • 2013 – Barbro Granberg and Helena Oskarsson, Piteå • 2014 – Ann Erixson, Halmstad • 2015 – Susanne Sandberg, Skövde • 2016 – Ingrid Jonsson, Lidköping • 2017 – Ingeborg Albrecht, Ystad • 2018 – Bitte Sahlström, Östhammar • 2019 – Agneta Json Granemalm, Ljungby • 2020 – Sebastian Åkesson Previous awards Amy Award The Amy Award was MTM's accessibility award, presented to an individual or organization that made an exciting or progressive contribution to accessible media during the year. In 2018, the Amy Award and the Best Easy-Reading Library Award were merged to form . Recipients • 2010 – Minabibliotek.se, six libraries in the Umeå region • 2011 – Komvux Kärnan in Helsingborg • 2012 – Heidi Carlsson Asplund, librarian and project manager • 2013 – Anna Fahlbeck, librarian, Linköping library • 2014 – Anne Ljungdahl, school library developer, Västerås • 2015 – Jenny Edvardsson, teacher at Wendesgymnasiet, Kristianstad • 2016 – Göteborg University Library's reading service • 2017 – no award Best Easy-Reading Library The prize was awarded to a library that recognized the need for easy reading among several target groups and actively worked with marketing and well-planned information about easy reading. Recipients • 2009 – Norrköping Library • 2010 – Sundbyberg Library • 2011 – Strängnäs Library • 2012 – Mjölby Library • 2013 – Värnamo Library and Gävle Library • 2014 – Halmstads Library • 2015 – Linköpings Library • 2016 – Tumba Library • 2017 – no award == See also ==