BITS OF GOLD
A Department of the
Regional Library of the National Library Service
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
(NLS/BPH)
Volume 107, Number 2 November 2007
LIBRARIAN’S LOG: from the
desk of Christie Briggs, Regional Librarian.
CONNECTING
THE DOTS… 2007 OUTREACH TRIPS
The completion of our planned 2007 outreach trips
included
NEWSPAPERS
AND LIBRARY DOORS
What do they have in common? Newspapers and Library
doors open to provide access to information. Whether you choose to turn on the
radio, go online, call on the phone or receive your newspaper on your doorstep,
you have access to information. Whether you choose to pickup your audio books
at the library, receive them through the mail, or download them, you have
access to information. By doing this we all keep up on current events and stay
informed, as well as discuss and question what we read or listen to. The
Talking Book Library is fortunate to offer patrons a choice in newspaper
service, whether it is a free subscription to Newsline® , or a referral to free Radio Reading Service.
Because of
a misleading newspaper article that announced the Montana State Library would
be closing its doors, we have received questions over whether the doors of the
Talking Book Library would remain open to library patrons. Let me assure you that the entire Montana
State Library, including the Talking Book Library, continues to welcome patrons
to the Library Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Talking Book Library also offers tours,
but please do call for an appointment.
Let me take
this opportunity to answer patron questions we have received:
Will the State Library “close its
doors?” Absolutely not. The State Library is a public building and
will remain open to the public. The
State Library is currently examining changes in access to its print collection
as it works to make its state publications collection available digitally. Whatever the outcome of that decision, it
will not affect Montana Talking Book
Library patrons. For over 75 years, the
vast majority of MTBL’s services have been offered to our patrons through the
mail. We will continue to mail books,
magazines, and equipment, thanks to our six employees and 100 volunteers.
Are library collections changing? Always.
We have been able to add phone-in newspapers, downloadable Braille and
digital books and magazines in addition to online cassette book ordering
through our WebOpac.
We continue to strive to find better ways to bring you
needed information and materials from which you can choose to improve your
lives in this great home we share,
FUNDING
DIGITAL MACHINES
“That all
may read” is the mission of the
National Library Service and the Montana Talking Book Library. We continue to offer
FREE services to those who are eligible and want it. As we all work to level the
playing field with new technology opportunities for low vision and blind
patrons, we must continue to offer our services for FREE.
National Library Service employees have done a
superior job at evaluating what the “best” and most “cost effective” next step
in technology will be for the majority of all
As you read this newsletter, our U.S. Congress is hard
at work on appropriation bills with a goal for completion by the end of
November. A major portion (approximately
$12 million) of the original $19.1 million requested by NLS has “tentatively”
been approved. This still falls short of what is needed and necessary to carry
the National Library Service through its four year digital transition plan in
producing enough digital machines for all patrons nationwide by 2012.
It is our hope that patrons will support the full
National Library Service budget request of $19.1 million over four years
(or $4+ million per year) in the event you might be discussing or corresponding
with our
_________________________________________________________________
This photo shows the new digital talking book (DTB) machine
and the digital cartridge in the mailing container. The digital player is quite different from
the current player.
Some notable changes:
·
It is about
one-third the size and one-fourth the weight
·
Extra controls
allow bookmarking and searching on the advanced models
·
A sleep button
can be set to shut off the machine automatically
·
The control
button will announce its use and setting, if the cartridge has been removed
·
The digital
machine has no moving parts; the battery will have a longer charge cycle and
the audio has been improved
·
The player has a
USB port to play other audio files, such as MP3 files.
The cartridge is slightly smaller than a cassette, but
has these features:
·
The end of the
cartridge has a thumbhole to make loading easier
·
Most cartridges
contain an entire book, so no more changing tapes or getting tapes out of order
·
The cartridge
will only load one way
·
No rewinding is
required.
In March 2007 NLS stopped production of the current
machine, the C-1.
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON:
The Montana
Talking Book Library honored its volunteers at a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
at the Helena Elks Lodge #193 on Tuesday, September 25, 2007. The theme of the luncheon was “Volunteers –
The Essential Piece” and everyone enjoyed the puzzle decorations and
gifts.
Awards were presented to those with several years of
service-- 25 years-Donna Anders; 10 years- Bonnie Anderson, Dorothy Carpenter, Jim Daily, Brittany Eldredge,
Sharon Larson, Glen Rasmussen; 5 years- Al Adams, Sharon Koch, Bettye Madison, Lorna McMurray, Mike
Sullivan, Tom Tompkins. Diane
Gunderson, Coordinator of Volunteers, presented to Bonnie Anderson, Ed Canty
and Al Tompkins the Recording Team of the Year award. The Special Appreciation award was presented
to Jean Smith by
ABOUT
THOSE MAGAZINES:
Please return any magazine that comes from our
library; these are ones that arrive in plastic containers, including large
print Readers Digest. Cassettes and plastic
boxes are reused; the large print magazines are sent to other subscribers.
Magazines in paper containers do not need to be
returned.
Remember—if you subscribe to a magazine from MTBL, you
will not receive the next issue until the previous one is returned!
ITEMS
FROM THE
Know How to Cook?
If you have always wanted to run a cafeteria business,
Sam Hubbard: shubbard@shubbard.com or call 406-459-5971
The Montana Association for the Blind has 2008 large
print calendars now available for $3.00 each. Contact: Jerry
Hutch, 2008 Calendar Chairperson- 406-443-2947
NOTES
FROM THE READER ADVISORS:
We are asking Volunteers to call patrons about overdue
books, so if you have had some books since spring or summer, please return them
promptly! This will allow new books to
be sent. If you are not using your
machine, please return it to MTBL.
We are entering a busy time at MTBL. If your phone call to your Reader Advisor
goes to voice mail, PLEASE leave a message!
Include your name, city, and phone number—your call will be returned.
Otherwise, call back on our toll free number (1-800-332-3400) at your convenience.
Please help our volunteer tape inspectors with
incoming books by
a) Including all the tapes of the same book – the
number of cassettes is noted on the outside label of the box and is stated by
the reader at the beginning of each book.
b) Checking that all cassettes are from that
particular book. If you find a stray
cassette, call your reader advisor.
Rewinding the tapes is appreciated, but not essential.
PATRON
PICKS:
RC 59768 Start
Late, Finish Rich: a No-Fail Plan for Achieving Financial Freedom at Any
Age by David Bach.
RC 34546
RC 62834 1968:
The Year That Rocked the World by Mark Kurlansky. A political and social history of a
not-so-distant time.
RC 63761 Ninety Minutes in Heaven: a True Story of
Death and Life by Don Piper.
Non-fiction account of one man’s experience of heaven and return to
earth after a devastating automobile accident
RC 61789 Eat,
Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything across
….and what’s a list without a good western?…
RC 59299 Cutthroat Gulch by
Remember to order extra books for the holidays!
HOLIDAYS
OBSERVED: Library is Closed on:
Thursday, November
22 (Thanksgiving Day)
Tuesday, December
25 (Christmas Day)
Tuesday, January
1 (New Year’s Day)
Monday, January
21 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
Monday, February
18 (Presidents’ Day)
SMILING
RIGHT ALONG…
Groucho Marx said, “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s
best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too
dark to read.”
Address
Service Requested
This
newsletter is available on cassette, e-mail and large print upon request or
visit our website: http://msl.mt.gov/tbl
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LIBRARY
HOURS: Mon-Fri
8am-5pm |
PHONE
HOURS: Mon-Fri
9am-5pm |
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PHONE
NUMBERS: 1-800-332-3400 |
(in |
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WEBOPAC: http://klasweb.msl.mt.gov |
WEBBRAILLE: http://loc.gov/nls/braille
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REGIONAL
LIBRARIAN: |
Christie Briggs, cbriggs@mt.gov |
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COORD. VOL
/DIR RECORDING SVC: |
Diane Gunderson, dgunderson@mt.gov |
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COLLECTION
MANAGER: |
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MACHINE
LENDING AGENT: |
Lee Madison |
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READERS’
ADVISORS: |
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Patrons with last names
A-G contact: |
Linda Miles, lmiles@mt.gov |
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Patrons with last names
H-O contact: |
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Patrons with last names
P-Z contact: |
Lee Madison, lmadison@mt.gov |
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BITS OF
GOLD EDITOR: |
Sandy Stanton |
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For patron
requests or contact information, e-mail us at: mtbl@mt.gov |
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DISCLAIMER:
The products and services mentioned in this newsletter are for your information
only and do not imply endorsement by MTBL.
Thank you
for your
comments and suggestions.