Memorandum
South Dakota State Library
Braille and Talking Book Library
June 2000
Editor: Karen Knudsen
Patrons of the SD Braille & Talking Book LibraryBraille and Talking Book Library
June 2000
Editor: Karen Knudsen
This MEMORANDUM is our means of communication with our patrons. If you have any questions or comments you would like to address, or wish to have this memo in large print or braille, please contact Karen Knudsen.
If you wish to receive the next issue of the MEMORANDUM, please return this issue. If you don't want to receive future issues of the MEMORANDUM, please contact the Library at 1-800-423-6665 and ask for Karen Knudsen.
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR...Karen Knudsen
With the winter we have had, it does tend to make spring and then summer come faster. It is so nice to see flowers blooming and grass growing again.
It seems that every year that I work, the time flies by faster. There is always something to do here at work and then when you get home there is more work. As we grow older or should I quote my pastor wiser, that time which is a gift from God to each of us, does keep marching on.
We had a state and city wide volunteer appreciation day on April 12th for the many volunteers that give so freely of their time. The volunteer group that I work with thought we should try it this year. We had entertainment, door prizes and good food. Without our volunteers many library projects would not be possible.
I hope by now that most of you are outside enjoying the spring and summer days now. Please remember to honor our veterans and our loved ones on Memorial Day.
Please have a safe and happy summer. Remember that your cassette players are portable and can be taken outside with you. We hope you will use them as much in the summer months as you do in the winter months.
FROM YOUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR, DAN BOYD
The South Dakota Braille & Talking Book is a free library service providing recorded and braille materials to individuals who can not read standard print. The inability to read standard print may be because of a visual impairment that prevents seeing the print, a physical impairment that prevents holding a book and/or turning the pages, or a reading/learning disability caused by an organic dysfunction.
The program is administered nationally by National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (NLS). NLS is a division of the Library of Congress. Under a special exemption of the U.S. copyright law and with the cooperation of authors and publishers who grant permission to use noncovered copyrighted works, NLS selects and produces full-length books and magazines in braille and in cassette format. The reading materials are then distributed to a cooperating network of regional libraries that circulate them to eligible borrowers by postage-free mail. Network libraries offer many additional services that can include reference, reader advisory, alternative format textbook circulation, descriptive video circulation, production in alternative formats of materials not included in the NLS collection, braille production, cassette duplication, playback equipment management and repair, and children's summer reading programs.
Listed below are some program statistics for the past year that will provide you with an overview of your braille & talking book library.
- 4,300 registered borrowers
- 34,000 titles in our recorded book collection
- 184,360 total copies in our collection
- 91,000 total circulation average circulation per registered borrower
Hundreds of cassette books are repaired each month and hundreds of cassette copies of magazines and newsletters are produced each month.
This gives you some idea of what is happening each day at the library.
The South Dakota Braille & Talking Book Program is very fortunate to have a great staff. The staff understand and believe that this is your library and they have a responsibility to provide you with the best possible library service.
If you are ever in Pierre for any reason please stop at the library and we will give you a tour of our facility. The Braille & Talking Book Program is located on second floor of the SD State Library Building. The SD State Library building is completely accessible and is located north of the Capitol on Governors Drive on the state government campus.
TIDBITS FROM THE STAFF
From Judy's Desk
Descriptive Videos
For those who have not tried our Descriptive Videos, there is a treat just for the asking. Blockbuster movies are specially described for people who are blind or have low vision. Descriptive Video Service (DVS) carefully describes the visual elements of a movie such as the action, characters, locations, costumes and sets, without interfering with the dialogue or sound effects. To watch those movies, you need a regular VHS videocassette recorder (VCR) and a television. It you have a decoder most of the movies are also close captioned for hearing impaired viewers.
We have a few new titles available:
- Guitar Player - Andy Griffith
- Opie's Charity - Andy Griffith
- Gomer Returns A Week's Pay - Gomer Pyle
- Gone With the Wind
- The Wizard of Oz
- Mulan
From Jerry's Desk
Please give the cassette player on loan to you tender loving care. They cost $250 each and are made to last many years. Please return the player if you don't wish to use it any longer. It will be cleaned, repaired, and sent to another library patron. The machines remain the property of the Library of Congress and should never be sold, thrown away, or given to a thrift shop.
When moving, please contact us with your new address and phone number. If you aren't sure of your new address, we will put your account on hold.
Please remember to put your name and address on your request lists. We do receive some lists without a name and eventually they have to be discarded.
If you have any problems with the talking books you receive, please put an x on the return side of the mailing label and put a rubber band around the defective tape.
BOOK SELECTIONS FROM THE STAFF
RECOMMENDED READING:
The Braille and Talking Book Library contains a "South Dakota Collection". Some of the titles in this collection contain history of South Dakota. This collection also contains books that you, our readers, have expressed an interest in.
Some of South Dakota history titles that may be of interest to you are:
- SD003303 Douglas County: The Little Giant, By Robert Karolevitz
This book recognizes the first hundred years of Douglas County and celebrates its entry into the second century - SD003305 A Precious Legacy, By Clear Lake History Book Committee
A history of Clear Lake, South Dakota from 1884 to 1984. - SD003310 Fedora History: Territorial Days 1885
A history of Fedora, South Dakota and contains histories of such sites as the bank, post office, lumber yard, elevators, county schools, as well as family history of Fedora folks.
- SD003300
- Frontier Living , By Edwin Tunis
Describes the conditions of daily living, how it changes materially as men and women move the frontier westward and meet new conditions. - SD003307 Firearms, Traps and Tools of the Mountain Men, By Carl P. Russell
This book describes the mountain men, firearms of the beaver hunters, beaver traps and trapping. - SD003313 Three Against the Wilderness, By Eric Collier
Tells of the author and his wife as they try to rebuild beaver dams, re-introduce the beavers and reclaim once again the present wilderness of British Columbia to its former glory. - SD003331 The Contract Surgeon, By Dan O'Brien
Set in the Great Plains during the bloodiest periods in its history, this book tells of the bravery of a young man pulled West to be a surgeon for the U.S. Army and describes the Great Sioux War of 1876.
- SD003306 Millie's Book, By Barbara Bush
A dog, Mildred "Millie" Bush, came to live with Vice President and Mrs. George Bush. The dog dictates her adventure with the family to Barbara Bush. - SD003301 The Postcard, By Beverly Lewis
A religious inspirational romance tells the story of Rachel and a post card found in the crevice of an antique desk that reveals dark secrets and a lost love. - SD00332 The Voice of the Night, By Dean Koontz
Another "hair raising" novel of suspense author Dean Koontz. The book tells of adolescent evil of Roy and Colin. - SD003326 Alicia: My Story, By Al Appleman-Juraman
This book is a chronicle of survival during the Holocaust.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
- E-Mail by Telephone
Send & receive e-mail by telephone with Mail-Call. You don't need a computer for this. You do need an e-mail address and access to a telephone. If you don't have an e-mail address, they will provide one for you free. They also have a toll-free access number that gives access to the system all day every day.
Mail-Call delivers a user's e-mail in an easy to understand computer voice with user control of voice and rate of speech. You reply to any message just by speaking your reply message into the phone. You can also send your message to a fax machine. For a free demonstration call 888 462-4348. When the system answers and asks for an account number, just press the pound key on your phone to hear the system demo.
It is available anywhere in the U.S. and costs $.30 a minute. No contracts or monthly minimums are required. You pay for the minutes you use only. There is a one-time set-up fee of $2.50. The service is billed monthly to your credit card. To set up an account, call 900 299-4722, or visit the Web site www.mailcall.com. - I Can See Books
Presents Talking Typing Teacher (TTT), designed to help teach you to type or increase your typing speed. TTT has built in speech, so speech-output devices are not required. In most cases you don't even need a sound card. You do need and IBM-compatible computer (386 or faster), 2.5 MB of disk space, MS-DOS 4.0 or higher, and a 16-bit sound card (optional).
For more information, contact I Can See Books, 88 Captain Morgans Boulevard, Nanaimo, British Colombia, V9R6R1 Canada, phone (250) 753-3096. - Braille Fortune Cookies
Lucky touch Fortune Cookie Company, a student operated business, specializes in Braille fortune cookies. You can customize an order to fit your event, e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, conventions, seminars, holidays. Special orders require three months advance notice. Contact Lucky Touch Advisor, Judith Lesner, at (510) 794-3800, or California School for the Blind, 500 Walnut Avenue, Fremont, California 94536. - RFB Scholarships
Are now available. RFB & D's Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards are given to nine blind or visually impaired seniors at four-year U. S. colleges or universities. The Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Awards are presented to six high school seniors with learning disabilities. Competitions are open to active RFB & D members who have been registered for at least one year prior to the deadline, either individually or through their school, and who demonstrate outstanding scholarship, leadership, enterprise and service to others. For more information, call (800) 221-4792. The application deadline each year is usually the 3rd week of February. - Carved Art Puzzle
Katchina Internationale Inc. has available several different types of carved art puzzles-puzzles with raised pictures. The concept behind the puzzle is to memorize the puzzle pieces by touch, and put it together. They aren't recommended for children under age 3. The candle and eagle cost $5 each; the tulip, butterfly and hummingbird, $11.90 each; the maple leaf, hot air balloon and lighthouse, $15.60 each; and the Statue of Liberty, $25.80. This doesn't include shipping or taxes. For more information, call (819) 775-6181, or write to Internationale, Inc., C.P. 84062, Gatineau, Quebec J8P 7K8, Canada. - Bookkeeping System
Check Mate Plus is a DOS based, voice-friendly double entry bookkeeping system that has a quick and easy amortization table that computes the answers to mortgage and loan questions. It has full documentation and is for IBM-compatible computers only. Contact Robert Langford, 11330 Quail Run, Dallas, TX 752358; phone (214) 340-6328. - Ratchet Belts
Instead of holes, it has a ratchet type of device which adjusts easily to different sizes. It has 5 1/2 inches of ratchets compared with 4 inches of holes. The belt is leather, with a metal buckle. You may view the belt on the web at ratchetbelt.com. For more information, visit the web site, or write to Ko Am International Trade Co., 9332 S Steele St., Suite U-444, Tacoma, WA 98444; phone (253) 535-9261, or e-mail Ratchetbelt@aol.com. - Sports Lens
Digi has available several types of SportLens. You can wear them over glasses and with contact lenses, and do a variety of activities with them, including sailing, fishing, biking and more.
The SportLens comes in visor and cap bill styles, and in a variety of colors. The lens is scratch resistant, adjustable, easy to remove (thanks to Velcro) and clean, and fully ventilated. For more information, call toll-free (800) 750-3444. - Mini Notebook
Easier Ways recently came out with a new mini perma notebook for brailling telephone numbers, addresses, birthdays, appointments, etc. It is flat and fits easily into a pocket or purse. It comes with 50 sheets (3 by 5 inches, two-hole punched) of clear Perma plastic filler. It makes sharp braille. You can add or remove a sheet easily, and make quick entries without having to remove a sheet. For more information, contact Easier Ways Inc., 2954 Shady Ln., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126; phone (303) 290-0987 or e-mail Easier Ways@aol.com. - Scanacan
Is a new device which will allow users to identify their groceries and any other item with a standard bar code. Scanacan, in conjunction with an omnidirectional handled or mounted bar code scanner, keeps an inventory of what you have on hand. Simple commands will allow you to check what you have in your pantry, cleaning closet, music or video collection and much more. You can add, change, delete, look up or print your records. Adding records allows you to create your own database of favorite items. Changing records allows you to edit any existing records to update price changes or enter new information about the item. Deleting the records will not delete the bar code from the database, so you can re-enter it at any time. Hardware and software sold together or separately. Contact Ferguson Enterprises, 104 Anderson Ave., Manchester, SD 57353-5701; phone (605) 546-2366. - Portset Reader
Technologies for the Visually Impaired has a new reading machine available called the Portset Reader. It is a stand-alone scanner with speech built in. All you do is turn it on, wait for the announcement, lift the lid and place your print on the glass. Press the start key and within a short time the document will be read to you. You can select either a male or female voice for the reading function. The scanner can read a page size up to A4 (slightly larger than U. S. letter) with a type as small as 8 points. It weighs less than 13 pounds and measures 18 3/4 inches by 10 3/8 inches by 5 5/8 inches. For more information, contact the company at (516) 724-4479; e-mail tvii@concentric.net; or write to 9 Nolan Ct. Hauppauge, NY 11788. - Vision Tape Ministry
Is a free bimonthly mailing of 3 cassettes containing church, Christian conference sermons and special music. For more information, call Jack or Gwen Kinly at (334) 297-6432, or write to Vision Tape Ministry, 34 Ramsey Rd., Phenix City, Al 36869. - Talking Caller ID's
GTE Phone Mart has an ASTRA 990 talking called ID. It has 120 name and number storage, with full audio review. List price is $79.95.
Bell South also has a talking caller ID. The 95000 CW is call waiting compatible, stores 64 names and numbers, will speak caller's name if programmed, and speaks English or Spanish. List price is $99.96. Call 1-800-733-2355 for information. - Free Braille Books
Goosebumps and Baby Sitters Club books are available every month at no charge through a program sponsored by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults. Blind youngsters, teachers of the blind, schools and libraries serving the blind are eligible to participate in this program. Submit your request to participate in the free braille children's book series program, along with the student's or participant's name, birth date and parents names (if student); state whether you are a student, teacher, library or other; and give your address. Send it to: Free Braille Children's Book Series Program, American Action Fund for Blind children and Adults, 1800 Johnson St., Baltimore, MD 21230. - New E-Mail List
The braille-books list is a moderated e-mail list to announce the availability of newly brailled leisure reading books produced according to BANA standards for braille readers in the United States. Only announcements of in-progress or completed books will be approved; no files of books or discussions of books will be sent through this list. It isn't a substitute for listing books with Louis or any other index; it is simply a means for speeding up the distribution process. Subscribers are expected to adhere to current copyright laws. The administrators of the braille-book list are not responsible for the quality of the braille. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to braille-books-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and follow the instructions in the e-mail you receive. To read previous messages, visit groups.yahoo.com/group/braille-books/ - Online Store
Project ASSIST's Online Store is now open for business! You may purchase step-by-step tutorials and keyboard guides 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit www.blind.state.ia.us/assist. You may order a tutorial on cassette or download a tutorial and keyboard guide. Taped tutorials cost $35, downloaded tutorials cost $25, and the keyboard guides cost $5. Of course, you can still order a tutorial by calling (515) 281-1357 or mailing your order to 524 Fourth Street, Des Moines, IA 50309.
If you have any quested about what is available or general questions, call the number listed above, or e-mail ASSIST@blind.state.ia.us.
Favorite Authors
Starting with this issue of the Memorandum, instead of if you like this author, try these, we will be providing a list of authors that write certain subject books such as mystery, spy, romance, etc.
This quarter it will be authors that write Gentle Romance.
Faith Baldwin, Jo Beverley, Elizabeth Brodnax, Elizabeth Cadell, Philippa Carr, Barbara Cartland, Marion Chesney, Brian Talbot Cleeve, Catherine Cookson, Caroline Courtney, Clare Darcy, Diana Delmore, Jacqueline Diamond, Jane Duncan, Carola Dunn, Alice Dwyer-Joyce, Josephine Edgar, Joy Freeman, Jo Ann Ferguson, Anna Gilbert, Arlene Hale, Mollie Hardwick, Georgette Heyer, Grace Livingston Hill, Jane Aiken Hodge, Isabelle Holland, Victoria Holt, Susan Howatch, Eva Ibbotson, Anna Jacobs, Elisabeth Kidd, Elizabeth Law, Elsie Lee, Tina Leonard, Norah Lofts, Emilie Loring, Karen Lynn, Annette Mahon, Joyce Marlow, Barbara Metzger, Leigh Michaels, Kathleen Thompson Norris, Leslie O'Grady, Janette Oke, Rosamunde Pilcher, Millie J. Ragosta, Ellen Randolph, Miss Read, Renee Roszel, Sheila Simonson, Betty Smith, Joan Smith, D.E. Stevenson, Frances Temple, Agnes Sligh Turnbull, Patricia Veryan, Daisy Vivian, Beverly C Warren, Margaret Westhaven, Phyllis A Whitney.
Here are some Publisher's Series also: Avalon Romance, Harlequin Historical, Harlequin Romance, Serenade/ Saga, Serenade Serenata, Signet Regency Romance, and Silhouette Romance.
Internet Sources
Careers & Technology Information Bank (CTIB) is a network of visually impaired people from 50 states and Canada who use assistive technology at home, work or school. For more information, contact Jay Leventhal at American Foundation for the Blind, New York City, 212-502-7642; or e-mail: techctr@afb.net.
Here are some Internet Resources for Learning Disabilities (LD):
- LD Online covers all aspects of LD: www.ldonline.org
- National Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADD): www.add.org
- National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD): www.ncld.org
Magazines
Voice of the Diabetic is the free quarterly magazine published by the Diabetes Action Network of the NFB. It is an outreach publication emphasizing good diabetes control. The Voice is distributed free of charge to hospitals, physician's offices, diabetes treatment centers, pharmacies, rehabilitation centers, libraries and radio reading services for the blind, plus thousands of diabetics, both blind and sighted.
The voice is available in standard print and/or special audiocassette (recorded at 15/16 IPS for the blind). To receive a sample copy, to be placed on the mailing list, or learn more about them, contact Voice of the Diabetic, 811 Cherry Street, Suite 309, Columbia, MO 65201; telephone (573) 875-8911.
Recorded Periodicals, a division of Associated Services for the Blind, offers magazines on cassette for a subscription fee. They have a list of 25 periodicals, none of which are available from NLS on cassette. To obtain the list or ask for additional information, write to Recorded Periodicals, Associated Service for the Blind, 919 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 or call (215) 627-0600, ext. 3208.
AFB recently launched "AccessWorld: Technology for Consumers with Visual Impairments." This 32 page periodical will be available bimonthly in large print, braille, on tape and via the World Wide Web. A preview issue is available at www.afb.org/aw/main.asp. To subscribe, or for more information, call (888) 522-0220: click to www.afb.org/aw/or visit AFB's web site, www.afb.org.
Resource Guide
Resources for Rehabilitation recently published the third edition of its popular resource guide, "Meeting the Needs of Employees with Disabilities." It provides information to help people with disabilities retain or obtain employment. It costs $49.95 (including shipping and handling). For a complete list of publications and prices, contact Resources for Rehabilitation, 33 Bedford St., Suite 19A, Lexington, MA 02420; phone (781) 862-6455; or visit the website at rfr.org.
Catalogs
- Seedlings Braille Books for children has its 2000 catalog available. It includes many new books in braille, as well as print-braille and picture books, braille shirts and totes, and books that are going out of print. To request a copy of the catalog, call (800) 777-8552, or write to Seedlings, PO Box 51924, Livonia, MI 48151-5924.
- Alcoholics Anonymous now has information available in large print & braille. To receive a catalog or to request additional information, write to the General Services Office, Attn: Special Needs, PO Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163; or visit their website at www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.
Do you know your options for receiving SSI or other federal benefits? You can do a direct deposit. If you don't have a bank account , the U. S. Treasury Department has an electronic transfer account, which is a new low-cost federally, insured account. This account allows at least four cash withdrawals and four balance inquiries per month from a teller and/or ATM at the option of the financial institution. Or, if you prefer, you can still receive your monthly check.
To learn more about payment choices, contact the different agencies as follows: Social Security, (800) 772-1213; Veterans Affairs (877) 838-2770; Office of Personnel Management (888)767-6738; or Railroad Retirement Board, (800) 808-0772.
Medicare Publications
Several new publications are available in special format. The Medicare and You 2000 Handbook is in braille, large print and cassette. 1999 Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare is on cassette also. Cassette versions of both are available in English or Spanish. To request a copy, call the Medicare Hotline, (800) 633-4227.
Volunteer Interview
Our volunteer for this summer edition of the memorandum is Shirley Parkinson. She prepares newspaper articles and then reads the Rapid City Journal for us 2 days a week. She has been doing this faithfully for us for 6-7 years every Monday & Tuesday. Of course, she does take time off to go visit her kids who live in different parts of the USA and other countries.
Shirley was born in Bend, Oregon. She didn't give me a year here folks so you'll have to settle for the place.
Shirley has lived in Pierre from 1963-1973 and then from 1977 to date. When she wasn't living in Pierre she lived in Kadoka, Sioux Falls and Mitchell.
Besides volunteering here at the library she also volunteers at the following places: Parkwood Center, Cultural Heritage Center, Discovery Center, Domestic Violence Center, plus at the Capitol for the Christmas Tree Program.
Besides volunteering, she lists sewing, Bible Study, Prayer Groups, and singing in church choir as some of her other favorite things to do.
Many thanks from the staff for your help in our Radio Talking Book Program.
Reminder
Please remember to return your textbooks (large print, braille, recorded) as school is nearly finished for this school year. Also please get your orders for the next school year in.
Also if you have some regular reading books, magazines that you have had for a month or longer, please return them or call and we will extend the loan period.
Thank you!!!!!!!!
Trivia
Keep Swimming
Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl. One was an optimistic soul.
But the other took the gloomy view.
"We'll drown," he lamented without ado,
and with a last despairing cry,
He flung up his legs and said "Goodbye."
Quote the other frog with a steadfast grin,
"I can't get out, but I won't give in,
I'll just swim around till my strength is spent,
Then I'll die the more content."
Bravely he swam to work his scheme, and his struggles began to churn the cream.
The more he swan, his legs a flutter,
The more the cream turned into butter.
On top of the butter at last he stopped,
And out of the bowl he gaily hopped.
What is the moral? It's easily found...
If you can't hop out, keep swimming around!
Author Unknown
Random Acts of Kindness
I may have a brilliant mind,
A wonderful personality,
And a healthy body;
But if I am not kind to those around me, it does
No good.
I may have a good income,
A beautiful home,
And an expensive car;
But if I am not kind and generous in sharing them,
I don't make a difference in the world.
I may have great success
In my business or profession;
I may have power and influence
Over many people;
But if I don't treat people with kindness,
I am a failure.
Kindness is love in action,
Kindness is the pebble in the pond,
Whose ripples can change the world.
Having the faith to move mountains is great,
Having hope in bleak circumstances is wonderful,
But deeds of loving kindness transforms lives
And last forever.
I may have many wonderful qualities in my life,
But without kindness
They are not enough.
Paraphrase of 1 Corinthians
Joke for this Quarter
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal and a bottle of wine, they lay down for the night, and went to sleep.
Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend.
"Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."
Watson replied, "I see millions & millions of stars."
"What does that tell you?" Holmes asked.
Watson pondered for a minute. "Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?"
Holmes was silent for a minute, then spoke. "Watson, you idiot. Somebody has stolen our tent!!"
New Job Lingo Humor
When you read the job adds in the newspaper, please remember:
- "JOIN OUR FAST PACED COMPANY": We have no time to train you.
- "CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE": We don't pay enough to expect that you dress up; well, a couple of the real daring guys wear earrings.
- "MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED": You'll be 6 months behind schedule on your first day.
- "SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED": Some time each night and some time each weekend.
- "DUTIES WILL VARY": Anyone in the office can boss you around.
- "MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL": We have no quality control.




