Prairie Trails Memorandum
South Dakota State Library
Braille and Talking Book Library
Fall 2001, Volume 1, Issue 3
Kathy Schreiber, Editor
Notes from the Director: Dan Boyd
In September, a survey was mailed to all patrons of the SD Braille & Talking Book Program. The Library of Congress requires a regularly scheduled survey of our library patrons about the services the program provides.

The responses that you provided on the survey are then compiled into a report. The survey document will now be reviewed by the library staff and becomes a plan for our use in striving to improve the quality of our services and/or providing new services.

The results of the survey will also be compared to the results of the 1998 survey. Some of the same questions appear each time we conducts a survey. This comparison provides us with an indication that services have improved and where we still have work to do.

In these notes, I will provide you with some preliminary information. In future issues of this newsletter, I will keep you updated on our progress in addressing all issues and suggestions from the survey.

The level of satisfaction with the program remains high. Over 88% are satisfied. This is a 3% increase over the 1998 survey.

More of our library patrons are allowing us to select books for them. 54% compared to 49% in 1998.

89% of those responding indicate that they are satisfied with the current library collection.

52% of the patrons did not know that the library would produce books on tape or Braille by special request. If there is a book you want to read and it is not available we will produce it for you to read. 23% of the patrons did not know that magazines were available in Braille or on cassette.

From these few statistics, you can see that while the satisfaction with the overall program is very good there is work that needs to be done.

I would like to thank you for participating in this survey. Your opinions are very important to us as we strive to provide you with the bets service possible from your library.

If you would like a copy of the survey results document in Braille, large print, or cassette please call the library and talk with your Reader Advisor.


Notes from the Editors
You will be noticing a few adjustments as we implement ideas and suggestions obtained from our recent survey. The modifications will be appearing over the next couple of issues. A few of the ideas were an inventory of our services available here at BTBL, listing the "if you like this author, try..." and highlighting magazines available.

One immediate change is, our newsletter is now available as a large print subscription, call to order yours today. If you have any suggestions or ideas you would like added, please give us a call.

Again, we want to thank you for you time and effort in participating in our last survey.

Wishing you the Best Holiday Season,

Kathy Schreiber


Jerry's Desk
The American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, KY records Newsweek and Reader's Digest and produces enough cassette tapes to send copies of each issue to anyone who requests them. The tapes are sent to reader directly from their offices in KY. The Talking Book Library lists both Newsweek and Reader's Digest as magazines we offer our readers, but all we actually do is notify the American Printing House when a request for either magazine comes in, send them the names of those who wish to stop receiving the magazines and notify them of address changes.

Once a year the American Printing House sends a letter to their subscribers asking for a donation and also asking if the subscriber wished to continue to receive the magazine. It is not necessary to send them a donation, but you must return the letter indicating you want to continue the subscription or they will discontinue it. We will be glad to restart any subscription that has been dropped, but if you don't return the letter to the American Printing House, you will miss some issues of the magazine. It usually takes up to six weeks to restart a subscription.


Gus Zachte Memorial Award
South Dakota Association of the Blinded honored Dan Boyd, Director of Informational Services, South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Library with the Gus Zachte Memorial Award. The plaque was presented at their annual conference. The award was for outstanding contributions to improving opportunities for the blind and visually impaired of South Dakota.


Mary's Desk
Our South Dakota collection contains books for all ages. You may enjoy reading books for younder readers as well as for adults. The following titles are some of the books in this collection:
  • SD003444 "Grandpa Told Me", Compiled by Brule County Historical Society
    Essays compiled by sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students of Brule County schools. The essay contest ran from September 1979, and ended November 16, 1979. The students wrote essays on the life of their Grandma and Grandpa, which were then compiled by the Brule County Historical Society.
  • SD003446 "Seaman: the dog who explored the West", By Gail Karwoski
    Recommended reading for grades four through seven. Seaman proves his value as a hunter, navigator, and protector while serving with the Corps of Discovery under the leadership of Lewis and Clark.
  • SD003448 "Sex and Salmonella", By Kathleen Taylor
    Plump, razor-tongued, forty something waitress Tory Bauer makes her living serving the local eccentrics at Delphini's main watering hole. Now Hamilton Bogner's International Extravaganza has brought new faces into town. Tory later sees a life swinging from a fun house beam. The police see nothing unusual about the carny's death but Tory thinks otherwise.
  • SD003277 "West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder", By Laura Ingalls Wilder
    Long letters to the authors husband reflecting her excitement of her experience on a visit to San Francisco in 1915. For junior high, senior high, and adult readers.
  • SD003283 "By the Shores of Silver Lake", By Laura Ingalls Wilder
    The story of the Ingalls family as they travel to North Dakota in the early days of the railroad. For junior high, senior high, and adult readers.
  • SD003286 "These Happy Golden Years", By Laura Ingalls Wilder
    Laura and Almanzo enjoy a romance while she teaches in the district schools. They marry at the end of the school year and begin a long and happy life together. For grades four to seven and older readers.
  • SD003287 "The First Four Years", By Laura Ingalls Wilder
    This is the story of Laura and Almanzo Wilder and their first years together on a homestead on the Dakota prairie in the late 1800's. For grades four to seven and older readers.
  • Other Laura Ingalls Wilder books in our collection include:
    • RC050921 "Little House in the Big Woods"
    • RC050922 "Little House on the Prairie"
Questions from our Readers
Why did I receive a book when I didn't order one and I had requested to be inactive?

When you are issued a Talking Book machine, it is with the understanding you will be using it to play Library of Congress books and magazines. The machine can be used to play other cassettes, but you have to order one Talking Book or magazine per year to be entitled to keep the player.

We try to contact users who have not had a book in the last 12 months. We sent letters, called and sent Talking Books to try to get a response. We found people were deceased and we were not notified. We found people had moved and did not notify us. Also people use the machine for everything but Talking Books and we explained the one book a year rule to them. We found some people were unsure who or where to call with questions.

We are here to assist and provide answers to any of your inquiries. Please use our toll free number 1-800-432-6665 statewide or 773-3131 locally to get your needed information.


Judy's Desk
Just in time for the Christmas season, new movies for your watching enjoyment:
  • Anne of Green Gables III
  • The Arrow
  • Beyond Justice
  • Big Bear
  • Cadillac Girls
  • The Company of Strangers
  • For the Moment
  • The Lotus Eaters
New for children are:
  • Little Bill
  • Franklin
  • Little Bear
  • The Rescue
  • Where Lucy Went
Educational movies are:
  • The Private Live of Plants
  • A Walk in your Shoes
Coming Soon:
  • Erin Brockovich
  • Gladiator
  • Meet the Parents
  • Toy Story II
  • The Matrix
  • Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Remember you may keep a movie for up to one week, but we ask that it be returned immediately after watching. The patron is responsible for payment if any damage occurs to the video.


UEBC Samplers Available
The Braille Authority of North America has produced sample materials on the proposed Unified English Braille Code (UEBC) for Braille readers, educators and transcribers in the United States and Canada to review and provide BANA with feedback. If you are interested in receiving a copy of either Sampler 1 or Sampler 2, and haven't already received on in the mail, you may request a Braille or print copy from the following sources:
  • Sampler 1 (literary Braille, non-technical material and simple math) Braille edition: Kim Carlson, Braille and Talking Book Library, Perkins School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472, 617-972-7249, website: www.perkins.pvt.k12.ma.us or e-mail carlsonk@perkins.pvt.k12.ma.us
  • Sampler 2 contains examples of technical material including algebra, calculus , chemistry, and computer programs written in the UEBC. To request a Braille copy of Sampler 2 produced in two Braille volumes contact: Eileen Curran, BANA Chair, National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115, 888-965-8965 or 617-266-6160 ext. 17, website: www.nbp.org or e-mail ecurran@nbp.org
For a print edition of either Sampler 1 or Sampler 2 (including original print and simulated Braille examples) contact Frances Mary D'Andrea, American Foundation for the Blind, National Literacy Center, 100 Peachtree St, Suite 620, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404-525-2303, www.afb.net or e-mail literacy@afb.net.

Canadian residents may request either print or Braille copies from Darleen Bogart, The Canadian National Institute for the Blind Library, 1929 Bayview Ave, Toronto, Ontario M4G 3E8, 416-480-7530, website at www.cnib.ca/library or e-mail bogartd@lib.cnib.ca.


Magazines Available
More than seventy magazines on audio cassette and in Braille are offered through the program. Readers may request free subscriptions to US News and World Report, National Geographic, Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, Sports Illustrated for Kids, and many other popular magazines. Current issues are mailed to readers at the same time the print issues appear or shortly thereafter. Magazines are selected for the program in response to demonstrated reader interest.

We will be featuring magazines that are available from NLS and by BTBL on a regular basis to assist our readers in making selections for subscriptions. The listing will show the number issues per year, type of media, and a brief description.
  • American Heritage, 8 issues/year, cassette
    America's social, educational, and cultural history.
  • Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact, 13 issues/year, cassette
    Short stories, novelettes, and features with science fiction themes.
  • Asimov's Science Fiction, 12 issues/year, cassette
    Short stories, novelettes, and features with science fiction themes.
  • The Atlantic Monthly, monthly, cassette
    Articles on politics and current issues; fiction by contemporary American writers.
  • Bon Appetit, monthly, cassette
    Cooking, entertainment, and travel; recipes from favorite and well-known restaurants.
  • Discover: The World of Science, monthly, cassette
    Articles on ecology, natural history, science, and technology; news on break throughs in science, technology, and medicine; book reviews, brain booglers (puzzles), and awards for technological innovations.
  • Braille Chess Magazine, quarterly, Braille
    Chess, news of current trends and competitions. (UK)
  • Good Housekeeping, monthly (plus special issues), cassette
    Articles on family and home management, with features on food and decorating.
  • True West , monthly, cassette
    Nonfiction articles about the Old West, written by historians and western buffs.
Attention Circulated Magazine Patrons
The circulated magazines, such as South Dakota Magazine, Inside the Black Hills, country Music, Good Old Days, Southern Living, and Dakota Farmer are a few of "on loan" magazines we distribute.

Please return these magazines within thirty days. We reuse the cassettes and mailing containers to send other magazines you have requested. A good rule of thumb is, if the mailing container has a turn-around card similar to the books you receive, turn the card over and return the magazines as quickly as possible. This will speed up the process of sending you other magazines.

If you have questions, please call you reader advisor at the library 1-800-423-6665.


Students To Design Talking Book Machine
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) and the Industrial Designers of America (IDSA) are challenging student designers to create the next generation of digital talking book playback machines.

The student design competition will begin January , 2002 and awards will be made during the national conference of IDSA in July 2002. The goal is to design a unique product that will help thousands of people who are visually impaired or disabled enjoy books and magazines.

A million new machines will be produced in the first 10 years after introduction. The digital playback machines will be specifically tailored for people with disabilities, and must adhere to the principles of universal design. For more competition details, visit www.idsa.org


Are your Books Overdue?
With the exception of books sent to institutions and for extended use by students, we ask that you keep the books no more than 6 weeks. We ask this for two reasons.

We have a limited number of books that must be shared by all patrons. When popular books are our on loan for extended periods our ability to provide high quality service to our patrons is reduced.

Most borrowers receive more books only as they return the ones they have, so your own service will suffer if you keep the books for a long time.

Enjoy the books we send, but please think of the other borrowers who have requested those books, and return them as soon as you have finished with them to receive more.


Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration is undoubtedly the most common disability noted on new applications for our library service. We also know that it is the leading cause of visual impairment among those over the age of 60. The Library has several books about macular degeneration that are new to the collection since the last column on this topic in the Dec, 1999 issue of Talking Book News.

Jean Smith has been a director of support groups for visually impaired people since 1983. She shares some of her thoughts and observations in So You Have Macular Degeneration (AZC2128). Chet Cunningham's The Macular Degeneration Handbook (RC48616) explains basic care and traditional treatments for macular degeneration and other eye conditions. Cunningham includes alternative approaches such as diet, vitamins and minerals, and proper nutrition. Macular Degeneration: Living Positively with Vision Loss (RC47973), by Betty Wason, covers much the same ground, but includes case studies of patients, coping mechanisms, and sources of help. Former editor and ambassador Henry Grunwald describes his life after developing age-related macular degeneration in Twilight: Losing Sight, Gaining Insight (RC49236). He admits that the emotional effects of macular degeneration are profound, but advised disabled people to stay involved in the world.

Some types of macular degeneration are not age-related, but have an early onset during the teen years. Olympic runner Marla Runyon impressed the world last summer with her courage and achievement and the network gave a fair amount of air time to her visual disability as they did in earlier Olympic years to skater Nancy Kerrigan's mother, who was also visually impaired. We have a couple of books by authors with the juvenile from of the disease.

Georgina Kleege was diagnosed with macular degeneration at the age of 11. Now a professor, Kleege writes about her experiences as well as the cultural aspects of blindness in language, film, and literature (Sight Unseen, RC48328). Jim Stovall, who was blind before he age of 30, encourages others to achieve their dreams, using examples from his own life. In You Don't Have to be Blind to See (RC46869), Stovall suggests that people can succeed by changing the way they think.

Irwin and Emily Whitaker of Tucson co-wrote a fascination article about Charles Bonnet syndrome, a condition of sporadic visual hallucinations that sometimes occurs in those with macular degeneration (AZC2424). The syndrome was first defined in 1760 but remains relatively unknown in the medical community. Mr. Whitaker first experienced the syndrome many years after the onset of his blindness and luckily was diagnosed correctly almost immediately. Another discussion of Charles Bonnet syndrome is included in Macular Degeneration: The Complete Guide to Saving and Maximizing Your Sight by Lylas and Marja Mogk (RC48615), and the authors also discuss many other aspects of macular degeneration including vision rehabilitation programs, coping skills, depression, and treatment and research. Call or write your reader advisor to order these or any other talking books about macular degeneration.


Knitting Patterns on Audio Tape
Crocheting and knitting patterns are available on audio tape. Patterns are read by a knowledgeable craftsperson with row-by-row guidance. Select from our pattern library, or send your favorite pattern. Contact Janet at (215) 412-0466, or e-mail arlene@concentric.net


Tips for Better Service
  1. Put a return address sticker directly on the request lists that you send us. Sometimes there's no name on the request lists we receive and some we just can't read.
  2. Do NOT put notes in the book or magazines containers. There's no guarantee that when we find the note we will know who wrote it or to what it refers.
  3. DO call the library or send a note through regular mail or email if you want to request books by a certain author, change your address or make another change to your service.
  4. Do NOT refuse mail. Refusing mail may result in halting all your service from the library.
  5. Rewind any tapes that you did not read all the way through on all four sides. To be sure a tape is rewound, place it in your cassette player with side one up and push the rewind button.
  6. Let us know when you move or get a new phone number.
  7. Let us know if your interest areas change or you're getting to few or too many books.
  8. Return each book as soon as you finish it. If you keep a nice flow of books going to the library, there will be a nice flow of books going to you too, and you won't run out of books.
  9. Please keep food, drink, and heat sources away from your cassette player. All those things damage your machine and shorten its life.
  10. Do keep our toll free number handy to call to allow us to service you better. 1-800-423-6665.
Recordings for Recovery is a music lending library. You may borrow music from the 1900's to the present including ethnic, religious, classical, music to exercise to, and specialty tapes. Order cassettes through their toll-free number (1800-798-1192) or their website www.r4r.org. Call to request their print or recorded catalog of over 900 selections or to receive a membership and order tapes. A one-year individual membership is $10 or for a facility $25.


2001 Calendars
There are a number of sources for year 2001 calendars. Listed below are some of them.
  • American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, 18440 Oxnard Street, Tarzana, CA 91356 or call 818-343-2022. They provide a free 6x6 inch Braille calendar featuring one page per month and a listing of major holidays. They accept orders by mail only.
  • American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206-0085 or call 800-223-1839. They offer a 16-month large type/Braille calendar with months, days, holidays, and moon phases appearing in Braille and large type for $6.50.
  • Big Type Company, 4701 West Mill Road, Milwaukee, WI 53218 or call 00-933-1711. They sell all large print desk calendar, which opens to 11x 17 inches and uses a 42-point type. They accept Visa or MasterCard in orders by phone or by mail. The cost is $10.95 plus $2.50 for shipping.
  • The Blind Association of Western New York, 1170 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209-0398 or call 1-716-882-1025. They accept prepaid orders by phone only. They sell a Braille desktop calendar, which measures 5 3/8 x 8 1/2 inches, has a hardboard base, 2 days per page, with the months separated by dividers. New calendars are $33.00 with refills selling for $27.50. Shipping is extra.
  • John Milton Society for the Blind, 475 Riverside Drive, Rm 455, New York, NY 10115 or call 212-870-3336. They provide a free 12 1/2 in by 10 1/2 in Braille calendar featuring a motto on each month's page. They accept orders by phone, or by mail.
  • The Lighthouse of Houston, Attn.: Sales Shop, 3602 W Dallas St., Houston, TX 77019 or call 713-527-9561. They take orders by mail or phone. They offer an 11 by 17 in large print calendar for $5, which includes shipping. Credit Cards are accepted.
  • National Braille Press
    • , 88 St. Stephen St., Boston, MA 02115 or call 800-548-7323. They accept credit cards. They sell an 8 1/2 by 11 in print-Braille Winnie the Pooh calendar for $10.99 which includes shipping.

Holiday Closings
Here is a listing of the holidays BTBL will not be open. Please place your book orders to allow for closures.
Christmas, Dec. 25
New Years, Jan. 1
Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 21
Presidents Day, Feb. 18

New Braille Music Curriculum
Dancing Dots, developer of GOODFEEL, the world's first Braille music translator, has taken another step in the advancement of music opportunities and independence for blind and low vision students and professionals worldwide. Working with author Richard Taesch of the Southern California Conservatory of Music, Dancing Dots has published "An Introduction to Music for the Blind Students: A Course in Braille Music Reading" to meet the basic need of blind music students to become literate in music Braille.

Lessons and supplemental exercises are applications of the course which has been the official curriculum at the Southern California Conservatory of Music -- Braille Music Division for over five years. Taesch, the author of the curriculum, has chaired the guitar department at the Conservatory since 1976 and is certified by the Library of Congress as a music and literary Braillist.

"An Introduction to Music for the Blind Student" has a retail price of $299 for three print and four Braille volumes. Further information on ordering the course in Braille music reading is available by contacting Dancing Dots, Braille Music Technology at (610)783-6692.


Why Rewind?
Each cassette book is opened and examined when it is returned. The books are checked for completeness, for damage, and to see if all the tapes have been rewound. We must rewind each cassette that is not rewound completely. You can play an important role in maintaining good service by rewinding every cassette when you have finished listening to it. PLACE THE BRAILLE SIDE UP: PUSH REWIND BUTTON.

Placing the tapes in the box in the proper order will also save staff time. Rewinding and correct placement can prevent damage to the tapes while in transit. Your help in caring for the cassettes is a valuable asset and is greatly appreciated.


Wishing your a very joyful holiday season from the staff at BTBL.


Prairie Trails Memorandum
The Prairie Trails Memorandum, is published quarterly, is our means of communication with our patrons. The Prairie Trails Memorandum is available in Braille, Cassette or on a diskette upon request and is also posted on our website.

If you have any questions or comments you would like to address, or wish to request this newsletter in alternative format, please contact the Braille and Talking Book Library.

The Braille & Talking Book Library does not endorse any product or service listed in this newsletter.

Kathy Schreiber, Educational Materials Coordinator, Editor

605-224-4914 or 800-423-6665