Prairie Trails Memorandum
South Dakota State Library
Braille and Talking Book Library
Winter 2001, Volume 1, Issue 4
Kathy Schreiber, Editor
From the Desk of Dan Boyd
In 1995 the first focus on Success conference was held. This conference was a joint project of the South Dakota Braille && Talking Book Library, South Dakota School for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired, National Federation of the Blind of South Dakota, and the South Dakota Association of the Blind. All of these agencies and organizations worked together to develop and host this conference for the blind and visually impaired. This conference included programs for blind && visually impaired individuals, educators, and other that provide training and/or other services to the blind & visually impaired of South Dakota.

In the evaluations of the 1995 conference those attending stated they wanted a conference like this every few years. This same groups of agencies and organizations has decided to host another Focus on Success Conference. The only difference is that his will be a regional conference. Attendance will be open to people from the surrounding states.

The planning committee has just started to meet. If there are topics that you would lie to see presented at this conference please call on of the agencies organizations listed about.

The themes for this conference will be Adult Services, Transition (youth of all ages), and Employment Services. In addition to the presentation there will be an exhibit area for displays and demonstrations of all types of aids, appliances, and technology plus other resources.

Presenters will be selected based on recommendations from others in that particular field. Presenters will include both regional and national experts in all areas to be covered by this conference.

More information will be provided as the work of the Planning Committee moves forward.

So, get ready to mark your calendar!! This conference will be held in Rapid City in 2003. Tentative dates and location have been set. As the dates, location, and presentations for this conference move forward we will keep you informed.


Notes from the Editors
Early Spring Cleaning
As we get close to the end of winter, we would like to make a request to all our patrons. Do an early spring cleaning! Go through all the books you have checked out, and send back the ones you've had for more than 60 days. Numerous books have to be written off as lost every years, because they never make their way back to us. Many new patrons never return the first six books we send them, as as a result, never get nay new ones to replace them.

I would also suggest that if you have on e of the old record players, and you aren't' using it, send it back. Why not cleans out all the old-stuff -- thing of all the room you'll have for the new! THINK SPRING!!!


Alexander Scourby Awards
The American Federation for the Blind has presented annual awards since 1986 to honor excellence in the narration of Talking Books. The awards are named in honor of the late Alexander Scourby. AFB's most popular narrator of all time. This year's fiction award went to Eric Sandvold, who has narrated almost 300 books and thousands of magazine articles at Talking Book Publishers, Inc. in Denver, CO over the past 10 years. His recent narration of all four of the Harry Potter books was masterful, requiring a multitude of voices for the diverse unconventional characters that inhabit Harry's world.

Bill Wallace, also from Talking Book Publishers, was the winner in the nonfiction category. He has received other recognition for his narration in the past, including the TORGI Talking Book of the Year Award in 1996 for his narration of Den of Lions (RC 373321) and a Audie award for the commercially produced Old Man Thunder: Father of the Bullet Train.

A special nonfiction American history award was given to Robert Sams, a narrator at Potomac Talking Books Services in Bethesda, MS. Since 1991 Mr. Sams has recorded more than 100 books of fiction and nonfiction, including several books about America's railroads, the most recent being The Empire Express by David Haward Bain (RC50430).


Mary's Desk
Our South Dakota collection contains books written by South Dakota authors, books about South Dakota, or books requested by our readers. The following titles are the latest books we have added to the collection:
  • SD003450 Last Grass Frontier By Bob Lee
    This is a big story -- the story of the cattle industry in South Dakota. It is the story of a big country and of big people. It is a story of men and women whose stature grew diminished in size in relationship to their character and stamina within the framework of a trackless sea of grass.
  • SD003451 Horse Sense and the Human Heart By Adele Van Rost McCormick, Ph.D.
    The book talks about what horses can teach us about trust, bonding, creativity and spirituality.
  • SD003453 How soon can you Get Here, Doc? By David Wynia, D.V.M.
    The author writes of this experiences in veterinary medicine over the Great Plains of South Dakota over the last 33 years. His motto is "I will treat anything that is not human." Needless to say this attitude has gotten him into some rather strange situations over the years.
  • SD003454 The Redemption of Sarah Cain By Beverly Lewis
    A thoroughly modern woman, Sarah had ridiculed her sister's choice of a plain life-style that served only to intensify the lifelong rift between them. Now, twelve years later she is stunned by the news of her sister's death, and baffled by her choice of guardian. How can she sacrifice her successful career to raise her sister's children?
  • SD003455 Scotty Phillips: The Man Who Saved the Buffalo By Wayne Lee
    The book tells how James "Scotty" Phillips came to America from his native Scotland in 1874 when he was 16. It gives the history of him looking for gold, and his series of adventures as a teamster, cowboy, rancher, and freighter. The book includes his family life as well as how he saved the buffalo.
  • SD003456 Three Road to Alamo By William Davis
    This is a definitive book about the lives of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis- the legendary frontiersmen and fighters who meet their destiny at the Alamo in one of the most famous and tragic battle sin American history - and about what really happened in the battle.
  • SD003457 The Reckoning By Beverly Lewis
    Katherine Mayfield, the new mistress of Mayfield Manor, always dreamed of a fancy "English" life. But as the seasons pass, she finds herself missing her simple Amish family and friends. Katherine finds solace in volunteering with hospice patients. Unknown to Katherine, her long lost love, David Fisher, is looking for her.
    This is the third title in the sequel "Heritage of Lancaster County". The first two books are: SD003349 The Shunning and SD003351 The Confession.
  • SD003458 My First World By Edward F. Keller
    The author tells of 28 families he grew up with in Strasburg, North Dakota in the 1920's and 1930's ; how he lived, worshipped, worked and attended schools. It tells how his ancestors came from Germany to Russia and from Russia to Strasburg. The 28 families are names and their farms are located on a map.

Questions from our Readers
When I play a tape my machine sounds like the "Chipmunks". What should I do?
First check the controls on your talking book machine, make sure that the top control (Variable Speed Control ) is pushed all the way to the left. Next, check the top rocker switch that rocks from left (15/16) to right (1-7/8) should be pushed down firmly to the left. If this does not fix the problem, try taking the tape out of the machine and giving tit a couple of sharp raps on both sides of the cassette on the tabletop. Static electricity builds up as the tape is playing and causes a problem with the tape speed. If this tape speed still sounds bad, give us a call for a new machine.

If you have any questions or suggestions you would like us to answer, please drop us a line for give us a call.


NLS Web Site
The NLS web site has been redesigned recently for clarity and ease of use. Talking Book Topics and many other NLS publications are available on the web site, including eight volumes of Cassette Books published since 1993, reference materials, subject bibliographies, newsletters, and reports on the progress of the NLS Digital Talking Book Program. Readers will also find a simplified online search for the NLS catalog. Because of the time required for production processes that follow final editorial review, TBT is usually posted on the web site several weeks in advance of its availability in print, recorded or diskette versions. For easy access use our B&TB web server on our home page, you can find NLS under links in the sidebar menu. Website: www.loc.gov/nls


Music
Music is not available from this library. There is however, a special music library maintained at the National Library Service in Washington, DC. The collection contains music education materials and instruction such as Braille music scores and Braille books about music; large print music scores and large print books about music; recorded self-instructional courses, books, and other material in record and cassette formats/ Please contact us if you are interested in this material and we will facilitate your contact with the National Library Services or call direct at 1-800-424-8567.


Judy's Desk
Since 1986 Descriptive Video Service (DVS) has been turning pictures into words enabling thousands of people who are blinds or have low vision to more fully enjoy television and movies on video. The DVS production team weaves carefully crafted descriptions of a program or movie's key visual elements into the natural pauses of the program or movie dialogue. There's something of interest for people of all ages!

Today DVS description is available on some of public television's finest series including:
  • Mystery!
  • The American Experience
  • Arthur
  • Kratts' Creatures
  • Nature
  • Scientific American Frontiers
Select episodes of:
  • Mobil Masterpiece Theatre
  • Nova
  • Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
And some of the best classic films ever made thanks to the Turner Classic Movies cable channel; and on over 200 popular home videos.

More than 200 described movie titles are now available from DVS Home Video®. No special equipment is required, only a standard TV and VCR are needed to enjoy home videos. All videos are sold at the suggested retail price, there's no additional charge for the description. Describe movies are also available on loan from more than a thousand public libraries.


The Bible on Cassette
If you are interested in having a free copy of the Bible on cassette which you can keep, we can obtain one for you from Aurora Ministries in Florida. The complete Old Testament and new Testament, New Kind James Version, is now available in English; they also have a "tone-index" feature to help you find your desired place more easily on the cassettes/ The complete New Testament available while many other languages. Some languages have a partial Old Testament available while other languages have the complete Old Testament. Aurora ministries also has various Bible studies available on cassette. For more information on these tapes, please call the library; the signature of a librarian or other certifying authority is necessary to request the tapes.

Bibles and other Sacred Writings in Special Media
NLS has published a Reference Circular, which provides information on obtaining Bibles and sacred texts of many world religions, in a variety of languages, translations, and versions. Commentaries, concordances, liturgies, prayer books, hymnals, and magazines are also listed. The information is taken from descriptive brochures provided by the publishers and suppliers of the items cited. If you are interested in locating a copy of the Bible or other sacred writings for your own personal use please request a choppy of this circular from the Reader Advisor.


Magazines Available
  • Foreign Affair, Quarterly, cassette
    Statesmen, diplomates and scholars analyze issues and trends in international politics, law, and economics.
  • Good Housekeeping, monthly (plus special issues), cassette
    Articles on family and home management, with features on food and decorating.
  • Harper's Magazine, monthly, Braille
    General culture magazine with articles by well-known writers on politics, international affairs, education, and science; includes short stories, satire, and poetry.
  • Health and Nutrition newsletter, monthly, cassette
    Articles on medical conditions of special interest to older adults; nutritional information, and ways to maintain good health from Dr. Andrew Weil's Self Healing, Health Line, The John Hopkins Medical Letter-Health after 50, and Nutritional Action Health Letter.
  • Health Newsletters, monthly, Braille
    Current health concerns, medical information, nutrition, and stress management from Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter.
  • Journal Francais, monthly, cassette
    In French, Articles of Franco-American culture, current events, religion, business, and history of interest to French-speaking Americans and students of the French language.
  • Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, monthly, Braille
    General-interest articles on managing finances, including taxes, investments options, real estate, insurance, and retirement planning.
  • Ladies' Home Journal, monthly, Braille
    Articles and fiction intended for women; includes household hints, recipes, and ideas on fashion and beauty.
  • Magazine of the Month, monthly, cassette
    Special NLS program designed to provide a limited substitute for newsstand browsing; readers are sent a different sample magazine each month.
  • Martha Stewart Living, 10 issues/year, Braille
    Recipes, gardening, crafts, collectibles, reminiscence, home keeping, and home entertaining.
Links to Disability Web Servers
An alphabetical list of web servers concerning the visually impaired and physically handicapped.
Newsline
National Federation of the Blind NEWSLINE goes nationwide as of March 1, 2002 to all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. NFB-NEWSLINE transfers the archived text of the newspapers into synthesized speech which eligible patrons may access from any touch-tone phone.

Patrons of this newly expanded free library service will now dial the toll-free number, 1-888-882-1629, to access this service. From the Wall Street Journal to USA Today, the Milwaukee Journal to the Los Angeles Times, NFB-NEWSLINE offers a choice of 50 daily papers and Sunday papers.

To be eligible, library patrons must be blind or visually impaired, and have subscribed to this free service through a NFB-NEWSLINE application. (Patrons who have previously signed up for NFB-NEWSLINE will continue to use their assigned ID number and security codes for the expanded service.)

To request an application for NFB-NEWSLINE, contact your state library for the blind or the National Federation of the Blind at (406) 659-9314, ext. 356. (This is not a toll free number.) Applications are also available on the web site, www.nfb.org


Braille Bits
The Braille Trail is a nifty packet that is filled with information, games, exercises, things to do and other resources that can help sighted children learn about Braille. Appropriate for older elementary and junior high age, it includes fact sheets on Braille codes, Braille technology, pursuing a career in the blindness field, and related topics. The packet is available at no charge from the American Foundation for the Blind National Literacy Program, 100 Peachtree Street, State 620, Atlanta, GA.


Jerry's Desk
Tips for Better Service
The loan period for books is six weeks for individuals and three months for institutions. The loan period for circulating magazines is two weeks. The loan period for DVS movies is one week.
  1. Always notify the library if there is a change in you address or phone number.
  2. If you want to put a temporary stop on your library service, call us at 1-888-388-2460.
  3. Always pur your name, address, and phone number on ALL communications with the library, including letters (both print and Braille), emails, and phone messages.
  4. Please do not put notes in the books or mailing containers.
  5. If you have a damaged cassette or book, please put a rubber band around the tape that is bad inside the box. Also, please write "damaged" on the mailing card after it is turned over and is ready to come back to the library.
  6. Please DO NOT put string, rubber bands, or twist ties on the outside straps of the damaged book containers.
  7. If you want another copy of a book that is damaged, please call the library at 1-888-388-2460. We do not automatically send replacement copies for damaged books.
  8. Please save the box in which your equipment is shipped in case you need to return it to the library.
  9. If you have a problem with any of our equipment, call us at 1-800-423-6665 before you return it for repair. If you do return a piece of our equipment for repair, please put a note inside the box with your name, address, phone number, and a brief description of the problem you are having. To return a piece of equipment, either use the mailing labels included in the box, or for boxes with see-through sleeves, just flip the mailing card so that the library's address is showing.
  10. Please check to make sure you have put all the tapes for the book back in the box before you return it to the library.
  11. Please rewind all tapes before putting them back in their mailing containers.
  12. Please do not put any adhesive tape on book mailing containers.
  13. We need to know the grade level for all our younger readers, Please call us each fall and let us know.
  14. You must read at least one book per year, or subscribe to one magazine in order to remain active with the library. Receiving Prairie Trails Newsletters or Talking Book Topics does not count toward service activity.
  15. Return your library books as soon as you finish reading them.
  16. Most library publications such as newsletters and catalogs are available in several formats. If you have trouble reading the publication you are getting, call us to see if we have it in another format.
If you have any questions or concerns please call your reader advisor 1-800-423-6665.


Understanding Terrorism and the Afghanian Conflict
  • RC 50889 Afghanistan, By Sharifah Enayat Ali
    Describes the geography, economy, and culture of the nation of Afghanistan - a country on the crossroads between Europe and the Far East. Traces its history up to 1992, when the Islamic state was established. Grades 5 to 8+
  • RC 48185 The Taliban: War, Religion, and the New Order in Afghanistan, By Peter Marsden
    Examines the beliefs and policies of the Taliban and their rise to power. Discusses the gender issues and how it affects the interactions of the Taliban and the international community.
  • RC 28552 Terrorism: A Special Kind of Violence, By Margaret O. Hyde
    Discusses terrorism, its historical origins, its motivational forces, and its increasing frequency. Also includes a psychological portrait of the typical terrorist. Junior/Senior High+
  • RC 49535 Tournament of Shadows, By Karl Ernest Meyer
    The author chronicles the struggle between Great Britain and Russia over control of central Asia. Examines the activities of adventures, explorers, and statesmen, in Tibet, Lhasa, Afghanistan, and surrounding area, who spied for their respective countries.
  • RC 23356 The New Terrorism: Politics of Violence, by Jonathan Harris
    Concise overview discusses the historical roots of terrorism, the motivation of terrorists, and the social and political climates which promote the terrorist mind-set. High school and adult readers.
  • RC 27408 Holy Terror: Inside the world of Islamic Terrorism, By Amir Taheri
    An Iranian expatriate and former editor of Iran's largest daily newspaper offers a behind the scenes look at the fanatic fundamentalists of the Islamic international terrorist movement.
  • RC 32616 The Fall of Pan Am 103, By Steven Emerson
    Account of the 1988 crash discusses the warning the airlines received, the ability of terrorists to circumvent security systems, and the work of more than 10,000 agents piecing together countless scraps of evidence to identify the terrorists.
  • RC 37653 Collision Course: The Truth About Airline Safety, By Ralph Nader
    Describing past airline incidents, the authors discuss several issues they perceive as posing dangers to the safety levels of aviation. These include the economic after-effects of deregulation, aging aircraft, terrorism, and the under-funding of the FAA.

Hundreds of studies involving thousands of people have shown that one of the most important determinants of health and longevity is a tendency to enjoy sensual pleasures on a regular basis - so take a walk along the river, hug a child, take some time to smell the flowers, and eat a chocolate or two.


Taxing Times?
IRS Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities, describes parts of the lax law that may be of particular interest to people with disabilities and their caregivers. It is available at no charge by calling 1-800-829-3676 or downloading from www.irs.gov.

Braille editions of the major tax forms, including 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ (and instructions), Publication 17 (tax guide), and Publication 34 (tax guide for small businesses) are available from the Braille and Talking Book Library at 1-800-243-6665.

Tax Deductible Donations
Every gift to Braille and Talking Book Program is gift to thousands. These contributions enable us to purchase items not provided in out budget and help fund needed programs or services at BTBL. Be sure to make you check payable to BTBL Friends.

Donations can also be made in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone. When a gift is made, it should include the name of the person being honored or memorialized, and the name and address of the family member to be notified.


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