THE CHANGES I'VE SEEN
A couple of weeks ago, as I was returning from a meeting at the American printing House for the Blind I started thinking about all the Braille & Talking Book Program changes I've seen and changes still to come. I started working at the South Dakota Braille & Talking Book Library in 1976. At the time I started this library provided service to individuals in South Dakota and North Dakota.

The talking book collection contained; MT's these were reel to reel magnetic tape books, TB's these were large records recorded at 16 RPM's, RD's these were large records recorded at 8 RPM's, CB's these were books recorded on cassette (w track 1 7/8th IPS, and RC's the beginnings of this collection recorded at 15/16th IPS and a few four track titles. The library also had a Braille collection. The magazine collection contained titles on RD's, a few on FD (these were the flexible disks), Braille and large print.

No computers were in use at that time. We kept track of our patrons and our circulation on paper. Each patron had a large paper file that held a list of all books they had requested and/or library staff had selected. The file also contained a list of all books the patron had read. It would take all day to prepare 150 to 200 patrons for service, pull and checkout three to four hundred books. It would take just about as long to check in three to four hundred books.

All our patrons had a record player and a cassette player since all titles were not recorded on both records and cassettes.

Over the years the book collection has become a cassette only collection with over 40,000 titles. Record players are no longer loaned to our patrons. All other formats have been declared obsolete and removed from circulation. The Braille collection has been removed and our Braille readers are served by the Utah Braille and Talking Book Library. Braille readers have toll free access to that library with Reader Advisor Services just as they do with the South Dakota Braille & Talking Book Library to borrow cassette books. The reason for removing the Braille collection was the lack of space needed to maintain a growing Braille collection. With access to the Utah Braille & Talking Book Library our patrons have access to the world's largest Braille collection. North Dakota now has its own Braille & Talking Book Library.

Each time a change in the book format or library operations was made there has been concern that the program would not maintain the level and quality of service that was provided in the past. Each time with only a few bumps in the beginning the level and quality of service has remained very good.

The South Dakota Braille & Talking Book Library and all Braille & Talking Book Libraries are about to enter another period of change. Changes in technology have made us consider the future of cassette books. Cassette books have been part of the book collection for the past thirty years. Libraries are about to begin the move to digital books. In the long run this move to digital books will allow library patrons access too many more titles from many sources other than just your Braille & Talking Book Library.

There is no need to worry the cassette book is not going to disappear over night. The cassette books will continue as part of the collection for at least the next ten years. For the next three or four year's new titles on cassette will continue to be added to the collection. At the same time a new digital format book will also be introduced. This new book will be easier to use and have much better quality than today's cassette books. Exactly what the new playback equipment and book will look like is still being discussed.

Technology will continue to improve and in years to come there will be other changes. You can be sure that there has been much research and discussion on this next change and just like all the changes in the past, this too will in the long run, make the program better than it is now.


Copyright Acknowledgment
The contents of all RFB&D audiobooks are protected under copyright law. Copying, sharing or redistributing them in any form to any person is strictly prohibited by law and is a violation of publishers' rights and of the terms of RFB&D memberships. All members, both individual and institutional, are required to complete, sign and return a Copyright Acknowledgment Form before their membership application can be processed.

Another change is in the renewal process, both individual and institutional members renewing their annual membership need to make sure they have signed the copyright acknowledgement form to ensure continued service.

If you need new RFBD application forms with the copyright acknowledge or renewal please contact the Braille Talking Book Library. You can use our ask for anything at www.sdstatelibrary.com/talkbook/askfor/anything.htm, call 1-800-423-6665.


2003 Notable Children's Books

• RC055295 Crispin: The Cross of Lead Avi
  In 1377 England, the manor steward falsely accuses a thirteen-year-old orphan of murder. Before he runs away, the boy learns his name from the village priest. On the road with Bear, a juggler, Crispin learns who his father is and the reason the steward wants him dead. For grades 6-9.
• RC055927 The House of the Scorpion Farmer, Nancy
  In a future where humans despise clones, Matt has special privileges as the young clone of El Patrón--the 140-year-old leader of a corrupt drug empire. When Matt gets a glimpse of his fate, he rebels. Some violence and some strong language. For junior and senior high readers.
• RC056220 Pictures of Hollis Woods Giff, Patricia Reilly
  A troublesome foster child, Hollis loves to draw pictures on paper and in her mind. Her favorite is one in which she fits in--with a father, mother, brother, and herself. Now Hollis lives with an artist, but still longs for the summer family that wanted to keep her.
• RC055550 Hoot Hiaasen, Carl
  Middle school student Roy has just moved from Montana to south Florida. He befriends a boy named Mullet Fingers and his stepsister, who are trying to prevent a pancake-house chain from building a restaurant over a colony of burrowing owls. For grades 6-9.
• RC055807 A Corner of the Universe Martin, Ann M
  Twelve-year-old Hattie experiences a tragic summer in 1960 when her young, mentally ill uncle Adam comes to stay with her grandparents. Hattie befriends him, but no one knows how to handle his moods, least of all Adam himself. For grades 6-9.
• RC055806 Surviving the Applewhites Tolan, Stephanie S
  Kicked out of several public schools, Jake winds up being home schooled with an eccentric family of artists at the Applewhite's Creative Academy. When the whole clan becomes involved in producing The Sound of Music, Jake discovers a few positive traits and talents of his own. For grades 5-8.

Take time to read.....it is the fountain of wisdom.


Rivers, Edens, and Empires
On April 7, 1805, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark left for points west, beginning the process of "filling in the canvas" of America. This exhibition features the Library's rich collections of exploration material documenting the quest to connect the East and the West by means of a waterway passage. The new Library of Congress exhibition, Rivers, Edens, Empires: Lewis & Clark and the Revealing of America is available online at www.loc.gov/exhibits/lewisandclark/lewisandclark.html.

Among the items on view are: the Nicholas King 1803 annotated map that the Corps of Discovery took on their journey; Jefferson's instructions to Meriwether Lewis for the journey; Jefferson's secret message to Congress requesting funding for the expedition; the Nicholas King 1805 map "of part of the continent of North America," which was compiled from information sent by Lewis halfway through the journey of the Corps of Discovery; and Jefferson's speech to the Indian chiefs (representing the Osages, Missouri, Otos, Panis, Cansas Ayowais, and Sioux) on their historic visit to Washington, D.C., in January 1806.


Children's Book Week
Reading is a right! Free to Read, this year's theme for the 84th observance of The Children's Book Council's Children's Book Week, encourages children, and the adults who care for them, to exercise your right by spending some time with a book each day. Children's Book Week 2003 is November 17-23. Encourage a child to read today!


Prairie Pasque
Prairie Pasque winners are determined by South Dakota fourth, fifth and sixth grade students. Students are encouraged to read and vote for their one favorite book of the year from the masterlists of fifteen titles. The books receiving the most votes from the students win the awards.

• RC054618 Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart Vera Williams
• SD003622 Goin' Someplace Special Patricia McKissack
• SD003629 Great Chicken Debacle Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
• RC054643 Hero of Ticonderoga Gail Gauthier
• SD003630 Leonardo's Horse Jean Fritz
• SD003621 Love That Dog Sharon Creech
• RC055982 Man Eating Tigers Of Sundarbans Sy Montgomery
• SD003636 Mountain Men Andrew Glass
• SD003641 Mysterious Matter of I.M. Fine
• SD003642 No More Nasty Amy MacDonald
• SD003644 Odysseus In The Serpent's Maze Jane Yolen & Robert J. Harris
• SD003640 A Poke In The I Paul B. Janeczko, ed.
• SD003635 Remember Pearl Harbor Thomas B. Allen & Robert D. Ballard
• RC055161 Skeleton Man Joseph Bruchac
• SD003643 Three Days Donna Jo Napoli

Education News Parents Can Use
School districts across South Dakota now have the opportunity to bring No Child Left Behind programming to parents in their district via DDN.

To help parents understand the law and the changes it will bring, the U.S. Dept. of Education has launched a monthly series of programs entitled "Education News Parents Can Use". The programs provide parents with the tools and information they need to be effectively involved in their children's education.

The program dates and titles are:

• Nov. 18, 2003, 7-8 p.m. CT - NCLB-Getting Ready for College-Academic and Financial Preparedness (3-9)
• Jan. 20, 2004, 7-8 p.m. CT -NCLB-The 2nd Anniversary of No Child Left Behind(4-9)
• Feb. 17, 2004, 7-8 p.m. CT - NCLB-Math and Science: Preparing for the Future(5-9)
• Mar. 16, 2004, 7-8 p.m. CT - NCLB-New Options for Families: Charters and School Choice(6-9)
• Apr. 20, 2004, 7-8 p.m. CT -NCLB-Reforming High Schools & Career and Vocational Education(7-9)
• May 18, 2004, 7-8 p.m. CT - NCLB-American History, Humanities and Civics(8-9)
• June 15, 2004, 7-8 p.m. CT - NCLB-Keeping Kids Healthy, Physically Fit and Learning During the Summer Months(9-9)

Currently, 13 schools are registered to participate in this excellent opportunity. If you would like your district to participate, register online at http://www.state.sd.us/deca/DDNOnline/default_profdev.asp. (web page is no longer active 02/2006)

For more information, contact Michelle Mehlberg at michelle.mehlberg@state.sd.us or at 605-280-3614.


Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul.
Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.


Prairie Bud
Prairie Bud winners are determined by South Dakota kindergarten, first, second and third grade students. Students are encouraged to read and vote for their one favorite book of the year from the masterlists of fifteen titles. The books receiving the most votes from the students win the awards.

• SD003632 Albert Donna Jo Napoli
• SD003637 And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel
• SD003626 Captain and Matey Set Sail Daniel Laurence
• RC056267 Clever Beatrice Margaret Willey
• RC054786 Dear Whiskers Ann Whitehead Nagda
• SD003625 Emperor Lays An Egg Brenda Z. Guiberson
• SD003623 Martin's Big Words Doreen Rappaport
• SD003638 Mice and Beans Pam Munoz Ryan
• SD003627 Milo's Hat Trick Jon Agee
• SD003631 Rocks In His Head Carol Otis Hurst
• RC055080 Runaway Radish Jessie Haas
• SD003628 Wait! No Paint! Bruce Whatley
• SD003633 Web Files Margie Palatini
• SD003624 You Read To Me, I'll Read To You Mary Ann Hoberman
• SD003639 Zero Grandparents Michelle Edwards

Guidelines for Taped Textbooks and Course Materials
The Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) provides taping of academic textbooks and related course materials for South Dakota students with disabilities through the use of paid and volunteer readers if the textbook is not available from other sources. The BTBL strives to complete reading assignments in a timely manner. Please allow us as much time as possible for each subject. Books and materials are prioritized for reading according to the date the assignment was received, not simply according to the due date of the assignment. We suggest that you register early for your classes and talk with your instructors to obtain reading assignments before classes begin, if possible. By providing the BTBL with this information before the beginning of the semester, you can assist us in getting your reading assignments to you in a timely manner.

College student's responsibility for this accommodation:

1. Obtain your reading assignments from the instructor or course syllabus.
2. Complete the BTBL "Request for Recorded Textbook" form for each textbook or course material needed on tape for the entire semester. This form must contain bibliographic information for the book including complete title, author, and edition.
3. List the date needed, chapters, and pages for each reading assignment on the "Request for Recorded Textbook" form.
4. Return completed request for Recorded Textbooks form to the BTBL with a hard copy of the textbook.

Please let the BTBL know when you have completed the class or the course syllabus has changed so we do not continue reading for the assignment if you do not need it. This will help us ensure we can provide other recorded textbook assignments in a timely manner.


Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
(Groucho Marx)


Textbook Trivia
There are so many ways getting the right textbook can go wrong, here are a few basic reasons we ask for the information we do on our textbook order forms. So please bear with us the next time you fill out the textbook order form.

• Heath and McDougal Littell publishers are divisions of Houghton Mifflin.
• Addison Wesley and Scott Foresman are together. We have a book where they did the practice activity book and Prentice Hall did the corresponding text.
• Glencoe bought a Merrill algebra book as it fit their series.
• Harcourt Brace Jovanovich became just HB, then H only.
• There are teacher's edition numbers and student's edition.
• There are soft cover numbers and hard cover numbers.
• There are Texas editions, Florida editions, WVa editions and California editions, and others. Each has a different ISBN number.
• There are multiple copyrights of the same title, some of which might be classroom compatible, or for one we run four supplements to make the 2nd copyright complete.
• A title is often used by different publishers.
• What might be seen as a title is for a series with three to four different texts. Then there are courses 1 through 4 and introductory course and complete course.

Do more than exist; live.
Do more than touch; feel.
Do more than look; observe.
Do more than read; absorb.
Do more than hear; listen.
Do more than listen; understand.
Do more than think; ponder.
Do more than talk; say something.
(John H. Rhoades)

Libraries bring you the world.
Did you know there are more than 117,000 libraries in the United States? In addition to public libraries in almost every community, there are thousands of libraries in schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, law firms, businesses, the armed forces and more!

Because libraries offer free access to all, they bring opportunity to all. And the greatest resources in each of these libraries are the librarians and library workers. Almost 400,000 people make libraries work for you every day. You'll find the right answer @ your library!

On this page, you will find a variety of resources to educate, inform and entertain children, teens, adults and families. Welcome.

www.sdstatelibrary.com/talkbook/

The BOOKBAG, published quarterly, is our means of communication with parents, teachers, and schools that utilize textbooks and educational materials in alterative format. The BOOKBAG is available in braille, on cassette or on a diskette upon request and is 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 South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Library does not endorse any product or service listed in this newsletter.

Kathy Schreiber, Educational Materials Coordinator, Editor


BANA Launches BANA-Announce Listserv
The Braille Authority of North America invites those persons interested in the activities of BANA to subscribe to BANA-Announce.

BANA-Announce is a one-way list to facilitate the dissemination of official BANA information -- summaries of meetings and other BANA activities, new publications, clarification on inquiries to the BANA technical committees, announcements about code changes, and general information to promote braille, its use and production.

To join this listserv, send a blank email message to bana-announce-subscribe@brailleauthority.org and follow the directions in the confirmation email which will be sent automatically in response to a subscription request. If you have any problems, contact Kim Charlson at Kim.Charlson@Perkins.org for assistance.