Calling for Orders!
If you have not yet ordered alternative format textbooks for the 2006/2007 school year, please order now.

If help is needed, dial 1-800-423-6665 and ask for Karen.


Notes from the Director

Changes in Audio Books
Since the 1970's analog cassettes have enabled the South Dakota Braille & Talking Book Library to deliver reliable educational and entertaining books and magazines to people who are unable to read standard print. This technology continues to work, but now it's time for something new. National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (NLS) has found the answer in technology unavailable thirty years ago.

Beginning in 2008 digital talking books will be the "next generation" available to our patrons. NLS will use digital technology to enhance the quality of the audio book. Users can easily navigate through a book. Sound quality will improve. Less handling will be required, and that's only the beginning.

The framework for the new audio talking book will be flash memory. A digital talking book (DTB) will resemble a credit card, only slightly larger. This one credit card sized memory cartridge will be capable of holding a complete book. These cartridges will be labeled in Braille and large print.

What are the benefits of flash memory digital talking books? For our library users the improved sound quality, fewer items to keep track of and no need to flip a switch for the next side during playback. One of the most exciting features of the digital talking book is the reader's ability to easily navigate through the book. All books will include a basic level of navigation that allows the reader to jump to various chapters and sections of a book. The navigation capabilities will vary with the type of book, for example, fiction and non-fiction will have the basic navigation. Reference and educational books will have additional navigation options. The new playback equipment will be easier to use with less buttons and switches. The playback equipment will be lighter in weight and smaller for greater portability.

Libraries are also excited about this new audio book. Flash memory books will require less space for storage of collections, the memory cards can be used many times, and the new playback equipment will be more compact, lightweight and durable. The playback equipment will have fewer moving parts and require fewer repairs.

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFBD)

Changes are also being made in the audio textbooks that are ordered from RFBD. Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year textbooks ordered from RFBD will be available only on CD. This decision was made because of advances in technology and for the convenience of the students using the materials.

The ordering of audio textbooks will still follow the same process. Orders will be sent to the SDB&TBL for processing/ordering. If the book is not available from RFBD we will borrow it from another source. At this time other sources will still be using cassettes including the SDB&TBL. You will need to purchase a CD player from RFBD to play their textbooks. Additional information will be provided at a later date.

2006 Governors Summer Reading Program
The 2006 Governors Summer Reading Program culminated with an awards program for the six first place winners on August 5, 2006. The program was held in Aberdeen at the SD School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The winners and their families were provided a pizza luncheon followed by the presentation of awards. The Zooman from Adrian Minnesota presented a very educational and fun hands-on reptile program. The day concluded with a trip to Storybook Land.

The theme of the program was "Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales. There were fifty-two students participating with 398 books circulating. The program ran from June 12 to July 21, 2006.

Winners in their age division include: Division 7, 8 and 9 Recorded Books; Jordan Harkless, first place, second place went to Emily Busch and Wyatt Buntrock took third. The braille division first place went to Rachel Johnson. Sarah Dolney was first place winner in the Division 10, 11 and 12, followed by Rachael Jorgensen, second place and Mackenzie Yordy took third. Michael McMillen won first place in the braille division. Division 13, 14 and 15 recorded first place went to Stephanie Moran, Shawn Hauck took second and third went to Callie Palmquist. Analis Dannen took first place in the braille division. A $50 Savings Bond was presented to the top readers overall in the recorded and in braille format. These winners were Stephanie Moran for the 55 recorded books read and the braille winner was Analis Dannen for 48 braille books.

All participants are registered with the S.D. Braille and Talking Book Library and are required to read braille or recorded books only.


The Braille and Talking Book Library will be closed on the following holidays.

• Labor Day - September 4
• Columbus Day - Oct. 9
• Veteran's Day - November 11
• Thanksgiving Day - November 23

Congratulations to the 2005-2006 Prairie Bud and Prairie Pasque Winners!

• The Diary of a Worm, written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Harry Bliss, is the winner of the 2006 Prairie Bud Award.
• Spy Cat by Peg Kehret is the winner of the 2006 Prairie Pasque Award.

Sponsored by the South Dakota Library Association, South Dakota Children's Book Awards encourage students in grades K-6 to read, and vote for, their favorite book of the year. The Prairie Bud Award is designed for students in grades K-3, while the Prairie Pasque Award targets fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. Children who read at least five titles at their grade level from the list qualify to vote. Both awards are based on the votes of South Dakota students.

A panel of educators and librarians selects the fifteen candidates for each award. Nominated books are chosen for their quality and potential popularity with children. The Prairie Pasque Award was first given in 1987 to Ivy Ruckman for her book, Night of the Twisters. Other winners have included Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for Shiloh, David Pateneaude for Someone Was Watching, Louis Sachar for Holes, and Judy Blume for Double Fudge.

The Prairie Bud Award was created by the Prairie Valley Reading Council and has been given annually since 1998. The Prairie Bud Award was first given to Patricia Rae Wolff for her book, Toll-Bridge Troll. Other winners have included Bill Grossman for My Little Sister Ate One Hare, Joan Steiner for Look-Alikes, and Glen McCoy for Penny Lee and Her TV.


Slate Pals
Slate Pals is a pen pal program for braille reading students who want to write and receive braille letters from other students. Students can specify the quantity, age range, and the gender preference of prospective slate pals. The program is sponsored by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children. More information is available on the web at: www.nfb.org.

You may also write to: Slate Pals, 5817 North Nina, Chicago IL 60631 or email: dkent5817@worldnet.att.net.


Check out our NLS produced children's' magazines!

• 
  Boy's Life - BLY1
  Digital braille, press braille - sent monthly (plus special issue) Contains articles on the outdoors, sports, and hobbies, with adventure fiction and humor. For ages 9-16. Published by the Boy Scouts of America.
  
  
• 
  Cricket - NGW3
  Audiocassette - sent monthly. Contains stories, poems, and articles by internationally known authors; songs, jokes, and crafts. For ages 6-12. On one cassette with National Geographic Kids.
  
  
• 
  Muse - MUE1
  Digital braille, press braille - Sent in 10 issues per year Contains science, art, archaeology, and history activities for ages 6-14; includes contests and book and media reviews.
  
  
• 
  National Geographic Kids - NGW3
  Audiocassette - sent monthly. Contains articles for children about people, places, customs, animals, and plant life.
  
  
  
• 
  Spider: The Magazine for Children - SPD1, SPD3
  Audiocassette, digital braille, press braille - sent monthly. Contains stories, poems, jokes, and crafts for beginning readers ages 6-9.
  
  
  
• 
  Sports Illustrated for Kids - SPK3
  Audiocassette - sent monthly. Contains sports news and articles for ages 8-13; features sports personalities, events, and sports cards; youth who are excelling in sports; regular column by youth discussing a controversial sports-related issue.
  
  
• 
  Stone Soup: The Magazine by Young Writers and Artists - ST01
  Digital braille, press braille - Sent in 5 issues per year. Contains stories, poems, illustrations, and book reviews created by children through age thirteen. Features an activities section with suggested related projects.
  
  

New books planned for the Critical Concerns In Blindness series
A number of new books in the Critical Concerns in Blindness series, edited by Ron Ferguson of the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness of Louisiana Tech University, are planned for release by Information Age Publishing. Seeing Beyond Blindness, by Shelley Kinash and Ron Ferguson, is currently available in paperback for a cost of $25 and in hardcover for a cost of $50. The book offers reflections on the nature of vision and blindness and explores interpretive research and presentations of seminal and contemporary publications in the field of blindness. Promoting Independent Movement and Travel in Blind Children: A Developmental Orientation and Mobility Approach, by Joseph Cutter, is expected to be released in the summer of 2006. A title on the history of the profession of orientation and mobility, developed by Ron Ferguson, is planned for release before the end of 2007. Other titles in the series include Making It Work: Educating the Blind/Visually Impaired Student in the Regular School, by Carol Castellano; Education and Rehabilitation for Empowerment, by C. Edwin Vaughan and James H. Omvig; and The Blindness Revolution: Jernigan in His Own Words, by James H. Omvig. For more information, contact: Information Age Publishing, P.O. Box 4967, Greenwich, CT 06831; phone: 203-661-7602; e-mail: order@infoagepub.com; web site: www.infoagepub.com.



READBOOKS
National Braille Press, along with Seedlings Braille Books for Children, is distributing attractive braille book bags to families with blind and visually impaired children, ages birth to seven, across the country. The distribution process is a collaborative effort with educators and early intervention professionals.

Each bag contains:

• A print/braille book for three age groups: birth-3, 4-5, and 6-7;
• A braille primer for sighted parents entitled Just Enough to Know Better;
• A colorful print/braille place mat; Print/braille bookmarks;
• Because Books Matter, a guide for parents; Print/braille magnetic letters
• A gift coupon for another print/braille book or braille/large print playing cards.

Contact the Braille & Talking Book Library if you want to receive READBOOKS.


The Radio Talking Book & SD News Telephone Reader
The Radio Talking Book Program is a program offered through the Minnesota Communication Center. This program is available to individuals who are blind or visually impaired or for individuals that are not capable of reading for themselves. Some of the items that are read over this broadcast include several South Dakota Newspapers, the Rapid City Journal, Mitchell Daily Republic, Yankton Press and Dakotan and Aberdeen American News as well as various books and publications. Individuals interested in receiving this program will receive a radio that is capable of picking up this signal. There is no cost to receive this program.

The SD News Telephone Reader Service is available at no cost to the consumer with the exception of long distance telephone fees if the toll free number is not used. Following the application process, individuals can use the telephone to access several SD papers including the Rapid City Journal, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Aberdeen American News and New York Times. Synthetic speech will be used to read most of the publications on the system.

Please tell your children/students about these outstanding sources for daily local, state, and/or national news. If you have children/students interested in using either the Radio Talking Book or the SD News Telephone Reader, please contact the Braille and Talking Book Library. You may also download the applications for mailing from our website at: http://www.sdstatelibrary.com/b&tb/applications/.

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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: http://www.sdstatelibrary.com/b&tb/

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.

- Karen Duenwald, Educational Materials Coordinator, Editor