South Dakota State Library: Braille and Talking Book Library

KidsNews Newsletter

South Dakota State Library
Braille and Talking Book Library
October 2003, Volume 1, Issue 1

Reading Rules
THE CHANGES I'VE SEEN
Dan Boyd
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 (2 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 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.

Prairie Bud
Prairie Bud winners are determined by South Dakota kindergarten, first, second and third grade students.

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

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.

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.

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
SD003636 Mountain Men Andrew Glass
SD003641 Mysterious Matter of I.M. Fine Diane Stanley
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

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.

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.

Become a Published Author
Winning authors will receive online publication, and will become a published author. Braille Talking Book Library will make the winning stories available in all three formats. The contest runs from November 1, 2003 - March 31, 2004. Send in your entry today!

Originality, creativity, and overall writing quality are considered when selecting contest winners.

Competitions are open to short story manuscripts on any subject. Submissions can be made either by regular mail or electronically.

Entries are accepted from three age groups and are judged accordingly. These contests have provisions for age groups-6-10, 11-15, and 15 and older.

Participants may submit more than one entry. It is acceptable for emergent or early writers in the 6-10 age group to dictate their essay to a helper.

Movie Review
We have some new, wonderful videos in and they are circulating now:

Dvs 00280 Jurassic Park III
In Universal Pictures' third Jurassic Park blockbuster, the dinosaur dodging continues for Sam Neill, Who returns as Dr. Alan Grant. This time around, parents Paul and Amanda Kirby - played by William H. Macy and Tea Leoni - convince him to help them search for their son on the remote inland of Isla Sorna, where unexpected inhabitants include a population of very fierce dinosaurs. PG-13
DVS-00281 Shrek
From Dreamworks Skg comes Shrek - the delightful animated blockbuster that garnered the inaugural Academy award for "best animated feature." This comic-romantic tale follows a reclusive, but loveable ogre (voiced by Mike Myers) and a chatterbox donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) as they go on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz) from a tyrannical midget Lord. The voices of John Lithgow and Vincent Cassel also are featured. Dreamworks / Universal Homes Video. PG
DVS-00282 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Based on J.K. Rowlings' best-selling novel of the same name, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone from Warner Brothers went on to become one of the highest-grossing and most popular films of all time. This fantasy follows the adventures of young Harry Potter - played by Daniel Radcliffe - who is rescued from his neglectful aunt and uncle, and goes on to prove his worth while attending the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Richard Harris, Maggie Smith and John Cleese also star. Warner Home Video. PG
DVS 00283 Spy Kids
This popular family/action film from Disney and director Robert Rodriquez follows the hilarious adventures of two young spies (played by Alexia Vega and Daryl Sabara) as they try to save their secret agent parents from danger. The fact that neither the parents nor the kids realize that the others are in the "family business" only adds to the fun! Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino star as their parents, along with Alan Cumming, Tony Shaloub, Teri Hatcher and Cheech Maron. PG
DVS 00284 Spider-Man
After being bitten by a genetically modified spider, a nerdy high school student gains spider-like abilities, which he must eventually use to fight evil as a superhero. This blockbuster film stars Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, Rosemary Harris, and James Franco. PG-13
DVS 00285 Scooby-Doo
Zoinks! Two years after mystery, inc. Goes out of business due to personal conflicts, Scooby-Doo and his crime-solving gang reunite to investigate paronormal incidents on Spooky Island. Starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cedelline and Scooby-Doo. PG
DVS 00289 Lilo & Stitch
Lilo, a young Hawaiian orphan, adopts an unusual pet named stitch, that turns out to be a notorious, extraterrestrial fugitive. This creative animated feature from Disney is a bright and edgy comedy about friendship and finding your place-even if you come from two different worlds. PG
DVS 00303 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, begins his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but is warned by a mysterious creature that danger awaits him at the school. Harry ignores the warning and returns to the school. But strange things start to happen. Hogwarts students are being turned into stone, and no one knows the cause. Kenneth Branagh joins the cast as famous writer Gilderoy Lockhart, who is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. PG

The Reading Rules
The Reading Rules, published quarterly, is our means of communication with the younger patrons of the Braille and Talking Book Library. The Reading Rules is available in braille, on cassette or on a diskette upon request and is posted on our website: www.sdstatelibrary.com/talkbook

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.