KidsNews Newsletter
South Dakota State Library
Braille and Talking Book Library
Winter 1993, Volume 1, Issue 1
Connie Sullivan, Children's Services Coordinator
Welcome to the first issue of KidsNews!
I'm in hopes that this newsletter will be an excellent way to publicize what the Braille and Talking Book Library has to offer to students, parents and teachers. KidsNews will be published four times a year: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. Any comments or suggestions will be helpful in the production of this newsletter.

Who we serve: Children, adults, and institutions serving eligible persons who are blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped, or reading/learning disabled.

Equipment: Special cassette and record players to play the talking books.

What we lend: A collection similar to a public library. Recorded and braille fiction and nonfiction for all ages, books for book reports, literature classes, recreational reading, textbooks and magazines in recorded and braille formats.

The Library has a statewide toll free number, S.D.1-800-423-6665 and N.D. 1-800-843-9948, which you can use when you need to talk to someone at the Braille and Talking Book Library.


Textbooks
The Braille and Talking Book Library has textbooks available for all grade levels and subjects. Books are available on audio cassette, braille and large print. All books are on loan for the school term and remain the property of the Library.

If you are interested in the Braille & Talking Book Library's textbook collection, contact us for futher information. There is no charge for this service. If the book you need is not available in our collection, we will search other sources or have it produced for you if possible.


Recording for the Blind (RFB)
Recording for the Blind, or "RFB", is a nonprofit service organization that provides educational and professional books on cassette to people with print disabilities.

RFB has an extensive library of books on audio cassette available for loan and recording service for new titles. An additional service is E-text, books on computer disk, which are available for purchase.

Educational and professional books are available in all subjects and at all academic levels from 4th grade through postgraduate studies. The E-text collection presently contains primarily computer titles, including software documentation.

Students of all ages, as well as people no longer in school who use educational books to pursue careers or personal interests, use RFB. The only requirements are a documented print disability, blindness, low vision, learning disability, or other physical impairment that affects reading and payment of a $37.50 one-time registration fee.

For applications or more information on ordering textbooks or RFB, contact the Library.

Toll Free Numbers are:
  • SD - 1-800-423-6665
  • ND - 1-800-843-9948

Descriptive video
Blockbuster movies are now specially described for people who are blind or have low vision. Descriptive Video Service (DVS) carefully describes the visual elements of a movie such as the action, characters, locations, costumes and sets, without interfering with the dialogue or sound effects. To watch these movies, you need a regular VHS video cassette recorder (VCR) and a television. If you have a decoder, most of the movies are also close captioned for hearing impaired viewers.

Described movies are now available from the Braille and Talking Book Library. Our loan period is one week. However, we ask that you return it immediately after watching for a speedier turn-around time for other patrons. The patron, is responsible for payment if any damage occurs to the video.

Some of the titles now available at the Library are:
  • DVS 00002 PARENTHOOD
    Rated PG-13 The Buckmans are a modern-day family facing the age-old dilemma of trying to raise children the "right" way. At the center of the storm is Gil (Steve Martin), who manages to keep his unique sense of humor while attempting to maintain a successful career and be a loving husband and parent, all at the same time.
  • DVS 00003 HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS
    Rated PG Rick Moranis stars as a preoccupied inventor who just can't seem to get his elector-magnetic shrinking machine to work. Then, when he accidentally shrinks his kids down to 1/4 inch tall and tosses them out in the trash, the real adventure begins!
  • DVS 00010 101 DALMATIANS
  • DVS 00011 DUMBO
  • DVS 00012 FIELD OF DREAMS
  • DVS 00015 ALICE IN WONDERLAND
If you would like more information on the movies that are available for kids, please call the Library.


Braille Chocolate:
A company called The Chocolate Experience has introduced a new gift idea: braille chocolate bars! The handcrafted and gift packaged treats are available with a variety of braille messages. Additional greetings may be added in English or Spanish. There are many chocolates to choose from: semi-sweet, milk, white, and sugar free milk or white chocolates. The price is $2.25-$3.25 a bar, plus shipping. For more information, contact: The Chocolate Experience, 150-57 Bayside Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354, telephone (718) 461-1873 or fax (718) 321-0217.


Tactile Maps:
The American Printing House for the Blind offers the Braille World Atlas. The Atlas contains 38 current maps along with descriptions of the seasons, the solar system, and geographical features such as oceans, mountains, and continents. The Atlas is suitable for all ages and can be ordered from American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206. Cost is $19.95. The toll free number is 1-800-223-1839.


Available from other sources:
Seedlings... has close to 200 low-cost braille books for children, ages 1-14. Order from: SEEDLINGS BRAILLE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN, PO BOX 2395, LIVONIA, MI 48151-0395 or toll free 1-800-777-8552

National Braille Press has a print-and-braille book club for children, pre-school through third grade, and a book for parents who want to learn some braille. Contact them at: NATIONAL BRAILLE PRESS, 88 St. Stephen Street Boston, MA 021115, or (617) 266-6160.

Sense-able Braille Books is a non-profit organization whose aim is to produce braille books for young adults (7th grade to high school). To receive their catalog write them at: SENSE-ABLE BRAILLE BOOKS P.O. BOX 333-S, LUDINGTON, MI 49431-0333. Please indicate whether you would like the catalog in print or braille.


From the desk of DAN BOYD,
Director of SD Braille and Talking Book Library:

The Library has a policy that ONE brailler will be loaned to any South Dakota student when a determination has been made that the student's instruction in reading and writing must be accomplished through the use of braille.

It is the responsibility of the school to provide braillers for the teacher, other staff, and/or the student's use at school.

The brailler is loaned to the student and is the property of the student. The student can use it at home, at school, and during the summer.

The brailler will be sent to the home with information on the loan of the brailler to the student and procedures for repair and return. If repair procedures are followed, all repair costs are paid by the Library.

The cost of braillers has continued to increase. The Library is now paying $733.50 per brailler. It is very important that braillers be returned to the Library if the student receives a brailler through other sources or if the student is no longer attending school. The braillers will then be loaned to other students.

Please remember that the brailler is on loan and must be returned on completion of high school. If the brailler is not returned, the Library can require payment for the brailler.

If you have any questions about the BRAILLE LOAN PROGRAM, please contact the Library.


The Prairie Pasque Children's Book Award:
The Prairie Pasque Children's Book Award, sponsored by the South Dakota Library Association, is determined by fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students throughout South Dakota. Books nominated for the award are selected by a committee of educators and librarians.

This year most of the books have been produced in braille and recorded on cassette. They are available from the SD Braille and Talking Book Library.

Students are encouraged to read and vote for their favorite book from the masterlist of twenty titles.

Students who read at least five books from this masterlist are eligible to vote. A student may vote only for a book that he/she has read. The book receiving the most votes from students wins the award.

Voting takes place at participating schools in early March 1994. Ask your teacher for more information.

PRAIRIE PASQUE MASTERLIST for 1993-1994
  • THE GHOST CADET, Alphin, Elaine Marie
  • EXPLORING THE BISMARCK, Ballard, Robert O.
  • A SEPARATE BATTLE: WOMEN AND THE CIVIL WAR, Chang, Ina
  • STRIDER, Cleary, Beverly
  • JEREMY THATCHER, DRAGON HATCHER, Coville, Bruce
  • NEKOMAH CREEK, Crew, Linda
  • THE GADGET WAR, Duffey, Betsy
  • MONKEY ISLAND, Fox, Paula
  • ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, George, Jean Craighead
  • SLEEPERS, WAKE, Jacobs, Paul Samuel
  • HANNAH ON HER WAY, Mills, Claudia
  • SHILOH, Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds
  • LYDDIE, Paterson Katherine
  • FOR LAUGHING OUT LOUD, Prelutsky, Jack
  • TIME WINDOWS, Reiss, Kathryn
  • KNIGHTS OF THE KITCHEN TABLE, Scieszka, Jon
  • THE HOUDINI BOX, Selznick, Brian
  • THE TRADING GAME, Slote, Alfred
  • FOURTH GRADE RATS, Spinelli, Jerry
  • A GHOST IN THE HOUSE,Wright, Betty Ren

CHRISTMAS BOOKS
  • RC 15898 or BR 04275 CHRISTMAS ROUND THE WORLD.
    A Christmas tour of twelve countries, showing how children in other lands, as well as our own, enjoy the happiness and excitement of the holidays.
  • RC 23625 or BR 06467 THE POLAR EXPRESS.
    On a dark Christmas Eve, a boy who believes in Santa Claus boards a mysterious train, the Polar Express. He and the other children, still in their nightclothes, drink hot chocolate and sing carols on their way to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus.
  • BR 5636 THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER.
    Everyone agrees that the Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. When they hear about the free refreshments at Sunday School, the Herdmans not only show up, abut also muscle their way into the lead roles of the annual Christmas pageant.
  • RC 35372 THE TWENTY-FOUR DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
    For seven-year-olk Vicky Austin, December is the most exciting month of the year. This year she's going to be an angel in the Christmas pageant. And, best of all, there is something special to do each day in observance of Advent. But what if the new baby comes during Christmas and Mother has to go to the hospital? How will they have Christmas without Mother?
  • RC 31501 SOUP ON FIRE.
    In December the small town of Learning, Vermont, is colder than the North Pole. But Rob and his best friend Soup can't spend too much time worrying about the temperature they've got big plans for the town's Christmas tree-lighting ceremony.
When ordering books, please order by the RC or BR numbers. RC -- cassettes; BR -- braille books.


KidsNews
KidsNews, published quarterly, is our means of communication with the younger patrons of the Braille and Talking Book Library. KidsNews 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.