KidsNews Newsletter
South Dakota State Library
Braille and Talking Book Library
Spring 1994, Volume 1, Issue 2
Compiled and edited by:
Connie Sullivan, Children's Services Coordinator
Welcome to the second issue of KidsNews
If you desire this newsletter in the alternate format of braille or cassette tape, please contact Connie Sullivan. S. D. 1-800-423-6665 (or) N. D. 1-800-843-9948


COMING SOON! 1994 SUMMER READING PROGRAM:
It doesn't seem possible, but another school year is drawing to a close. Once again the Braille and Talking Book Library is sponsoring a summer reading program for print-handicapped children who are eligible for the Talking Book Service. Age groups for the program are: 6,7,8 - 9,10,11 - 12,13,14.

This year's theme is "Go Wild For Libraries"

The reading program is from June 13th to July 29th. A mailing will be going out in early May. Be sure to watch for the registration form. The form should be completed and returned as soon as possible.

The books for the summer program will be available on cassettes and in braille.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in both recorded and braille reading for each age group. Plus there will be incentive prizes for everyone.


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

Governor Miller has established a Commission on Quality Government. Within this Quality Government Initiative is a vision statement that says:
To make South Dakota government more consumer and results oriented, more flexible, more responsive, and dedicated to continually improving the quality of services it provides.
The South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Library has always tried to provide the best possible service to our consumers. Library staff are expected to treat all of our consumers in a fair, polite, and courteous manner.

The mission statement for the South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Library states:
To provide print-handicapped citizens of South Dakota and North Dakota citizens through a contract with the North Dakota State Library access to a central library of those materials prepared specifically for their use by the Library of Congress. To create, through the coordinated use of volunteers, additional patron requested materials that are not provided by the congressional library. To provide textbook service for any handicapped student with textbooks in special media suitable to the students' needs. To provide coordinated library programs for children on a yearly basis. This programming to include a summer reading program and other library programs in cooperation with the schools.
Please remember that this is your Library, and it is our responsibility to provide you with the services you request within budgetary limitations.

If you feel that your needs or expectations are not being met by the staff or that you have not been treated in a fair, polite, and courteous manner or if you have suggestions on ways to improve your library program, please contact my office and I will discuss the issues with you.

SD 1-800-423-6665, ND 1-800-843-9948


Spring Training
Start your spring training with books about baseball. Here are titles to get you off to a good start!

RC (recorded books) are:
  • RC 19932. BASEBALL'S GREAT EXPERIMENT: JACKIE ROBINSON AND HIS LEGACY.
  • RC 28372. BASEBALL'S WORST TEAMS.
  • RC 21775. THE STORY OF BASEBALL.
  • RC 16804. SOME FRIEND!
  • RC 20427. BASEBALL FEVER.
  • RC 24487. JEFFREY'S GHOST AND THE LEFTOVER BASEBALL TEAM.
  • RC 27094. WRONGWAY APPLEBAUM.
  • RC 29918. IT'S YOUR TURN AT BAT.
  • RC 33364. BOBBY BASEBALL.
  • RC 29853. THE ROOKIE ARRIVES.
BR and BRA are: Braille Books
The toll free telephone number of the Utah Braille Library is 1-800-453-4293. If you need assistance, please let me know.
  • BRA 04635. FREDDY AND THE BASEBALL TEAM FROM MARS.
  • BRA 12798. A TIME FOR DREAMING.
  • BR 02933. THE PICTURE STORY OF HANK AARON.
  • BR 04866. SOME FRIEND!
  • BR 06511. JEFFREY'S GHOST AND THE LEFTOVER BASEBALL TEAM.
  • BR 06992. CAM JANSEN AND THE MYSTERY OF THE BABE RUTH BASEBALL.
  • BR 07636. SOCCER SAM.
  • BR 07831. IT'S YOUR TURN AT BAT.

BRAILLE COURSE
The Braille and Talking Book Library is offering a free course called: South Dakota Classroom Braille Transcribing Correspondence Course.

This course in literary braille transcribing is intended to teach individuals to transcribe print materials into braille.

Upon completion, students will receive a SOUTH DAKOTA CLASSROOM BRAILLE CERTIFICATE in literary braille transcribing. This classroom braille certificate can be used as proof of successful course completion and forwarded to the South Dakota School for the Visually Handicapped to receive state certification.

For more information on this free course and other braille programs, call the Library and ask for the Braille coordinator.


1993 STUDENT AID CASSETTE
Available from the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid Information Center. This cassette gives information on postsecondary student financial aid for visually handicapped students, explains the Department's financial aid programs, and discusses state and private sources of aid for visually handicapped students. The cassettes have been updated for the next school year (1994-95). For a free copy, call 1-800-638-6833.


Textbook Users
With the end of school drawing near, please make sure all textbooks that you have borrowed in cassette, large print or braille are returned promptly to the SD Braille & Talking Book Library.

All textbooks are considered on loan to you or your school they remain the property of the Library.

If you are interested in receiving textbooks for the next school year, call the Library and ask for the Textbook Coordinator.



You open your mail to find a notice informing you that some of the talking books checked out to you are "overdue."

What does overdue mean? The loan period is 30 days. In reality, limited staff resources to deal with the problem mean that an overdue notice is not sent until a book has been checked out to the same person from more than 3 months.

Why does it matter? Sometimes it matters because another patron is waiting for that book. If the books aren't being read, they're more safely stored at the Library.

Certainly, there are some extenuating circumstances such as books being used for school purposes. In fairness to all of our readers, please return your talking books as soon as you finish them so that we can send them on to the next anxiously waiting person. If any patron is having difficulty keeping up with the amount of material received, no matter what the reason, a phone call is all it takes.


New Number
American Printing House for the Blind (APH) now has a toll free telephone number: 1-800-223-1839. Hours are 8 AM - 4:30 PM Eastern time, Monday through Friday.


Your cassette player
Your cassette player is on loan to you from the Library. Use your machine on the battery until it runs down. Then plug it in to charge the battery for at least 12 hours, but NO LONGER than 14 hours. Use it again on the battery until it runs down again.

Do not leave the machine plugged in all the time or have it plugged in when you are listening to tapes.

If you experience any problems with your cassette player, contact the Library.


Updating the patron's profile from a survey
Although we hope you're satisfied with your library service, we're pretty sure that even those readers who say they'll read anything have received a book or two they haven't particularly cared for.

Reading preferences can change over the years. That is why we sent out a survey to help us in updating your profile. In filling out the survey, we can also find out if you decided to request your own books instead of letting the computer select for you. We can also update your reading interests.

Because we have limited copies of each title, you will be more likely to get the books you want if we have lots of requests from which to choose.


What to do with a damaged cassette
In our efforts to bring you the best possible service, we request that you help us by marking a damaged cassette book. We ask you to identify any defective cassettes by placing a rubber band or a piece of string around the cassette and placing it in the container on top of the stack of cassettes.

According to U.S. Postal regulations, no notes are to be placed in the containers. Please call or write us separately if you want a replacement copy. We do not automatically send another copy when a damaged book is returned.

Many cassette books marked as damaged need only to be rewound or need other minor adjustments. If you have a tape that you feel is defective, try these tips before returning it:
  1. Rap the cassette sharply against a hard flat surface such as a table or counter top. This simple step often helps loosen a tape that is stuck.
  2. After inserting the cassette into your machine, press the rewind button. This is a good habit for all tapes.

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 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 turnaround time for other patrons. The patron is responsible for payment if any damage occurs to the video.

If you would like more information on the movies that are available, please call the Library.

Some of the new titles now available at the Library are:
  • DVS 00008 Dick Tracy --Rated PG
    The box office sensation starring Warren Beatty, Madonna and a cast of superstar villains.
  • DVS 00009 THREE MEN AND A BABY -- Rated PG
    The arrival of a baby drastically changes the lives of bachelors Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson.
  • DVS 00014 Raiders of the Lost ARK -- Rated PG
    Harrison Fork is Indiana Jones, the bullwhip-cracking archaeologist whose adventures sweep across the globe.
  • DVS 00018 STAR TREK V - THE FINAL FRONTIER -- Rated PG
    Captain Kirk and crew battle a renegade Vulcan who hijacks the Starship Enterprise and pilots it on an incredible journey.
  • DVS 00033 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST -- Rated G
    This modern movie masterpiece of a classic fairy tale waltzes away with six Academy Award nominations.
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.