KidsNews Newsletter
South Dakota State Library
Braille and Talking Book Library
Spring 1995, Volume 1, Issue 3
Compiled and edited by:
Connie Sullivan, Children's Services Coordinator
Welcome to KidsNews!
The school year is about over, and the Summer Reading Program is being planned.

The Summer Reading Program for South Dakota and North Dakota students is the highlight of the summer for me. I hope it will be for the kids who participate in the fun.

Last year there were 130 children ages 6 to 14 registered. They checked out 2,500 books and completed 800 book reports.

The children are divided into age groups. They can read either Braille books or recorded cassette books. They then have to complete a report for each book read. (They could have help in doing this.) Those completing the most reports are eligible for prizes.

The South Dakota awards presentation is held at the SD State Fair in Huron. Last year's awards were presented to the first place winners by Governor Miller; Jim Ellenson, President of SD Dairy Queen Association; Faith Calahan, State Fair Board; and Connie Sullivan, Coordinator of Children Programs.

The Dairy Queen Association provides the travel funding for the first place winners and their families, along with funding to purchase materials for registration packets, incentive prizes, plaques, and special awards.

Plus, the State Fair Board gives the winners gate passes and one-day carnival passes to be shared with four friends.

The 2nd place and 3rd place winners also receive plaques. There are incentive prizes at the end of the program for children who meet their personal reading goal. The prizes last year were t-shirts, cassette/radio, and book bags.

In North Dakota the students receive incentive prizes from the Braille and Talking Book Library in Pierre.

The plaques and special awards are given by the North Dakota State Library in Bismarck.

All of the students who participate in the program receive an invitation to the North Dakota State Library for the day to meet the first lady and to receive their plaques.

This summer the theme for the Summer Reading Program is THE SKY'S THE LIMIT AT YOUR LIBRARY.

Please be watching your mail for the registration form to for this years program, and have fun reading!


CASSETTE PLAYER
If you are using your cassette player more during the school year, please remember to 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 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. This will damage the battery.

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


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

It's that time of year again! If you are using braille, large print, or cassette textbooks, it is time to check with your teacher and make sure your textbooks have been ordered for next year. It is very important that your textbooks for the next school year 1995-96 are ordered as early as possible.

Some of your teachers have asked that the books be sent to your home during the summer. If you receive any textbooks at your home over the summer please hold on to them for school year in the fall.

Please remember to return all braille, large print, or cassette textbooks that were used for the 1994-95 school term as soon as you are done with them. You might also want to remind your teacher(s) to return your books to the South Dakota Braille & Talking Book Library.

If you have any questions regarding your textbooks for next school year please speak with your teacher.

If your teacher has any questions they can then call the Library on our toll free number. SD 1-800-423-6665, ND 1-800-843-9948.

It is also time to begin thinking about the Governors Summer Reading Program. This will be the seventh year of the program. This program is sponsored by the South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Library, Governors Office, South Dakota State Fair, and the South Dakota Dairy Queen Association.

The Governors Summer Reading Program not only allows you to win some prizes and spend the day at the State Fair, but it also is a fun way for you to improve your reading skills. Take the time to register and participate in this fun program. Please remember that "TODAYS READERS ARE TOMORROWS LEADERS".

When you receive your Governors Summer Reading Program registration form in the mail this year, "TAKE THE CHALLENGE".

I hope all of you have a GREAT SUMMER!


Other Notes
  • The Braille Sports Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes opportunities for visually impaired people to participate in sports and recreation. They offer a bi-monthly magazine in braille, print, or on cassette. Contact the foundation at 4601 Excelsior Ave., St. Louis Park, MN 55416.
  • The Hadley School for the Blind offers a course in conversational Spanish on cassette and in braille. Contact the Student Services Department at 700 Elm, Winnetka, IL 60093-0299.
What To Read:
Catalogs of recorded books available.

Two new catalogs listing books recorded by the Library of Congress are now available. Cassette books, 1993 describes cassette and flexible disc books produced for adults and young adults during the past year.

For Younger Readers, 1992-1993 lists recorded and braille children's books added to the collection during the past two years.

Contact your readers' advisor at:

S.D. 1-800-423-6665 (or) N.D. 1-800-843-9948 to receive either of these catalogs.


Reading Preference:
As you know, the Library selects books for you either from specific requests that you have given us or from the subject codes you listed when you signed up for service (for example: mysteries, family stories, sports stories, etc.).

These subject codes can be changed to suit your interests with a quick call to your reader advisor. I would like to remind everybody that the age group we set on the computer indicates what level books to send you. If you would like books for an older age group, please let us know. Here is the way we have it on the computer: Juvenile are in the ages of 0-14 and Young Adult are in the age group of 15-18.

If you would rather request your own books than let the Reader Advisor select for you, don't hesitate to order regularly. 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. Patron requests will be given priority over library selected titles.


Braille Library--
The toll free telephone number of the Utah Braille Library is 1-800-453-4293. If you are having problems with your braille service and need assistance, please call the Braille & Talking Book Library at SD 1-800-423-6665 or ND 1-800-843-9948

For better library service, please:
  1. Use the toll-free numbers for SD 1-800-423-6665 and ND 1-800-843-9948 to contact the library whenever you have a question or a problem with your service. If you have a problem that you feel has not been properly addressed, please call Dan Boyd, Library Director.
  2. Return each book as soon as you have finished it. The library has a limited number of each title and often there are many people waiting.
  3. Rewind all cassette tapes before returning the book. To rewind, put the cassette on side 1,5,9 etc. and press the rewind button.
  4. Do not lend your books or equipment to others. You may be delayed in receiving new books.
  5. Put your name and address on all correspondence with the library. The return address labels are an ideal way to do this.
  6. Place a rubber band or string around damaged cassettes. Do not put a string or other material on the outside of the container. Notes about books or services should not be placed inside book containers or on return address cards. They are easily missed.
  7. Please return descriptive videos promptly. The loan period is one week.

Magazine Study and Survey:
South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Library has volunteered to conduct a Magazine study/survey. The survey will be sent to each one of you for your input.

This survey will gather information on your satisfaction with magazines now available and magazines you would like added.

This survey information will be provided to the collection development committee at the Library of Congress, National Library Service.


Who is CMLS?
Many people are confused by the Florida return address on their magazines and catalogs. CMLS, located in Florida, is a major producer of flexible disc books, magazines, and catalogs. Do NOT contact CMLS directly about an address change or cancellation of a magazine. Please notify the Library regarding all aspects of your magazine and catalog service.


Free Matter Mailing Facts
As part of free matter mailing for the blind or handicapped, certain materials may be mailed back and forth between talking book readers and the library with no postage. These include:
  1. Talking, braille and large print books and magazines. To return them to the library, reverse the white paper mailing label (on the outside of the container) so the library address faces up. Some flexible disc magazines don't have a reversible label, but rather an address label glued on. These magazines are yours to keep and do not need to be returned to us. Please do not enclose requests or correspondence in the talking book or magazine containers.
  2. The checklist order forms in TALKING BOOK TOPICS and related catalogs for talking or braille books.
  3. Talking book request lists prepared in large type, braille, or recorded forms. To mail, enclose them in an envelope, fold in the flap, but do not seal, and write "Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped" where the stamp would ordinarily go. Please be certain your name and address are on all correspondence to the library.
If you have any questions about "free matter mailing", please contact the Braille and Talking Book Library.


For Braille Reading Cookie Lovers:
Debbi Fields is the creative force behind the famous Mrs. Fields' Cookies. She shared 100 of her favorite recipies in Mrs. Fields' Cookie Book. Including in this book are; Blue Ribbon Chocolate Chip Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, and Chocolate Cream Filled Hearts.

To purchase a copy of Mrs. Fields' Cookie Book ($10.95), contact: National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen St., Boston, MA 02115, or phone: 1-800-548-7323


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.