[Nfbk] Kentucky Talking Book Library Newsletter: Celebrating 80 Years of Talking Books

Tue Mar 1 19:24:40 UTC 2011

From: "Abner, Lauren (KDLA)" <Lauren.Abner at ky.gov>

The Listening Post:

A Newsletter from the Kentucky Talking Book Library

Number 56, Spring 2011

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped to
celebrate its 80th anniversary

FRANKFORT, Ky. - On March 3, the National Library Service for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped (NLS) - the Library of Congress' talking-book
and Braille program - will celebrate 80 years of helping visually
impaired and physically disabled individuals enjoy reading their
favorite books and magazines.

This free library program brings reading materials in digital audio and
Braille formats straight to the homes of patrons from preschoolers to
centenarians. Books on digital cartridge, digital talking-book players
and Braille books are sent to patrons via the U.S. mail at no cost to
users. People who sign up with the program also have the option of
downloading books and magazines over the Internet in audio or Braille
format. By law, priority is given to U.S. military veterans.

The Kentucky Talking Book Library, located in Frankfort, has been
providing service in Kentucky since 1969. Congress appropriates funds
annually to the Library of Congress for the NLS program, while regional
and sub-regional libraries receive financial support from federal, state
and local sources.

"The Talking Book Library is an invaluable resource that has enriched
the knowledge and imaginations of Kentuckians," said First Lady Jane
Beshear. "Literacy tools should be available to all, regardless of
impairment or disability. I am thrilled that this program has had such
long-lasting success, and extend my warm wishes on this 80th
anniversary."

The NLS collection of more than 400,000 titles of bestsellers, classics,
biographies, romance and other genres delights even the most selective
readers. Magazine lovers enjoy free subscriptions to more than 40
periodicals in audio format, including Consumer Reports, National
Geographic, and Sports Illustrated for Kids, and 30 periodicals in
Braille, such as Ladies Home Journal, ESPN: The Magazine and the New
York Times Large-Print Weekly.

"Talking books offer a wonderful opportunity for anyone who cannot use
regular print materials because of blindness or a physical disability,"
says NLS Director Kurt Cylke. "For 80 years this service has been a
priceless gift."

The NLS program also keeps pace with the latest book titles, adding
2,500 annually. Patrons learn of new releases through two bi-monthly
magazines, Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review.

Those interested in learning more or signing up may call the Kentucky
Talking Book Library at 1-800-372-2968 or 1-502-564-8300 ext. 276. Visit
the Kentucky Talking Book Library website at http://kdla.ky.gov/ or the
NLS website at http://www.loc.gov/nls/ .

Kentucky Talking Book Library produces its first digital Kentucky Books

NLS and KTBL began distributing digital players and talking books in
September 2009, and users quickly began to prefer them over the older
cassette format. KTBL is proud to announce that it has begun producing
its Kentucky Books on digital cartridge.  Now patrons may enjoy reading
books about Kentucky or by Kentucky authors on their digital players.

Digital Kentucky books work just like the NLS digital books, but the
container is grey and the cartridge is green.  So far we have only 8
books available, but all Kentucky Books recorded from now on will be
made as digital books with a book number starting with DKY.  No more
cassette books will be made.  Over the next few years KTBL staff and
volunteers will either convert older Kentucky books to digital format,
or will record new digital versions.  KTBL is not able to offer Kentucky
books for download at this time, but will investigate that possibility.

BARD download website popular

One of the most popular features of the digital talking book players is
the ability to play books downloaded from the NLS BARD website.  BARD
stands for Braille and Audio Reading Download, and the site offers more
than 20,000 books that are available whenever you want them.  New books
are available on BARD before physical copies are available through the
mail.  Eventually NLS will convert most existing cassette books to
digital books that will only be available on BARD.

560 Kentucky users have signed up to use BARD; since October they have
downloaded nearly 11,000 books!  Most have come to enjoy the convenience
and independence it affords them, however some patrons have not used
BARD since they signed up.  Please call KTBL at 1-800-372-2968 if you
have forgotten your log-on information or need help downloading books.

If you want to take advantage of BARD but don't have a computer
yourself, perhaps you have a family member willing to download for you.
See the BARD flyer that came with your digital player or call KTBL at
1-800-372-2968 for more information about BARD.

BARD website: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/KY1A
<https://nlsbard.loc.gov/KY1A>

Find a loose digital cartridge?  Call KTBL!

KTBL has very few copies of some digital books--sometimes only one.  We
currently do not have the funds to replace lost digital book cartridges.
Please make sure you include the proper cartridge in each mailing
container you return.  If you receive a digital book container without
the cartridge, or with the wrong cartridge, please mark the return
mailing label with an 'X' to indicate a problem.  If you have a digital
cartridge at home but you cannot find the container it came in, please
call the library at 1-800-372-2968 so that we can send you a special
container for it.  KTBL greatly appreciates your help in keeping digital
books circulating for your fellow patrons.

Contact your Congressman to support Talking Books

The Kentucky Talking Book Library is funded almost 100% by federal grant
money. You don't need to know the alphabet soup of agencies involved
(IMLS, LSTA) but you do need to know that earlier this month a
Congressman from New Jersey proposed to eliminate this funding in an
effort to reduce the federal budget.  This would have meant the end of
the Talking Book program in Kentucky, as well as many other states.

Here is what would happen if KTBL were eliminated:

*        You would be limited to those audio books you could afford to
buy or find for loan at your local public library or other sources.

*        You would likely have to travel to the library to get and
return books.

*        You would have to buy your own players instead of having them
provided for free.

*        There would be no more Braille library service in the state.

*        No more Kentucky Books would be recorded and made accessible
for those who cannot read them in print.

*        Because KTBL administers the BARD download service in Kentucky,
it is not known whether it would still be available.  Even if BARD
remained in use in Kentucky, only 14% of our patrons are registered to
use it.

Fortunately this Congressman withdrew his proposal when he learned that
veterans in his state benefited from the New Jersey Talking Book
Library.  That does not mean that someone else won't try to eliminate
federal library funding.  Let your Congressmen know that you rely on
this federal funding for your Talking Books.

Find your Senator at: www.senate.gov <http://www.senate.gov/>

Find your Representative at: www.house.gov <http://www.house.gov/>

Donations

KTBL would like to thank the following people for making donations to
our library.  Donations are becoming more vital with recent and future
budget cuts, so your generosity makes our programs possible and is
greatly appreciated by both staff and readers.

Accumetric, LLC

W. Sue Allen

Stella Blankenship

Ewing Cantrill

John & Anna Cook

Judith Cress

Kenneth Dossey

Glennie Garrett

Betty Hardin

Robert Howorka

Marjorie Osterdahl

Nathan Pierce

In memory of Ewing Cantrill: Nancy Anderson, Terri DeAtley, and Susan
Lipp

In memory of Hattie Hunter: Darlene Hunter

In memory of Helen Brown: Nancy Kalb & Ohio Mutual Associates

In memory of Mrs. Marian Steen: Deborah Onkst

In memory of Eleanor Eady Smith: Louise Wall, Allen & Laurie Mercke, Mr
& Mrs. S. Paul Jones, and Mr. & Mrs. Marshall Sellers

If you would like to contribute to KTBL, please make your check or money
order payable to the Kentucky Talking Book Library, P.O. Box 537,
Frankfort, KY 40602-0537.  Please do not send cash through the mail.
Donations are 100% tax deductible.

KTBL Calendar

Friday, April 22 - Closed at noon for a state holiday

Monday, May 30 - Closed for Memorial Day

Monday, July 4 - Closed for Independence Day

Contact Information

Kentucky Talking Book Library

P.O. Box 537

Frankfort, KY 40602

Toll-free: 1-800-372-2968

Local: 1-502-564-8300, ext. 276

E-mail: KTBL.Mail at ky.gov

Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Eastern, Monday-Friday

-- 
Joey Couch
cell phone 606-216-8033
email
joey.couch at gmail.com
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ki4vjd at arrl.net
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