[Nfbk] Kentucky Talking Book Library News, Winter 2013

Wed Jan 30 20:50:54 UTC 2013

From: "Abner, Lauren (KDLA)" <Lauren.Abner at ky.gov>
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:13:36 +0000
Subject: Kentucky Talking Book Library News, Winter 2013

KENTUCKY TALKING BOOK LIBRARY NEWS, WINTER 2013

Download the Word
document<http://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/talkingbook/Documents/KTBL%20News%20Winter%202013.docx>
or PDF version<http://kdla.ky.gov/librarians/talkingbook/Documents/KTBL%20News%20Winter%202013.pdf>
of this newsletter from our website.
Listen to a text-to-speech version on the Kentucky Information Channel
through NFB Newsline or login to NFB Newsline
online<http://www.nfbnewslineonline.org/>. Stream the narrated audio
newsletter through
SoundCloud<http://soundcloud.com/kytalkingbooklibrary/ktblnewswinter2013>.

Audio Magazines and Catalogs Go Digital

Good news!  Audio magazines and the Talking Book Topics catalog will
soon be available on digital cartridges, just like your talking books.
 This transition will start with the January-February issue of Talking
Book Topics (TBT).  There may be a brief period in which you receive
both cassette and digital versions, and it will take approximately six
months before everyone gets switched to the digital format. Two
important changes to remember: 1. All your magazines will come on one
cartridge, 2. You must return the cartridge in order to continue
receiving new issues.  Digital magazines and catalogs will arrive in
maroon containers, and the print TBT order booklet will be mailed
separately.  A list of NLS audio magazines appears in each issue of
TBT-and don't forget you can download the TBT catalog and all
magazines from BARD.

Bigger, Better BARD

An updated version of the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD)
website was introduced in November 2012 with new features and content.
 Braille books and magazines, which previously could be downloaded
from the NLS Web-Braille system, are now only available through BARD.
Braille book files will not play on the NLS digital talking book
player; users must have a refreshable Braille display or a purchased
device that is able to play Braille files as text-to-speech.  When
searching BARD, audio books will be listed first (identified by DB
numbers), followed by Braille books (identified by BR numbers).  If
you would like to see only audio or only Braille search results, you
can go to the "Update account settings" page, find the "Display
results" options, and select "Audio only" or "Braille only".  You can
also select whether to see BARD in color or in black and white.

You can now find more information about a book, or find related books,
by clicking on the title/book number link at the top of each BARD
entry.  Other new BARD features include a wish list, a list of all the
books you have downloaded, materials from the NLS music collection (in
both Braille and audio formats), and locally-produced Braille items.
More extensive information about the updates can be found on the new
BARD Overview page: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/NLS/NewBARDOverview.html.
If you have any questions about using BARD or need assistance in
accessing your account, please contact KTBL at 1-800-372-2968 or (502)
564-8300 ext. 276.  To register to use BARD for the first time, fill
out the brief, online application at http://nlsbard.loc.gov/.

Stay Up-to-Date with Facebook and Twitter

KTBL recently joined Twitter-our handle is @KyTBL<http://@KyTBL>.
Follow us at www.twitter.com/kytbl<http://www.twitter.com/kytbl> for
updates on the newest digital Kentucky books, important Talking Books
updates, and other random fun stuff.  Let us know what kind of info
you'd like to see, and please be patient while we learn the ropes of
tweeting!
You can also receive KTBL news by "liking" us on our Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/KDLA.KTBL.  Our weekly posts feature
descriptions of books, advertise outreach events, and include library
news.  We would like to include photos of you using Braille or talking
books-please share them with us!

New Features on NFB Newsline(r) and Central Kentucky Radio Eye

NFB Newsline(r), the free audible newspaper and magazine reading
service from the National Federation of the Blind, has recently added
some new features:
*Accuweather(r) emergency weather alerts--Users will automatically
hear weather alerts for their county when they log into the
Newsline(r) system by telephone or through the iPhone app.
*Central Kentucky Radio Eye content--Users can hear CKRE's live
broadcast when they call their local Newsline(r) number. Please note
that you cannot hear CKRE through the toll-free number or through
Newsline's website at this time.  CKRE is a radio reading service that
broadcasts in the Lexington and Louisville areas to registered users
with special radios, but anyone can stream CKRE's broadcast from their
website: http://libguides.uky.edu/ckre.  Additionally, CKRE makes its
broadcasts available on smart phones and tablets through the iBlink
radio app and to cable subscribers in Fayette, Jessamine, and Franklin
counties.
*My Newspaper--Newsline users can create their own custom newspaper
that brings together favorite publications or sections of newspapers;
content refreshes daily.

KTBL patrons can sign up for Newsline(r) by calling or e-mailing the
library or by submitting an online application for NFB Newsline(r) at
www.nfbnewslineonline.org/<http://www.nfbnewslineonline.org/>.  For
questions about how to use different features of Newsline(r), existing
subscribers can contact Independence Place in Lexington at
859-266-2807, 1-877-266-2807, or
info at independenceplaceky.org<mailto:info at independenceplaceky.org>.

Patrons who'd like to hear Central Kentucky Radio Eye's broadcast
using a special radio receiver can contact CKRE at 859-422-6390 or
info at radioeye.org<mailto:info at radioeye.org> to receive an application
for service.  Special radio broadcasts can be heard in the following
counties: Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Bullitt, Clark, Fayette, Franklin,
Garrard, Jefferson, Jessamine, Madison, Meade, Mercer, Montgomery,
Nelson, Oldham, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, and Woodford.

Digital Talking Book Player Accessories

KTBL has several accessories for the NLS digital talking book player
available to patrons who need them:
*Headphones--Stereo headphones that work with both the digital player
and the older 4-track cassette player.  Limited to patrons with
hearing loss or those who live in group settings, such as a nursing
home.  Standard headphones and ear buds will work with the digital
talking book player, so you may use a set you already own.
*Pillow speaker--Small speaker to be placed under a pillow so that
only the reader can hear it. Limited to patrons who are confined to
bed.
*Elbow adapter--An L-shaped adapter for use with USB flash drives
playing BARD materials; it allows a flash drive inserted in the USB
port on the side of the player to lie parallel with the player, rather
than sticking straight out.
*Breath-Switch Adapter--Controls the play/stop function of the digital
player.  For use by patrons who have little or no manual dexterity to
operate the NLS digital player.  Requires a separate application and
comes with an elbow adapter.
*Amplifier--For patrons with profound hearing loss.  Requires a
separate application filled out by a medical doctor.  Comes with
headphones.

To request one of these devices, please call KTBL at 1-800-372-2968 or
(502) 564-8300 ext. 276.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

We would like to extend a big thank-you to everyone who donated to the
Kentucky Talking Book Library in response to our last newsletter.  We
appreciate your gift, whether you gave $1 or $1000, because they added
up to enough for us to buy a shipment of blank digital cartridges.
This will in turn allow us to make more digital books available to
you. In addition, we received a bequest from a patron who included us
in her will.  Her gift has allowed us to repair and update some of our
recording equipment.  Regretfully, space will not allow us to list the
names of individual donors.

The Kentucky Talking Book Library's services depend on donations from
patrons, their family and friends, and other interested parties.  We
use these funds for purchasing specialty items such as digital
cartridges and mailing containers, mail card printers, and recording
equipment, as well as Kentucky books to record, Braille paper, labels,
and printing costs for outreach materials.  Our service would be
greatly reduced if we did not continue to receive your kind donations.
 Please keep it up and consider including KTBL in your estate
planning.

To make a tax-deductible contribution to our library, please send a
check or money-order to: Kentucky Talking Book Library, PO Box 537,
Frankfort, KY 40602.  You will receive a thank-you letter you can use
for tax purposes.

Proofreading Volunteers Needed

Each year, the Kentucky Talking Book Library's volunteer recording
program records about 40 Kentucky-related titles to supplement the
national collection of Talking Books.  We have many volunteers to
record books, but not enough to keep up with proofreading them.
Proofreading is the most important step of production-if the
proofreader doesn't catch a mistake, it goes in the finished book!  A
proofreader listens to a recording while comparing it to the print
book to ensure accuracy and quality.  The ideal proofreader has good
hearing and vision, has experience listening to audio books, has some
basic computer skills, and is attentive to detail.  Volunteers must be
able to come to our recording studio in Frankfort at least 1 hour each
week.  KTBL will provide one-on-one orientation and training for each
volunteer.  If someone you know is interested, he/she may contact the
library at ktbl.mail at ky.gov<mailto:ktbl.mail at ky.gov> or
1-800-372-2968.

2013 KTBL/State Government Holidays

March 29 - Half-day for Good Friday
May 27 - Memorial Day
July 4 - Independence Day
September 2 - Labor Day
November 11 - Veteran's Day
November 28-29 - Thanksgiving
December 24-25 - Christmas
December 31-January 1 - New Year's

KTBL Contact Information

Kentucky Talking Book Library
PO Box 537
300 Coffee Tree Rd.
Frankfort, KY 40602
ktbl.mail at ky.gov<mailto:ktbl.mail at ky.gov>

1-800-372-2968 (KY toll-free)
(502) 564-8300 ext. 276
Hours: 8:00-4:30 ET, Monday-Friday
Twitter: www.twitter.com/kytbl<http://www.twitter.com/kytbl>
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kdla.ktbl<http://www.facebook.com/kdla.ktbl>

Joey Couch
phone 606-216-8033.
email ki4vjd at gmail.com
twitter.
 http://www.twitter.com/ki4vjd
facebook.
 http://www.facebook.com/ki4vjd