[nfbwatlk] FW: [wtbbl] WTBBL Spring-Summer 2012 "Reading Matters" Newsletter

Jacob Struiksma lawnmower84 at hotmail.com
Fri Jun 15 06:40:26 UTC 2012


 

Washington Talking Book & Braille Library

Administered by the Washington State Library

and Office of  Secretary of State

 

Reading Matters

Spring/Summer 2012

David Junius, Editor

 

******

 

A Message from Danielle Miller, Program Manager 

 

          As is always the case at your Talking Book & Braille Library, much
has been brewing.  WTBBL is a regional library for the National Library
Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of
Congress, and we have a new director!  On March 26,  Karen Keninger took
over the NLS reins.  Karen is the former director of the Iowa Department for
the Blind and the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Drake University in Iowa
and a master's degree in English, business, and technical writing from Iowa
State University. Karen completed graduate courses in library and
information science at the University of Iowa.  She is a daily user of the
full range of information technologies for the blind and visually impaired,
including Web-Braille, digital talking book machines and books, and online
download services.

          In May I got to meet Karen at the NLS Biennial Conference in
Newport, Rhode Island.  I am very excited by her plans for the future, the
role of NLS and the regional libraries, and how to best serve our patrons.
With Karen at the helm, the future of our service is in good hands. 

          June 5, 2012, was declared Washington Talking Book & Braille
Library Day by Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn.  WTBBL Day was part of the Mayoral
Award for Empowering Individuals with Disabilities.  We were given a
proclamation and enjoyed a lovely reception with many other wonderful
organizations being recognized for their work.

          Some more great news is that we've hired a Youth Services &
Outreach Librarian.  Her name is Mandy and you'll find her profile later in
this edition.  She is excited to get to know you and partner with your
chapters or groups to expand programming and activities for children and
teens.  We'll be having an open house at WTBBL to welcome her and we hope to
have lots of families join us.  She'll be starting just in time for the
Summer Reading Program - please encourage any youth 18 years old or under to
join in the Dream Big - Read summer fun.

          Wishing you all the very best and please do stay in touch.  

 

Danielle, (206) 615-1588 /  <mailto:danielle.miller at sos.wa.gov>
danielle.miller at sos.wa.gov

 

******

 

Electronic Services and Instruction Update by Eura Szuwalski

 

A great deal has happened in the two years since I started as WTBBL's first
Electronic Services and Instruction Librarian. The Digital Talking Book
Machine transition is in full force, public libraries are partnering with
WTBBL to spread the word about the service, and WTBBL will soon have a new
design for our website. 

          Since March, I have been taking our digital books and downloading
training on the road to introduce the service to public libraries around the
state. With assistance from the Washington State Library, and funding from a
Library Services and Technology Act grant, I presented the "Ally with WTBBL"
training to teachers, librarians and library staff. The goal was to remind
and encourage the library staff and teachers to "ally" with WTBBL and refer
potential patrons to our service. The full-day training featured an overview
of WTBBL services, a session on services for people with disabilities, an
introduction and hands-on exercise with assistive technology software and
devices, and training in downloading books. 

          The sessions took place in Seattle at WTBBL, in Vancouver at Fort
Vancouver Regional Library, in Bellingham at Whatcom County Library, in
Toppenish at the Yakama Nation Cultural Heritage Center, in Richland at the
Richland Public Library, in Ritzville at the Ritzville Public Library, and
in Spokane at the Spokane County Library. In total, 61 people attended the
training sessions and each went home with a flash drive of WTBBL materials
and a better understanding of WTBBL services. All library systems
represented either updated the details of their account to receive a talking
book machine or signed up for an institutional account!

          I look forward to providing similar training to other groups that
work with our patrons. If you know of a group that would be interested in
this training, an outreach presentation on WTBBL services, or a tour of the
library, please contact David Junius, WTBBL's Volunteer Services and
Outreach Coordinator, at (206) 615-0417.

          I am also updating the design for the WTBBL website. The website
is often the first place that potential patrons, their family members, and
interested parties turn to learn about WTBBL and what we provide. Over the
last two years, I have performed usability studies to learn what works and
doesn't work with the current site. Working with the Office of Secretary of
State's web design team and WTBBL staff, we have developed a new design and
a more intuitive structure for the site. 

As staff members develop the content to fill the site, I will also work with
patrons and staff to ensure that the site is fully accessible. If you are
interested in being part of the usability group for the beta version of the
site, please contact the library and ask for Eura. I am very excited to "go
live" with the new site before the end of the summer and present a new
online face for our wonderful service.  

          While the last couple of years have been packed with outreach and
other opportunities, I look forward to continuing to find innovative ways
and funding options to bring technology and electronic resources to WTBBL
patrons. 

There is still so much more that we can and will do!

          

******

 

New Books at WTBBL by Herrick Heitman

 

Call it regional pride, but it's always nice to get books from the National
Library Service with a Northwest theme. See how well authors portray
familiar places in the following books.

 

Audio: Adult Fiction

Deep Creek by Dana Hand.

            Idaho Territory, June 1887. County judge Joe Vincent,
westernized Chinese investigator Lee Loi, and Métis mountain guide Grace
Sundown track the killers responsible for the massacre of more than thirty
Chinese gold miners along the Snake River. Based on a true story. Violence
and strong language. 2010. 11 hours, 38 minutes. Digital Book DB 72620. Also
available as a downloadable book from BARD:
<http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.72620> http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.72620
 
An Engagement in Seattle by Debbie Macomber.
            Two Seattle romance novellas. In "Groom Wanted," a businesswoman
reluctantly agrees to marry a Russian chemist to give him citizenship - but
he wants a real marriage. In "Bride Wanted," an Alaskan pipeline worker
advertises for a bride and finds one who already has the dress. Some
descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 1992. 12 hours, 50 minutes. Digital Book DB
72816. Also available as a downloadable book from BARD:
<http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.72816> http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.72816 
 
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride.
            Samhain "Sam" Corvus LaCroix drops out of college and bides his
time at local fast-food restaurant Plumpy's, only to learn that his life
isn't what it seems to be - and that Seattle is teeming with paranormal
creatures. Some violence and some strong language. For senior high and older
readers. 2010. 11 hours, 9 minutes. Digital Book DB 72338. Also available as
a downloadable book from BARD:  <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.72338>
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.72338 
 
Though Not Dead [#18, Kate Shugak Mysteries] by Dana Stabenow.
            Kate is attacked while reading the diaries of her late uncle,
"Old Sam." When she discovers that Sam changed his will shortly before he
died, she searches for clues to his past and finds a Russian icon and a deed
to valuable property. Some violence and some strong language. 2011. 14
hours, 43 minutes. Digital Book DB 73422. Also available as a downloadable
book from BARD:  <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.73422>
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.73422 
 

******

 
Braille: Adult Fiction
The Walk by Richard Paul Evans.
            Seattle advertising executive Alan Christoffersen has everything
- until his beloved wife dies, his business partner steals their clients,
and his house is repossessed. Alan decides to walk across America to Key
West, Florida, in search of new meaning while keeping a journal and
befriending people along the way. 2010. Two volumes. Braille Book BR 19058.
Also available as DB 73358 and as a downloadable braille book from
Web-Braille:  <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.19058v01>
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.19058v01
 <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.19058v02>
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.19058v02
 
Baby, It's Cold Outside by Jennifer Greene, et al.
            Three short romances. In Jennifer Greene's "Blame It on the
Blizzard," Emilie Bartlett retreats to her family's remote Alaskan lodge and
finds love with a handsome recluse seeking shelter from the winter storm.
Includes "Deep Freeze," by Merline Lovelace and "Melting Point," by Cindi
Myers. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2010. Braille Book BR 18871. Two
volumes. Also available as a downloadable braille book from Web-Braille: 
 <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.18871v01>
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.18871v01
 <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.18871v02>
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.18871v02
 

******

 
Braille: Adult Nonfiction
Mountain Madness: Scott Fischer, Mount Everest, and a Life Lived on High by
Robert Birkby.
            Biography of mountain climber Scott Fischer, who died while
leading an expedition up Mount Everest in 1996. Author Birkby, an
outdoorsman and friend of Fischer's, describes many of the climbs that
Fischer made around the world as owner of Mountain Madness, a
Washington-based guide service. 2008. Braille Book BR 18451. Three volumes.
Also available as a downloadable braille book from Web-Braille:
 <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.18451v01>
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.18451v01
 <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.18451v02>
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.18451v02
 <http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.18451v03>
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/br.18451v03
 

******

 

Shipping News by Sally Jo Hagen

 

It's almost summertime and that means we will once again be participating in
two  programs for youth. One is the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
through the City of Seattle with participants from the Seattle area high
schools. 

The other program is Youth Employment Solutions (YES), with participants
coming from the Washington State School for the Blind and the Washington
State Department of Services for the Blind. The YES program is six weeks
long and during this time the students live at a sorority house near the
University of Washington. For many of the students, this will be the first
time they have been away from home and have the added responsibilities of
not only getting to work on time, but also learning housing and living
skills.

A lot of things are happening in shipping these days, including shifting our
materials to make more space for new books, weeding some of our collection
to make room for new braille and digital materials, and maybe a tactile art
installation with our summer students! 

I hope everyone is getting their books and equipment and are enjoying a good
read! If you have any questions or requests, please call WTBBL at (800)
542-0866 or (206) 615-0400.

 

******

 

WTBBL's New Youth Services and Outreach Librarian

 

Hello! My name is Mandy Gonnsen and I am the new Youth Services and Outreach
Librarian. I am a recent graduate of the Library and Information Science
master's program at the University of Washington and am extremely excited to
join the WTBBL team. I have been working with children and teens in various
capacities over the past few years, since earning my bachelors degree in
psychology from the University of Maryland.

I believe that youth of all ages have a place at the library, and I'm
looking forward to establishing some fun and engaging programs for youth at
WTBBL. I hope you'll join us for our upcoming summer reading program - this
year's theme is "Dream Big. Read." - and we'll have some great reading lists
and activities throughout the summer! 

I would love to get to know each and every one of you, so please don't
hesitate to call or stop by with any questions or just to say hello. I'm
happy to be here and I'm looking forward to serving you at WTBBL.

 

******

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Janell Peterson

 

I have been a fan of talking book and braille libraries for as long as I can
remember. I've been a patron since about age five, first in Portland,
Oregon, and then at our wonderful WTBBL since 1967. I have always been
interested in volunteering but haven't always had the extra time. During the
1980s I volunteered at Lowell Elementary School and Meany Middle School
working as an aide for teachers of visually impaired and blind students, in
addition to sighted students who were working to improve their reading
skills.

Around 2005, WTBBL Reader Advisor Alan Bentson offered me an opportunity to
learn cataloging online books and editing many less-than-perfect book
descriptions in the database. This task was really "up my alley," since my
employment for 30 years has been as a medical transcriptionist, which
requires an attention to detail and the ability to troubleshoot
independently. 

After enjoying that role for several years, another opportunity arose to try
my hand at proofreading the locally produced braille books transcribed by
WTBBL volunteers. While at first I thought I'd miss the cataloging, I found
to my delight the proofreading experience was enjoyable to learn, and even
more enjoyable to continue because my teammate Martha is such a delight to
work with. 

Martha is the sighted portion of our team, reading the printed version of
the book while I proof the braille. We take turns doing the reading, as we
must vocalize every attribute of the text, including all punctuation marks
and paragraphing. We sometimes plod through long footnotes and indices that
require lots of scrutiny, so to keep fresh and alert we find that taking
turns doing the reading works best for us. Since my vocation is somewhat
isolating by its nature and I work from home, I now find I prefer this
teamwork and look forward to our time together each week.

Outside of work and WTBBL volunteering, I enjoy being a phone friend to a
homebound senior, meeting up with public transit-enthusiastic friends for
some excursions around the area to see where all we can get to by bus,
attending some of the performances organized by Arts for the Visually
Impaired, hooking up with my workmates for idea exchanges and staying
current in the field, long walks, and much reading. My absolute favorite
thing to do is to expand my personal library, and when I can get to the
WTBBL patron computer lab, or LEAP at Seattle Public Library, I always grab
a few downloads.

I feel so blessed to have had the exposure to the world of volunteering at
WTBBL and elsewhere. I feel like if I could retire tomorrow there would
never be enough hours in the day to try my hand at many different volunteer
opportunities that I know of and likely many that haven't yet revealed
themselves to me.

 

******

 

Staff Profile: Wes Derby

 

I was born in 1978, in Portland, Oregon. I moved to Arizona in third grade,
but came back to the Northwest often. I moved to Washington in 1999 because,
at the time, there weren't a lot of job options in Arizona.

My original dream was to be a radio DJ and talk show host. Around the time I
moved here, radio stations were just beginning their switch to computers
instead of old-fashioned mixing boards and CD players. Unfortunately, after
applying to cohost a morning show, I learned the software being used was not
yet accessible with a screen reader.

Though I always loved to read, I never thought of working for a library.
However, I started as the receptionist at WTBBL in May 2000, and quickly
learned to do part-time readers advisory to help support the staff. In 2003,
one of our reader advisors left, and I filled the position on a temporary
basis. I was hired for the position permanently in February 2005. Within a
couple months of the promotion, my daughter Alexis was born.

In 2009, in addition to my work with the library, I found a way to satisfy
my passion for radio in the form of Internet broadcasting. I started out
working with a station primarily focused on blind broadcasters. Then in
2010, I partnered with a well-respected music journalist and formed my own
station where today, we interview everyone from independent artists to the
biggest names in rock and metal music.

My time at WTBBL will come to a close June 15, as I'll be moving to the
Yakima Valley with my family. This job has been very rewarding. I've worked
with some of the coolest people one could ever hope to have as co-workers,
and our patrons are an amazing group. Thanks to all who have made my time
here so special. 

 

******

 

An Update from Carleen Jackson

 

GiveBIG:

First of all, thanks to the patrons, friends, volunteers and staff who made
gifts to WTBBL in the recent "GiveBIG" campaign on May 2nd. We are all very
pleased with our results from participating for the first time. With
matching funds received from the Seattle Foundation, WTBBL raised $1,931.66
in the 24-hour event. Look for us again next year on the first Wednesday in
May. We have even bigger plans to involve more people in 2013!

 

Parting Gifts from Good Friends:

Recently, WTBBL received wonderful bequests from patrons and friends of
WTBBL. These gifts are important to us because they indicate that the givers
were not only happy with the service and books they received from WTBBL, but
also cared enough to make sure that the library will continue to provide
great service in the future.

We invest unrestricted bequests in the WTBBL endowments held at the Seattle
Foundation, and the Inland Northwest Community Foundation in Spokane. By
doing this we are guaranteeing an income stream for WTBBL to provide for
needs not supported by federal and state funding. 

Today that income stream is dedicated to funding a new WTBBL youth services
and outreach librarian position. As government budgets continue to get
tighter, the annual income from our endowments is even more necessary to
continue the level of service our patrons expect and to reach out to anyone
who is eligible for our services.

Our latest bequest is from Elizabeth Welty by way of her sister, Mary
Johnston. Elizabeth left a significant gift of stock to Mary, with the
stipulation that it be given as a gift to WTBBL.

Elizabeth was devoted to the welfare of children. After several years in
social work and social research projects at the University of British
Columbia and the University of Washington, Elizabeth became director of
Medina Children's Services, a progressive, child-centered adoption agency in
Seattle. At Medina, she created and directed the Children's Protective
Services demonstration project. 

Her success with Children's Protective Services was a key factor in the
passage of the state's first child abuse laws, including a landmark child
abuse statute that gives immunity to physicians and institutions reporting
suspected child abuse. Her personal convictions also led her to projects
that fostered opportunities and fairness for Native Americans,
Japanese-Americans, and other marginalized groups and individuals. 

In her retirement years, after experiencing macular degeneration, she made
great use of WTBBL and so strongly appreciated this service that she was
inspired to leave this gift. Our donors never cease to amaze with their
desire to help others and support WTBBL during their lifetimes and beyond.

If you are interested in making a gift to WTBBL in your estate plan, please
contact Carleen Jackson at (360) 902-4126 or
<mailto:carleen.jackson at sos.wa.gov> carleen.jackson at sos.wa.gov.

 

 

-------------------- 
Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (wtbbl)
An email list bringing you the latest information from the Washington
Talking Book & Braille Library, including newletter, booklists and items of
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