Talking book news

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ARIZ~NA i~JifG.'~'b~K NEWS
Published by the Easter Seal Society for
Crippled Children and Adults of Arizona
Volume 1, Number 2 August, 1970
We would like to thank those readers who returned the registration form that was
attached to the last newsletter, If you have not taken the time to do this, we
would appreciate your doing so as soon as possible. At the S8.Jlle time, we would
like to hear from you regarding using large type for this newsletter,
READING IS FOR EVERYBODY
Do you know somebody in your community who, due to physical or visual impairment,
is unable to read print, hold a book, or turn pages. Why not give him the right
to read, Tell him about talking books, and help him apply for talking book ser­vice.
For applications and more information, telephone 271-5579 or write the Reg­ional
Library in Phoenix at 1016 North 32nd Street. Between mid-March and
June 30th, over 200 new readers were registered in the program.
WE GET LETTERS
Many letters have come into the Regional Library and the Department of Rehabilita­tion
for the Visually Impaired thanking us for the service which is provided to the
blind and physically handicapped. From time to time we will be printing some
excerpts from these letters. Such as •.• "I want you to know how much I appreciate
the Talking Books, and al though I am not totally blind, I rely on tl1em for keeping
up with current events .... "
NEW MAGAZINES
The library receives the following talking book magazines outside of the regular
Library of Congress program. If you are interested in receiving these magazines,
do let us know. If there are sufficient requests for them, we will see what we
can do about getting more copies:
1. Braille Monitor Talking Book (monthly) Articles for social workers.
2. Choice Magazine Listening (bi-monthly)l\rtic1es, stories, and poetry selected
currently from outstanding magazines.
3. Dialogue (quarterly) "The purpose of this magazine is to take information from
sighted people and put it into a form which a blind person can use, particular­ly
in his relationship with the sighted world--a two-way exchange of ideas."
4. The Episcopalian. (monthly) Articles for the Episcopalian.
5. Guideposts Talking Book (monthly) Inspirational articles, inter-denominational.
6. The Upper Room (hi-monthly) (Also on cassette tape) A daily devotional guide,
inter-denominational, international,
You'll hear some really provocat:ive things in these magazines!
There have been production problems taping Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine. The
Library of Congress is now in the process of recording back issues for 1970 and they
hope to have the magazine current again. They regret any inconvenience this delay
in service may have caused,
j
RETURN_EQUIPMENT
If you find you no longer have a need for our Talking Book Machine or the cassette
tape player or any of the items issued to you by DRVI, we would appreciate hearing
from you. Remember, there are others who would benefit from the use of these items,
so please call us at 271-4354 so we can arrange a convenient time for pick up or so
we can give instructions as where to mail the item. REMEMBER, these can be mailed,
through the regular mails, Free of Charge. If you wish, DRVI will provide you with
a mailing label for your convenience.
FREE POSTAGE FOR ORDER FORMS
Readers can now mail their Talking Book and Magnetic Tape order forms postage-free
to their Regional libraries. The words "Free Matter for the Blind or Physically
Handicapped" must be printed in the upper right-hand corner of the envelope.
A VOLUNTEER
A sunny lady by the name of Mrs. George (Louise) Robinson, of Phoenix, has been a
star volunteer at the Talking Book Library, where she has put in over forty hours
helping to transfer readers' records. Mrs. Robinson, before coming to Phoenix five
years ago, learned Braille at the New York Guild for the Jewish Blind, and put her
knowledge to use Brailling childrens' text books. Now, although having a garden,
a house, a husband, and two dogs to care for (not necessarily in that order), she
stil1 finds time to volunteer her cheerful (and cheering) services. On being
approached for this interview, Mrs. Robinson said, "Oh, I wish you wouldn't bother,
there's nothing outstanding about me," We think differently.
TWO SIDED NEEDLE
How many of you know there was another side to the needle you have in your talking
book machine? Well there is: Many people have turned their machines in because it
"garbles", or "the tone arm slides across the record", Well, there is a way to
stop the "sliding" or "garble" without having to be without a machine while it is
being repaired. On the bottom edge, towards the front of the tone arm, which is
the tlthing" you place on the record, there is a thin, black lever which protrudes
about one inch from one side or the other. This lever can be gently pushed down
and in an arc to the opposite side of the tone arm until you hear a click. This
will give you the other side of the needle and will enable you to receive twice
the playing time you get from an ordinary needle. This needle is also easily
replaced, as it is in a cartridge and can be pulled out of its socket. A new
cartridge can then be inserted. So, before you get angry with the machine and
turn it in, check to be sure the needle is still good. If you need a replacement
just call your local sub-lending agency or Mr. Coutu at 271-4354 (Phoenix), or
Mrs. Denogean at 622-7675 (Tucson).
REGIONAL LIBRARIANS HOLD CONFERENCE
"Innovation" was the theme of the Conference of Regional Librarians held by
the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in New York May 11,12, and
13. All states and territories were represented by regional librarians, Title IV­B
consultants, and heads of contracting libraries, who joined members of the staff
of DBPH, HEW, the American Printing House for the Blind, and the American Founda­tion
for the Blind in workshops, discussions, and tours.
After a general session on Monday, chaired by Robert S. Bray, Chief of the
Division, who introduced his staff and Paul L. Berry, Director of the Reference
Department, the conference divided into geographical groups to meet in workshops
which continued on Wednesday morning so that members of each of four groups could
participate in sessions on Innovation in Reading Resources, Innovation in Services,
Innovation in Communications, and Innovation in Procedures. Mr. Bray, Lillias
Burns, Ralph Garretson, James Hahn, Ed Lewis, Hylda Kamisar, Jackie Wintle, Mrs.
Peggy Howell and Mrs. Patricia Raley served as resource'persons at the sessions.
On Tuesday the conference met as guests of the American Foundation for the Blind,
a private nonprofit organization which has since 1921 carried on research, collected
and disseminated information, and advised on matters that improve and strengthen ser­vices
to blind persons. M. Robert Barnett, executive director, introduced John W.
Breuel, director of the Manufacturing and Sales Department, Arthur Helms, production
manager of the Talking Book Division, John Dunas, plant manager of the Talking Book
Division, and Leo Levens, chief engineer, who discussed the recording of titles
selected by DBPH and answered questions about the recording and production of records.
Mary Ellen Mulholland, director of the publications division, and Claire Holcomb,
edi torial specialist, invited suggestions from the librarians present for changes or
improvements in Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review. John F. Likely, director
of the Business "and Office Management Department, explained the maintenance of the
Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review (inkprint editions) subscribers list,
which was converted to computer in July and" August 1969. Readers names are kept in
State- zip-reader sequence, and additions and deletions are read by an optical
scanner, put on magnetic tape, sorted, and filed for printing. In answer to the
Librarians' requests for copies of lists of readers serviced by their libraries, Mr.
Likely offered to price printouts of seg~ents of the list. Ira Kaplan, manager
of the Aids and Appliances Division, showed some of the products marketed by the
Foundation--watches, carpenters' levels, compasses, etc.
After lunch as guests of the Foundation, the conferees toured the several
buildings occupied by the Foundation, visiting the sound studios where talking books
were being recorded, tape duplicating and editing offices, production and shipping
departments, and the Helen Keller museum. In the time remaining on Tuesday after­noon,
some librarians visited the studios of Recordings for the Blind and the New
York regional library.
The reception and buffet at which the Foundation entertained the conference on
Tuesday evening was the highlight of the conference. About 35 of the actors and
television personalities who record talking books were introduced by the master of
ceremonies, Leon Janney, himself a recorder of long standing. The librarians'
applause was a measure of the popularity of the voices with their readers, some of
whom want every record made by such popular professionals as Alexander Scourby and
House Jamieson, all of whom want more biographical and personal information about
the persons who record.
At the final session on Wednesday afternoon one chairman, having been selected
as spokesman by the four who chaired the workshop sessions on the same topic,
presented conclusions and recommendations to the conference. Among recommendations
were that reference services, especially the preparation of more in-depth lists,
be strengthened; that the Library of Congress provide a consultant to work with
new libraries; that LC provide a union list of periodical holdings; that regional
libraries and contracting libraries be furnished a new organization chart of
DBPH, with the names of persons who provide different services; and that position
papers, such as those distributed in anticipation of this conference, be prepared
at frequent intervals throughout the year.
NEW CASSETTE BOOKS
The library has these 12 cassette books which you may not have read yet:
CB 59 Strunk, William (Guide to the art of good writing) Elements of Style
CB 66 Dickens, Charles (Essays) Hard Times
CB 84 Douglas, William O. (Supreme Court, Politics, Government) Points of Rebellion
CB 95 Fitzgerald, F.S.K. (French Riviers, 1920's) Tender is the Night
CB 103 Reading by Listening to Time-Compressed Recorded Speech.
CB III Twain, Mark (Classic) Prince and the Pauper
CB 112 Descartes, Rene (Philosophy) Discourse on Method
CB 113 Sterne, Laurence (France and Italy) A Sentimental Journey ....
CB 115 Santayana, George (Classic: philiosophy, logic) Reason in Common Sense
CB 116 Plato (Philosophy) The Apology and Crito
CB 117 Machiavelli, Niccolo (Classic) The Prince
CB 120 Smith, Adam (Classic: Economics) The Wealth of Nations
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NEWS AND NOTES TO OUR READERS
The Senate Committee on Appropriations on July 8th reported H.R. 16015 (Report No.
91-1009), the bill making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for fiscal 1971.
The Senate apporved an appropriation to the Library of Congress of $50,505,400,
an increase of $563,400 over the amount approved by the House. The Senate
concurred in the House allowance of $7,598,000 for books for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped. (From the Library of Congress Information Bulletin
vol. 29, No. 28, July 16, 1970.
Please do not keep current issues of periodicals any longer than seven days.
Current means anything within 3 months past.
*'*******
A workshop for all interested librarians, equipment lending agencies, and others
interested in the Talking Book program is being planned for sometime in October
in Phoenix. More on this in the next Newsletter.
*'*'*** '***
For those of you who read cassette books, it would help us if you would not
only tie a string on the outside strap, but also put a rubber band or otherwise
indicate which cassette reel is damaged.
A Cassette tape with the first and second newsletter and Annual Report for the
Library will be available for anyone interested in borrowing it. Please contact
the Library.
*******'*
The July issue of National Geographic has arrived and you can receive your copy
by signing up now.
We all join in expressing our sympathy to the Frank Kells family in the recent loss
of their 9 year old daughter Marianne.
Talking Book Newsletter
Airzona Easter Seal Society
702 North First Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
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Organization
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Phoenix, Arizona