What's New for Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped - October 2008

Digital Talking Books Update

We are on track to begin distributing the new digital talking book machines in February 2009! We expect to have demonstration models on hand sometime in December. While we are excited to see the new digital books, we expect it will take up to four years for the digital collection to fully replace our collection of cassettes. Some titles may be available only on cassette for some time, so patrons receiving digital machines should keep their cassette machines as well. Also, since we will receive a limited number of digital books in the initial allotment, we hope our patrons will promptly return their digital books once they are finished with them. If you are in the Augusta area in late December, come in to have a look at the new machines. If you belong to a group or organization, call us to arrange for one of our staff to visit and give a demonstration. Contact us for directions or to arrange a meeting. For more information about the new Talking Book machine, go to the National Library Service website.

Wanted: Unused Cassette Players

When NLS decided to move to the digital talking book machine, production of the cassette machines was phased out. Since it will take four years to replace all the cassette players with digital models, we're doing everything we can to keep the cassette machines working.
If you have a cassette machine that you aren't using, please return it to us, so we can issue it to a patron who needs it. Even broken machines can be used for parts to keep other machines running. Individual patrons are limited to one cassette machine each, so if you have more than one, please send the extra ones back!

Bierley MonoMouse

Bierley Associates, Inc., makers of various magnifying products, have offered to lend us their MonoMouse magnifier. The MonoMouse works with a television using video input, and is about the size of a computer mouse. When you move the MonoMouse over text, the text is displayed on the television screen. If you are interested in borrowing the MonoMouse, it will be available for loan for a limited time. Contact us at Outreach Services for details.

New Locally Produced Books

We continue to add to our collection of books by Maine authors! Our newest titles include a young adult title:

Silent Boy (MEC238) by Lois Lowry. Katy Thatcher recollects growing up as the daughter of a town doctor in the early 20th century.

We also have added three mystery titles:

The Mystery of Hilliard's Castle (MEC234) by Kathy Lynn Emerson: Kerry and Lyle Odell are uprooted from home to rural Maine and rent a spooky house from town local Mabel Hilliard.

The Tippy-Toe Murder (MEC239) by Leslie Meier: Tinker's Cove is a small Maine town with lots of activities that challenge amateur sleuth Lucy Stone.

Mail Order Murder (MEC243) by Leslie Meier: When Lucy Stone discovers her boss dead in the company parking lot, she's determined to find out who the killer is.

If you would like to recommend a title to us, let us know!

Video Descriptions and the Digital Television transition

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that all full power broadcast television stations will broadcast only in digital format after February 17, 2009. If you are using the Second Audio Program (SAP) button to receive video descriptions, consumers should confirm with the manufacturer how audio streams are accessed, and with service providers for additional information about the availability of audio description. Go to the FCC website for more information.

Maine Students eligible for services from Bookshare

Thanks to an award from the U.S. Department of Education, Maine K-12, post-secondary, and adult ed students with print disabilities are eligible for free service from Bookshare! Registered Talking Books patrons may download books using the State Library's account, or they can create their own account. More information Bookshare's School and Group Accounts.

Newspapers For The Visually Impaired

Due to budget cuts, our Telephone Reader program has been discontinued. However, our patrons are eligible to use the Maine Airs program provided by the Iris Network to receive local newspapers in an audio format. To receive Maine AIRS on your television, tune your television to Maine PBS and then press the "SAP" button on your remote. If you do not have a SAP button, SAP might be accessible from a menu on your TV. Look for menu, find "Audio" and then select "SAP." If you do not have SAP, special receivers are available. For more information about these receivers, please call the Iris Network at 1-800-715-0097. Maine Airs broadcasts are also available on the internet, and you can listen to them on your computer, or download them to a portable media player like an iPod. For more information, go to the Maine Airs website.

Recordings For Recovery

We are frequently asked if we provide recorded music for use on our cassette players. While we do not include recorded music in our collection, patrons who are eligible for our services may also receive services from Recordings For Recovery. They provide a unique and broad selection of musical programs. Persons who are institutionalized, homebound, or otherwise limited by disabling conditions may be considered eligible for Recordings For Recovery. Contact them at 1-800-798-1192 for more details.

Digital Download Pilot

Patrons with a computer and a digital talking book machine are eligible to participate in the National Library Service's Digital Download Pilot project. As our digital machines won't be available until later in the year, people interested in the pilot will have to purchase their own VictorReader Stream from Humanware. When the NLS machine is distributed later this year, all patrons with a computer and an internet connection will be eligible to download their own Digital Talking Books.

Veterans Preference

If you are a veteran who has been honorably discharged from the armed forces of the US, you are eligible for preferred services from us. Veterans go to the top of the list for new books and machines, including our new Digital Talking Book Player. If you are a veteran, contact us to make sure we have set you up correctly in our system.

Maine Humanities Council Podcasts Available

Maine Writers Speak: Interviews with Maine Authors by Charlotte Albright is now available on Talking Books by arrangement with the Maine Humanities Council. The disc includes interviews with 11 Maine authors, including Cathy Pelletier, Betsy Sholl, and Richard Russo. More podcasts are available free on the Maine Humanities Council's website. We hope to make more of these podcasts available on Talking Books in the near future.