BITS OF
GOLD 
Regional Library of the National Library Service
For the Blind and Physically Handicapped
(NLS/BPH)
Volume 106, Number 2 June 2006
NAMELESS IN
Please make sure your name is on order forms
and other messages. We sometimes receive
book requests that we can’t process because we don’t know who sent them. The same is true of voice mail. If you are leaving a phone message, please be
sure to say and spell your last name and include your phone number.
NOBODY SPRING CLEANS LIKE YOU DO!!
Your response to our spring cleaning request
was wonderful! A record number of nearly
20,000 overdue or long forgotten books were returned.
UP
FOR MORE SPRING CLEANING?
Magazines that you received in plastic
cassette containers need to be returned.
We need the containers back even if you no longer have the magazines-
we’re running out of containers! We do not
need magazines that came in paper envelopes.
Many thanks for your help in getting our stray books and magazines home.
NEW NEWSLETTER
Reader Advisor Sandy Stanton announces a
newsletter for younger readers, Little Bits of Gold. It will be published twice a year
beginning in the fall of 2006.
HOLIDAY
The library will
be closed on Tuesday, July 4, to celebrate Independence Day.
Librarian’s Log: from the desk of Christie
Briggs, Regional Librarian
NLS Bestselling Titles Arriving
Sooner!
NLS is contracting with several audio book publishing companies
to purchase popular titles and customizing them for use by our patrons. These titles are made available to our
readers within days to weeks (instead of months) of the time they hit the
commercial bestseller lists.
Biennial National Library Service
Conference
It was a privilege to take another staff person with me to
the NLS conference in Portland, Maine in April. Diane Gunderson gave excellent
workshops on our local digital recording program. Further plans were unveiled
by NLS on the conversion to a digital format (books and machines) by 2008,
giving Veterans priority. By 2012, all
Montana patrons who want a digital player and cartridge books will be able to
receive them. NLS is already recording current titles in a digital format in
preparation for a “flash memory cartridge” book. The “flash memory cartridge” (one per book),
along with digital machines, is currently being developed. We will continue to
provide patrons with cassette books and players if they wish.
Web-Braille Changes
Web-Braille
online services were down for approximately a week in April while necessary
changes were made. NLS received many
positive comments from patrons nationwide on the value of Web-Braille during
this period. NLS staff worked feverishly
to implement necessary changes and return operations to normal. Thank you for your patience and understanding
during this time. The major change that patrons will notice is an agreement
patrons must “check” prior to downloading each book or volumes of books.
Southwest Outreach Trips
Janet, Sandy and I had the privilege of giving presentations
about our library services around the state this spring. These included groups in Anaconda, Lima and
Dillon, as well as attending the Great Falls Community and Helena Senior Health
Fairs. Similar to our much-appreciated mail carriers, “Neither rain nor sleet nor snow will keep us
from our appointed rounds!”
Keystone Systems User Conference
Carolyn, Lee and I attended the User
Conference in Salt Lake City on our library database. We learned about new features being developed
with the next upgrade in software.
EQUIPMENT CLINIC
Help your cassette player have a long and
useful
life by following these tips:
Ø
Don’t
play your standard machine plugged in—it will eventually overcharge it (this
does not pertain to the “easy” machine).
Ø
Here is
a quick tip for recharging your machine:
Plug-in and charge battery 8 to 12 hours
Play unplugged 8 to 12 hours
Plug-in and charge battery 8 to 12 hours
Keep repeating
Ø
Keep
food, beverages, pets, and heat away from your machine.
Ø
If you
are having problems with your machine, call “Dr. Lee” at the library. He can solve many problems over the phone.
Ø
If you
are returning equipment, always call the library so we know whether or not you
need a replacement.
PATRON PICKS
RC 59322 Seeking Enlightenment . . . Hat by
Hat: Skeptic’s Path to Religion by
Nevada Barr (biography)
RC 24223 Korean
War Vol. 1 by Donald Knox
RC 32342 Korean
War Vol. 2 by Donald Knox
RC 60092 City Room by Arthur Gelb (a
journalist’s autobiography)
RESOURCES OF INTEREST
Ø
Hadley School for the
Blind offers more than 90 distance education courses for the blind and their
family members and for professionals in the blindness field. 1-800-323-4238
Ø
Recordings
for Recovery is a music library that is available through the mail to the
visually impaired, homebound, or those residing in nursing homes. 1-800-798-1192.
Montana
Talking Book Library Free Matter for the Blind
1515
East Sixth Avenue
PO
Box 201800
Helena,
MT 59620-1800
Address
Service Requested
This newsletter is available on cassette,
e-mail and large print upon request or visit our website: http://msl.mt.gov/tbl
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LIBRARY HOURS: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm |
PHONE HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm |
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PHONE NUMBERS: 1-800-332-3400 |
(in Helena) 406-444-2064 |
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WEBOPAC: http://klasweb.msl.mt.gov |
WEBBRAILLE:
http://loc.gov/nls/braille |
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REGIONAL LIBRARIAN: |
Christie Briggs, cbriggs@mt.gov |
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COORD. VOL /DIR RECORDING SVC: |
Diane Gunderson, dgunderson@mt.gov |
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COLLECTION MANAGER: |
Carolyn Meier, cameier@mt.gov |
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MACHINE LENDING AGENT: |
Lee Madison |
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READERS’ ADVISORS: |
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Patrons with last names A-G contact: |
Janet Hunter, jahunter@mt.gov |
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Patrons with last names H-O contact: |
Sandra Stanton, sstanton@mt.gov |
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Patrons with last names P-Z contact: |
Lee Madison, lmadison@mt.gov |
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BITS OF GOLD EDITOR: |
Janet Hunter |
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For patron requests or contact
information, e-mail us at: mtbl@mt.gov |
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DISCLAIMER: The products and services mentioned in this newsletter are for your
information only and do not imply endorsement by MTBL. Thank you
for your comments and
suggestions.