For the Blind and Physically Handicapped

(NLS/BPH)

Narrators, Monitors and Reviewers from the Montana Talking Book Recording Program participated in a workshop for Recording Teams. It was held in the Library on Tuesday, April 25. Laura Giannarelli, a narrator and monitor with the NLS/BPH for over 20 years, facilitated the workshop. Laura has recorded over 230 books in that time. She gave us a general overview of how the NLS/BPH studios operate and updated us on new procedures. Then an opportunity to review and clarify MTBL procedures and to share "tricks" and to ask and answer questions was given. Laura also shared with us some of her recording experiences.

On June 26th Kevin Buck, Equipment and Materials Maintenance Coordinator and his assistant, Kevin Watson from NLS/BPH presented an equipment repair workshop at our Library. Six local Telephone Pioneers and Bob Orton, Regional Telephone Pioneer Coordinator, attended the workshop. Topics included updates on machine maintenance, obsolete machinery and the new inventory control system. New procedures for future technology the Talking Book Libraries will be using were also discussed. A regular work session was held at the Pioneer’s shop where everyone shared their tips on repairs.

The Telephone Pioneers started repairing equipment for the Talking Book Libraries nationwide in June of 1960. They brought their technical skills with them as well as received specialized training from the NLS on repairs of the Talking Book equipment. These ongoing workshops provide the necessary training to understand new technology and to provide you with the best service possible. In labor alone, the Telephone Pioneers save the NLS about four and a half million dollars. This plus their ability to "find the problem" and their care and skill in repairing the equipment is an invaluable service to all the Talking Book Libraries.

THANK YOU, Telephone Pioneers!

This newsletter reflects the many activities the library staff has been involved in this summer and fall. We were sad to have Roberta Gebhardt, Reader Advisor, leave this summer (see details on page 3). However, this brought an opportunity for us to evaluate patron service and develop improved skills to better serve you.

In the interim, we have been fortunate to hire Phyllis Herbert. Phyllis is familiar with our service, being the volunteer Recording Program Assistant for the past ten years. She is dedicated to patron service and brings efficiency, organization, compassion and humor to our patrons and staff. We have also been blessed with hiring Lea Blunn (a seventeen-year volunteer) and Dorothy Carpenter (a three-year volunteer). Lea is a monitor, narrator, and reviewer in our local recording program and does special projects (such as recording volunteer hours, processing the MCB statistics, and anything else asked of her). Dorothy is a reviewer in our recording program. She also processes and duplicates patron magazines for distribution. Lea and Dorothy had gained previous experience in covering staff vacancies and bring excellent skills, knowledge and understanding to our patrons.

Moriah Haley was offered and accepted the position of Reader Advisor. She began training on November 20th. Moriah has a Bachelor of Arts degree, library and extensive customer phone service experience, and has worked with multiple software programs. We are delighted to have her join our team. Please welcome Moriah! (Continued on page 3).

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LIBRARY HOURS: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm PHONE HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

PHONE NUMBERS: 1-800-332-3400 or 406-444-2064

BITS OF GOLD EDITOR: Cheryl Christopher

Keystone Inc. has redesigned the WebOpac format and access. They are now testing these new features. Patrons who signed up for this service will be notified by e-mail when WebOpac services are online.

Our Network Consultant from the NLS, Steve Prine visited us in July. He enhanced our evaluation of services and helped us focus on two items that may require assistance from some of you. First, we will be verifying that all active patron files have a current certified application. For those that don’t, we will be requesting patron assistance in filling out and certifying a new application. Second, we have revised the way in which we implement School and Student Guidelines to better comply with NLS standards.

We thank you for the generous donations this year. They have provided much needed additions to our patron services, including a CCTV, and adaptive technology.

In closing, the Montana Talking Book Library is indeed grateful to have such dedicated, hard working staff and volunteers who are committed to serving you, our patrons.

Fond regards,

Christie Briggs

Roberta Gebhardt started working at Montana Talking Book Library in May 1997 as a Reader Advisor. She was responsible for about 800 of our patrons. Some of her other duties were the Summer Reading Program, Bits of Gold Newsletter, and Machine Lending Agent. She was always willing to do what it took to give great service to our patrons or solve problems (especially computer ones). Now she is literally on the move. Roberta has accepted the Publications Assistant position with the Montana State Publications Center of the Montana State Library. Some of her new duties include receiving and processing all Federal and State Documents. Also, Roberta and her husband have bought a new home. We’ll miss her here in Talking Books but wish her the best with both her moves. Congratulations Roberta!

The Montana Association for the Blind held their annual Summer Orientation Program on the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman. Students stay in the dorms on campus and attend classes each day. The classes cover areas like Braille, cooking, crafts, computers, daily living skills, woodworking, etc. Staff from the MTBL presented information on how to become a patron, search for books, tips on equipment use and answered questions.

We suggested they pack light but be sure to include their curiosity, open minds and imaginations. They all met or exceeded their Reading Contract goals. FANTASTIC! Those who joined us were also given Bonus Point activities to add to their reading fun. As they thought about time and the many events that happened over the past millennium, they created their own personal timeline that will carry over to the new millennium. Another activity was thinking about the different ways people communicate as they decoded a "secret phrase" from a special alphabet. Also a contest was held to choose a name for a new planet that was just discovered. The winner was "Felow—a planet which is a world that would welcome all and everyone would be happy". Awards were given to all that completed their contracts. The best award though was having time to enjoy reading just for fun!

The American Printing House (APH) will be sending notices to those who subscribe to Reader’s Digest and Newsweek. If you wish to continue receiving these magazines, you must return this subscription notice to them. Although a donation is mentioned and appreciated, it is not required for you to continue your subscription. If you have any questions, please call 444-2064 or 1-800-332-3400 and ask for Lee.

"Our Volunteers are Jewels" was the theme of this year’s Montana State Library’s Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. It was held at the Green Meadow Country Club in Helena on September 29th where a lovely luncheon was enjoyed. The MSL staff made decorative pins designed by Diane Gunderson and presented these to the volunteers.

Roland Cheek, a Montana author, was this year’s keynote speaker. The importance of literacy and how libraries support the spread of literacy was his theme. He commended the Talking Book Library volunteers for helping to provide talking books to blind, low vision, physically handicapped and reading disabled Montanans.

After Roland speech, the annual awards were presented. The 2000 Telephone Pioneer Award was given to Jack Buckley for his years of dedicated repair work on the TBL’s playback machines. Phyllis Herbert was recipient of the Special Appreciation Award for her many years of efficient, hard work as Recording Program Assistant. The Recording Team of the Year Award was presented to Mary Zednick, narrator; Lea Blunn, monitor; and Jane Briney, reviewer. There were 7 volunteers with 5 years of service and 7 volunteers with 10 years of service. Nine youth volunteers received engraved Award Coins from Cheri Bergeron, a State Library Commission member and representative of the Office of Public Instruction.

The luncheon ended with "The Bookmarks", a local group, who gave their rendition of the song, "Hey, Good Lookin" (Hank Williams beware). These lovely ladies were received with much laughter and applause. The event ended on a high note as everyone left smiling. Thank you to all the volunteers for caring and doing such wonderful work.

MCB 548 THE MULE’S LAST BRAY by H.L. Hames

Narrator-Richard Miller

H.L. Hames’ autobiography chronicles his years as

a mule packer for both the U.S. Army and as a civilian

rancher, as well as, an employee for the forest service.

MCB 549 THE CAT IN GRANDFATHER’S HOUSE by Carl Grabo

Narrator-Barb Harris

In this children’s mystery written in the 1920’s, Hortense

lives with her grandparents in a large, dark, old-fashioned

MCB 552 LETTERS FROM YELLOWSTONE by Diane Smith

Narrator-Bonnie Heidel

MCB 556 PHOTOGRAPHING MONTANA 1894-1928 by Donna M. Lucey

Narrator-Dorothy Harper

As a young woman, Evelyn Cameron leaves her

comfortable, upper, middle-class home in England

to move to isolated, southeastern Montana. She

and her husband tried homesteading and several other

ways to make a living, but their economic salvation

and her passion came from her photographing Montana.

MCB 565 CRAFTS AND HOBBIES by Mabel Badgett

Narrator-Christie Briggs

A collection of craft projects written for persons with low vision

by a woman with low vision. Mabel, in her ninetieth year, wrote

this book to share her love for creating crafts.

Each year the American Library Association awards The John Newbery Medal for the "most outstanding children’s book". This award has been presented since 1921. It was named after an eighteenth-century English bookseller. The purpose of this medal is "To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children". BUD, NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis is the Newbery award winner for the year 2000. Another award is given "to the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year". This medal was named after the nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph J Caldecott. It has been presented since 1937. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT by Simms Taback won the 2000 Randolph J Caldecott Medal.

John Kieran

We will be circulating two new magazines from our Library. One is called American History. The other is a magazine on diabetes called Diabetes Self-Management. If you would like to receive either of these, please call us at 1-800-332-3400.

VISION Community Services has recorded "Harvard Business Review" in a 4-track format. The subscription is $75.00 per year for 6-bimonthly issues a year with 2

tapes per issue. If you wish to subscribe, contact Robert Pierson at 617-972-9117 or e-mail: studio@mablind.org or fax: 617-926-1412.

The Montana Association for the Blind is a private, non-profit organization that helps the visually handicapped of Montana. They publish each year a calendar to help fund their many projects that train and help people adjust to their handicaps. These 2001 MAB calendars are now available for $2.00. Please contact Peggy Barnekoff to buy one. Her address is 5480 N Montana Ave, Helena, Mt 59602 and her phone number is 406-458-9111.

December 25, 2000—Christmas January 15, 2001—Martin Luther King’s Day

January 1, 2001--New Year’s Day February 19, 2001—President’s Day