For the Blind and Physically Handicapped

(NLS/BPH)

A patron must have access to both Internet and e-mail to sign up for WebOpac service. We will give each WebOpac patron a personal user ID # and obtain a personal password from them. Confirmation and instructions for accessing WebOpac will then be sent to the patron. Visit our WebOpac website at: http://www.klasweb.msl.mt.gov. To sign up, please send e-mail to: MTBL@mt.gov, or call 1-800-332-3400 and talk to a Reader Advisor.

Interliant, Inc., a leading global application service provider, recently assisted the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) with redesigning their website. They included several features to make it compatible with other assistive devices, such as screen readers and screen magnifiers. The new AFB website met the stringent guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) which was established to help organizations build Internet sites that are accessible to those with disabilities. The website’s address is www.afb.org.

The NLS has completed changing all magazines from flexible disc to cassette. The following are now only on cassette: American Heritage, Analog Science Fiction, Contemporary Soundtrack, The Musical Mainstream, The Nation, National Review, National Geographic, Quarterly Music Magazine and US News and World Report. Those patrons that already subscribe to any of these magazines will automatically be switched to the cassette format. In addition, MTBL also circulates the following: National Geographic Traveler, Smithsonian and Southern Living magazines. Anyone wishing to subscribe to any of these please call 1-800-332-3400

in Montana or 444-2064 in Helena.

Dear Patrons:

We are grateful for the generous donations and memorials from our patrons and friends. These contributions have enabled us to accomplish greater service to patrons than we could ever hope for.

In 2000 we served 2,846 patrons of which 377 were new. Patron phone calls totaled 10,672. We circulated 141,945 books, descriptive videos and magazines.

We’ve also added to our collection 45 new MCB titles, 1,982 new RC titles, 9,652 copies of these RC titles and 240 new playback machines. We’ve added Web-Braille services, prepared for WebOpac services and improved database search capabilities. Volunteers repaired 5,847 tapes, 1,528 playback machines and duplicated 5,947 damaged tapes.

The library purchased 56 new books to be recorded as MCB’s, 10 Twin-Vision Braille Books, 10 Talking Book Markers, 100 small headsets, 1-CCTV and 1-Computer (equipped with ADA compliant software) for patron use, and 1-battery tester for the Telephone Pioneers to repair the playback machines.

Library Day attendance by Legislators was the best to date. Summer Reading Program patrons were rewarded for meeting or exceeding their reading goals.

Looking ahead, MTBL purchased a second mail card printer and repaired the existing one for backup. WebOpac is up and running and we’ll implement new database upgrades. Our volunteers continue to be part of the best volunteer program available. We are looking forward to a great 2001.

Best regards,

Christie Briggs

____________________________________________________

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

MCB 560 Blood on the Saddle by Dan Cushman; Narrator—Dorothy Harper

Murder mystery set in the west.

MCB 578 The Butte Irish by David M Emmons; Narrator—Mark French

History of the Irish in Butte, Montana.

MCB 585 In Search of the Maiasaurs by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent;

Narrator—Jean E Smith

Book on Dinosaurs for young people of any age.

MCB 588 Around the World in 80 Years by Leah Brickett;

Narrator—Cyd Slattery

Poetry by a Helena native.

For those interested in Large Print texts, here is a list of a few companies that can provide you with some. Contact them to receive their catalog or ask any questions.

Chivers North America, One LaFayette Rd, PO Box 1450, Hampton, NH 03842-0015

1-800-621-0182

LRS, 14214 S Figueroa St, Dept K, Los Angeles, CA 90061-1034

1-800-255-5002

Thomas T Beeler, PO Box 659, Hampton Falls, NH 03844-0659,

1-800-818-7574

Thorndike Press, PO Box 159, Thorndike, ME 04986-0159

1-800-223-6121

In case you’ve been wondering, the Braille label for the descriptive videos is now located inside on the brown case underneath where the video sits.

The Montana Talking Book Library wishes to express appreciation to those who contributed to our library in 2000. These tax-deductible donations enable us to purchase equipment, additions to our Montana Cassette Book and Descriptive Video collections, and other materials. All donation amounts are confidential. Each donor receives a letter of appreciation. For all memorials, each family is notified. Please include the name of each person for all memorials and the name and address of those to be notified of your gift. Thank you for your generosity.

Nancy Jo Anderson Tony & Penny Herbert David Rotar

Thelma Beausoleil Helen & Charles Holland Mrs. Elizabeth Rudeck

Richard & Betty Lou Berg Robert Howe Leonard & Fern Salisbury

Agnes Bills Charlotte Kasper Mary Schneider

Peter & Della Bonderenko Thomas Koch Irene Stewart

Tom & Norma Bundy Martha Kohl Rose Syling

Ann Cole Rita Layman Antonia Theriault

RO & Hertha DeBeaumont Virginia Marchello Al & Myrle Tompkins

Buster Dickert Artie Markegard DL Triplett

Lois & Anita Dupuis GE & Yvonne McGrane Dorothy Tupper

Edward & Genevieve Emery Lyla Meske Joyce Turner

Lavonne Eva Mr & Mrs Fred Miller Velma Turner

Barbara Fredrickson Elaine Mueller Vivien Vinson

Roanne Geray Jack Musegades DE & Georgia White

Robert & Rachel Gerloff Mildred O’Neil Florence Woodworth

Helen Grych Dwain & Lillian Rennaker Mr & Mrs James Young

Lloyd & Shirley Hanson Montana Association for the Blind

Anna Amdahl by Herb & Lea Blunn

Bill Beaman by Pelham & Joyce Turner

Jon Beck & Richard Beck by Nancy Beck

Marie Braida by Jacquelyn North

Jim Carr by Leona Koch

Mary Faye Conn by Mr & Mrs Jim Dinsmore, May & Dick Doherty, Timothy & Leslie

Donahue, Margaret Johnson, Dora Kolbeck

Robert Conn by Mr & Mrs Douglas Akelstad, Duane & Betty Bitney, Arthur & Billy

Ann Burch, Robert & Mildred Emerson, Norma Happ, Homer Henricksen, Howard &

Iris Henricksen, Robert & Jane Lopp, David & Martha Phillips, Russell Elementary

School—Kalispell School District 5, Betty Steel, Luanne Van Artsdale

Mrs. Bente Elliott by Jacquelyn North

Dr Merle Fitz by Marta Vargas

Eileen Garrison by Lucy Cox, Shirley Larsen, Velma Melnrick, Betty Richards

Glenn Geary by James & Rose Mary Corrigan, Mike & Glenda Crum, Catherine

Everhard, Harry & Gertrude Landsiedel, Jerry & Mary Rose Nielsen, Art Softich & Family

Mary Helen Grachek by Smith Valley Teachers Association

Harold Gustafson by Thomas & Helen Bates, Bette Brown, Mr & Mrs Ed Bull,

MG & Edith Butters, Peggy Byrne, Wilma Corneliuson, John & Bette Engebretson,

Anna Felsman, Richard & Doris Field, Gary & Pat Freebury, Rodney & Carol

Freeman, Bernice Glisman, Francis & Patricia Graham, Neil & Lorraine Graham,

Dr Gary & Anne Gustafson, Ruben & Margaret Hart, Mr & Mrs Curt Johnson,

Maurice Johnson, Vernon & Thelma Johnson, Leonard & Audrey Jungers, Bette

Larson, Mr & Mrs Doc Martin, Mr William McKinley, Karen Michels, Joe & Florine

Nelson, Lauretta Olsen, Mr & Mrs Matt Ottenbreit, Earline Patterson, Otto & Deanna

Ratz, Rocky Mountain Branch 8683, Jack & Ruth Schumacher, Voyle Staab, Virgil &

Joan Thompson, Berniece Vetter, June Vinson, Harold & Leone Wachsmuth, Kay Wagner

Judith Ann Jackson by Melvin & Laura Johnson

Charles "Chuck" Jerrow by Herb & Lea Blunn

Lois McKinney by Christian & Marjorie Hansen

Evelyn Milne by Jacquelyn North

Dolores Morrow by Mildred & Jon Meredith

Rasmus Nelson by Eleanor Harmon

Hazel Olson by Linda & Paul Martin

Bernice & Bud Peters by DeLane Newgard & Family

Harry Ross by DeLane Newgard

Bob Velde by Pelham & Joyce Turner

Margaret Ward by Jacquelyn North

Beth White by Gloria Officer

Martha Young by Phyllis Goodman, Alan & Jean Joseph, Elsie W Murphy,

Nelson & Cheryl Quintero, Lillian Smith

Jim Daily lives in Butte, Montana, with his lovely wife, Mitzi. They have six grown children and several grandchildren. Jim was diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion in his right eye in 1994. He first noticed problems with his right eye and then, a year later, with his left. The cause of this disorder is unknown. It can be reversible, but generally it is thought to be incurable. Jim’s doctor told him and his family to prepare for Jim to go blind in his right eye. Jim quickly came to the realization that he was still blessed with sight in his left eye. When that started to diminish, his doctor noted this was very rare to have both eyes afflicted and was not able to give Jim hope of regaining his sight. Jim and his family were devastated.

Not accepting this news as final, Jim went to San Francisco to see an eye specialist at the Ophthalmology Research Center. After an examination and confirmation of the original diagnosis, they offered hope. He was given a daily regimen of diet, exercise, donating blood and medications. The specialist confirmed that very few people with this diagnosis have regained their sight, but it was possible. Jim stuck to his daily regimen and experienced fluctuating sight in both eyes.

Jim signed up to receive Talking Book Library services in 1995, one year after his original diagnosis. He had been used to reading at bedtime, so he started listening to books at night. Four months later, Jim noticed that his sleep patterns were changing and this affected his family. Though Jim used headphones, his family could still hear the recorded book that he was playing. Jim also realized that he was falling asleep while listening to the book. He would wake his family trying to find his place again.

At that point, Jim put his inventive mind to work. He thought that if there were a mechanism that would stop the book from playing when a person fell asleep, it would act as a "bookmark". He couldn’t imagine that something like this had not already been invented. In his shop in Butte, his hands went to work on a prototype. Jim was dedicated to not only finding a solution to his situation, but also helping others. He knew that if he had this problem, others did too.

Jim decided to bring his prototype and some questions to the Talking Book Library in Helena. He came to the library carrying his prototype. This was a cumbersome unit. Jim carried with him a large, thick extension cord with a light switch attached to one end and a jack to fit into his playback machine on the other end. The library staff first thought Jim was using this unit to give himself a small "shock" to wake him up after falling asleep listening to his books.

Jim received information from the NLS that there were similar prototypes, but none were used for patrons. He was given the green light to work on a patron unit and was off and running with the assistance of our Telephone Pioneer Manager, Tom Basinger. Jim made several smaller units that handled better than the original. He then modified the switch until the unit was slender and had an ultra-light touch. He named this unit the "Talking Book Marker".

Jim has since sold over 1500 "Talking Book Markers" to patrons in the United States, Canada and as far away as China. He has given two presentations to the Executive Director of the National Library Service in Washington, D.C., spoken at several service clubs in Montana and attended conferences to promote his invention. Jim is an active member of the Vocational Rehabilitation Council in Montana. He has given hope and comfort to over a thousand patrons and continues to dedicate himself to helping others. Jim attributes the saving of his marriage to the Talking Book Library services and his "Talking Book Marker". The Talking Book Library staff wishes to thank Jim for his commitment and inspiration to us and to our patrons.

For more information about the "Talking Book Marker", contact Jim Daily at

835 Emma, Butte, MT 59701; 406-782-2202; e-mail: jandmdaily@yahoo.com or website: www.angelfire.com/mt/jdaily.

You really aren’t hearing things. We have a new voice at MTBL. Jeri Hoff is our new Green Thumb volunteer. She hails from Anaconda but now resides in Helena. Politics and interior decorating are her interests. Jeri will be answering your calls and taking your requests. Please welcome her when you call.

Those who enjoy the "Oprah" show on television may also enjoy "O –The Oprah Magazine". To subscribe contact: Associated Services for the Blind-Recorded Periodicals, 919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Website: www.asb.org.

Ah! Fresh air, sunshine and flowers. Before you head for the garden or trail, look around your home for any books you may have overdue. We sent out Overdue Notices on March 23rd. When we do this, we are trying to "spring clean" our database. If you receive a notice, please check and let us know whether you still have them or not. Thank you. We appreciate your help with this ongoing project.

May 28, 2001 Memorial Day

Do you like to figure out "whodunit"? Solve crimes, puzzles? Here are some books enjoyed by patrons who like mysteries.

RC 44208 THIN DARK LINE by Tami Hoag

RC 46650 THE LONG LAVENDER LOOK by John D MacDonald

RC 47834 HUSH MONEY by Robert B Parker

RC 30862 NAKED FACE by Sidney Sheldon

RC 44806 DEAD IN THE WATER by Stuart Woods

RC 49284 THE PUZZLEMASTER PRESENTS TWO HUNDRED MIND BENDING

CHALLENGES FROM NPR by Will Shortz