BITS OF GOLD

Montana Talking Book Library

Regional Library of the National Library Service

For the Blind and Physically Handicapped

(NLS/BPH)

Volume 105, Number 1 2005

MAB SPONSORS NFB—NEWSLINE SERVICES

The Montana Association for the Blind (MAB) has sponsored a 2005 subscription for the National Federation of the Blind’s (NFB) Newsline with the hope of securing more funds for future annual fees.

Newsline is a touch-tone telephone, menu-driven service accessible through this number: 1-888-882-1629. The phone call is toll free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

No computer is needed and no special training. A synthesized voice will welcome you to NFB Newsline and then offer these options: 1. NFB Newsline, 2. Local Channel, 3. Montana newspapers, (The Great Falls Tribune is on Newsline now and there are plans to add other Montana newspapers). 4. All newspapers, (U.S. News, Newsweek, etc.), or 5. Magazines, (New Yorker, Economist, and AARP).

All Montana Taking Book Library patrons are eligible for this service. Call us to sign up. Once we sign you up, a letter will be sent to you from NFB Newsline assigning you with a User ID number and a password. This takes about two weeks. You can also go direct to the NFB Newsline website: http://www.nfb.org/newsline1.htm and complete their online application.

STATE OF MONTANA CHANGES ITS DOMAIN NAME

On December 31, 2005, all Montana state agency domain names will be changed from @state.mt.us to @mt.gov. Both domains may be used until then. During this year, e-mail and website addresses will be updated. The changes for the Montana Talking Book Library are listed on the last page of this newsletter.

LIBRARIAN’S LOG: from the desk of Christie Briggs, Regional Librarian

Update on Lobe Library Project:

As mentioned previously, we are in the process of testing the Otis digital player and downloadable digital books in partnership with Audible.com and four other Talking Book Libraries. If you are interested in participating, please call Janet Hunter or Christie Briggs at 1-800-332-3400.

Legislative Library Day Update:

On January 31st, we hosted the Legislative Library Day for all new and returning legislators to visit our library and become acquainted with our services and whom we serve. The Montana Association for the Blind (MAB) was also well represented. We had the highest attendance yet and experienced a very successful event! I’d like to thank all staff, volunteers, and patrons who helped make this successful.

2005 MAB CONVENTION:

“True Vision Goes Beyond Sight” is this year’s theme of the MAB’s Capital City Chapter 2005 Convention May 13th-15th in Helena at the Red Lion Colonial Inn.

An all day Free Public Symposium will be held on Friday, May 13th. Panel speakers

will address community and education resources, technology, and employment opportunities for people with visual disabilities. Dr. Richard Hopkins will be the featured speaker on “Macular Degeneration”.

On Saturday, May 14th, more panels and ophthalmologists will be highlighted. The ophthalmologists who will be speaking include: Dr. Tim McInnis and Dr. Kenneth Younger from Bozeman and Dr. George Stern and Dr. Brian Sippy from Missoula. Topics to be covered include: “Diabetes”, “Corneal Transplants & Corneal Diseases”, “Age Related Macular Degeneration”, and “Low Vision”.

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) will have an expert speaker talk on “Technology” both on the Friday and Saturday panels as well as the Saturday evening banquet. Norma Beatty—Ashby, Montana, Commentator and Author—will talk about her book “Movie Stars and Rattlesnakes” as the guest speaker at the Saturday luncheon.

MAB will be sending program information and registration forms at the end of March. If you have any questions please contact: Jim Hopkins at 406-442-2144 or Peggy and Del Barnekoff at 406-458-9111.

DONATIONS AND MEMORIALS FROM 2004

The Montana Talking Book Library staff appreciates the thoughtfulness of those who contributed to our library in 2004. Acknowledgments are sent to all donors. Their generosity enables us to purchase equipment and provide programs that our budget does not cover. Our patrons will enjoy many years of pleasure from these gifts. When making a donation in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone, please include the name of the person for whom the tribute is made and the name and address of those to be notified of your tax-deductible gift. Many thanks and blessings to the following contributors:

DONATIONS:

Audrey Anderson	Bonnie Anderson	Cookie & Tom Basinger
Alberta & Dean Blanton	Lea & Herb Blunn	Dorothy Carpenter
Ann Cole	Gloria Craig	Mary Davis
Hertha & Ray DeBeaumont	Jacqueline & D.J. Dundas	Loucinda & Todd Dundas
Mary Dundas	Shirley & Doug Dundas	Terry Dwyer
Miriam Eldredge	Genevieve M. Emery	LaVonne E. Eva
Peggy & Frank Flynn	Gladys & W.F. Frazier	Bonnie Gebhardt
Gil Gilbertson	Louise & Gerry Graham	Shirley & Lloyd Hanson
Lucille Hickman	Patty & Richard Howse	Liz & Forrest Jackson
Peggy & Gene Kelly	Keystone Automated Systems, Inc.	Vernie Kralicek
Judith & Jerold Krause	Elaine LaCroix	Eleanor & Robert Lee
Ralph Leonard	Bettye Madison	Virginia & A.J. Marchello
Artie & Keith Markegard	Jim Meier	Mr. & Mrs. Fred Miller
Harriette McCluggage	Mission Valley Chapter- MAB	Montana Assoc f/t Blind, Inc
Colleen Mockler	Elsie Mutzenberger	Northwest Chapter—MAB
Gloria Purcell	Adeline & Glen Rasmussen	David Rotar
Olga Schindler	Edna Smith	Jean Smith
Margaret & Paul Smith	Marjorie Smith	Kay Stevens
Mary Ann Stohr	Rose Sylling	Antonia Therriault
Frances Thomas	D.L. Triplett	Bob Tubbs
Vel Turner	Jane Weidler	Georgia & Gene White
Mr. & Mrs. George White	Gwen & Byron	Cylene Wood
Donna Wynn

BEQUEST IN HONOR OF:

Dorothy Tupper—Estate of Dorothy Tupper

MEMORIALS IN HONOR OF:

Russell Bay—Margaret & Robert Barnett, Ruth Bay, Bays Hardware, Deloris & Vance Bay, Mary & George Brown, Glenn & Noreen Kozeluh, Linda & Darrell Strand, Kathleen & Toby Wagner

Jon Richard Beck & Richard D. Beck—Nancy L. Beck, Jack Glaser

Hazel Vivian Black—Lea & Herb Blunn

Bonnie Briggs—Diane Gunderson, Phyllis Herbert, Gloria Purcell

Thomas Brown—Dorothy & Loyal Baertsch, Marilyn & Wendell Burrowes, De Lane Newgard

Norma Bundy—Barbara Barclay, Thomas Bundy

Al Bunkowske—Audrey & Orris Anderson

Betty Collins—Carol & Jon Thatcher

Gerald Ferguson—Mrs. Gerald Ferguson

Laura Todd Grant—De Lane Newgard

Roger Halvorson—Estate of Roger Halvorson

Eva Jacobsen—Bogden Ranch, Jane & Lloyd DeBruycker, Peggy & Philip Johnson, Mary Jo Lacher, Coral & Steve Lowry, Susan & Chuck Melaney, Ethel Parker, Rita & Franklin Steyaert, Laura Vukasin/Prairie Insurance

Elsie Kaufman—Eleanor & Kermit Andersen, Wanda & Rodney Grinde, Selma Frisinger

Arvid Lundin—Lea & Herb Blunn

Marion Koch—Mae & John Lunney

Harriet McCluggage—Chapel By The Lake Board of Deacons, Virginia & Hector Correa, Linda Findley, Jan & Dale Fritz, Donna & Wayne Hare, Paseka Farms, Inc employees, Emma Pranskunas, Mabel & Nancy Reddekopp, Carla Seibel, Elda Snow, Victoria & Dominic Wong, Margaret & Paul Smith

John G Miklich—Margueritte & Edward Komac

Veronica O’Brien—Helen Lavelle and daughters, Pauline & Carl Rebich

Thelma & Ray O’Donnell—Kelly Selph

Norman O’Neill—Sally & Manley Briggs

Jerry Paul—Dorothy & Loyal Baertsch, Agnes & Thomas Brown, Marilyn & Wendell Burrowes, Ina Davis, Lauretta & Dan Ekstrom, Karen & Donald Erickson, Dean Greiner, Doris Haasch, Shirley & Lloyd Hahn, Carol & Bill Jacobs, Rhea & Roger Johnson, Bette Kirscher, Corinne & Ralph Kirscher, Robin & Tony Koessler,

MEMORIALS IN HONOR OF:

Jerry Paul—Judy & Tom Lehman, Eloise & Wayne McNally, Mission Valley Chapter—MAB, June Peterson

Mavis Pawson—Edna & Oliver Smith

Gary Redman—Northwest Chapter—MAB

Charlotte Ryan-Bigelow—Donna Ryan

Mary Anne Story—Theresa & Doug Kirby

Les Walter—Linda & Tom Hutchison, Lena Walter

Tom Walter—Linda & Tom Hutchison

ELECTRONIC TEXTS

The National Library Service has provided us with a list of sources for electronic texts. These online texts are in plain, digital audio, and digital Braille formats. Most of these can be read online or downloaded to read offline. Some of the sites have subscription fees and some are free. Please contact the individual sites’ Webmaster if you should have any questions about any of the sites listed either by the phone number or e-mail address provided. The following are two samples of sites listed:

Classic Reader.com http://www.classicreader.com/

All books are in HTML format; includes a plain-text format that eliminates most graphics. This site contains free literature for which copyright protection has expired. Eight categories are available: fiction and nonfiction, children, classical, drama, poetry, Shakespeare, and short stories.

Page by Page Books http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/

These books can be read online one page at a time. This site offers hundreds of free classic books that are in the public domain. It includes United States historical documents and presidential inaugural addresses.

If you would like a copy of this list, please call us at 1-800-332-3400.

TIPS FOR BETTER SERVICE

If you receive magazines (these will be in a box just like your books) from MTBL,

you need to return the issue sent to you before you will receive the next issue.

When you mail in your book requests, please be sure to include your name, address, and phone number.

RECENT TITLES FROM THE MONTANA RECORDING PROGRAM

MCB 711 Big Sky Café & Other Schools I’ve Attended

by Jack Bogut; Reader—Ed Canty

Jack Bogut a popular morning radio personality, writer, and storyteller,

touches that common thread that binds all of us together. So don’t be

surprised when you find a part of you in most or all of these tales.

MCB 757 The American Cowboy by Will James; Reader—Mark Lowry

This story begins with the first cowboy in the 1830’s and spans through

three generations of cowboys.

MCB 759 Too Poor To Move But Always Rich by Jim Sargent;

Reader—Richard Murphy

Jim Sargent tells about day-to-day life growing up on a homestead,

how his family emigrated from Norway, and their years before he was

born…up to their passing away.

MCB 766 The Case of the Kippered Corpse by Margaret Scherf;

Reader—Charles Hicks

Alice Welsh is murdered at her party in a Manhattan nightspot. The

main characters stay at Mrs. Moultrie’s New Jersey estate and some

are subsequently murdered. There are many suspects, but a surprise

ending.

MCB 769 The Greatest Cattle Drive by Paul L. Wellman;

Reader—Richard Murphy

A fictional account of an almost incredible cattle drive, achieved by

Nelson Story and his men in 1866. Nelson Story starts from Texas

with a herd of 1,000 cattle and a crew of 24 men facing many hardships,

Indians, rivers, and weather before reaching the gold camps of Montana.

To give without any reward, or any notice, has a special quality of its own.

--Ann Morrow Lindbergh

FROM THE RECORDING BOOTH:

Do you like mysteries? Have you ever listened to any of the mystery books that have been recorded by the Montana Talking Book Library Recording Program? If you haven’t then here are a few of the Montana authors that have written mysteries: Peter Bowen, J.T. Flynn, A.B. Guthrie, Thomas McGuane, Sandra West Prowell, Margaret Scherf, and Leonard Schonberg. Call your Readers’ Advisor and ask about these authors.

Diane Gunderson, Recording Program Director

SPEAKING OF VOLUNTEERS…

Audrey Anderson volunteers on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. She makes the phone calls to you our patrons that have overdue books. Audrey calls about either renewing your books or getting them returned so that other patrons can enjoy the books. She is a patron of the Montana Talking Book Library, a member of the Montana Association for the Blind (MAB), and is also very active with the Summer Orientation Program that is sponsored by MAB every year. Audrey appreciates everyone’s patience and understanding regarding the phone calls she makes to our patrons.

We would also like to introduce and welcome our new volunteers: Gloria Craig- clerical, Page Davis-reader/monitor, Bonnie Gebhardt-clerical, Sharon Henderson- reader/monitor, Ruth O’Connell-inspection, Becky Poore-circulation, Janet Kennedy- machine sanitizer, JoAnn Roullier-reviewer, Pat Saindon-monitor/clerical, Janice Six- review committee, and Effie Uhlman-inspection.

Diane Gunderson, Coordinator of Volunteer Services

PATRON PICKS

RC 21617 Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voight, Grades 6-9

RC 27233 Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card

RC 30004 Heart Mountain by Gretel Ehrlich

RC 55359 Darling Daughters by Debbie Macomber

RC 55854 Downriver: A Barnaby Skye Novel by Richard S. Wheeler

MCB 483 Queen of the Legal Tender by Eileen Clarke

FREEDOM: THEME CHOSEN FOR 2004-2005

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) continues its “We the People” initiative for 2004-2005. This initiative began in 2002 when President George W. Bush announced it on Constitution Day. NEH feels it is essential to study history if you wish to preserve freedom. Their goal is to share with all Americans the significant events and themes that occurred in our nation’s history. This year the NEH chose freedom as the theme for 2004-2005. To achieve their goal they have developed a recommended reading list for students of all ages. The following is a sample of their list:

Kindergarten to Grade 3

RC 32528 Paul Revere’s Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

RC 38551 The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble

Grades 4 to 6

RC 27538 To Be a Slave by Julius Lester

RC 33494 The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton

RC 47613 Ben and Me by Robert Lawson

Grades 7 to 8

RC 22927 The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

RC 26336 Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt

RC 34963 Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Grades 9 to 12

RC 13491 My Antonia by Willa Cather

RC 26659 Miracle at Philadelphia by Catherine Drinker Bowen

RC 38959 Animal Farm and 1984 (RC 34268) by George Orwell

Adult

RC 50552 Eyewitness to the America’s West by David Colbert

RC 56506 A Patriot’s Handbook by Caroline Kennedy

RC 57350 The March Up: Taking Baghdad with the 1st Marine Division

by Bing West

CALL 2-1-1 FOR HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES INFORMATION

The Federal Communication Commission has set aside the number 2-1-1 for Health and Human Services referrals. It is up to each state to independently develop 2-1-1 Call Centers throughout their state. These centers will have to apply to provide these services and comply with federal standards.

For the past 15 years, there have been four Information and Referral Call Centers providing a similar type of service for their communities: First Call for Help in Kalispell and Missoula, The Help Center in Bozeman, and Voices of Hope in Great Falls. The Montana 2-1-1 Coalition hopes to build on their efforts and develop more 2-1-1 Call Centers to encompass the entire state.

DPHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) has proposed a bill—Senate Bill 428—to create a statewide implementation plan with standards and oversight structures. They hope this will guarantee consistency in services provided and cover every county in Montana.

The 2-1-1 Call Centers will assist callers with information and referral for the following types of services: basic human needs (food and shelter), employment services, physical and mental health resources, volunteer opportunities, and donations. They will also provide referrals that will offer support to children, youth, families, older Americans, and persons with disabilities.

Each agency applying for the 2-1-1 number should have financial stability, community support, ability to comply with National 2-1-1 standards, a relationship with other agency providers, a record of providing a similar type of service, and a list of which counties it will cover. At this time, anyone can apply for the 2-1-1 number in Montana. Those of you who live in Mineral, Missoula, or Ravalli counties can use the 2-1-1 number now. IF the legislation passes and the Montana 2-1-1 Coalition receives the additional funding they are seeking, possible implementation for 2-1-1 Call Centers throughout the rest of the state will be July 2007.

Please contact Susie McIntyre if you have any questions, offers to volunteer, or donations for the Montana 2-1-1 Coalition:

Susie McIntyre, 2-1-1 Coordinator, Voice of Hope, Box 6644, Great Falls, MT 59406

1-406-771-8648, ext 3370 or susiemcintyre@sofast.net.

VISUALLY HANDICAPPED RESOURCES

ASSISTIVE DEVICES:

Blindskills, Inc.	P.O. Box 5181	Salem, OR 97304-0181
	800-860-4224	http://www.blindskills.com
Sighted Electronics	69 Woodland Ave	Westwood, NJ 07675
	800-666-4883	http://www.sighted.com
Solutions for Humans	365A Tesconi Cir	Santa Rosa