New Hampshire Book Bag
by Donna Gilbreth, Supervisor
Reference & Information Services

The N.H. State Library cooperates with the N.H. Humanities Council to make books available for book discussion groups throughout New Hampshire. For several years these two organizations have coordinated the acquisition and loan of multiple copies of a variety of titles. There are now several hundred titles in the collection, with enough copies to stock most book discussion groups. Libraries can browse the list of books at our Book Bag website (www.state.nh.us/nhsl/bookbag/index.html). There are a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction adult titles, and several youth titles also. The lending guidelines are also posted at this website.

The N.H. Humanities Council acquires books as part of their Humanities to Go! program. Book titles are grouped around a wide selection of themes and the Council will help libraries coordinate a book discussion leader if desired. For more information on the Humanities to Go! program and access to their catalog, go to www.nhhc.org/humanities-to-go.htm. To see the available book discussion series, perform a Category Search for "book discussions" in the online catalog. Libraries can reserve an entire series, or selected titles. Libraries must contact the State Library to reserve titles, but should contact the N.H. Humanities Council if interested in booking a discussion scholar.

For more information on borrowing Book Bag titles, please contact Ruby Matott at the N.H. State Library, 271-2616 or rmatott@library.state.nh.us.

TALKING BOOK SERVICE CELEBRATES ACTIVE CENTENARIANS
by John Barrett, Supervisor
Library Services to Persons with Disabilities

New Hampshire State centenarians, Leonore Bouchard, Berlin; Bertha Carignan, Manchester; Mary Dalton, Danville; Eleanor Furlow, Enfield; and Marion Greene, Concord became the first inductees in the 102 Talking Book Club on September 13, 2005. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress and the N.H. State Library Talking book Service officially launched the New Hampshire chapter of the national book program. The Club was created to recognize the accomplishments of Talking Book readers 100 years of age and older and to give them priority on high demand materials such as new releases. Alma Vandervliet of Keene who will turn 100 later this year was also recognized for her active participation in the program. The six women enjoy talking books in a variety of subjects including biographies, historical novels, mysteries, classics, romances and adventure.

The 102 induction ceremony and reception that followed were held at the N.H. State Library. Approximately 25 invited guests attended the program. Among them were family members, friends, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, the Commissioner of Cultural Resources, the Administrator of Library Operations, Northern Conference Network Consultant of the National Library Service, the Vice President of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind, representatives from the Colby Memorial Library, Danville, former and current N.H. Talking Book Regional Librarians and Talking Book Service staff.

Talking Book Service exists to meet the reading needs and the reading interests of New Hampshire residents who are physically unable to see; handle or process printed material comfortably. Over 2,000 people are enrolled in the talking book reading program and over 90,000 books are circulated each year. For further information call 1-800-491-4200.