NEW DIGITAL TALKING BOOK PLAYER & CARTRIDGE
The player pictured is the basic model. The player is about 6 by 9 by 2 inches, in comparison with the cassette book machine (CBM), which is 9 by 11 by 3 inches, or 108 cu. in. compared to 300 cu. in. Weight of the digital talking book player is slightly over two pounds compared to the C-1's seven pounds. The body of the player is dark charcoal grey to create maximum visual contrast between the background of the case and the colors of the buttons.
The Rewind, Play and Fast Forward controls are centered and are close to the front edge of the player: The square green Play button controls stopping and starting playback of the book. The white triangular Rewind and Fast Forward buttons to the left and right of the Play button move through the book more quickly the more times they are pressed. Each key press gives audible feedback about how far ahead or back the user is moving.
The advanced model is exactly the same size but has a second row of controls between the Power, Sleep and Volume controls and the speaker. The advanced controls are for setting and retrieving bookmarks and for navigating through the structured levels of a National Information Standards Organization (NISO) book.
The cartridge shipping container is slightly longer and wider than a green cassette box but only half the thickness.
The cartridge itself is the size of a cassette, but with a more complex shape. The end of the cartridge with the round finger hole is slightly thicker than a cassette, with square sides, but is also beveled, so that when that end of the cartridge is pressed down on a flat surface in front of the player, the other end of the cartridge, with the USB connector, tilts up and can slide smoothly into the player. The end of the cartridge with the USB connector is also beveled, but with the bevels slanting toward the center of the cartridge, so that there is only one way it will fit into the player.
Unique Art Exhibit Held At Concord Public Library
During the first week of December 2007, the Concord Public Library graciously collaborated with the NH State Library Talking Book Services Section by hosting an exhibit of artwork by New Hampshire residents Heidi Piroso and Mason Grugnale, who are both affected by the loss of sight. Art Beyond Sight Awareness is an international initiative to promote art and culture by and for people with sight loss. It is organized by ART EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND and more than 180 partners around the globe. For 2008, the New Hampshire Talking Book Services Section, in cooperation with the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, plans to present another exhibit and promote other activities.
Just behind the navigation buttons are the Power, Sleep and Volume buttons: The round red Power button turns the player on and off. It is close to the left edge of the player. The white Sleep button, shaped like a crescent moon, will turn the player off thirty minutes after it is pressed. It is centered, just behind the Play button.
The yellow Volume controls are shaped like arrowheads pointing up and down. They are close to the right edge of the player. Just behind these controls is a raised line running from one side of the player to the other. This line divides the six most frequently used controls located towards the front of the player from the Tone and Speed controls which are located behind the tactile raised line and on either side of the round speaker.
Both Tone and Speed are shaped like the Volume buttons, up and down arrowheads, and are along its narrow axis. The Tone buttons are close to the left edge of the player; the Speed buttons are close to the right edge. The Volume, Tone, and Speed controls all announce each press of the button, e.g. "tone lower," "tone higher," "tone middle," with similar announcements for the other controls. The Speed control changes the speech from 50% to 300% of normal, with no change in pitch.
The white band along the front edge of the player is a pull-out handle, similar to the one on the CBM. Above the handle is the opening for the digital talking book cartridge. On the right side of the player is the headphone jack, with a brightly-colored surround for easy location (color is yet to be determined). Next to the jack is a USB port for repair personnel to use for diagnostic information.
On the back side of the machine, as on the back of the CBM, is a compartment for storing the power cord. On the bottom of the player are four rubber feet, the door to the battery compartment, and two inset bars for attaching a carrying strap. There is also plenty of room for identification labels.
New Titles from NLS on Recorded Cassette
RC 64088 Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Middle-aged rock star Judas Coyne collects morbid curios. He buys a haunted suit online and discovers that it belonged to the deceased stepfather of one of Coyne’s groupies. Over time, both Coyne’s own motives and those of the ghost are revealed. Bestseller, Horror
RC 64006 The Right Attitude to Rain: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel by Alexander McCall Smith. When her American cousins arrive in Edinburgh with friends, Dalhousie suspects that one of the women is marrying for money, not love. Meanwhile the fortyish Isabel ponders her feelings toward a younger man who is a former beau of her niece Cat. Mystery, Romance
RC 64176 Storm Runners by T. Jefferson Parker. Disabled cop turned private detective Matt Stromsoe takes a job guarding San Diego weather announcer Frankie Hatfield. Someone is after her family secret that controls rainfall. While investigating, Matt falls for Frankie. Bestseller, Suspense
RC 63899 The Crystal Rose by Rebecca Brandewyne. Rose Windermer’s family returns to England from India in 1835 after close friends are murdered. Fifteen years later Rose receives a cryptic message and discovers she’s being stalked by businessman Raj Khanna. They fall in love and uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Victoria. Historical Fiction, Romance
RC 63892 The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer. A devil narrates the origin of Adolf Hitler’s family. Bestseller, Historical Fiction, Family Story
RC 63790 All Mortal Flesh: A Reverend Clare Fergusson Mystery by Julia Spencer-Fleming. Following a scandalous relationship between married police chief Russ Van Alstyne and Episcopal priest Claire Fergusson, someone murders Russ’s wife, Linda. When suspicion falls on Russ, Clare sets out to clear his name despite town rumors and unsettled emotions. Mystery
RC 63686 Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood. Jordan Buchanan is thrilled that her brother Dylan is marrying her best friend Kate. But history professor Horace McKenna’s warnings of bad blood between the two families intrigues her. Bestseller, Romance, Suspense
RC 63580 Sharpe’s Fury: Richard Sharpe and the Battles of Barrosa, March 1811 by Bernard Cornwell. Captain Richard Sharpe undertakes a mission to recover incriminating love letters that have fallen into the hands of blackmailers intending to destroy the English-Spanish alliance. Historical Fiction, War Fiction
RC 63684 6 Rainier Drive: Cedar Cove, Book 6 by Debbie Macomber. After the fire in 50 Harbor Street (RCC 61163) the Gundersons disagree on how to rebuild their restaurant. Several town families face relocation and some romances fizzle asothers ignite. Bestseller, Romances
RC 663320 The Voice at 1:00 A.M.: Selected Late and New Poems by Charles Simic. Award-winning NH poet offers selections spanning two decades. Poetry
RC 63788 The Island Stallion by Walter Farley. Friends discover& artifacts in tunnels built by Spanish conquistadors on an island in the Caribbean, and find a flame-colored stallion. Juvenile Fiction.
RC 63838 Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop. In 1910 Vermonters Grace and Arthur leave school to work as child laborers in the town cotton mill for long hours and little pay. Juvenile Fiction.
RC 64140 The Deaf Musicians by Pete Seeger and Paul DuBois Jacobs. Jazz pianist is asked to leave his band when he loses his hearing. After learning sign language he and a friend form a new band with a big audience. Schneider Family Book Award.
RC 63340 Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman. A biography of the American magician and escape artist Harry Houdini (1874-1926). Juvenile Non-Fiction
RC 63782 A Whale Biologist at Work by Sneed Collard. Explains the work of marine biologist who studies humpback and blue whales off the coast of California. Juvenile Nonfiction.
RC 64194 Tersias the Oracle by G.P. Taylor. A twelve–year-old blind boy who predicts the future is held captive for his powers and a band of young thieves seeks to rescue him. Young Adult Fiction.
Donations are used to enhance Talking Book Services. For example, we are adding more PLAYAWAY® self-contained digital audio books to that popular collection. New titles on order:
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Being in Balance by Dr. Wayne Dyer
Blessed Are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
The Collectors by David Baldacci
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Grayson by Lynne Cox
Halsey’s Typhoon by Bob Drury
Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
The Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney
Italian: The Complete Language Course by Henry Raymond
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Major Presidential Speeches 1933-1998
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
The Tavern on Maple Street by Sharon Owens
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
http://unabridged.lib.overdrive.com/
Currently 2,380 titles make up the Unabridged Collection of downloadable digital audio books for blind, low-vision, and otherwise print-impaired users.register call 1-800-491-4200 in NH.
NAVIGATING AND DOWNLOADING WITHOUT SIGHT
by Marie Johnson
This document has been designed to provide step-by-step instructions, as well as specific hotkeys, for navigating the Unabridged web site, downloading the OverDrive Media Console, updating Windows Media Security and getting a book to its final destination of downloading, without sight! Although the intent is to make the steps to successfully obtain a book as easy as possible, I would certainly recommend that you completely familiarize yourself with the entire web page, (by using the down arrow ↓ keys all the way to the bottom of each page) and listening carefully to the contents of the site so that if you encounter a problem while attempting to get to a certain location, you may hear or come across something that will provide you with a reference point of your whereabouts during the process.
Once on the web page, it is best to log in to your account first. To do this with hotkeys, make sure you are at the top of the page, by pressing Control plus Home. You can now bring up a list of links by pressing Insert plus F7 and press the letter M until you hear “My Account.” Press Enter.
On the next screen, you can either Tab until you hear “Skip to Main Content” and press Enter, or start pressing the letter H - which will jump you through the different sections of headings - until you hear “Main Content.” You can use either of these options on any page. Tab once until you hear “Library Card Number Edit.” Press Enter to turn on forms mode and enter your number. Tab to enter your pin. Tab again and press Enter to log in.
On the next screen, if you do not already have the Overdrive Media Console player installed, this can be done with the following hotkeys. Press Insert plus F7 and when the list of links appears, press the letter D until you hear “Download the Instructions for the Overdrive Media Console.” Press Enter.
On the next screen, press Insert F7 again and when the list of links appears, press the letter D again until you hear “Download the Overdrive Media Console.” Press Enter.
* * Please note: Do not press Enter on “Download the Instructions for the Overdrive Media Console” again.
On the next screen, Press Insert F7 once more and when the list of links appears, press the letter O until you hear “Overview.” Press Enter.
On the next screen, press Insert F7 once more and when the list of links appears, press the letter D until you hear “Download Overdrive Media Console Version 2.1.” Press Enter. A download dialog box appears. Follow the prompts to either Save to a specific place or Run from the website. If you chose to save it, then it will need to be installed at a later date before you can download a book.
Upgrading Windows Media Player Security
(Not to be confused with upgrading the version of Windows Media Player)
The first time that you open Overdrive Media Console, which should be found on your desktop, it checks to see if you need to complete the security upgrade. If a security upgrade is needed, a message appears notifying you that in order to play DRM-protected content, you must first upgrade the security of your Windows Media Player. Follow the prompts provided in the message. Complete the security upgrade as follows…
Open OverDrive Media Console. (Note, make sure you are connected to the Internet)
Open the Tools menu, down arrow ↓ to Windows Media Player Security Upgrade.
A dialog box will appear, prompting you to upgrade the Windows Media Player Security. Press Enter on “OK.”
The License Acquisition dialog box will appear, indicating that you have installed the Windows Media Player Security Upgrade.
Press the “Play” button in the box to finish the process . You can now press Alt plus F4 to close the Windows Media Player.
Downloading a book from the Unabridged web site
Once you have located a book that you are interested in, Tab to the link that says “Add to Book Bag.” Press Enter.
On the next screen, Tab until you hear “Skip to Main Content.” Press Enter.
At this point you can down arrow ↓ to listen to the title and other information about your book until you get to the checkout button, or Tab to “Proceed to Checkout Button.” Press Enter.
In between, you will hear links to either “Remove” or “Continue Browsing.” (For now you can ignore these links.)
On the next screen, Tab to “Skip to Main Content”. Press Enter.
Tab until you hear “Confirm Checkout.” Press Enter.
On the next screen, Tab to “Skip to Main Content.” Press Enter.
When you Tab, you will first hear a link that you will want to pass over if you have already installed the OverDrive Media Player. This link will be “Click Here to Download the Software Needed to Use this OverDrive Audio Book Title.” (Do not press this link.)
Tab once more and pass over another link that says “Skip to Download Button.” Tab again and you are now at the actual download button. Press Enter.
On the next screen, Tab and press Enter on “OK.” This is confirming that the book will be downloaded to your “My Media Folder.”
On the next screen, you will be asked to choose how many parts of the book you want to download. It is defaulted to download “All Parts,” so if you do not wish to change this then Tab to the “OK” button. Press Enter.
You will successfully download the book of your choice!
(Marie Johnson is the current President of the NH State Affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind and an active user of the Unabridged collection.)
FYI (For Your Information)
The NH House and NH Senate will begin reviewing all retained bills from this past year and begin setting hearings in early January for the more than 800 new bills that will be introduced in the Legislature.
The Governor’s Commission on Disability regularly monitors all bills that pertain to disability issues and, together with a number of other disability-related organizations, The Commission has formed a Legislative Consortium in order to share information, cover all of these bills, and maximize the use of everyone’s time.
If you’ve never talked with your legislator or if you’re not really sure who your legislator is or how to contact him or her you may want to visit the web site www.gencourt.state.nh.us.
The list of all bill titles for 2008 is on the General Court website under the heading of "2008 House Proposed Introduction List" but, to really have a good understanding of the proposed legislation and how it would affect people with disabilities, you’ll want to read the full text of each bill.
The Commission expects to hold a Legislative Process Training sometime in April for those of you interested in an in-depth overview of the process and an opportunity to try your hand at “practice” testifying. Information about the Legislative Process Training will become available in the near future.
For more information contact: Carol Nadeau at the Governor's Commission on Disability, 57 Regional Drive, Concord, NH 03301, Tel: 271-6895 or 1-800-852-3405 toll free in NH (Voice/TTY), e-mail: Carol.Nadeau@NH.Gov
Helpful Hints
When leaving a message on our answering machine please leave first and last name and a telephone number where staff can reach you.
Loan periods for books in Braille or on Recorded Cassette are 2 months. Descriptive Video and Digital Audio Book titles circulate for 2 weeks.
Remember that to remain an active borrower you must borrow per year at least 1 National Library Service, or 1 NLS network library-produced book or magazine for which the NLS playback machine is necessary.
Staff News
After working in Talking Book Services for over a decade, Pam Ober has transferred to the state library’s Reference Services to oversee circulation. Though she will be missed by all her former Talking Books co-workers and our library patrons, everyone wishes Pam success in her new assignment.
Joan Nelson has joined Talking Book Services a part-time library assistant. Joan is one of the founders of Dog Guide Users of New Hampshire. We welcome the experience and knowledge she brings to our dedicated team of library workers serving the readings interests and information needs of New Hampshire residents who are affected by the loss of sight or those who are physically disabled.
Our Sincere Thanks!
We are fortunate to receive many generous donations from our readers, their families and friends. These kind gifts are used to supplement our reader services. We have used donated funds to purchase descriptive videos, digital audio books, update special program software and other necessities not covered under our general operating budget. These wonderful contributions help us maintain a higher level of service. We wish to express our deep gratitude to the following people for their thoughtful generosity:
Myrtle Fisher, Joan Jones, The Greene Family, Robert Carll, Virginia Peterson, Marguerite Gigas, Guy & Beverly Nelson, Richard & Elaine Chickering, James & Marion McEwan, Michael & Kristen Norklin, Louise Shaw, Clara Geddes, Shelley Lockhead, Dora Bergeron, Alice Chapdelaine
We welcome monetary donations to enhance and improve library service to our clients. Please indicate the names and mailing addresses of those to be notified for donations in honor of a special occasion or person, or in memory of a loved one.
Donations may be tax deductible and should be mailed to:
Regional Librarian, NHSL Talking Book Services Section
117 Pleasant Street – Dolloff Building, Concord, NH 03301. |
