VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The New Hampshire Association for the Blind has released their statewide needs assessment survey, "Vision for the Future." Dr. Susan Auerbach of Engaging Results conducted the survey in the fall and winter of 2001. Over 200 individuals, either providing or receiving vision services, were interviewed. Several recommendations have come out of the survey. Foremost is the need for more transportation for the visually impaired. Other needs identified in the survey include the need for technology support services and better collaboration amongst the various groups providing services to the visually impaired.

The survey is interesting to read and can be obtained from the New Hampshire Association for the Blind. Please contact them for information on obtaining the report in various formats (1-800-464-3075/224-4039/431-9401)

Star of the Day!

Congratulations to friend Bill Whall, who was featured in the April edition of Reader's Digest. In an article about "Everyday Heroes" Mr Whall was cited for his monitoring of weather and safety conditions on Lake Winnipesaukee. Over the years he has been a great help to boaters as he listens to his radios and keeps track of storms and accidents on the state's largest lake. Keep up the good work Bill!

CHAUTAUQUA

U.S. history buffs should mark their calendars for July 25-31. The New Hampshire Humanities Council will sponsor Chautauquas in Keene (July 25-27) and Portsmouth (July 29-31).

Chautauquas began in upstate New York in the 1870s as tent shows for traveling orators, politicians and thinkers of the day. In modern Chautauquas historical scholars assume the identity and dress of historical figures and engage the audience in a dialogue about their ideas.

The New Hampshire Chautauqua, America: Conceived in Liberty, will feature Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Abigail Adams, John Adams, Sojourner Truth, and Susan B. Anthony. During the day there will be workshops, and in the evening the historical figures will be under the tent, taking questions from the audience. For more information contact the NHHC at 603-224-4071 or visit their website: www.nhhc.org.

For background reading try these cassette books:

RC 26202 Abigail Adams: a biography by Phyllis Levin
RC 26691 The Federalist Papers The Federalist papers were written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison to urge voters to ratify the U.S. Constitution
RC 29392 Susan B. Anthony: a biography of a singular feminist by Kathleen Barry
RC 31185 The Presidency of John Adams by Ralph A. Brown
RC 32687 The Birth of a Nation: the early years of the United States by Doris Faber. From Washington's election to John Adam's election.
RC 46472 Our Sacred Honor: words of advice from the Founders in stories, letters, poems, and speeches edited by William J. Bennett
RC 50758 Alexander Hamilton, American by Richard Brookhiser
RC 51469 Founding Brothers: the revolutionary generation by Joseph J. Ellis. The contributions to the new nation made by John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and George Washington
RC 52275 John Adams by David G. McCullough
RC 52778 The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Complete texts

Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport is a maritime history museum in Mystic, Connecticut. The National Library Service is a member of Mystic Seaport's association of public libraries. As members, our patrons can borrow a one-day library pass which allows two adults and children or grandchildren under 18 free admission. This pass is not available for July and August. It is sent by express delivery to your home. Interested patrons can contact:

Mystic Pass Coordinator
Publications and Media Section
NLS/BPH
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20542
email: eore@loc.gov

Steinbeck Centennial

Did you know that February 27, 2002 was the centennial of John Steinbeck's birth? Steinbeck, one of America's great novelists, was born in Salinas, California. This area of California was the setting of many of his works. He died in New York in 1968.

Steinbeck's first published novel was Cup of Gold in 1929. However, he did not meet with commercial success until Tortilla Flat was published in 1935. In 1940 Steinbeck won the Pulitzer Prize for Grapes of Wrath, and in 1962 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

A Steinbeck Festival is held annually at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. This August 1-4 will be the 22nd annual festival.

Here are some Steinbeck works:

RC 9126 Tortilla Flat. A WWI vet returns to Monterey, California, to discover he's inherited two houses
RC 15893 Once There Was a War. Steinbeck was a WWII war correspondent. Here's a collection of his dispatches
RC 16094 Travels With Charley. The author tours the country in a trailer with his traveling companion, an elderly poodle
RC 21574 Grapes of Wrath. Novel of the Okie migration to California during the Great Depression
RC 40027 Long Valley. A 1938 collection of stories set in California
RC 48515 Of Mice and Men. Tragic tale of two itinerant farm workers during the Depression
RC 49676 East of Eden. Saga of two California families, from the end of the Civil War to the end of WWI
RC 50061 Cannery Row. A motley group of people live on the Monterey waterfront

The Hollywood Connection

A little bit of New Hampshire will appear in an upcoming Disney film. Disney is filming the classic children's book Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. The film stars Sissy Spacek, William Hurt, and Ben Kingsley. Also "starring" is a doll created by New Hampshire artist Gail Wilson. Wilson creates museum quality early American dolls. She actually made three dolls for the movie, to replicate a doll aging over many decades. Wilson is a member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. For more information visit her website at www.gailwilsondesigns.com. To read the book, ask for:

RC 50587 Tuck Everlasting. Ten-year-old Winnie Foster meets the Tuck family, who have not aged in 87 years, since drinking from a secret spring.

Telephone Pioneers

The Telephone Pioneers of America have completed over 40 years of volunteer service to the National Library Service. The Pioneers group was founded by retirees from the telephone industry. Over 800,000 members perform volunteer service around the country, including the talking book machine repair program.

Their work is invaluable to us at the New Hampshire State Library. Several volunteers come each week to repair disabled cassette machines. Without them we would not have enough machines to serve you!

We thank them for all their efforts.