The Results are In!

I wish to thank the 370 people who made the effort to fill out our 2002 Reader Survey, which was included in the January Granite Bits. Your answers and comments are very useful to us. I will briefly review the results here. If you want a paper or electronic copy of the full report call us at 800-491-4200.

The majority of respondents (275) have been using the library for two or more years and many of you (80) heard about our services through friends. So don't forget to tell your friends about our service! Most of you contacted us recently, which is great. The more we interact with you, the better we become at meeting your reading needs. For example, 110 people were only "somewhat satisfied" with books received this year. We would like to help you choose the books best suited to you, so please give us a call. And 49 people thought they were getting too few or too many books. We can easily adjust quantities to best suit your ability to read them.

The majority of respondents do not use the Internet (268) or email (262). That is a major reason we have a toll-free telephone number for you to contact us. So please keep this number (800-491-4200) handy. Our answering service will record your call when we are closed. Those of you with email are welcome to correspond with me at my address: gilbreth@library.state.nh.us.

Many of you (311) do not borrow our descriptive videos. If you are interested in this service, we have about 300 videocassette movies with an added narrative track for the visually impaired. The narration fills in the gaps where dialog leaves off. Give us a call if you want to try one.

Several respondents indicated they would like to borrow books on CD. Our parent institution, the National Library Service (NLS), does not plan to issue books on CD. They will continue to issue books on cassette for several more years, while they move toward a new electronic format. That format will probably be a small media card and a special player will be created. This new technology should be available within 7 years. Some of you also mentioned a desire for a more portable cassette player. Unfortunately, the NLS will only be providing the one model, that snappy yellow box you have. Other manufacturers do sell smaller players. If you are interested we can provide you with purchasing information.

Finally, thank you for all your thoughts and comments. It is gratifying to know we are providing a beneficial service. And we will try to learn from your responses and improve services where possible.

Accessibility at Goffstown Library

The Goffstown Public Library has made it easier for the blind and visually impaired to access the library's volumes. Two new software programs-Magic, a screen magnification program, and Jaws, a screen reading program, from Freedom Scientific-have been installed on one of the library's computers.

Magic magnifies the text on the screen from two to 16 times. With text smoothing, mouse enhancements, screen locators and inverse Colors, Magic can allow someone with impaired vision to fully experience a computer. Jaws makes it possible for blind people to use the library's card catalog and databases, the Internet, e-mail and software programs by reading aloud the text on the screen.

Library director Dianne Hathaway and assistant director Amy Lapointe attended the Adaptive Technology Consulting seminar for personal one-on-one training on the software. "I'm still learning it," Lapointe said. "It's a lot to learn".

The Goffstown Public Library was the only library to apply for the LSTA grant money provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and made available through the New Hampshire State Library. The library purchased a monitor of 19 inches for the computer after they had been accepted for the grant. An enlarged character keyboard will be a future purchase.

Concord Reads

Last year the city of Concord, led by the Concord Public Library, held the first Concord Reads program to unite the community and celebrate literature. Interested persons participated by reading a single book, The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder (RC 41185). The library held discussion groups and a 1939 film version of the book was shown.

This year the chosen book is Empire Falls by Richard Russo (RC 52601), a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about the residents of a dying Maine mill town. This fall, discussion groups and other programs focusing on this novel will take place in Concord.

National Constitution Center

The Fourth of July will mark the grand opening of the new National Constitution Center museum in Philadelphia. For five days (July 2-6) the event will be marked by music, dance, speakers, films, and a visit by President George W. Bush. The Center is the only museum honoring the U.S. Constitution. Established by Congress in 1988, the independent, nonprofit Center is dedicated to public understanding of and appreciation for our constitution. To help celebrate this opening, you might want to read the Constitution or books about it:

RC 52778 The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States
RC 35663 Great Rehearsal: the story of the making and ratifying of the Constitution of the United States by Carl Van Doren
RC 29456 The Constitution, a documentary and narrative history by Page Smith
RC 26207 We the People: the story of the United States Constitution since 1787 by Doris Faber
RC 26206 Are we to be a Nation?: the making of the Constitution by Richard B. Bernstein
RC 26199 The American Constitution-for and against: the Federalist and anti-Federalist papers edited by J.R. Pole
RC 25581 The American Constitution: its origins and development by Alfred H. Kelly
RC 54399 Witnesses at the Creation: Hamilton, Madison, Jay, and the Constitution by Richard B. Morris

Arthritis Guide

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the Arthritis Foundation have recently published six regional resource guides for people with arthritis. These guides help people find resources in their area , including activities, health centers, transportation, etc. To obtain a copy of the guide for your area call DHHS at 271-8326 or 800-852-3345 (ext. 8326) and specify your town of residence. You may also e-mail them at kkokko@dhhs.state.nh.us.

Visit Mystic Seaport

The National Library Service program issuing free passes to Mystic Seaport has been extended through 2003. NLS patrons may receive passes to visit this historic seaport museum in Connecticut at no cost (except in July and August). The best way to request passes (for 2 adults and children/grandchildren) is to send an e-mail to "eore@loc.gov". Include your name, address, telephone, and preferred date.

The talking book program has recorded several books published by the Mystic Seaport. These include:

RC 53284 A New England Table (450 traditional recipes)
RC 54251 America and the Sea: a maritime history
RC 54252 Saltwater Foodways: New Englanders and their food, at sea and ashore, in the nineteenth century
RC 54255 New England and the Sea
RC 54259 Life in Boats: the years before the war (yachting 1928-1933)

Better Reading!

• Listen to the cassette machine instruction tape
• Plug the machine into an electrical outlet to charge battery
• Follow the narrator's instructions at the end of each side
• Remember to use the side selector switch when instructed
• Rewind cassettes when done
• Put cassettes in correct mailing container
• Identify defective cassettes with a rubber band or string
• Return each book as soon as you finish it
• Before mailing a book back, turn over the mailing card to show our address
• Add to your list of book requests so you won't run out
• If we choose your books, make sure we know what you like to read
• Don't put notes in book containers, call us
• Call us at 800-491-4200 any time with a question or problem

Romance Results

The Romance Writers of America sponsored a survey of romance readers in 2002. Here are some of the results. There are 51.1 million romance readers in North America, one third of whom live in the Midwest. Of these readers, 75 percent are white and 63 percent attended college. Almost half of all readers are currently married and almost two-thirds of readers are between the ages of 25 and 54.

Granite Bits is available in large print, on audiocassette, computer disk and on the Internet. For more information call 1-800-491-4200. Our hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Voice mail is available after hours. Our web site is http://www.state.nh.us/nhsl/talkbks. Mention of a product or service is for informational purposes and does not imply endorsement by the State Library.