STAFFING CHANGES

There have been many changes at Talking Books this spring. The retirements of Eileen Keim and Mary Doiron, plus the promotion of Debora Rialland to the State Library's Reference Section, left Pam and Sherry on their own for a while. They have now been joined by replacement troops.

First, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Donna Gilbreth, and I have the intimidating task of trying to replace Eileen Keim as administrator. I have been a librarian at the State Library since 1981, in the Reference and Information Services Section. Talking Book Service is an unexplored world for me, so I have a lot to learn on the job.

Next, Jody Matisko has signed on as Library Aide, replacing Deb Rialland. She has the tough and never-ending job of sending books to you every day, and shelving your returned books.

Finally, I'd like to welcome Brenda Corey, who is replacing Mary Doiron as our new reader's advisor. Brenda is a State Library veteran of several years, having worked in both Reference and Network Services. She will be working closely with Sherry Ober to meet your reading needs.

FEMALE SLEUTHS

Many mystery series involve resourceful female detectives. Several of these sleuths are represented in talking books available in our collection.

Comedy is represented by screwball television reporter Robin Hudson in a series of mysteries by Sparkle Hayter, and incompetent bounty hunter Stephanie Plum in the numerical mysteries by Janet Evanovich. Ms. Evanovich is now a New Hampshire resident, but her heroine remains rooted in New Jersey.

Competent forensic scientists can be female, as we find out in the Patricia Cornwell series involving Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the Virginia medical examiner. There is also Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist, in novels by Kathy Reichs. Author Reichs is herself an anthropologist in Quebec.

There is no shortage of legal thrillers being written, but you might want to vary your Grisham dose with books by Linda Fairstein and Carolyn Wheat. Fairstein's protagonist is New York assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cooper, while Wheat has created New York defense lawyer Cass Jameson.

Books about private investigators are older than Sherlock Holmes. There are several female investigators keeping the tradition alive. Sharon McCone is a San Francisco private eye in several novels by Marcia Muller. Author Sue Grafton is working her way through the alphabet in a series of books featuring PI Kinsey Millhone. The edgier V.I. Warshawski is the Chicago investigator in a series by Sara Paretsky. Finally, there is Carlotta Carlyle, the improbably named Boston policewoman in several books by Linda Barnes.

Police detective stories also have a long tradition. There are a few female police detectives among the ranks of literary sleuths. There is Kathleen (not Kathy) Mallory, New York policewoman with a talent for computers, in a series by Carol O'Connell. Author Laurie R. King created Kate Martinelli, a San Francisco homicide detective. Rounding out this trio is Lt. Norah Mulcahaney, a New York homicide detective, in mysteries authored by Lillian O'Donnell.

If you're tired of police and private detectives, how about an investigative reporter? Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Edna Buchanan has created heroine Britt Montero, a Miami reporter. And Jan Burke writes about Irene Kelly, a southern California journalist and wife of a policeman.

Why don't you try some books about these resourceful and independent female sleuths?

RC 38944 WHAT'S A GIRL GOTTA DO?, by Sparkle Hayter. Robin Hudson's husband has left her, she's demoted, and she's the prime suspect in the murder of a blackmailer.
RC 40224 ONE FOR THE MONEY, by Janet Evanovich. Unemployed lingerie buyer Stephanie Plum blackmails her cousin Vinnie into hiring her at his bail-bond business. In her first case she must find a former boyfriend.
RC 34300 BODY OF EVIDENCE, by Patricia Cornwell. Medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta investigates a murder, and in the process endangers her job and her life.
RC 44763 DEJA DEAD, by Kathy Reichs. Forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan has left North Carolina, and a shaky marriage, for Montreal. Solving a murder endangers her life.
RC 42441 FINAL JEOPARDY, by Linda Fairstein. An actress friend is killed at assistant DA Alexandra Cooper's summer home. Was Cooper the intended victim and did her boyfriend do it?
RC 20043 DEAD MAN'S THOUGHTS, by Carolyn Wheat. The boyfriend of Legal Aid attorney Cass Jameson is murdered.
RC 30013 THERE'S SOMETHING IN A SUNDAY, by Marcia Muller. Private eye Sharon Mccone, of the All- Souls Law Co-operative, investigates a mysterious horticulturist in San Francisco.
RC 23778 "B" IS FOR BURGLAR, by Sue Grafton. Hired to find a missing woman, Kinsey Millhone discovers she was last seen heading for Boca Raton wearing a $12,000 lynx coat.
RC 23999 KILLING ORDERS, by Sara Paretsky. The unpleasant aunt of V.I. Warshawski is accused of stealing stock certificates from a suspicious order of Dominican brothers.
RC 27191 TROUBLE OF FOOLS, by Linda Barnes. Boston ex-cop Carlotta Carlyle searches for an elderly cabdriver, and discovers drug running and the IRA.
RC 40108 MALLORY'S ORACLE, by Carol O'Connell. New York policewoman tracks down the killer of her adoptive father, also a cop.
RC 44894 WITH CHILD, by Laurie R. King. San Francisco police officer Kate Martinelli helps a child, which places her in the path of a serial killer.
RC 22082 LADYKILLER, by Lillian O'Donnell. Lt. Norah Mulcahaney, of the New York police department, tracks the killer of young women.
RC 36252 CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE, by Edna Buchanan. Miami crime reporter Britt Montero investigates a killing by the police.
RC 45430 GOODNIGHT, IRENE, by Jan Burke. Reporter Irene Kelly investigates the bombing death of her friend. Is it linked to a 40 year old unsolved murder?

MEDICARE AND YOU

We have several free copies of Medicare publications available to interested patrons. They are made available by the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration. Please contact us at 800-491-4200 if you would like a copy of any of the publications listed below. Please note some publications are available only in braille.

2000 GUIDE TO HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH MEDICARE (audio cassette). Also available in Spanish.
MEDICARE AND YOU 2001 (audio cassette)
MEDICARE AND HOME HEALTH CARE (audio cassette)
MEDICARE COVERAGE OF SKILLED NURSING FACILITY CARE (audio cassette)
2001 GUIDE TO HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH MEDICARE: CHOOSING A MEDIGAP POLICY (braille)
MEDICARE SAVINGS FOR QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES: help in paying Medicare out-of-pocket expenses for some low-income persons (braille)
CHOOSING A HOSPITAL: a guide for people with Medicare (braille)

NEW VIDEOS

We have been able to add some new described videos to our collection this year. The Narrative Television Network has produced episodes of older television programs. We have available some episodes of the Andy Griffith Show and the Gomer Pyle Show. We have also obtained from Audiovision Canada several classic black and white motion pictures. Do you remember His Girl Friday with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, or Life With Father starring William Powell and Irene Dunne? We have these and several other available for loan. In addition, we have added newer movies like You've Got Mail and Saving Private Ryan. Call Brenda or Sherry to find out what is available.

CASSETTE MACHINES

The link (sometimes weak) between you and the enjoyment of a good book is your cassette machine. If you are having problems with the operation of you machine, please call us at 800-491-4200. We may be able to solve the problem over the telephone; otherwise we will make arrangements for a replacement.

The cassette machine you are using is the property of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and has been loaned to you so you may be able to listen to our recorded books and magazines. You must use our books in order to keep the machine.

Sometimes families of former borrowers aren't aware of the ownership of these cassette machines and sell, donate or discard them. Please help ensure that machines are returned to us when no longer needed. They may be sent to us postage-free through the mail.