ALA Sends Resolution to Congress in Support of NLS

The American Library Association (ALA) reaffirmed its support of a vital government service to the United States Congress. In letters sent to all Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, ALA included a resolution in support of The National Library Service (NLS), which provides Talking Books and services to veterans and other people with disabilities. The resolution was passed during ALA's Annual Conference in June by its governing body. To paraphrase ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels, "NLS is one of the most important and critical services the federal government provides to Americans who are blind and physically handicapped. Such a service can not be abandoned or minimized."

American Library Association

Resolution on Funding for the National Library Service

WHEREAS, Since 1931, the United States Congress has supported a national library accessible to people who are blind; and

WHEREAS, In 1966, Congress authorized the Library of Congress' National Library Service to provide Talking Books services to all persons who could not read standard print because of visual or physical disability; and

WHEREAS, The National Library Service's current audio cassette technology, which was introduced in 1971, is obsolete; and

WHEREAS, The current audiocassette machines are no longer being manufactured; and

WHEREAS, The National Library Service has developed a plan to convert to up- to-date digital technology; and

WHEREAS, The National Library Service needs the $19.1 million it requested for the first year of this multi-year project in order to obtain this goal; and

WHEREAS, There have been congressional proposals to allocate only some of the funds needed toward the project; and

WHEREAS, Any shortfall jeopardizes library service to the more than 750,000 people in the United States who rely upon this service for access to reading material; and

WHEREAS, Veterans who have been injured and are returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will need this service; and

WHEREAS, The American Library Association has adopted a statement of core values and that Access (for all) and Democracy (the need for an informed citizenry), are two of these values; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED That the American Library Association call upon Congress to fund the $19.1 million needed for the first year of the National Library Service's multi-year digitization project to convert to up-to-date digital technology, thereby preserving Talking Books services to people with visual or physical disability.

Adopted by the Council of the American Library Association, June 26, 2007

NFB-LINK: Linking Individuals to a Network of Knowledge

The National Federation of the Blind would like to offer you a premier, one-stop resource where you can find information on career paths, educational opportunities, recreational activities, technology, and many other topics from successful blind and visually impaired people.

Through the power of the Internet, our innovative online mentoring program, NFB-LINK, pairs individuals seeking information about blindness with successful blind people. A college student can learn how to conduct experiments in a biology class; meanwhile, a newly blind person can learn how to continue gardening after vision loss. Answers to questions like "Can a blind person be a social worker" to "How can I participate in a yoga class" are all found on the NFB-LINK site. NFB-Link is the leading source for not only blind and visually impaired people, but also for parents, teachers, rehabilitation professionals and others who have an interest in blindness.

To access this one-of-a-kind service, visit www.nfblink.org. On the site, you can share your expertise by joining the growing pool of mentors or you can request a mentor that can help answer your blindness-related questions. For additional information about this program, contact Rosy Carranza via email at rcarranza@nfb.org, or by calling 410-659-9314, ext. 2283. NFB-LINK has helped countless people obtain encouragement, regain independence, and discover answers to everyday questions about blindness. Visit the site and find out how NFB can help you locate the link to success!

There are currently 2,160 titles in the Unabridged collection of downloadable digital audio books. To access all titles in the Unabridged collection, please visit the following URL: http://unabridged.lib.overdrive.com/

Check with your local public library to see if it is participating in the New Hampshire Downloadable Audio Books Consortium.

PLAYAWAY is a self-contained digital audio book. Books in this format have been purchased in special library packaging using donations to the Talking Book Services Section. These books will circulate among active persons registered in the NLS Talking Books Program. More about our PLAYAWAY collection appears elsewhere in this issue of Granite Bits. If you want to try one of these uniquely formatted books, call toll-free in NH 1-800-491-4200 or Email: talking@library.state.nh.us.

PLAYAWAY COLLECTION

DAB 00001 The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham
DAB 00002 The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
DAB 00003 Learn Anywhere! FRENCH by Henry N. Raymond
DAB 00004 Learn Anywhere! SPANISH by Henry N. Raymond
DAB 00005 The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
DAB 00006 Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
DAB 00007 The Life &Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
DAB 00008 Twain's Humor: Selected Stories by Mark Twain
DAB 00009 Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
DAB 00010 Hundred-Dollar Baby by Robert B. Parker
DAB 00011 Brother Odd by Dean Koontz
DAB 00012 Wild Fire by Nelson Demille
DAB 00013 Winter House by Carol O'Connell
DAB 00014 Dead Famous by Carol O'Connell
DAB 00015 Open House by Elizabeth Berg
DAB 00016 The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
DAB 00017 Digging to America by Anne Tyler
DAB 00018 The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
DAB 00019 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
DAB 00020 Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
DAB 00021 A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
DAB 00022 Collected Stories & Poems by Edgar Allen Poe
DAB 00023 The Classic Hundred Poems: All Time Favorites
DAB 00024 Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
DAB 00025 The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
DAB 00026 Eragon by Christopher Paolini
DAB 00027 Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
DAB 00028 The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
DAB 00029 The Giver by Lois Lowry

New Books from NLS Available on Recorded Cassette

RC 63016 Dark Voyage of the Mittie Stephens: A Western Story by Johnny D. Boggs.
Professional gambler suffering from transient amnesia meets belle-on-the run aboard a ship that is carrying ex-confederate thieves who seek the vessel's gold payroll. Western

RC 63166 The Retreat by Patrick Rambaud.
The French army enters Russia expecting a quick victory but soon discovers a desolate and abandoned Moscow. Sequel to (RC 56662)The Battle. Historical Fiction

RC 63795 I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark.
Librarian and wealthy businessman fall in love and marry. The husband is arrested for murdering a teenaged neighbor of his twenty-two years ago. Bestseller, Mystery

RC 63296 Twice Kissed by Lisa Jackson.
Woman reluctantly agrees to help her former lover and ex-brother-in-law search for her missing twin sister. Bestseller, Suspence, Romance

RC 61696 Helen Keller: Selected Writings edited by Kim E. Nielsen.
A Collection of letters, articles, speeches and book excerpts written throughout Keller's life. Biography

RC 62506 The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Douglas Brinkley.
Renowned historian details a week in August 2005 highlighting individual tales of heroism, describing faults that led to breeched levees and criticizing government for failure to protect citizens. Bestseller, U.S. History

RC 62004 The Three-Hour Diet: How Low-Carb Diets Make You Fat and Timing Makes You Thin by Jorge Cruise.
Author of Eight Minutes in the Morning (RC 55750) tells how to lose up to two pounds per week without counting calories or sacrificing carbohydrates. Includes exercise tips, recipes, and testimonials. Health, Diet

RC 62778 Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo.
One Saturday Mr. Watson and his pig, Mercy, go for a drive in his convertible. Easy Reader, Humorous Fiction, K-3

RC 62884 Figgs and Phantoms by Ellen Raskin.
The fantastic adventures of the Figg family after they leave show business and settle in the town of Pineapple. Newbery Honor Book. Family Stories, Grades 5-8

RC 60394 George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer.
Discusses beliefs and character of two men, why England and the New World Colonies went to war, and why there are no kings of the USA. U.S. History, Grades 4-7

RC 60056 The Comic Book Mystery: A Boxcar Children Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner.
A strange note is found inside a Captain Fantastic comic book. Mystery, Grades 3-6

FYI (For Your Information)

The latest issue of the Directory of New Hampshire Libraries may now be found at the following address. You may open your Internet browser to www.nh.gov/nhsl/ and scroll down on the right hand side of your screen and click on the NH Library Directory, then click on Library Directory on the Left hand side of the screen.

Frederick Campbell, 80, died Thursday, July 5, 2007, at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton. After losing most of his sight to macular degeneration, he moved to Portsmouth in 1996 and later to Dover. He was instrumental in promoting computer-assisted technology for blind veterans while he attended the Veterans Affairs Blind Rehab program in West Haven, CT. Mr. Campbell was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and Blind Veterans Association, and registered in the National Library Service Talking Book Program.

The Federal disability website & portal, www.disabilityinfo.gov has 9 buttons (Education, Employment, Health, Benefits, Technology, Transportation, Civil Rights, Community Life, Housing). By clicking on any one of them and clicking on the map, you can find disability resources for that topic in our own state or in any other state to compare with ours.

While National Braille Press will release a braille version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for purchase on July 21, 2007, the NLS braille version (BR 17210) will not be available until mid-August. NLS expects the audio version of this popular title (RC 64495) to ship on August 20, 2007. This date, however, is an estimate and should not be considered a firm deadline.

2nd ANNUAL JOB FAIR SET FOR SEPTEMBER 5TH

Businesses seeking skilled and qualified employees are invited to take part in our 2nd Annual Regional Job Fair (Concord/Lakes Region) scheduled for Wednesday, September 5, 2007 from 11:00 am-3:00 pm at the National Guard State Armory (4 Pembroke Road in Concord). Last year's event was a huge success! And it is free!

So, if you are looking for a job, particularly if you have a disability, or if your company or business would like to participate, please contact: Jim Hinson, Job Fair Coordinator, as soon as possible before Friday, August 24 at Tel: (603) 271-7098 or via e-mail at: jhinson@ed.state.nh.us. This is a great opportunity to network and if you are looking for employment, you can fill out an application form on the spot. Several State agencies will be there. Come and find out what opportunities are available.

The Big Read: New Hampshire Reads Fahrenheit 451

The Big Read: New Hampshire Reads Fahrenheit 451 is a project of the Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library, in partnership with the New Hampshire Humanities Council, the New Hampshire Department of Cultural Resources, and over 60 libraries, schools, and bookstores throughout the state. This project is part of The Big Read, a national initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Arts Midwest that encourages citizens to join together as a community to read and discuss a single book for pleasure and enlightenment.

The NH State Library Talking Book Services Section serves the reading interests of NH residents who are blind, visually-impaired or physically handicapped. We want to encourage users of our library collection to participate in this state-wide Big Read that runs from October 1 through November 11, 2007.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for us to bring together many different partners to focus New Hampshire's attention on reading and talking about books," said Mary Russell, Director of the Center for the Book. "By working with local communities to create programming focused on this single work of literature and having so many people reading and discussing Fahrenheit 451 at once, we hope to create a dynamic conversation throughout our state about what literature really means to a society."

Details on all of New Hampshire's Big Read events will be available at http://bigreadnh.blogspot.com and will also be included, along with those of the other participating communities around the country at www.neabigread.com.

Modeled on successful "city reads" programs, the Big Read was created by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to address the national decline in literary reading as documented in the NEA's 2004 landmark survey Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America. The survey showed that less than half of the American adult population now reads literature. In an effort to turn that trend around a Big Read pilot program was launched with ten communities in 2006. The pilot program proved successful and the NEA announced that it would take the Big Read nationwide. The Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library was among the one hundred seventeen organizations in the US that were awarded grants for community-based programs to be held this fall. The Northeast Cultural Coop in Amherst, NH also received a Big Read grant for a program focusing on Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. The book is in our collection on recorded cassette (RC) for those who may want to participate in that program.

If any of our registered library patrons are interested in the Big Read: New Hampshire Reads Fahrenheit 451 project, copies of that book are available in RC format from the Talking Books collection along with the NEA Reader's Guide. For those who wish to join a book discussion group, we will try to accommodate your request. Contact: John Barrett (603) 271.1498 or 1-800-491-4200 (NH toll-free) or email jbarrett@library.state.nh.us for further information.

The Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library was established in 2003 to celebrate and promote reading, books, literacy, and the literary heritage of New Hampshire and to highlight the role that reading and libraries play in enriching the lives of the people of the Granite State. For more information please visit the website: www.nh.gov/nhsl/bookcenter.

Art Beyond Sight Awareness Month: October

Organized by Art Education for the Blind, Art Beyond Sight Awareness Month provides an opportunity, an incentive, for professionals and institutions to raise public awareness about making art and culture a part of life for adults and children affected by sight loss. It is a time when museums and other arts organizations, schools, libraries, and sighted and blind people jointly address the problem of making pictorial literacy and access to the world of art a reality for blind people.

Art Beyond Sight (www.artbeyondsight.org/) is a collaboration of researchers, blind people, educators, tactile-graphics experts, and people from many other related fields. Internationally, the collaborative provides a forum for ongoing interdisciplinary dialogues among researchers and practitioners, who share expertise and materials. On the local level, Art Beyond Sight assists museum professionals and other educators, parents, artists, and art lovers to create vehicles for lasting change in their communities. This can only be achieved through a team effort on the part of people who are blind and visually impaired, partnering institutions, and local community agencies that represent blind people and their families.

    Helpful Tips

This is to notify our library patrons who subscribe to "Yankee Magazine" that it is now being issued on a bimonthly basis.

The loan periods for Braille and Recorded Cassettes are now two months. Descriptive Video and Digital Audio Book titles circulate for two weeks.

Please remember to call us for any of the following:

• Whenever your addresses, telephone numbers or the names of your contact person change If you want to revise the types of books you get, or the number of books you receive
• When you have problems with books or machines
• To temporarily stop service

To remain an active borrower you must read a minimum of one NLS or network-produced book or magazine per year for which the borrowed NLS equipment and accessories are necessary!

Thank you for Your Cooperation!

Our Sincere Thanks!

We are fortunate to receive many generous monetary donations from our readers, their families and friends. These kind gifts are used to supplement our readers services. We have used donated funds to purchase descriptive videos, digital audio books, access to downloadable audio books, special software and assistive technology not covered under our general operating budget. These wonderful contributions help us maintain a higher level of service to you. At this time we would like to express our sincere thanks to the following people for their recent contributions.

Kathleen M. O'Neill, Janet L. Dickinson, Margaret S. Stevens, Louise Shaw, Evelyn Garrity, Antonia Tsialas, Clara Geddes, Bob & Harriet Marshall, The Visually Impaired Group of Dover, NH, The Everyday Circle of King's Daughters & Sons, and The Sisters of the Presentation of Mary.

We gladly welcome your donations to enhance and improve our library service to the blind, visually impaired and physically handicapped. Please indicate the names and the addresses of those to be notified of donations in honor of a special occasion, a person, or in memory of a loved one.

Donations should be mailed to:

NH State Library
Talking Book Services Section
117 Pleasant Street-Dolloff Building
Concord, NH 03301

Please make your check payable to: NH STATE LIBRARY TALKING BOOK SERVICES SECTION

The Granite Bits newsletter is available in large print, on audio cassette, computer disk, and the Internet. For more information about the Talking Book Services Section call 1-800-491-4200. Regular hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our website address is www.nh.gov/nhsl/talking_books/.

Any mention of a product or service is for information purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the New Hampshire State Library.