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Insights Library Newsletter

Insights Winter 2013

Catch up on the latest news from TBBC with the winter 2013 edition of Insights . To read the newsletter, you can download a print version, listen to an audio version or read the newsletter below.

Word document
PDF file
Narrated audio at http://www.audiovision-nj.org/insights.html

A MESSAGE FROM THE NEW JERSEY STATE LIBRARIAN, MARY CHUTE

Happy New Year,

This is my first opportunity to connect with the patrons of the New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center (TBBC). In my first six months as State Librarian, I am so pleased by the community that is being developed by you, your local public library and the New Jersey State Library.

In this newsletter, you will read about a pilot project this past summer involving sixteen public libraries working with TBBC to get digital audiobooks on thumb drives to you. Also, you will read about an exciting national pilot we are conducting in conjunction with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) to have trained staff at some New Jersey public libraries downloading books and magazines for you.

Another project that I am happy to announce is that TBBC has begun recording books on New Jersey subjects or by New Jersey authors. In addition to recording some adult titles with New Jersey subjects, TBBC will record six children’s books that were selected as winners of the Garden State Book Awards.

TBBC is also moving forward on another front. Beginning in early 2013, we will start a subscription for digital audiobooks from Recorded Books, LLC. Their product that will be available to every TBBC patron is called OneClickDigital. What is so impressive about OneClickDigital is that you can listen to a book on your iPhone, your iPad, any Apple product, the Kindle Fire, an Android device, or your computer. We know that TBBC patrons love technology and TBBC wants to bring more services to you using your technology of choice.

Please read our newsletter for more details on these exciting projects as well as other items the TBBC staff has prepared to inform you about everything we are doing.

Mary Chute

New Jersey State Librarian

GOT BARD?

The New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center (TBBC) offers an exciting new way for our patrons to get TBBC audiobooks closer to home. Under a pilot project approved by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), the following public libraries now have full access to the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) database service and can download books and magazines for you to use with your talking book player:

• Atlantic County Library at Galloway, 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Rd., Galloway

• East Brunswick Public Library, 2 Jean Walling Civic Center, East Brunswick

• Jersey City Public Library, 472 Jersey Ave., Jersey City

• Johnson Public Library, 274 Main St., Hackensack

• Kenilworth Public Library, 548 Boulevard, Kenilworth

• Monroe Twp. Public Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe Twp.

• Morris County Library, 30 E. Hanover Ave., Whippany

• Mount Laurel Library, 100 Walt Whitman Ave., Mount Laurel

• Pequannock Twp. Pub. Library, 477 Newark Pompton Trnpk., Pompton Plains

• Scotch Plains Public Library, 1927 Bartle Ave., Scotch Plains

• Somerset County Library System, One Vogt Drive, Bridgewater

If you would like to request BARD service from any of these libraries, you, a family member, or friend will need to go there with proof of your TBBC membership. You can either contact us at TBBC to request a TBBC library card or bring a mailing card from a digital book sent to you from TBBC. When you go to one of these participating libraries, show them your library card or mailing card, then request the books you would like from BARD. You will also need to bring along a new, unused flash drive or ask your library about purchasing one.

This new service does not replace any services provided by TBBC. You may continue to receive your books from us through the U.S. Mail. Getting BARD downloaded books from any of these participating libraries is just another way for you to get the audiobooks you want when you want them.

MORE NEWS ABOUT PARTNERING WITH PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN NJ:

THE OUTSPOKEN LIBRARY

For the last two years, the New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center (TBBC) has been building partnerships with public libraries in New Jersey to provide TBBC’s no-cost services to print disabled New Jersey residents in the communities served by our partner libraries. This project is known as the Outspoken Library. The goal behind the Outspoken Library is to increase the visibility of our services in public libraries, build stronger relationships between our local libraries and TBBC patrons, their caregivers, family members, friends, etc., and have TBBC patrons receive community-based assistance from public libraries.

During the summer of 2012 TBBC worked with public libraries on a grant funded project to cooperatively bring our books to more readers. We received a grant from Disability Rights New Jersey (DRNJ) to partner with our Outspoken Libraries to assist TBBC members with the use of flash drives. Many of our members have not used flash drives to listen to BARD audiobooks and audio magazines on their NLS audiobook players. Sixteen public libraries in New Jersey agreed to partner with TBBC on this grant to teach interested patrons how to use a flash drive and how to use the Bookshelf function on the audiobook player.

WHAT’S NEW IN BARD?

In November 2012, Braille books made their debut in BARD. The Web Braille service was merged into the download database that contained the audiobooks of BARD. Now users can view the entire downloadable catalog in one place.

If you are a BARD user and wish to limit your search results to all Braille or all audiobooks, you can do this from the ‘Update account settings’ site in BARD. To do this, navigate from the BARD main page to the heading for Additional Links then select the link for ‘Update account settings’ where you will find the second drop down box listing ‘Display results’. The default option is to display both Braille and audiobooks. Users may choose to limit their search displays to one format or another or list both formats in their results.

Two other new features in BARD include viewing previous downloads and creating a wish list of titles to download in the future. Both of these features can also be found under the Additional Links section on the BARD main page.

As always, if you need assistance downloading or managing your BARD account, please call our library at (800) 792-8322.

MAGAZINES ON DIGITAL CARTRIDGE

In 2013, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) will begin issuing audio magazines on digital cartridges. For patrons who are currently getting magazines in cassette format, you will get a single cartridge with all your magazine issues combined. Using the bookshelf feature of the talking book player, you will navigate from issue to issue. For our readers who currently do not get audio magazines on cassette, please call one of our readers’ advisers to review the list of available magazines. We can sign you up for any of the 40+ audio magazines available from NLS. Depending on when the changeover to digital occurs, you might get a few issues as cassettes, but don’t worry… the digital versions will be coming soon.

OUTREACH TO VETERANS

Veterans receive preference for TBBC’s services, under the guidelines from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). We made several strides to find veterans in need of our services:

• We brought our services to several programs at the U.S. Veterans Administration at both the East Orange and Lyons campuses.

• We worked with the state commanders of several veteran service organizations on mailings to their members and several other outreach efforts.

• We are expanding our services at the McGuire Air Force Base to serve veterans in the Wounded Warriors program.

As we say at TBBC, “You Served Your Country. Now, Let Us Serve You.”

MACHINE NEWS YOU CAN USE

Since some of our readers have been experiencing problems running their players on the battery mode, we recommend you use your talking book player while plugged into an electrical outlet as often as possible. When a battery error does occur, there are steps you can take to reset your battery. If you think the battery on your player needs to be reset, please call one of our readers’ advisers at (800) 792-8322 and they will help you through the process.

NEWS FROM TBBC’S “THE GET TOGETHER” BOOK CLUB

On Saturday, October 6th, members of TBBC’s “The Get Together” Book Club were guests at the home of authors Lisa Scottoline and her daughter Francesca Serritella! The authors host an annual book party for book clubs at their farm. Book clubs were represented from as far away as Michigan! Lisa and Francesca told hilarious stories about growing up, how they began their writing careers and how mother and daughter have remained best friends. Lisa Scottoline is the author of several books including Come Home and Don't Go (coming to bookstores on April 9th). Lisa Scottoline’s hilarious column "Chic Wit" appears in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

On March 4, 2013, “The Get Together” Book Club will host local mystery writer Kate Gallison. The book club will discuss Gallison’s Jersey Monkey. The author will also read from one of her more recent works. This event and all book club meetings are free and open to the public. Book club members may join the group in person at TBBC or can participate via conference call. To reserve your space now for this event, call Karen Carson at (800) 792-8322 ext. 806. You may listen to our previous book club discussion on the TBBC website.

LISTENING TO BOOKS ON EVERYDAY DEVICES

Beginning February 1, 2013, the New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center (TBBC) will launch a new service that will allow users to download audiobooks to any iPod, iPhone, iPad, MP3 player or computer running a Windows or Macintosh operating system as well as android devices such as the Samsung Galaxy and Kindle Fire.

The subscription is with Recorded Books and the program is called OneClickDigital. The collection features approximately 4,000 titles. There are children’s books for all age groups as well as many classics. For adults, the collection includes works by popular authors such as Lawrence Block, Rita Mae Brown, James Lee Burke, Alexander McCall Smith, Elizabeth Peters, and John Sandford. For more information, call TBBC for your personal user ID and further instructions.

NEWS FROM YOUTH SERVICES

For Younger Readers

Two of my favorite series are available on audio! First, Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (DB65325), is all about the adventures of a spirited third-grader. Next, in Alvin Ho by Lenore Look (DB67749), Alvin is a second-grader who is shy at school but bursting with energy at home.

Switched by Amanda Hocking

Fans of paranormal romance may want to check out Amanda Hocking’s book, Switched (DB74101). Her name may sound familiar from news reports about her amazing success. Hocking originally self-published her books, and in one year alone made over two million dollars. See what all the fuss is about with Switched: “Tossed out of yet another school, Wendy Everly tries to make things work in a new town. But soon after meeting the mysterious Finn, Wendy discovers she is not who she thought she was. Some violence and some strong language. For senior high and older readers.” TBBC also has this title in large print! (LT28376)

Adults Reading “Young Adult” Books

Recent studies have shown that over half of “teen books” are being bought by people over 18, and that at least 80 percent of those buyers are buying those books for themselves. If you’re wondering why adults are reading teen books, give the youth services librarian, Liz Burns, a call or send her an email and she’ll recommend some “cross over” books for you to read.

AFTER THE STORM

We hope all of our readers in the areas affected by Super Storm Sandy are safe and sound, and back at home. For those who have lost their homes or cannot yet return to their homes due to damage from the storm, we send our best wishes while you recover from the effects of the storm. If your talking book player is lost or damaged, or if you have books that were lost or damaged as a result of the storm, don’t worry. Just call us at TBBC and we will send replacement materials. If you need your TBBC materials forwarded to a temporary address until you can return home, just let us know.

WE HONOR YOUR SUPPORT

For more information on TBBC’s Donor Wall and how you can share your appreciation of our library or memorialize loved ones with the purchase of a bookplate that will have your message engraved both in English and Braille, please contact the Development Office at 800-792-8322, ext. 816.

ARE WE OPEN?

Wondering when the New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center is closed for state holidays? Clip this list and post it as a reminder to help you plan your book service needs in 2013.

JANUARY 1 (TUESDAY) – CLOSED

JANUARY 21 (MONDAY) – CLOSED

FEBRUARY 18 (MONDAY) – CLOSED

MARCH 29 (FRIDAY) – CLOSED

MAY 27 (MONDAY) – CLOSED

JULY 4 (THURSDAY) – CLOSED

SEPTEMBER 2 (MONDAY) – CLOSED

OCTOBER 14 (MONDAY) – CLOSED

NOVEMBER 5 (TUESDAY) – CLOSED

NOVEMBER 11 (MONDAY) – CLOSED

NOVEMBER 28 (THURSDAY) – CLOSED

DECEMBER 25 (WEDNESDAY) – CLOSED

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which promotes financial assistance and acts as an advocacy group to the New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center (TBBC). The Friends support and promote the services and programs of TBBC. We meet twice a year on the first Saturday in June and December. We alternate locations between Middlesex County in June and Mercer County in December to accommodate our northern and southern members.

For more details and to become a member see our application below and check out our web site at http://www.friendsnjlibraryfortheblind.org/. Our e-mail address is Friendsnjlbh@yahoo.com .

THE FRIENDS OF THE NJ LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND HANDICAPPED MEMBERSHIP FORM

Name: _____________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________________

Telephone (with area code): ____________________________________________

E-mail address: ______________________________________________________

Preferred Media Format:

Large Print _____ Cassette Tape _____ E-mail _____ Online _____

I am eligible for TBBC Services: Yes ______ No ______

Individual Member $10.00 ___ Family Membership $25.00 ___ Donation $______

Please return this membership form with your check to:

The Friends of the NJLBH