Report from the Director
Greetings from the staff of
the Talking Book Program (TBP). We just completed fiscal year 2005
and began fiscal year 2006. As you know, the 79th Legislature met
earlier this year and set the budget for fiscal years 2006 and 2007.
Like most state agencies, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's
budget was reduced. The TBP budget will lose about $54,000. The
equivalent of 2.45 staff positions were cut, but we had no layoffs
as we cut positions as they became vacant. We will continue to adjust
so that any cuts will have as little negative impact as possible
on direct services to you.
During fiscal year 2005, TBP served 21,214 individuals and institutions.
We circulated 839,204 books and magazines in cassette, recorded
disk, Braille, and large print. We added 4,155 new patrons, but
unfortunately, we lost 4,237 patrons. We lose many patrons when
they simply stop checking out books! It is very important to check
out at least one book or magazine each year. If you have not called
us lately, please do. We would hate to lose any of you when you
could be reading something good!
Many of you answered last spring's "New Directions" survey. We thank
more than 5,000 of you who returned the surveys and shared your
opinions! We are studying your answers and will use the data to
make some important decisions. We will report more survey results
in future editions of this newsletter.
If you have an overdue book, please send it back. When you return
a book, you usually will receive another book. Returning books you
have finished will help you get new books, sooner. Also, others
may be waiting for a book that you are keeping so long. You may
always reorder a book and reader consultants can help do this. When
you call the TBP, your consultants will remind you to return these
books. If you do not want to be reminded, send your books back on
time.
It's a pleasure to serve all of you and we are looking forward to
another good year!
Sincerely,
Ava Smith, Director, Talking Book Program
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Mark Twain and New Orleans
Mark Twain, Author of Much Loved Books Since New Orleans
is in the news recently, you may enjoy reading about its mighty
river, the Mississippi, in the works of a master storyteller, Mark
Twain. Three of his books remain among the best loved of American
literature. To order these books, call toll-free 1-800-252-9605.
· Life on the Mississippi RC 51079 BR 13216
In his memoir, Twain writes of his career as a steamboat pilot
on the Mississippi River before the Civil War. Twenty-one years
later, he returns for a trip down river from St. Louis to New Orleans.
In his distinctive style, he reminisces about the changes and the
cities he encounters.
· The Adventures of Tom Sawyer RC 53084 BR 11823
LB 04729
Tom Sawyer is a young boy whose adventures and hijinks are not always
appreciated by his Aunt Polly. They live in a small Mississippi
River town. In this, Twain's most widely-read novel, Tom angles
for the affection of Becky Thatcher, runs away with Huck Finn and
Joe Harper, and tells the truth when it matters. For grades 6-9
and older readers.
· The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn RC 57349 BR
09247 LB 04799
A companion book to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, this is another
of Twain's best-loved works. Tom's friend, Huck Finn, explains the
reasons he is running away from home and recounts his exploits floating
down the Mississippi River on a raft with Jim, an escaped slave.
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative
Services (DARS)
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), a DARS division, serves families
with children from infants through 3 years old with disabilities
and developmental delays. It helps children reach their potential
by offering developmental services, including vision services. To
learn more about ECI or to refer a child, call the ECI Care Line
toll-free at 1-800-250-2246.
The Disability Information and Referral Center
(DIRC)
is a great source for information on disabilities and health conditions.
The DIRC has information on organizations, publications, products,
and technology. The DIRC is available for anyone, not just Talking
Book patrons. To find out more, call the DIRC toll-free at 1-800-252-9605
or visit our site.
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Looking for a Good Book to Read?
Talking with a reader consultant is a great way to find a good
book. Call us toll-free at 1-800-252-9605. Here's a book
recommendation from a reader consultant:
Moon Medicine by Mike Blakely, RC 56340, is splendidly
narrated by Chuck Benson. I don't usually read westerns, but the
main character, Honore Greenwood, captured my interest because he
goes for days at a time without sleep. His long and varied career
(sailor, trader, Indian fighter) is vividly described. Other characters,
especially that of the villain, Snakehead Jackson, are well drawn.
The book contains some violence and some descriptions of sex.
Do You Want to Start Reading a Newspaper?
The Talking Book Program's reader consultants can help you get
started. Call toll-free at 1-800-252-9605 or email us at
tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us
. The National Federation of the Blind and National Library Service
offer access to the NFB-Newsline with Texas newspapers such as:
The Houston Chronicle and The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Other newspapers are available such as: The New York Times,
The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.
Magazines include: AARP Magazine, The Economist, and
The New Yorker.
Texas Talking Books will be closed on the
following holidays:
- Nov. 11 Veterans' Day
- Nov. 24 & 25 Thanksgiving & Day After Thanksgiving
- Dec. 26 Day after Christmas
Of course, you can always leave a message if you call after hours
or on a holiday or email us at
tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us.
Long Range Plans for a New Talking Book
Format
Some patrons have wondered when new digital materials and
machines will arrive. It will take several more years. Design and
testing is now underway. Experts are checking out prototypes of
new digital books and playback machines. The new machines will be
smaller, lighter, and produce a better quality of sound. The goal
is begin a conversion to digital books in 2008. We'll have a transition
phase for a few years after that with cassettes still available.
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New Memoir Available
Mexico By Touch, CT 06734, is now available for
circulation. Larry P. Johnson wrote and narrated this book about
working and living in Mexico. Larry is one of the Talking Book Program's
patrons. For 17 years, he worked as a deejay at Mexico's Number
1 Top 40 radio station. At 18, although he was blind, Larry went
alone to Mexico. His many adventures include driving a car in Mexico
City, broadcasting the Moon landing in 1969, and becoming Mexican
TV's first blind newscaster.
This book is sometimes very humorous as it relates the inspiring
story of a blind man living in a foreign land as he changes from
tourist to student and, eventually, to radio deejay. It's especially
enjoyable to listen to the book because Johnson narrates his own
first-hand account.
If you want to read Mexico By Touch, call your reader
consultant toll-free at 1-800-252-9605 or email us at tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us
and ask for book number CT 06734.
Tips
and Reminders for Better Service
Equipment. Talking Book cassette players are just like any
mechanical device—they break down from time to time. You'll get
the best service from your equipment if you:
-
always use the battery to play your tapes and allow the battery
run down completely before recharging it;
-
keep food and beverages away from the player;
-
clean the heads from time to time using a head-cleaning tape
(available at stores that carry stereo equipment);
-
don't try to fix a broken player—just return it.
Before returning a piece of equipment, please call or write to
let us know you are returning it and to request a replacement. It's
a good idea to keep the box your player comes in so you can use
it to return equipment if it breaks down.
Loan Period. The normal loan period for braille, large print,
or cassette books is 45 days. Please call or write if you need to
keep the book longer. Returning books promptly and keeping a list
of book requests on file with us will keep a steady flow of reading
material in your mailbox.
Broken Books. To let us know you have had a problem with
a book, please mark a large "X" on the return label on the left
side of our address.
Services. Our staff is dedicated to making
the Talking Book Service work for you. Please let us know how we
can help by contacting us at:
Talking Book Program
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
PO Box 12927
Austin TX 78711-2927
1-800-252-9605 (in Texas)
512-463-5458 (in Austin)
512-936-0685 (fax)
tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us
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