Summer 2018
Vol. 48, No. 1
Summer 2018
- From the Administrator
- Arizona Friends of Talking Books
- WWI Readings
- New Audio-Described DVD Movies Available
- MOCA (Mobile Cartridge) Pilot Training
- Talking Book News--
How Are You Receiving The Issues - Volunteer News
- Save The Date -- Vrate
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
JANET FISHER
Are you ever looking for suggestions for what to read? If so, where do you go for suggestions? Here are the ones I think of:
-- Call your Reader Advisor and fine tune your selections. For example, you may choose to have several subjects or authors sent to you each month.
-- Join one of our book discussion groups or other groups (at public libraries, community centers, etc.) and read their selections, or join a celebrity’s book clubs, such as Oprah and many others.
-- You can start earlier in the summer and sign up for the Summer Reading Program through the Arizona Talking Book Library in June and July each year.
Something you may not have considered is reading books that are part of The Great American Read.
The Great American Read is a list of America’s 100 best-loved books that were selected by the public and an advisory panel to reflect the joy of reading and those books that have been important to us. The Great American Read is a project from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). You can find a list of the books in this program on the internet at https://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/ or let us know and we will send you the list.
Almost every title in The Great American Read is available in audio through the talking book libraries at this time. A couple of titles are being recorded by another state to make sure that all 100 titles in this program are available in audio through talking book libraries before the voting period ends.
The Great American Read program is asking people to vote for their favorite or favorites in the list of 100 novels. You can vote for only one book each day from now through the fall – or just vote once. Programs on this event are shown on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) – with the final episode scheduled to show on October 23.
I hope you will consider all of these options and remember to check out The Great American Read! http://azpbs.org/greatread
ARIZONA FRIENDS OF TALKING BOOKS
http://www.azfotb.org
Whine and Cheese Silent Auction Fundraiser
to benefit the Arizona Talking Book Library
September 28, 2018
at the University Club of Arizona
Contact the Arizona Friends of Talking Books at
www.azfotb.org for more information, or call the library at 602-255-5578
The Arizona Friends of Talking Books is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that assists with development, advocacy, and outreach in support of the Arizona Talking Book Library. (Tax ID: 86-1008453)
WWI READINGS
World War I marked a major change in the world’s political structure and changed forever the concept of “justifiable wars.” Gone were traditional war strategies, absolute monarchial rule, aristocratic social concepts, and the old world “balance of powers.” Not only did World War I bring about the end of Czar rule in Russia, and the end of monastic power in Germany, but it also marked the entry of the United States into European politics and the end of entire empires – Austria/Hungry and the Ottoman Dynasty. These digital books will take you into this fascinating historical period.
OVER HERE: THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND AMERICAN SOCIETY
David M. Kennedy
DB085726 (BARD) 20 hours 31 minutes (female narrator Kerry Dunkin)
Narrated by Sean Barrett
Historian analyzes America’s participation in World War I, as well as the impact on the home front. Discusses isolationist mentality, justifications for entering the war, the draft system, soldiers’ experience, and the role of the United States in the postwar political landscape. 1980
NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA
Robert K. Massie
DB050621 (BARD) 25 hours 28 minutes
Evokes the final years of the Romanov dynasty in Imperial Russia. Discusses the hemophilia of the Tsarevich Alexis as a pivotal factor in the personal and political lives of his parents, the influence of the Siberian mystagogue Rasputin, the subsequent revolution, and the courage of the Tsar’s family. 1967
FIGHTING THE FLYING CIRCUS
Eddie Rickenbacker
DB072115 (BARD) 12 hours 26 minutes
Eddie Rickenbacker’s memoir of the World War I air battles against the German Air Service. Describes the exploits and death of fellow pilot Quentin Roosevelt, the son of president Theodore Roosevelt. Foreword highlights Rickenbacker’s background as a developer of race-car technology and his formation of the Hat-in-the Ring Squadron. 1919
THE LAST OF THE DOUGHBOYS
Richard Rubin
DB077446 (BARD) 20 hours 28 minutes
IInterviews with American veterans- all older than one hundred years at the time- from World War I. Records their battlefield experiences, including the horror of trench warfare and gas attacks, and lighter moments away from the front lines. Adds biographical and historical context. Violence and some strong language. 2013
NEW AUDIO-DESCRIBED DVD MOVIES
In addition to audio books, the Arizona Talking Book Library offers a selection of audio described movies on DVD. Audio described movies include a second soundtrack to describe the sets, costumes, and visual cues that the director uses to establish place, create mood, and foreshadow events. Patrons can call to request a title. If you want to know what we have, you may request a DVD catalog in large print.
You may check out up to two DVDs at a time for two weeks. Renewals are not allowed for DVDs. Audio described DVDs will play on any DVD player. Visual navigation in the “Settings” menu may be required to enable the second audio track.
Here are some of our recently added titles:
| DVD00512 Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (Action, Adventure) | ||
| DVD00520 The Boss Baby (Animation, Comedy, Family) | ||
| DVD00524 The LEGO Batman Movie (Animation, Action, Comedy) | ||
| DVD00529 A Dog’s Purpose (Drama, Adventure) | ||
| DVD00533 Office Christmas Party (Comedy) | ||
| DVD00534 Hidden Figures (Biography, Drama, History) | ||
| DVD00540 RoboCop (Action, Crime, Science Fiction) | ||
| DVD00541 The Other Guys (Action, Crime, Comedy) | ||
| DVD00543 2012 (Action, Adventure, Science Fiction) | ||
| DVD00546 Easy A (Drama, Romance) |
MOCA (MOBILE CARTRIDGE) PILOT TESTING
The National Library Service (NLS) began testing a device through which patrons can download audio books to cartridge via public cellular networks—ideal for people without a computer or mobile access. Regional libraries have already tried out MOCA (which stands for Mobile Cartridge hub) and shared suggestions for improvements. The pilot has expanded to a small number of patrons in regional Libraries across the country.
The MOCA, designed largely by NLS engineers, allows the testers to access audio books and magazines from BARD that have been ‘pushed’ to the MOCA device by network library reader advisors. The MOCA device transfers the selections onto a cartridge that can be played on an NLS digital talking book player or compatible third-party player. The MOCA relies on public cellular networks, not Wi-Fi.
The first MOCAs were shipped to a small number of patrons around the U.S. in February and more will go out in the coming weeks. When the pilot ends at the end of the year, NLS will evaluate the results and decide next steps.
The Arizona Talking Book Library is participating in the pilot testing with three of our patrons. We will be asking these three patrons at the end of the trial, what they liked or disliked about the process and ease of getting books through MOCA.
TALKING BOOK NEWS --
HOW ARE YOU RECEIVING THE ISSUES?
What ways do you receive the library’s quarterly newsletter, Arizona Talking Book News? In addition to being printed on paper and mailed out, it is:
-- distributed on the magazine cartridge, along with the other audio magazines.
-- available on our website in text (screen readable) or audio.
https://azlibrary.gov/talkingbooks/newsletter
to connect to the current and previous few issues
Some of you may receive an email copy.
For those who are still receiving the newsletter on paper and would prefer to receive it in one of the other ways, please let us know.
at 602-255-5578 or [email protected]
We look forward to hearing from you!
VOLUNTEER NEWS
Thank you volunteers for your continuing support of the Library, we are so thankful for you. I wanted to share with all of you the good news that we received from the National Library Services Conference. It was mentioned that two of our Arizona recorded books were the most popular BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) books on June 14.
One of the books is DBC12855 Conviction: the Untold Story of Putting Jodi Arias Behind Bars. Narrated by Ty Hofflander, and directed by Brenda Curin. The book was about the Jodi Arias trial that gripped part of the nation during the trial. When we told Brenda the good news, she was so excited. Her response was to say “That is a trifecta.” Knowing that we did something that was so fun to do by recording a book, was enjoyed by others and met the BARD recording standards was terrific. We covered all three areas we wanted to achieve.
Well done!
The second book is DBC12866 Dark Chocolate Demise. Narrated by Kathy Walser, and directed by Orrin Johnson. The book is part of the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series, so be on the lookout for more in that series.
We are very proud of our narrators, directors and all of those who are involved in the recording process.
It was also a great pleasure for our recording program to be given this special recognition at the nationwide conference of talking book libraries.
OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE APPRECIATED
Our recording of primarily Arizona-related books and recording of books by Arizona authors would not be possible without our volunteers who prepare, read, and review the books and magazines. Other volunteers fix and clean the reading machines, check incoming containers to confirm the correct books are inside, provide outreach to groups in Phoenix and around the state, and others provide support with special projects and for our library’s activities every day. The dedication of these volunteers is amazing.
We look forward to continuing to work with our volunteers, adding new volunteers, and welcoming back people who took a break from volunteering and are returning to work with us again.
NEW PROJECT NEEDING VOLUNTEERS:
We are anticipating starting a new project of rating recorded books that were prepared commercially and do not contain ratings. The results of the work of our volunteers will be shared nationwide through the National Library Service’s catalog, and all of the talking book library catalogs around the country.
Participants in this project will listen to the books and note if there is use of strong language, violence, sexual content, or accents which may be difficult for some to hear. This project will help us assist our library patrons in finding the books that most closely meet their reading interests and content preferences. If you are interested in reading books of all types and giving feedback on specific criteria, please email me, or call the Library at 602-255-5578 and ask for Kim French.
SAVE THE DATE!
Be a part of the twenty second annualVision Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Expo
on Friday, November 16, 2018
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
at the Glendale Civic Center, 5750 W. Glen Dr., Glendale, Arizona 85301
Learn about assistive technology, hear from professionals on topics such as new research in the field of vision, employment, and much more. There is no charge to attend. Find more information on http://vrate.org/.
