Summer 2020
Vol. 50, No. 1 Summer 2020
50th ANNIVERSARY
1970 - 2020
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
JANET FISHER
Thank you for your continued reading of books, magazines and newspapers through our library. We hope that you have enjoyed the reading goals and contest in this year’s Summer Reading Program. Some of you are also participating in our Book Chat group by telephone and we look forward to continuing this discussion with you each month. There are so many ways to enjoy reading, whether we enjoy it individually or share it with others.
We are fortunate to offer multi-book cartridges to more and more library users. This cartridge offers a great way to get download-only books immediately to you, instead of waiting for copies to be available, along with other books. The amount of time for you to keep each cartridge has also expanded to 3 months - with the expectation that it will take more time to read the books that are on each cartridge. The library is looking forward to expanding the use of those cartridges in the upcoming months. If you have not moved to them yet, please ask your Reader Advisor to make this change happen. If you have moved to the multi-book cartridge and have any questions about their use, contact the library at 602-255-5578 or [email protected] and we will respond, provide assistance and answer your questions.
This year is the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act. This act became law on July 25, 1990, with additional revisions since then. The law introduced items that we now expect to have regarding design and construction standards for buildings and facilities, employment, public accommodations, and other basic rights. We are so pleased to be offering library materials in alternate formats as we recognize the 30th Anniversary of this Act.
The staff of the Arizona Talking Book Library are working hard to continue providing services to our library users. During the last few months, we hope that you have been finding new areas of interest, and/or revisiting good stories and/or memories. We are thinking of you as we prepare materials for our library users – you are our inspiration.
Wishing you a bright and thoughtful summer!
Janet Fisher, Administrator
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE
AT THE ARIZONA TALKING BOOK LISTRARY
A LIBRARY PATRON SHARES HER EXPERIENCE:
All my life I have enjoyed reading books of many genres. My parents read to my sister and me from the crib and through elementary school. I was reading before I went to kindergarten.
I wanted to share my love of reading and helping students who had difficulty reading. I became a certified Reading Specialist. It was a real joy to see high school students getting to an 8th grade level of reading so they could graduate. It also helped me in helping students read the textbooks in their business courses which I also taught for 12 years.
In 1987 my husband noticed I was not driving very straight and was crossing over the white line into oncoming traffic. We went to see a retinal ophthalmologist in 1987. After many tests, I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. My doctor told us I had very little peripheral vision, but since I was only 40 years old, he did not think I would lose my central vision. Reading books became quite difficult and in 1996, I was told about the Arizona Talking Book Library.
The Library is such a blessing to me for the last 24 years. I have had several reading advisors and they all have been fabulous. I love the fact that they become familiar what kinds of books I like and I often do not have to order books because they keep me stocked.
The Library has also opened the world of reading magazines and newspapers through the National Federation of the Blind’s Newsline which is subscribed to by the Talking Book Library and available to our library users. My husband and I also enjoy audio described movies.
My husband and I love long road trips and we have read several serials as we traverse around the country. Some of our favorite authors are James Michener, C. J. Box, and William Kent Krueger. I let my reading advisor know that I would like several books in a particular series so we can keep reading as we journey.
So, Happy 50th Birthday to the Arizona Talking Book Library. I will enjoy using the Library for many years to come.
J.P., Tucson
TALKING BOOK TOPICS
The Talking Book Topics book catalog is coming out soon, though some mailing delays may occur. This catalog is available in several formats – in Large Print, downloadable through BARD, and through Magazine on Cartridge. If you want to change the format for your future catalogs, please contact your Reader Advisor and let them know.
ARIZONA FRIENDS OF TALKING BOOKS
The Arizona Friends of Talking Books remembers W.R. “Randy” Williams (WR Williams Fine Jewelry), a longtime supporter of the Friends and contributor to their annual fundraising events. Randy passed away in late March, following an extended illness. He enjoyed giving back to the community and helping others, with the Arizona Friends of Talking Books being part of his regular donation effort.
Arizona Friends of Talking Books - a non-profit organization which supports the Arizona Talking Book Library, its volunteer programs and local recording studios through fundraising, advocacy, and outreach. Thanks for all your support!
“FEEL GOOD” BOOKS
Here is a list of a few “feel good” books to reinforce creativity, gratitude and a feeling of positivity and hopefulness. These books offer ideas that may bring calmness and peace, in addition to presenting ideas related to the good things life has to offer. We hope you enjoy them!
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
By Elizabeth Gilbert
DB082605 Narrated by Elizabeth Gilbert (5 hours, 8 minutes)
A guide to creativity from the author of Eat, Pray, Love (DB 61789). Gilbert encourages anyone who ever wanted to write, paint, or do anything creative to let go of fear and be inspired. Shares approaches and attitudes that could help people lead more creative lives.
The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living
By Meik Wiking
DB087391 Narrated by Jeremy Gage (3 hours, 31 minutes)
The Danes are known as being extraordinarily happy people, and the author, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, has rounded up some of the reasons why. Includes Danish habits and behaviors that promote hygge, which translates as a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being.
How to Be a Good Creature: a Memoir in Thirteen Animals
By Sy Montgomery
DB093019 Narrated by Sy Montgomery (3 hours, 44 minutes)
Naturalist and author of The Soul of an Octopus (DB 82438) presents thirteen essays on the ways animal relationships have impacted her life and the lessons she has learned. Animals include dogs, tigers, octopuses, and spiders.
Yoga for Life: A Journey to Inner Peace and Freedom
By Colleen Saidman Yee
DB082302 Narrated by Nancy Lynne Walters (8 hours, 15 minutes)
Fifty-five-year-old epileptic yoga instructor tells how she came to the discipline from the world of fashion modeling and how it has changed her. She provides instructions on poses and sequences and discusses the life she and her husband--fellow instructor Rodney Yee--have built in the New York City and Hamptons yoga communities.
Gratitude
By Oliver Sacks
DB083149 Narrated by Dan Woren (38 minutes)
Collection of four essays from the author of On the Move (DB 81374), written after he was given a terminal cancer diagnosis and reflecting on the things and experiences in his life for which he was grateful.
How Reading Changed My Life
By Anna Quindlen
DB047722 Narrated by Janis Gray (2 hours, 11 minutes)
A noted writer and avid bookworm contemplates the history, value, and pleasure of reading. Discusses the development of reading, changes in attitudes and habits regarding the practice, and the impact of innovations in information technology. Includes reading lists.
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
By Mary Oliver
DB094183 Narrated by Eva Wilhelm (5 hours, 58 minutes)
Collection of more than two hundred poems by Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Upstream (DB 87127) and Felicity (DB 84944) originally published between 1963 and 2015. Curated by Oliver herself to highlight poems that she thought best represented her work in observing the natural world.
COMMENTS FROM LIBRARY USERS:
One Talking Book Library patron’s experience is what she has described as “phenomenal.”
She remembers the big yellow machine with tapes that were used before the current digital reading machines. She has been using talking books for many years and while living in several locations – Washington, DC, Washington state, California, and Arizona.
She is not sure how she survived without talking books. She regularly reads 1-3 books each week.
She is appreciative of the service and thinks the current machines and the service is so close to perfection. She is not sure what she would do without it.
Her suggestion - Just keep up the good work!
Taken from comments by D. Shapiro
OPRAH WINFREY
While our Summer Reading Program “Imagine Your Story” has concluded, here is one of the all time greatest celebrities noted for her abilities of telling the story of her life and inviting others to do the same. Born into poverty in rural Mississippi to a teenage single mother and later raised in inner-city Milwaukee, Oprah became famous for the “Oprah Winfrey Show”. Televised from Chicago, it became the highest-rated television program of its kind in history and ran in national syndication for 25 years. In our challenging times, Oprah’s story radiates with strength and hope!
What I Know for Sure
By Oprah Winfrey
DB079948 Narrated by Kristin Allison (3 hours, 30 minutes)
A compilation of lessons learned, culled from fourteen years of Oprah’s “What I Know for Sure” monthly column in “O Magazine”- a column inspired by an interview question from film critic Gene Siskel. 2014
The Wisdom of Sundays:
Life Changing Insights From Super Soul Conversations
By Oprah Winfrey
DB089666 Narrated by Oprah Winfrey (4 hours, 57 minutes)
Host of television show “Super Sunday” presents a collection of reflections by guests of hers on topics of awakening, intention, mindfulness, “spiritual GPS,” ego, forgiveness, “broken open,” grace and gratitude, fulfillment, and love and connection. Guests include lyanla Vanzant, Eckhart Tolle, and more. 2017
The Path Made Clear: Discover Your Life’s Direction and Purpose
By Oprah Winfrey
DB094349 Narrated by A.R. Bernard and others (2 hours, 57 minutes)
Winfrey gives guidance on living your best life by sharing her own personal stories as well as wisdom from a wide range of luminaries in entertainment, business, literature, politics, religion, and more. Provides advice on how to find your purpose and pursue it with a passion and focus. Commercial audiobook 2019
BARD UPGRADES – Changes integrated in June
Braille and Audio Reading Downloads Website Upgraded
The BARD website was upgraded on June 5. The upgrade includes the ability to subscribe to a book series, manage subscriptions and change passwords.
- BARD users can now subscribe to favorite book series. On the BARD main page, type the name or part of the series name in the search field. Click on the subscribe button under Audiobooks or Braille heading. When a book in a series becomes available on BARD, the book will be added automatically to the Wish List. If you have notifications turned on, BARD will send an email letting you know that the book is now ready to be downloaded from the Wish List. A new tool is also available from the BARD main page under “My BARD” and “Subscriptions” to allow you to unsubscribe.
- Patrons can now change the BARD interface to display text in Spanish. In “Account Settings” under “My BARD,” choose Spanish from the drop-down menu, then update at the bottom of the page.
- Patrons can now change the BARD password on the login screen through “Reset your BARD password here.” You cannot reuse any of your previous eleven passwords nor change your password more than once per day. NOTE: BARD administrators can reset a patron’s password regardless of whether the patron has already changed their password that day.
- BARD will no longer accept special characters in new passwords. New passwords should not include special characters, such as @, !, or &. NOTE: If a current password contains a special character, there is no need to create a new one. Existing passwords that use special characters will not be rejected by the BARD system.
From NLS Operations Alert 20-37
STAY TUNED...
Connect with library’s outreach program. Christine Tuttle, Outreach Librarian, is developing interactive sessions to present to care campuses throughout Arizona. Meanwhile, the library has a YouTube Channel, (www.youtube.com). Author talks and past interviews can be listened to and viewed by typing Arizona Talking Book Library in the YouTube search box. For more information, please contact Christine by sending an email to [email protected] or calling her at 602-255-5578.
Any mention of products and services in Talking Book News is for information only and does not imply endorsement.
Talking Book News is also available in other formats including our website at http://www.azlibrary.gov/talkingbooks If you would like to receive this newsletter on cartridge or in email, please call 602-255-5578 or 1-800-255-5578.
Talking Book News is published quarterly by the Arizona Talking Book Library, Archives and Public Records, a Division of the Secretary of State. Administrator: Janet Fisher.
