Received: from perk-exch.perkins.org (mail.perkins.org[65.220.100.67](misconfigured sender)) by rwcrmxc16.comcast.net (rwcrmxc16) with ESMTP id <20050128221225r16009q5tde>; Fri, 28 Jan 2005 22:12:26 +0000 X-Originating-IP: [65.220.100.67] content-class: urn:content-classes:message MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C50586.6AFCAF38" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.0.6375.0 Subject: LIBRARY USERS OF AMERICA NEWSLETTER Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 17:12:12 -0500 Message-ID: X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: Thread-Topic: LIBRARY USERS OF AMERICA NEWSLETTER Thread-Index: AcUFhmrzPbbBnYPATYCI2GV+GcN19g== From: THE LUA LEDGER LIBRARY USERS OF AMERICA, INC. WINTER 2004-05 President: Barry Levine Editor: Judi Cannon Treasurer: Patricia "Pat" Price PRODUCED IN Braille, Large Print, Cassette or Email FIND US ON THE WEB AT http://libraryusers.tripod.com Library Users of America, Inc. is a Special Interest Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind CONTACT US: President: Barry Levine Functional Therapy & Rehabilitation, P.C. 14301 Golden Oak Drive Homer Glen, IL 60441 708-645-7700 barry@functionaltherapy.net Editor: Judi Cannon 20 Riverside St., Unit 2-8 Watertown, MA 02472 617-924-6099 cannonja22@comcast.net Treasurer: Patricia "Pat" Price 5707 Brockton Drive, No. 302 Indianapolis, IN 46220-5481 317-254-1185 Fax: 317-251-6588 pprice@indy.rr.com IN THIS ISSUE EDITORS PAGE -- 5 BOOK SUGGESTION FROM WINIFRED DOWNING -- 6 LIBRARY REACHES OUT ONLINE -- 7 NLS FLASH -- 11 DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TO BRING BOOKS TO LIFE -- 11 FLASH TECHNOLOGY: THE PERFECT FIT FOR NLS -- 14 WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? -- 17 MARK ASHBY VISITS WITH L.U.A. AT 2004 CONVENTION BY SHARON STRZALKOWSKI -- 19 SCOURBY NARRATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS -- 20 ADDITIONAL CONVENTION NEWS -- 21 DIGITAL BOOKS BY PAUL EDWARDS -- 21 DEVELOPING STANDARDS FOR NLS LIBRARIES BY WINIFRED DOWNING -- 22 A BRIEF UPDATE FROM NLS BY SHARON STRZALKOWSKI -- 23 LIBRARY USERS BUSINESS MEETING BY WINIFRED DOWNING -- 24 QUEEN OF AUDIO: FLO GIBBONS REVEALS 1001ST BOOK -- 25 AT BROOKS FREE LIBRARY: UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BLIND -- 27 10 SQUARED TALKING BOOK CLUB KEEPS CENTENARIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY READING -- 30 INFOEYES TO CONTINUE TO OFFER ONLINE REFERENCE AND INFORMATION -- 31 RFB&D NAMES JOHN KELLY AS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO -- 33 LIBRARY HONORED FOR VISIONARY USE OF TECHNOLOGY -- 35 MLA INDUCTS CHARLSON TO THE HALL OF FAME IN 2004 -- 36 TALKING BOOKS 35 YEARS OLD -- 37 SOMETIMES THE GOOD GUYS WIN BY PAUL EDWARDS -- 38 TOP AUTHORS GO ON-LINE IN NEW VENTURE -- 41 BOARD OF DIRECTORS -- 42 Assistance with the production of the braille, cassette and large print editions of “The LUA Ledger” is provided by the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library Watertown, Massachusetts. EDITORS PAGE BY JUDI CANNON At the 2004 Library Users of America convention I received the honor of being elected to the board, as a director. While attending the post-convention board meeting, I was asked to become the newsletter editor. I readily agreed, and look forward to sharing my love of books with all of you. As I sit here compiling my thoughts, I am reflecting on the many people in the past, whose individual skills; including editing, reading, duplicating and brailling; produced a good quality magazine. Their dedication to L.U.A. should be recognized with a very big thank you. As a very young child my parents, as well as teachers from the Perkins School for the Blind, encouraged me to read, and read in braille. By mastering this wonderful code I was able to discover, explore and imagine much more than I could have ever done as a low vision, large print reader. These six dots also allowed me, several years later, to return to Perkins where I have worked for almost 31 years, most recently as the Braille Services Specialist for the Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library. Today, I still enjoy reading braille; however, like most of you, my medium choices have greatly increased. I’ve gone from lugging that reel-to-reel Sony tape recorder in college, to having an endless supply of things to read. Cassettes, audiobooks, Web-Braille, Bookshare, e-books as well as my Braille Lite Millennium and my Book Port all play a part in my daily life. I hope that you will agree that information about all of these formats and more belong in a Newsletter such as ours. Yes, ours, because this is also your Newsletter. Your opinions, suggestions and articles are important to me, and I hope you’ll take the time to let me hear from you. As editor, I’ve made two decisions. The first, you discovered as you read the first three words “THE LUA LEDGER”. The new title is catchy, but in no way will diminish the material presented within these pages. The second decision relates to the material selected for printing. My goal is to provide information, that I believe is not readily available, to readers while keeping the content varied and interesting. You are the judge. Enjoy this first issue of “THE LUA LEDGER” and let me hear from you. * * * * * BOOK SUGGESTION FROM WINIFRED DOWNING My favorite book is “Kristin Lavransdatter: The Bridal Wreath” by Sigrid Undset Available from NLS: (Historical Fiction) BR 10085 – RC 40412 In this first book of a trilogy set in medieval Norway, the winner of the 1928 Nobel Prize for literature tells of Kristin's girlhood and her love for Erlend Nikulausson, a young man of whom her father strongly disapproves. Book Two: “The Mistress of Husaby”: BR 10086 - RC 40413 Book Three: “The Cross” BR 10087 - RC 40414 LIBRARIES REACH OUT, ONLINE BY TIM GNATEK Reprinted from The New York Times December 9, 2004 The newest books in the New York Public Library don't take up any shelf space. They are electronic books -- 3,000 titles' worth -- and the library's 1.8 million cardholders can point and click through the collection at www.nypl.org, choosing from among best sellers, nonfiction, romance novels and self-help guides. Patrons borrow them for set periods, downloading them for reading on a computer, a hand-held organizer or other device using free reader software. When they are due, the files are automatically locked out -- no matter what hardware they are on -- and returned to circulation, eliminating late fees. In the first eight days of operation in early November, and with little fanfare, the library's cardholders -- from New York City and New York state and, increasingly, from elsewhere -- checked out more than 1,000 digital books and put another 400 on waiting lists (the library has a limited number of licenses for each book.) E-books are only one way that libraries are laying claim to a massive online public as their newest service audience. The institutions are breaking free from the limitations of physical location by making many kinds of materials and services available at all times to patrons who are both cardholders and Web surfers, whether they are homebound in the neighborhood or halfway around the world. For years, library patrons have been able to check card catalogs online and do things like reserve or renew books and pay overdue fines. Now they can not only check out e-books and audiobooks but view movie trailers and soon, the actual movies. And they can do it without setting foot in the local branch. "The lending model is identical to what libraries already have," said Steve Potash, president of OverDrive, which provides the software behind the e-book programs in New York City, White Plains, Cleveland and elsewhere. "But lending is 24/7. You can borrow from anywhere and have instant, portable access to the collection." At the same time, libraries are leveraging technology -- including wireless networks that are made available at no charge to anyone who wants to use them -- to draw people to their physical premises. Library e-books are not new -- netLibrary, an online-only e-book collection for libraries, has operated since 1998 -- but the New York Public Library decided to wait for software that would let users read materials on hand-held devices, freeing them from computers. "The key was portability," said Michael Ciccone, who heads acquisitions at the library. "It needs to be a book-like experience." E-books' short history has already begun to yield some lessons. At the Cleveland Public Library, Patricia Lowrey, head of technical services, thought technical manuals and business guides would be in greatest demand. "We were dead wrong on that," Ms. Lowrey said. "There are a lot of closet romance readers in cyberspace." She saw patrons check out the same kinds of materials rotating in the physical collection. The e-books librarians like best, according to Ms. Lowrey, are the digitized guides and workbooks for standardized tests, which in printed form are notorious for deteriorating quickly or disappearing altogether. Cleveland's success with e-books encouraged librarians there to expand to audiobooks in November, when OverDrive introduced software to allow downloads of audiobooks. "We had 28 audiobooks checked out in the first six hours, with no publicity at all," Ms. Lowrey said. The OverDrive audiobook software encodes audiobooks from suppliers' source material, such as compact discs or cassettes, packages the stories into parts with Windows Media technology, and manages patrons' downloads. Borrowers can listen using a computer while online or offline; the books can also be stored on portable players or burned to CD's. The King County Library System in Washington State, which serves communities like Redmond and Bellevue and the computer-savvy workers at local companies like Microsoft and Boeing, has also embraced both e-books and audiobooks. In November, the King County libraries added 634 audiobooks to the 8,500 e-books in its catalog www.kcls.org. With no publicity at all, 200 of the audiobooks had already been checked out. "As soon as people find out about it, it will be extremely popular," said Bruce Schauer, the library's associate director of collections. … Posting electronic versions of libraries' holdings is only part of the library's expanding online presence. Library Web sites are becoming information portals. Many, like the Saint Joseph's County Library in South Bend, Ind., have created Web logs as community outreach tools. Others are customizing their Web sites for individual visitors. The Richmond Public Library in British Columbia www.yourlibrary.ca, for example, offers registered users ways to track books and personal favorites, or receive lists of suggested materials, much like the recommendation service at Amazon. Other libraries have moved their book clubs online. Members of the online reading group at the public library in Lawrence, Kan. www.lawrence.lib.ks.us, receive book passages by e-mail and discuss them in an online forum. "Libraries have been very enthusiastic adopters of technology," said Patricia Stevens, the director of cooperative initiatives at the Online Computer Library Center, an international cooperative with some 50,000 libraries that share digital resources. The center, which recently acquired the netLibrary e-book service, plans to announce a downloadable audiobook package with the audiobook publisher Recorded Books this month. It also provides add-on Web site programs that put traditional librarians' functions on the Internet. "The services found inside a library are now online," Ms. Stevens said. "And the trend is to continue moving to remote self-service." An example is QuestionPoint, a creation of the Online Computer Library Center and the Library of Congress that offers live 24-hour assistance from cooperative librarians via a chat service. More than 1,500 libraries worldwide make remote reference help available through QuestionPoint, which recently consolidated with a similar program, the 24/7 Reference Project, started by the Metropolitan Cooperative Library System. … But libraries' investments in online services are aimed at more than just remote users. They are also adding technology inside their buildings to draw community members in. Despite all the modernization, old-fashioned formulas still matter. "Most libraries measure success by using circulation, so if you check out a book, that's good for us," said Ms. Lowrey of the Cleveland Public Library. … But one of the most effective uses of technology to entice visitors, librarians say, is turning the building into a wireless hot spot. For less than $1,000, a library can set up a wireless network and draw the public in for free-range Internet access. … Michele Hampshire, Web librarian for the library in Mill Valley, the woodsy San Francisco suburb, logs an average of 15 wireless users a day on the library's high-speed connection. "We're not collecting personal information; we don't put filters on, you don't even need a library card," Ms. Hampshire said. She and other librarians do not consider the rise of online access a threat, Ms. Hampshire said. Rather, it will allow librarians to spend less time and money reshelving books and reordering supplies, and more time helping online and in-person visitors to find materials. "They will never replace me," she said. NLS FLASH Reprinted from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TO BRING BOOKS TO LIFE Volume 1, No. 1 -- November 2004 Since the 1970s, analog cassettes have enabled the Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) to deliver reliable and entertaining audiobooks and magazines to people who are unable to read standard print. Analog technology continues to work, but now it's time for something new. NLS has found the answer in technology unavailable thirty years ago. "Digital talking books will bring a great range of benefits to blind and physically handicapped readers," says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "Many of the marvelous capabilities of the printed book will be combined with the power of computers to create a tool of unprecedented flexibility and power." NLS will use digital technology to enhance the listening experience. What makes digital better than analog? Users can easily navigate through a book. Sound quality will improve. Less handling will be required. And that's only the beginning. Fast forward to the future. Each patron will have access to a flash-based playback machine and will be able to download digital books and magazines from the Internet. Digital Transformation. After 10 years of research, NLS chose flash memory as the framework for its new system. How will it work? Imagine a lightweight playback device with a removable cartridge that allows for faster access to the content of a book. In 2008, this dream becomes reality. A digital talking book (DTB) will resemble a credit card, only slightly larger. It will be a high-density flash memory cartridge, capable of holding a complete book. Each book's digital master will be compressed to fit the cartridge at a rate that will deliver high quality audio. The books will be labeled in both large print and braille. In the race to project completion, NLS is off and running. In 2002, NLS began the digital audio book production and conversion process. By 2008, the program will provide players and have a collection of 20,000 digital titles. "The greatest challenge of the digital transition is pulling several long-term and complex projects together to function smoothly," says Jean M. Moss, NLS digital projects coordinator. "It is critical to the successful implementation of the digital program that all key stakeholders -- patrons, network libraries and their administering agencies, producers, and staff be involved, to some extent, in the design and implementation process." NLS will continue to collaborate with stakeholders through user studies and meetings with the digital long-term planning committee. Book titles expected to be among the most popular 20 percent, which constitute 80 percent of total circulation, are slated to be mass-produced and distributed by network libraries. The remaining titles, constituting 20 percent of total circulation, will be duplicated on demand through a distribution center that will service patrons nationwide. Driving the digital effort is the goal to make the reading experiences for patrons more enjoyable. "The most exciting feature of digital talking books is the reader's ability to easily navigate through the book. All books will include a basic level of navigation that allows the reader to jump to various chapters and sections," says Moss. "The navigation capabilities will vary with the type of book, for example, fiction and non-fiction." The design of the flash-based machines will be cost efficient. The talking book and solid state playback machine will have no moving parts which will keep repair costs low. NLS plans to build 60,000 digital playback machines by 2008. "The production quantity of DTB players will be increased in subsequent years to satisfy patron demand," says Moss. Flash Benefits. Why should blind and physically handicapped readers get excited about the new technology? Here are a few good reasons: better sound quality in playback; fewer items to keep track of (generally one cartridge instead of several cassettes as is required with the cassette system), and no need to flip a switch or the cartridge during playback. Libraries also have compelling reasons to embrace the digital transformation. Flash memory will require less storage space for collections; memory cards can be reused many times without loss of quality; playback devices will be compact, lightweight and durable, and require fewer repairs; and the playback devices are expected to be less expensive. "We've received positive comments on the move to a digital system from network librarians and patrons," says Michael Moodie, NLS deputy director. "The end result of the conversion process will exceed expectations." … FLASH TECHNOLOGY: THE PERFECT FIT FOR NLS Volume 1, No. 2 -- December 2004 What has been dipped in cola, put through a washing machine, dunked in coffee, trampled by a skateboard, run over by a child's toy car and given to a six-year-old boy to destroy? Answer: A flash cartridge -- an extremely durable device. Five cartridges were tested. Five survived. For this reason, among others, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) settled on flash memory as the new distribution technology for its digital talking books (DTB). Flash memory -- a term coined for the system's ability to rewrite content "in a Flash" -- is the industry standard for handheld devices such as cell phones, digital cameras and palmtop computers. It combines rewritability and portability with ease of operation and decreasing costs -- all features that make it attractive to both the users of DTB's and librarians. In addition, the flash cartridges will be about the size of a credit card, or approximately 2 x 3-1/2 inches. This will permit NLS to label book titles in braille as well as large print. "Flash technology will provide readers with a DTB that is easy to use, portable, and virtually indestructible with the high-quality sound one expects from a digital product. It will allow users the reading experience of their choice," says Frank Kurt Cylke, the director of NLS. Flash was not a rash decision. NLS examined the range of other memory storage devices, such as the CD-ROM and magnetic drives. Until recently, flash memory was priced too high. But now costs are reasonable. "NLS has been tracking this technology for a number of years. Now it is clear from the continued drop in prices and from projections by industry analysts that it will be feasible by 2008," says Michael Moodie, deputy director of NLS. Consider the Alternatives. Why flash cartridges instead of the more familiar CD-ROM? CD's are low-cost and can store a book; however, they are difficult to handle especially for people with limited dexterity. The discs are easily damaged and must be inspected each time they are sent out, or a new copy produced for each circulation. In addition, CD players are fragile and repairs are expensive. A magnetic hard drive system was also considered. This medium could store as many as 300 book titles on a single machine. However, the drives have sensitive electromechanical parts that damage easily and are expensive to repair. Based on careful evaluation of all available options, a flash-memory-based system was adopted for implementation in 2008. Technology for Tomorrow. It was necessary for NLS to update the current system. "The current analog cassette system is based on a technology that is disappearing. In the future, parts for players will be difficult or impossible to obtain, and the cost of cassette tape is likely to increase significantly. In addition, digital technology offers many features that will benefit talking book users," says Jean M. Moss, NLS digital projects coordinator. "Flash memory is more durable, easier to handle, and simpler to use than other digital media. It will also mean more reliable players because no moving parts are required," says Moss. Flash technology will most appeal to patrons because of its ease of use. "Patrons will like the fact that the great majority of books will each be on a single flash cartridge, so there will be fewer objects to keep track of," says Moodie. "An entire cartridge can be played from beginning to end without having to change any switches or turn the cartridge over. And the player will always keep track of where the reader left off." "Because flash memory cartridges can have new books quickly copied onto them and can be reused thousands of times, new distribution models are possible. For example, some books do not circulate very often but are still important to have in the program. Rather than having such books taking up shelf space in libraries across the country, copies can be quickly made when needed," says Moodie. "Flash was chosen because it fits so well with our many requirements for a talking book medium," says Moodie. Tale of a Talking Book 1934 Talking books on 33-1/3 rpm discs introduced 1958 Prototype books produced on 16-2/3 rpm discs 1965 AE-1 talking book machine with three-speed motor 1968 First transistorized, light-weight talking book machine 1969 Standard cassettes distributed 1971 Issued first 1-7/8 and 15/16 ips cassette machines All discs recorded at 8-1/3 rpm 1973 Proprietary cassette machine prototype developed and modified for distribution 1983 Produced first C-1 cassette player, 15/16 ips, four-track format 1986 Simplified cassette machine distributed 2004 Flash technology selected as medium for the future For Information on the NLS Digital Project contact: Jean M. Moss, Digital Projects Coordinator jemo@loc.gov. [or by calling 1-800-424-8567] WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? BY SALLY ANN SHURMUR Reprinted from Casper Star-Tribune Staff Writer If everybody in the same town read the same book at the same time, would the people who never said anything at the office be more talkative, would the people who always have an opinion have to compete for talking time? We're all about to find out. After months of planning, "Everybody Reads Mark Spragg," begins tomorrow and runs through Nov. 6. The idea is simple -- multiple copies of the same book are made available, discussion groups are scheduled, new book groups are formed, movies with similar themes are shown and people wear blue buttons that ask, "What page are you on?" In this case, planners of the event, specifically Julie Eastes of the EvenStart early education program and women from the Natrona County Public Library, have chosen Cody author Mark Spragg. The book that is readily available is his 1999 "Where Rivers Change Direction," a 283 page paperback that won the 2000 Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award for nonfiction. It is an autobiographical tale of his boyhood and coming of age in Wyoming, where he was raised on the oldest dude ranch in the state. The San Francisco Chronicle calls it "a vivid portrait of life in the American Outback." Spragg's publisher writes, "If the West had a voice this is how it would sound: writing as passionate and unequivocal as the land and the life that inspires it." Spragg's most recent book, "An Unfinished Life," is a novel set in Wyoming and readers who want to participate in the community event may also choose that book. Because Spragg does not necessarily write for young children, planners have also tagged "The Haymeadow," by Gary Paulsen for junior high-aged readers and Eugene Gagliano's "C is for Cowboy," for young readers. Both books are set in Wyoming and portray Wyoming traditional values at play in modern life, including generational and family conflicts. "We basically identified themes and topics we thought were important," said Hilery Walker, community relations coordinator at the library. Walker said close to 200 copies of "Where Rivers Change Direction," have been purchased by community sponsors and will be made available free at several places around town, including the library. In addition, the library has ordered extra copies of all of Spragg's books for regular checkout by library patrons. … The event is patterned after "One Book, One Community" programs undertaken in other cities. Is this the first of a similar annual event? Um, maybe, according to Walker. "We would like it to be in someone else's hands as far as future organization," Walker said, "but we'd be happy to help. We think it would have more oomph if it were seen as a city of Casper thing, rather than a girls from the library thing." Library partners this year include Natrona County EvenStart, Literacy Volunteers of Casper, Blue Heron, B. Dalton Bookstore, Ralph's Books, NCSD No. 1, The Flower Gallery, Clear Channel, Casper College, Holiday Inn and AAUW. NOTE: Some books mentioned in this article are available from NLS "Where Rivers Change Direction" RC 55501 "The Haymeadow" RC 36646 MARK ASHBY VISITS WITH L.U.A. AT 2004 CONVENTION BY SHARON STRZALKOWSKI Our NLS narrator this year was Mark Ashby of Potomac Talking Books. He is known to many as the narrator of “People of Vision: A History of the American Council of the Blind" as well as for reading "The Braille Forum”. His career in talking books actually began when he served as a monitor and editor. He had no inclination at first to be a narrator and believes now that this initial monitoring experience has helped him to be a better narrator. During his talk, he read a moving portion of a book about a Native American couple that was caring for a dying foster child. Mark himself is the father of a two-year-old son, and his wife was there to greet conventioneers at the wine and cheese party. NOTE: We wish to congratulate Mark Ashby as well as the other winners of the 2004 Scourby Narrator of the Year Awards as highlighted in the American Foundation for the Blind’s Press Release that follows. NLS book numbers have been inserted after each book title for your convenience. SCOURBY NARRATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS NEW YORK (October 14, 2004) The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) will present the 18th annual Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Awards during a first-ever virtual ceremony on Thursday, October 14, 2004 at www.afb.org/scourby.asp. Established in 1986, the Scourby Awards honor excellence in the narration of Talking Books and are named after the late Alexander Scourby, one of the most admired narrators in history of the Talking Books program. The Talking Books program provides recorded literature to over 750,000 blind, visually impaired, and physically disabled Americans. The program originated in 1933 at AFB with the invention of the long-playing phonograph record and is administered by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress. AFB is the longest-running producer of Talking Books and has recorded tens of thousands of titles over the last 70 years. "We are excited to honor the talented men and women whose narration has provided people with disabilities substantial access to literature and information," said Carl R. Augusto, President & CEO of AFB. "The new, online format of this year's Scourby Awards allows us to share the event with more people than ever before, and it gives us a tremendous opportunity to reach more individuals who can benefit from the Talking Books program." The categories and award recipients this year include: Fiction: Martha Harmon Pardee, a narrator for Talking Book Publishers, Inc., for her recording of "The Crimson Petal and the White", by Michael Faber. [RC 54941] Nonfiction: Mark Ashby, a narrator for Potomac Talking Books, Inc., for his recording of "Perfect I'm Not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball", by David Wells. [RC 56059] Multilingual Nonfiction: Steven Carpenter, a narrator for Potomac Talking Books, Inc., for his recording of "The Age of Sacred Terror", by Daniel Benjamin and Steve Simon. [RC 55953] To learn more about this year's winning narrators and the Scourby Awards, log onto www.afb.org/scourby.asp on October 14. The online event, which will be archived on the web site, will also feature audio remarks from the honorees and excerpts from their winning selections. ADDITIONAL CONVENTION NEWS DIGITAL BOOKS BY PAUL EDWARDS There was an excellent turn out at our Monday session of Library Users of America. Since we began by having those who were there introduce themselves, our first session was somewhat curtailed. Nevertheless, it represented an opportunity for us to explore together some of the new options that are available these days to acquire and play books from the internet. The intent of the session was to make clear that there are many sources for books now and many ways to play them. We demonstrated a number of devices that can be used to play digital books including the Book Port from the American Printing House for the Blind, two players specifically designed to play audible.com books, and briefly talked about the emergence of Daisy CD players. At the heart of our presentation was that there are many kinds of books that are now available to people who are blind and many options that can be used to play them. Bookshare, Web-Braille, Audible.Com, commercial sellers of electronic books produced as text and in formats designed to be read through Adobe and Microsoft readers represent some of the options available. We also tried to make it clear that a digital book could be a book designed to be read with synthetic speech through screen readers as one option. We demonstrated new screen readers that have a much more human sound than we are used to hearing. Digital books can also be read by humans and recorded for playback either on your computer or on specialized devices. Dr. Judy Dixon discussed a system that is in the beta test stage to make audio magazines produced for the National Library Service available for download and playback through computers or other Daisy-capable playback products. While each of the four panelists presented specific elements, this was much more like a discussion among four people who are all excited about new reading options that are emerging. Library Users of America appreciated presentations in this session by Dr. Judy Dixon, Brian Charlson, Barry Levine, and Paul Edwards. I think the most significant thing that came out of our session was that people who are blind have more options for reading than we have ever had before and that, with work by Library Users and others, these options can be extended even more. DEVELOPING STANDARDS FOR NLS LIBRARIES BY WINIFRED DOWNING Also on Monday, Kim Charlson spoke to Library Users of America about the process by which standards are established for operating the libraries belonging to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). Every 10 years, a group of officers and librarians are selected to update the standards governing libraries in succeeding years. Kim, who is the Director of the library serving the blind in Massachusetts, located at the Perkins School for the Blind, has been a member of the team revising the recommendations for such standards. Issues such as the ratio of staff to patrons and the space and shelving requirements are also set forth. The publication of a newsletter for patrons and the frequency of its publication are recommended. Also considered are the handling of telephone calls from patrons and the speed and efficiency of response. Since the library often functions as an information center concerning matters besides books, there are guidelines for handling information and referral inquiries and reference questions. The presence of a children's collection is also suggested, along with assistance in finding help for young readers. Even if a library does not carry braille books, the library must be able to refer patrons, and especially young readers, to where they can borrow such materials. The standards arrived at by the working team were on the Web until August 15, 2004, with the invitation for appropriate public comments. The relationship between NLS and each regional library is outlined, since there is no formalized arrangement for that structure. NLS, then, while recommending and making known the standards established, relies on libraries for voluntary compliance. A BRIEF UPDATE FROM NLS BY SHARON STRZALKOWSKI This year’s presentation by Kurt Cylke, Director of the National Library Service was rather brief, as there was a very full program. He reported that NLS is requesting $76 million for the digital talking book project, in which all books will be formatted for a new digital machine to replace the cassette players we now have. He said that he believes that NLS will gradually be a “lesser force” in our lives, as more commercial reading options become available to us. Judy Dixon then presented a brief update on Web-Braille, which has become increasingly popular, as people are able to purchase note takers with braille displays. John Hanson, head of the NLS music department, asked that braille music users let him know about scores that they would like to have added to the collection. LIBRARY USERS BUSINESS MEETING BY WINIFRED DOWNING The final program item on Monday afternoon was the business meeting of Library Users of America. Each year the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped convenes several advisory committees composed of patrons and librarians. The American Council of the Blind has a representative on the Equipment Committee and the Collection Development Committee, both of which meet in the spring. The work of the Equipment Committee is concerned with the adequacy of supply of recorders, their repair, and ancillary devices used with the machines. Because of the consideration being given to developing digital talking books with entirely new machines, few changes in equipment were under discussion this year. The representative to the Collection Development Committee was not present, but a discussion took place on some of the recommendations recently made by that committee including increasing the production of books in Spanish and establishing cooperative arrangements enabling NLS to secure books in that language from other countries. The election of officers resulted in the following group: Barry Levine, President; Paul Edwards, Vice President; Sharon Strzalkowski, Secretary; and Patricia Price, Treasurer. The new Board of Directors consists of Rachel Ames, Gloria Broderick, Winifred Downing, Judi Cannon, and Earlene Hughes. Appreciation was expressed for the work of Jill O'Connell and Michael Garrett, who had served the allowable number of terms, and to Marcia Dresser who had to resign because of family responsibilities. Sharon Strzalkowski did not continue as president because she plans to return to school. Though several members of the new Board of Directors have served in official capacities previously in L.U.A., all are now eligible for two terms as board members. NOTE: Due to a very busy schedule Rachel Ames has submitted her resignation to the L.U.A. Board. Rachel is probably best known by all of you as someone who gave a lot of time to the annual L.U.A. raffle and convention wine and cheese party. QUEEN OF AUDIO: FLO GIBSON REVELS IN 1,001ST BOOK, "ANNA KARENINA" BY SANDY BAUERS Reprinted From Times Leader (North East Pennsylvania) October 17, 2004 To mark her 1,000th unabridged audio book recording -- a phenomenal record surely no other narrator can match -- the otherwise indomitable Flo Gibson made a mistake. She picked "The Children's Shakespeare" by Edith Nesbit. Gibson loves Nesbit's writing, but she realized, too late, that a book of plots didn't play to the bard's strength -- language. But that's the whole focus of Gibson's company, Audio Book Contractors. "We're purists. We want the richness of the language kept," she said recently. So for her 1,001st book, Gibson chose carefully, opting for Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina." Not long after, Oprah made it her summer reading pick. Now thousands of readers probably have spent months slogging through the 832 pages of the print version, when they could have simply listened to Gibson's 36.5-hour masterpiece ($51.90 rental; $155.90 purchase; (www.audiobookcontractors.com; phone 202-363-3429). Several recordings of this classic exist, but I'm betting Gibson's is one of the best. Gibson started her voice career as a radio actress during its golden years. If anyone remembers a pre-"Dragnet" show called "San Francisco Story," she was on it. Eventually, she left radio, raised a family and later started reading books for the Library of Congress, which offered recordings for the visually impaired. She later established her own company and her own recording studio and began recording titles she loved -- classics. Gibson's voice has always been gloriously throaty, and even now, as she approaches 80, it remains clear and vigorous, albeit with the help of eucalyptus drops. She spares us the tedium of a Russian accent, but she reflects the upper-class setting with her pronunciation -- Anna is "Aah-nah"; can't is "kahn't." Best of all, Gibson, helps listeners navigate the rough terrain of those multi-syllabic Russian names. Her command of the text is flawless. She never loses her way through a sentence; she always knows who's speaking and what's going on. Her male characters are tops. Her sweet-young-thing females can be a tad squeaky, but so be it. Maybe that's how women of Tolstoy's time sounded anyway -- the mastery of the novel aside, the women were twerps, constantly sighing and fretting through various mini-dramas. … Gibson has since moved on -- by now to her 1,014th recording, an H.G. Wells novel. "The problem is, I've done all my favorites," she said. "All of Dickens, all of Jane Austen, almost of all Trollope, almost all of Henry James. What's left?" Enough, it turns out, that she can still choose carefully. She sighed, concluding with a sentiment that surely many of her listeners share. "It's been a great privilege and a pleasure." AT BROOKS FREE LIBRARY: UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BLIND BY DOUGLAS KARLSON Reprinted from the Harwich Oracle -- December 15, 2004 Imagine sitting down at a computer, powering it up, logging onto the Internet, surfing the web, and sending and answering e-mail -- all without seeing the monitor. Carla Burke, who lost her sight nearly four years ago, does it every day. She listens patiently as a tinny, electronic voice gives keystroke instructions and helps her navigate her way through the darkness of cyberspace. When Burke finds the website she's looking for, the same robot-sounding voice reads its contents to her. Perhaps the most amazing thing about Burke is that she didn't even know how to use a personal computer until after a combination of retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disease, and glaucoma stole her sight. It took her nine months using taped tutorials to learn the screen-reading program, called JAWS (Job Access Through Windows). As outreach coordinator for Brooks Free Library, now she's teaching others. With Burke's help, and the library's new program called VITAL (Vision Impaired Technology Assistance at the Library), people who are vision impaired can listen to text or view magnified words and images. She said it takes less time if a person already knows how to use a personal computer, and less time still if they have a tutor. The library has taken the lead on Cape Cod in offering such technology and the training that goes with it. According to Burke, "We're the only library on the Cape that has all this equipment and has a training program." "It's pretty rare," said library director Virginia Hewitt. Training is an essential component to the program. Without it, many people with visual impairments won't take the important first step in using the equipment, and won't be able to master the more challenging software. Burke, in her capacity as a board member of Sight Loss Services, a regional organization that helps the blind and visually handicapped, approached Hewitt in 2003 looking for a home for the pilot program. Hewitt embraced the idea. When funding from Sight Loss Services fell through, the two turned to the Friends of Brooks Free Library, which raised the money needed to purchase equipment and move ahead with the program. All totaled, the library now has $7,500 worth of equipment, all of which was either donated or purchased with contributions. The library then hired Burke to work five hours a week overseeing the program. She volunteers an additional 15 hours a week. "In a sense it helped me because it got me back into the job market," said Burke, who before her disability worked as a social worker helping children. According to Burke, there are 107 people in Harwich who are legally blind. Legal blindness is defined by the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind as 20/200 vision or worse or peripheral vision of 20 degrees or less. For every legally blind person, there are two others with severe vision impairment, said Burke. Of those, just over two dozen regularly use the library's facilities. "When you think about it this is what gives people with vision impairments access to the library," said Burke. "That's why Brooks Free Library has it." … Since starting the VITAL program in November 2003, Burke has trained six volunteers to help teach others. So far, six visually impaired people have learned Zoomtext, and a similar number are currently studying JAWS. Some students have never learned to type, so the library has a typing instructor to teach the keyboard skills needed to operate a computer. Importance of Braille The library's reading devices are not a complete substitute for braille, maintained Burke. Despite their usefulness, reading devices do not teach literacy, she cautioned. According to Burke, "Braille equals literacy." But she said people are not learning braille as they used to. "For young children I think it's a shame if they are not taught braille," because they don't learn spelling and grammar. Another advantage of braille is it allows readers the joy of being able to have a book in their hands. "There may not be a lot of people who use braille but as a library we have to make it available," said Burke, who said the library's trustees have been extremely supportive of her efforts. She hopes to purchase a braille embosser as soon as she has the funding. … The library is looking for more volunteers to help with the program. Those interested in being volunteers are asked to contact Burke at 508-430-7562. 10 SQUARED TALKING BOOK CLUB KEEPING CENTENARIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY READING Press Release from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped December 10, 2004 National Series of Events Honors Blind and Physically Handicapped Readers Over the Age of 100; Colorado Home to the Largest Number of Participants DENVER, Dec. 10 -- PRNewswire -- Forty-six Colorado centenarians will become the latest inductees in the 10 Squared Talking Book Club today as the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress and the Colorado Talking Book Library officially launch the state chapter of the national program. The club was created to recognize the accomplishments of Talking Book readers 100 years of age and older and to give them priority on high demand materials such as new releases. The Talking Book program provides books and magazines on audio to those who can't read or use a standard printed page. The event in Colorado is the third in a national series of events officially launching the club across the country. The Colorado Talking Book program has more centenarian participants than any other state. "The 10 Squared Talking Book Club represents the true spirit of the Talking Book reading program. Our more than 1,600 Talking Book centenarians have continued to actively read in every stage of their lives, regardless of blindness or physical handicaps," said Frank Kurt Cylke, director of NLS. "It's our hope that their love of reading will encourage others who are eligible to join their local or state program." … According to Library of Congress statistics, nearly all states have eligible centenarians for the 10 Squared Talking Book Club. Interested parties may visit the NLS website, http://www.loc.gov/nls, and browse the 10 Squared Talking Book Club page for additional information, including how to locate a state or local participating library. ... INFOEYES TO CONTINUE TO OFFER ONLINE REFERENCE AND INFORMATION NOTE: Lori Bell from the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center spoke about the InfoEyes Pilot Project during one of the 2004 L.U.A. Convention sessions. It was obvious that L.U.A. members and friends were excited about the project. As you will see from the Press Release that follows the InfoEyes Project will continue. Thank you to the staff from all of the libraries that have helped to make this project a success. Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals InfoEyes, an innovative virtual reference service for blind and visually impaired persons, has been extended beyond its initial six-month pilot project period. "The response to InfoEyes during its March to September pilot project phase has been extremely positive," said Sharon Ruda, Director of the Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service. "InfoEyes is having a profound impact on the lives of blind and visually impaired persons. I am delighted that InfoEyes will continue to be available to meet the informational, educational and entertainment needs of patrons." InfoEyes allows librarians to utilize OCLC Question Point email and management software and Talking Communities technology to deliver email and live, interactive real time chat to help blind and visually impaired customers with informational questions. "InfoEyes allows users to ask a librarian to help them find information about absolutely anything," said Barry Levine, President of the [Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service] ISLTBBS Advisory Group. "From locating a list of symptoms for common eye diseases, to finding a gingerbread cookie recipe, our librarians can find the information they need." To try InfoEyes and find out about its hours of operation, go to the website at http://www.infoeyes.org. Users may ask a question via email or chat in real time with a librarian when the service is open. Library members of InfoEyes include: the Illinois State Talking Book and Braille Service; Illinois State Library; TAP Information Services; Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center; Southern Illinois Talking Book Center; Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library in New York City; Carnegie Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Library of Congress; Cleveland Public Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; Library of Philadelphia, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; Maine State Library Outreach; Minnesota Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; New Mexico Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library; Washington State Library; and the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library. For more information on the project and new services, please contact Sharon Ruda at sruda@ilsos.net or (217-782-9435). RFB&D NAMES JOHN KELLY AS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO (August 30, 2004) Princeton, NJ -- The national board of directors at the national nonprofit Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic® (RFB&D)®, has announced that John Kelly of Lawrenceville, NJ, will succeed the organization's President and CEO Richard O. Scribner upon his retirement, effective October 23. "We initiated a thorough and intensive nationwide search for a CEO to carry out our ambitious plans for growth and development," explained national board chairman Tom Trainor. "When it came down to the final decision, we agreed that one of our own staff, John Kelly, is the candidate whose experience, knowledge, proven leadership and devotion to our mission makes him the best possible individual to carry the mantle of President and CEO." Scribner, whose volunteer and executive leadership of the nonprofit organization extends over 14 years, applauds the decision. "Having built his career at RFB&D, John is intimately familiar with every facet of this wonderful organization. He steps into this job with a deep understanding of the needs of those with print disabilities whom we seek to serve," said Scribner. Kelly joined RFB&D in 1985 as manager of library services and earned a series of promotions based on his successful implementation of programs that significantly increased RFB&D's membership and its level of service among students of all ages with disabilities that make reading challenging or impossible. He was most recently named executive vice president of programs and services. "Even after twenty years, I still get a daily rush when I go to work each day, certain that it is quite literally true that the students who use our service would not be in school if it weren't for RFB&D and the work that we do to make textbooks accessible," said Kelly. "It's a distinct privilege to work among colleagues and volunteers whose every task and decision is directly influenced by our collective commitment to help students experience educational success." In his two decades of service and leadership at RFB&D, Kelly is credited with the initiation of programs and services that resulted in a six-fold increase in RFB&D's membership since 1989. John conceived and developed RFB&D's Educational Outreach program which is now in place in more than 7,000 schools across the country. In addition to greatly expanding RFB&D's profile among educators and its reach and effectiveness in classrooms across the nation, programs under Kelly's leadership are credited with generating successively higher levels of revenues through fees, sales and public funding. Through his tenure, Kelly has significantly expanded RFB&D's network of partners among agencies and organizations serving people with print disabilities in education, the publishing industry and library services. This enhanced profile has enabled RFB&D to better serve its growing membership by preserving or advancing legislation and regulatory initiatives in arenas including copyright and fair use, digital rights management and intellectual property protection. A 1981 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Kelly holds a master's degree in library and information science from Drexel University. He is a member of the American Library Association, the International Federation of Library Associations and the Special Library Association. Kelly resides in Lawrenceville, NJ, with his wife and two children. LIBRARY HONORED FOR VISIONARY USE OF TECHNOLOGY Reprinted from Dots & Decibels Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library Winter 2004 The Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library was recently named a 2004 Computerworld Honors Finalist in recognition of innovative use of information technology. Perkins was one of five finalists in the Education & Academia category. Joseph W. Alsop, President of Progress Software Corporation, nominated Perkins for inclusion in the 2004 awards program. “While the concept of a library automation system isn’t new, the design concept of Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS) is fundamental to its uniqueness in the Library field -- that is the commitment to universal design and accessibility,” said Kim Charlson, Perkins Library Director. “The combination of Keystone’s experienced programmers and Progress software makes KLAS an easy-to-use library automation system for both our patrons and staff.” A case study on Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library, where "Reading is for Everyone", became part of the Computerworld Honors Global Archives. It is available at http://www.cwheroes.org, the official site of the Computerworld Honors Foundation. This online resource will benefit libraries, museums, academic and research institutions around the world, and serve as reference material for scholars and a resource for individuals who hope to use information technology to create technology solutions to address society’s challenges. MLA INDUCTS CHARLSON TO THE HALL OF FAME IN 2004 Also from DOTS & DECIBELS Perkins Library Director, Kim Charlson, was inducted into the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) Hall of Fame in April, 2004 at a ceremony in Falmouth. She joins a prestigious group of only 14 other outstanding librarians who have been honored. Those recognized have all made a substantial, sustained contribution to advancing the cause of Massachusetts libraries and/or librarianship over a career of at least ten years. When MLA discussed Charlson’s nomination, it was clear that in her library career of some 25 years, she has been a champion of providing the printed word for people with all types of disabilities. She has also worked tirelessly with Massachusetts libraries to provide consultation and technical assistance on how they can become more accessible -- not just to improve physical accessibility with ramps and accessible parking spaces, but to increase programmatic access. She has shared her in-depth knowledge of outreach, website design, adaptive technology, and creating accessible collections with numerous libraries and has trained staff on disability sensitivity and awareness. She is recognized nationally and internationally for her expertise in library services to people with disabilities, especially in the areas of braille literacy, adaptive technology in libraries, and information access. Congratulations, Kim Charlson, on your well-earned award! TALKING BOOKS 35 YEARS OLD Reprinted from Lexington Herald-Leader Staff Report -- Sept. 22, 2004 The Kentucky Talking Book Library, part of the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, will celebrate its 35th anniversary this fall. The library, located in the Clark-Cooper Building at 300 Coffee Tree Road in Frankfort, serves Kentuckians who are unable to read traditional printed materials because of visual or physical disabilities. "It's rare for Kentucky state government to have a program that appeals to Kentuckians age 2 to 106," said Virginia Fox, education cabinet secretary. "This extraordinary broad base support guarantees that 35 years from now Kentuckians will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of this most worthwhile program." The library's services include mailing -- free of charge through the U.S. Postal Service -- books on tape, braille books and cassette players. The program is part of a nationwide network of libraries headed by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. "For those of us who browse the catalog and stacks of our local library, or the bustling aisles of our local bookstore, it's difficult to understand a world where that is not possible," says State Librarian Jim Nelson, "But for those who have lost their vision, this is a daily reality." The library staff helps patrons find reading materials and coordinates volunteers who record them. Kentucky's library opened in 1968 when Governor Louie B. Nunn appropriated funds to establish what was first known as the Kentucky Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. In 1977, the Frankfort facility added recording booths and volunteers began to record books of local interest -- especially books about Kentucky, and books by Kentucky authors. Over the years, 89 volunteers have recorded and monitored over 1,400 books for citizens of the Commonwealth. A few facts of interest: • The library has 4,989 patrons in Kentucky. • Patrons read an average 40 books each year to date. • Patrons range in age from 2 years to 106 years old. Eleven patrons are over 100, and 19 patrons are under the age of 10. • About 230 have been patrons for more than 20 years. • The KTBL collection totals 53,842 titles. • The library has circulated 120,095 books this year. • On average, 500 books are checked out per day. For more information, go to www.kdla.ky.gov. SOMETIMES THE GOOD GUYS WIN BY PAUL EDWARDS Florida is a state where library services are delivered by the state Talking Book Library and through eleven Subregional Libraries which work in their individual communities to extend talking book services. The subregionals are usually a part of county public library systems and have done a wonderful job of integrating their programs into the mission of their parent public libraries. However, it does not always work this way. Long before a crisis arrived in Orange County, things were not going well. Orange County is where Universal Studios, Disney World and other tourist attractions are located and Orlando is one of the fastest-growing communities in the state. Its library system is well supported by its County Commission with a budget of over 26 million dollars per year. Not very many of those dollars have been spent on the Talking Book Program over the past few years. Despite clear staffing requirements that are a part of the American Library Association standards which apply to the Talking Book Program, Orange County allocated less and less to the program until April of this year when it was announced that the Orange County Talking Book Program would be shut down. When the one staff member who was running the subregional left, it was decided not to fill her position. People in Orange County would simply be served through the Regional or State Library in Daytona Beach. As an aside, it should be noted that the full budget of state dollars allocated to the Florida Talking Book Library last year was around nine million dollars. This does not include the materials received from the Department for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (DBPH) but neither does it become a part of the Orange County Budget. Even though services had deteriorated over the past few years, the library users of Orlando were unwilling to sit quietly and let a valuable resource drop because of the machinations of one single employee of the Orange County Library system, its Director. Consumers attended meetings of the Library Board, the Board of County Commissioners, Friends of Libraries, and tried very hard to resolve this matter with reason and common sense. They seemed to be speaking to ears and minds that were closed and could not be opened. When the American Library Association met in Orlando, protestors from all over the state from the Florida Council of the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind of Florida and many people not affiliated with either organization mounted a protest which was entirely peaceful and very effective. Cooperation and collaboration were the order of the day as they had been since the beginning of the crisis. Like little grains of sand in the oyster, organizations and people kept on bringing the issue forward and simply would not go away. The grain of sand grew into a pearl of victory. It was announced that the Orange County Talking Book Program would not be closed. There are still outstanding issues. It is up to the people of Orlando who studied just how inadequate services have been, to demand better than they have been receiving over the past year. I think the victory is important for three reasons. First, it shows that all people who have visual impairments can work together for a common cause regardless of philosophies or ideologies. Second, it is important because we must do more to create an awareness at the public library of our specific needs and of how important the existence of a viable Talking Book subregional is and must remain. Third, and perhaps most important, everyone involved made it happen which leads inevitably to the suggestion that we need to do more together. Well done Orange County! TOP AUTHORS GO ON-LINE IN NEW VENTURE www.meettheauthor.com November 23, 2004 Reprinted From PRNewswire Book and author promotions have become easier thanks to the launch of a new website, meettheauthor.com, the world's first interactive book marketing and promotion website. Meettheauthor.com contains a virtual library of short, one-minute video clips of hundreds of authors talking about their books, giving viewers the chance to hear from the author in his or her own words. The site currently has over 300 author interviews, with more being filmed and added every day. They range from Fran Abrams describing "Freedom's Cause'" a study of the Suffragettes, to Aldo Zilli talking about the "Zilli Cookbook"; Bill Bryson describing his motivation for “A Short History of Nearly Everything"; Joan Collins discussing the "inner bitch" for "Joan's Way", and a rare interview with John Le Carre. New and emerging writers are also featured, with children's authors, biographers, scientists and travel writers represented in equal measure alongside novelists and science fiction writers. Meettheauthor.com was founded by broadcaster and book pundit David Freeman with the intention of bringing author and reader closer together. He developed the site on the premise that the best person to publicise a book is its author. "These videos are the next best thing to meeting an author face to face," he says. "The writers we film bring their books to life through their natural enthusiasm for the subject matter, so that it feels like an intimate chat with the viewer. It also creates a permanent and personal record of their thoughts and ambitions for the book." … BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barry Levine: President Homer Glen, Illinois 708-645-7700 email: barry@functionaltherapy.net Paul Edwards: Vice President Miami, Florida 305-692-9206 email: pedwards@mdcc.edu Sharon Strzalkowski: Secretary/Immediate Past President Worcester, Massachusetts 508-363-3866 email: strzal@charter.net Patricia "Pat" Price: Treasurer/Webmaster Indianapolis, Indiana 317-254-1185 email: pprice@indy.rr.com Gloria Broderick: Director Pasadena, California 626-683-9560 email: gloria@pmpmail.com Judi Cannon: Director/Editor Watertown, Massachusetts 617-924-0699 email: cannonja22@comcast.net Winifred Downing: Director San Francisco, California 415-564-5798 email: wmdowning@mindspring.com Earlene Hughes: Director email: arlene.hughes7@verizon.net **********