What's New for Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped - January 2010

Talking Books Plus Survey

Please take the time to fill out our survey, as we greatly appreciate any feedback you may have to share with us. We rely on your input to find out how well we are serving you, and to secure future funding for our services. You can fill out or survey online, or call us at 1-800-762-7106 to do the survey over the phone. Thank you!

Digital Talking Books Update

Digital Talking Book Machines are now available! We are getting more machines every month, so be sure to call us and be asked to be placed on the waiting list if you would like to receive one of the new machines. If you are already on the waiting list, you should be getting a call in the next few weeks as we set up your digital profile. We will have a limited selection of digital books for the next two years, so we strongly suggest that patrons with cassette machines keep their old players.

If you have a digital player, you are eligible to use BARD, the National Library Service's Braille and Audio Reading Download site.

For details about the digital talking book machine or the BARD website, give us a call at 1-800-762-7106

Bookshare

Maine K-12 students are entitled to a free Bookshare membership. Over 60,000 digital books, textbooks, teacher-recommended reading, periodicals and assistive technology tools are available through their searchable online library.

Go to www.bookshare.org for more information.

New Online Catalog

We have recently upgraded our online catalog to include new features that will make it easier to browse and order books! Check out the new Online Catalog here: www.mainetalkingbooks.org

If you would like to have your account set up to request books online, contact us at 1-800-762-7106

Newspapers For The Visually Impaired

Due to budget cuts, our Telephone Reader program has been discontinued. However, our patrons are eligible to use the Maine Airs program provided by the Iris Network to receive local newspapers in an audio format. To receive Maine AIRS on your television, tune your television to Maine PBS and then press the "SAP" button on your remote. If you do not have a SAP button, SAP might be accessible from a menu on your TV. Look for menu, find "Audio" and then select "SAP." If you do not have SAP, special receivers are available. For more information about these receivers, please call the Iris Network at 1-800-715-0097. Maine Airs broadcasts are also available on the internet, and you can listen to them on your computer, or download them to a portable media player like an iPod. For more information, go to the Maine Airs website.

Recordings For Recovery

We are frequently asked if we provide recorded music for use on our cassette players. While we do not include recorded music in our collection, patrons who are eligible for our services may also receive services from Recordings For Recovery. They provide a unique and broad selection of musical programs. Persons who are institutionalized, homebound, or otherwise limited by disabling conditions may be considered eligible for Recordings For Recovery. Contact them at 1-800-798-1192 for more details.

Veterans Preference

If you are a veteran who has been honorably discharged from the armed forces of the US, you are eligible for preferred services from us. Veterans go to the top of the list for new books and machines, including our new Digital Talking Book Player. If you are a veteran, contact us to make sure we have set you up correctly in our system.

Maine Humanities Council Podcasts Available

Maine Writers Speak: Interviews with Maine Authors by Charlotte Albright is now available on Talking Books by arrangement with the Maine Humanities Council. The disc includes interviews with 11 Maine authors, including Cathy Pelletier, Betsy Sholl, and Richard Russo. More podcasts are available free on the Maine Humanities Council's website. We hope to make more of these podcasts available on Talking Books in the near future.