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Category Archives: Talking Book & Braille Service (TBBS)
NLC Staff: Meet Gabe Kramer
Gabe Kramer: The Accidental Librarian
Meet Gabe Kramer who joined the Library Commission staff ten years ago and recently became Talking Book & Braille Service Director. Gabe grew up in Wahoo and graduated from Wahoo High School. He attended UNL earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcasting and completed his Master’s Degree in Library Science this past December from the University of Missouri. As a kid, Gabe remembers reading all the Goosebumps books and his first Stephen King book in 5th grade. As an adult, Gabe prefers nonfiction and is currently reading John Adams by David McCullough. Gabe estimates for every fiction book he reads, he reads two nonfiction. Stephen King is his favorite author. Gabe’s library also includes a substantial music collection featuring David Bowie, Nirvana, Kanye West, and Radiohead.
Prior to working in libraries, Gabe worked at Dairy Queen, the UNL Parking and Transit Department, and produced the broadcasts for the Lincoln Stars and the Lincoln Saltdogs. Gabe submitted an application for several jobs with the State of Nebraska and received a call to interview for the Library Commission. He does not remember applying specifically for a job at the Library Commission but happily, his application made him a good candidate making Gabe an accidental librarian. When he isn’t busy juggling the many staff shortages his department has been dealt recently, he likes to play basketball and spend time at home with his family listening to music and playing video games.
Gabe is married to Jenny and together they have a 9-year-old daughter, Ella. When I asked Gabe what is the best thing about life in Nebraska, he replied, “Jenny keeps me here.” A perfect day for Gabe is one with lovely weather, no chores, and plenty of time to do whatever he wants. If Gabe won the lottery, travel would be the first priority with the goal of filling all the pages of his passport book with custom stamps. Two trips to Japan to visit his mother’s family has whetted his appetite to see more of the world. Accidental or otherwise, we’re grateful Gabe joined the staff at the Library Commission.
#BookFaceFriday “Let’s Be Reasonable”
This is a #BookFaceFriday to make Grant Wood proud.
Is there anything more iconic Midwestern than American Gothic? We got the chance to create our own with this week’s #BookFace selection “Let’s Be Reasonable” by Joel Sartore (Unversity of Nebraska Press, 2011). That’s the Nebraska photographer/author himself on the book cover with his wife Kathy. If you’re not familiar with this book of short essays and photography, you should really change that. It’s a must read.
“For this collection of essays and images, photojournalist Santore drew on various subjects encountered in his travels on assignment for CBS Sunday Morning and National Geographic magazine. By turns quirky, candid, whimsical and moving, they cover a wide range of topics, including endangered species, the power of laughter, state-fair food, mud, money, conspicuous consumption, and his own life and family at home in Nebraska.”—Neil Pond, American Profile(Neil Pond American Profile 2011-09-05)
We pulled this from our Talking Book & Braille (TBBS) collection. It was recorded by NLC in 2016, and narrated by Alice Timm. It’s a part of our collection of Nebraska books and publications made available to Nebraska TBBS customers. It was recently added to TBBS’s Duplication on Demand service. You can learn all about the new Duplication on Demand service in next week’s episode of NCompass Live: Talking Books and Duplication on Demand!
Imagine if there were no books on your library shelves, and instead books were custom-made for every patron, printed and conveniently bound together during their visit. Something along those lines is being implemented with the digital talking books circulated at the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. Tune in to find out about the technology behind this change, and its advantages and disadvantages for patrons and staff as we begin this adventure together!
Join Scott Scholz, Director of our Talking Book and Braille Service, and Christa Porter next Wednesday, Dec. 26th at 10:00 am Central Time. Register here!
Scott also happens to be one of this week’s #BookFace models!
Love this #BookFace & reading? We suggest checking out all the titles available for book clubs at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ref/bookclub. Check out our past #BookFaceFriday photos on the Nebraska Library Commission’s Facebook page!
Free Materials for Nebraska Libraries to Support Great American Read Programming
The Great American Read is the new PBS eight-part television competition and nationwide campaign to discover America’s favorite novel. Everyone can vote for their favorite from a list of 100 novels chosen in a national survey. NET Television is offering Nebraska resources for programming to help community members participate in the Great American Read. Nebraska libraries are invited to request posters and bookmarks (and possibly a local screening) from Marthaellen Florence, Director, Community Engagement, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications – NET, mflorenc@netad.unl.edu, 402-470-6603.
See http://netnebraska.org/greatread or Facebook.com/netNebraska for more information about the program broadcasts on NET. The series is hosted by Meredith Vieira and features conversations with authors, celebrities, and book lovers. The programs are scheduled for the next six weeks, leading up to the last day of voting (October 18, 2018) and announcement of America’s favorite read (October 23, 3018).
Schedule
“Launch Special” (Premiered Tuesday, May 22, 2018) – WATCH NOW
“Fall Kick-off” (Premieres Tuesday, September 11, 2018 7:00 p.m. ct)
“Who Am I?” (Premieres Tuesday, September 18, 2018 7:00 p.m. ct)
“Heroes” (Premieres Tuesday, September 25, 2018 7:00 p.m. ct)
“Villains and Monsters” (Premieres Tuesday, October 2, 2018 7:00 p.m. ct)
“What We Do For Love” (Premieres Tuesday, October 9, 2018 7:00 p.m. ct)
“Other Worlds” (Premieres Tuesday, October 16, 2018 7:00 p.m. ct)
“Grand Finale” (Premieres Tuesday, October 23, 2018 7:00 p.m. ct)
The Nebraska Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service helps Nebraska librarians serve library customers who can’t use regular print, and all but four of the Great American Read titles are available in the talking book format through this service. For more information, see http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/nlcblog/?s=great+american+read. To help serve book clubs that want to read a title from this list, the Nebraska Library Commission Book Club Kit collection contains 59 of the 100 selections. To serve your library customers, search at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ref/bookclub/ or contact Lisa Kelly, Information Services Director, 402-471-4015 for the list of Great American Read titles available in Book Club Kits.
For more information, see the recording of the Sept. 5, 2018 NCompass Live Great American Read broadcast at http://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgID=17615
#GreatReadPBS
“The Great American Read” Books available to Talking Book and Braille Service readers
This reading list, curated by PBS, shows the diversity of America’s 100 most beloved fiction books. Voting for America’s greatest novel began May 22nd and will end in October 2018. Learn more about The Great American Read and how to vote at http://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/about/show/
For library patrons who can’t use regular print, all but four of the Great American Read titles are available in the talking book format. If you know readers who would love to be involved, but their vision is making it hard to use regular print, they can’t hold a book, or turn pages, the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service is here to help! You can use the 5-digit numbers beside the book titles below to order these and many other wonderful books and magazines. Simply give us a call anywhere in Nebraska by dialing 1-800-742-7691, or visit our section of the NLC website.
| DB | Title and Author | |
| 73474 | 1984 by George Orwell | |
| 50482 | A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole | |
| 29012 | A Prayer for Owen Meany: A Novel by John Irving | |
| 24697 | A Separate Peace by John Knowles | |
| 44769 | A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith | |
| 53084 | The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain | |
| 65599 | The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho | |
| Alex Cross Series by James Patterson | ||
| 50842 | Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll | |
| 77188 | Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | |
| 11077 | And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie | |
| (also within DB 53999) | ||
| 56114 | Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery | |
| (also within DB 50475) | ||
| 51074 | Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand | |
| 26026 | Beloved by Toni Morrison | |
| 62431 | The Book Thief by Markus Zusak | |
| 65402 | The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz | |
| 49486 | The Call of the Wild by Jack London | |
| 48063 | Catch-22 by Joseph Heller | |
| 47480 | Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger | |
| 74950 | Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White | |
| 50083 | Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis | |
| 52680 | Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel | |
| 57412 | Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah | |
| 58842 | The Color Purple by Alice Walker | |
| 56946 | Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas | |
| 50147 | Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky | |
| 56893 | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon | |
| 55735 | The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown | |
| 24290 | Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes | |
| 26423 | Doña Bárbára by Rómulo Gallegos | |
| 44126 | Dune by Frank Herbert | |
| 74504 | Fifty Shades of Grey series by E.L. James | |
| 36176 | Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews | |
| 80139 | Foundation series by Isaac Asimov | |
| book 1 10365, book 2 80139, book 3 10610 | ||
| 25835 | Frankenstein by Mary Shelley | |
| 45742 | Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin | |
| Prequel Companion 80183, Prequel Anthology 80183 | ||
| book 1 45742, book 2 49913, book 3 51406, | ||
| book 4 62348, book 5 73557 | ||
| 85921 | Ghost by Jason Reynolds | |
| 59561 | Gilead by Marilynne Robinson | |
| 37689 | The Giver by Lois Lowry | |
| 25677 | The Godfather by Mario Puzo | |
| 74888 | Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn | |
| 33082 | Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell | |
| 68308 | The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck | |
| 53991 | Great Expectations by Charles Dickens | |
| 16147 | The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald | |
| 23150 | Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift | |
| 24695 | The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood | |
| Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling | ||
| book 1 47260, book 2 48437, book 3 48772, book 4 50228, | ||
| book 5 56062, book 6 60262, book 7 64495 | ||
| 30535 | Hatchet by Gary Paulsen | |
| 12613 | Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad | |
| 68889 | The Help by Kathryn Stockett | |
| 18339 | Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams | |
| Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins | ||
| book 1 68384, book 2 69689, book 3, 71734 | ||
| 21513 | The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy | |
| 56346 | Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison | |
| 47868 | Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë | |
| 29021 | The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan | |
| 32018 | Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton | |
| 47462 | Left Behind by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins | |
| 44071 | The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | |
| 18128 | Little Women by Louisa May Alcott | |
| Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurtry | ||
| book 1 43928, book 2 45001, book 3 22959, book 4 37323 | ||
| 61873 | Looking for Alaska by John Green | |
| The Lord of the Rings (series) by J.R.R. Tolkien | ||
| prequel 48978, book 1 47486, book 2 47487, book 3 47488 | ||
| 54698 | The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold | |
| 78389 | The Martian by Andy Weir | |
| 45008 | Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden | |
| 34184 | Moby-Dick by Herman Melville | |
| 43180 | The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks | |
| 25181 | One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez | |
| Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon | ||
| book 1 36535, book 2 36536, book 3 38591, book 4 43320 | ||
| book 5 53366, book 6 61201, book 7 70073, book 8 79331 | ||
| 22433 | The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton | |
| 56794 | The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde | |
| 59950 | The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan | |
| 30999 | The Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follett | |
| 50549 | Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen | |
| 73772 | Ready Player One by Ernest Cline | |
| 11106 | Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier | |
| 67237 | The Shack by William P. Young | |
| 52190 | Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse | |
| 15759 | The Sirens Of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut | |
| 12942 | The Stand by Stephen King | |
| 34114 | The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway | |
| 26498 | Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon | |
| Tales of The City series by Armistead Maupin | ||
| book 1 39531, book 2 39602, book 3 39603, book 4 39604, | ||
| book 5 39605, book 6 39606, book 7 65336, book 8 72107, | ||
| book 9 78276 | ||
| 35745 | Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston | |
| 47510 | Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe | |
| 29252 | This Present Darkness by Frank. E. Peretti | |
| 36414 | To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee | |
| Twilight Saga series by Stephanie Meyer | ||
| book 1 82750, book 2 64367, book 3 65812, book 4 67238 | ||
| 67136 | War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy | |
| 25982 | Watchers by Dean Koontz | |
| The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon | ||
| Sanderson | ||
| prequel 57628, book 1 57628, book 2 34701, book 3 34702, | ||
| book 4 36984, book 5 37569, book 6 39661, book 7 43043, | ||
| book 8 47082, book 9 51203, book 10 55506, book 11 62078, | ||
| book 12 70020, book 13 71926, book 14 76085 | ||
| 32449 | Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls | |
| 50261 | White Teeth by Zadie Smith | |
| 25178 | Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë |
Talking Book & Braille Service Volunteer Celebration
The Nebraska Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service celebrated the work of our volunteers at a luncheon on April 18, 2018. Volunteers are indispensable in serving Nebraskans who use Talking Books. Of the 35 active volunteers, many record magazines and books of regional interest. Others prepare national books for check out.
The Nebraska Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service thanks all the volunteers who play an integral part in serving Nebraskans with disabilities. We provide free audio books and magazines and braille reading materials. Nebraskans receive reading selections through the mail or digital download. The service is available to individuals with a visual or physical condition, or a reading disability, which limits the use of regular print.
Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner presented a special recognition to three volunteers:
- Norman Simon started volunteering with Talking Book and Braille Service shortly after 9-11. He began as a narrator, went through training, and became a producer in the recording studios. During the volunteer luncheon on April 18, 2018, Rod Wagner presented Norman an Admiralship in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska in appreciation of 15 years as a volunteer with us.
- Jane Hood was recognized for five years as a volunteer narrator.
- Amy Eidenmiller’s graduation from Doane University was also celebrated. At Talking Books, she prepares a variety of materials for mailing.
For more information, see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/tbbs/. To volunteer, contact Annette Hall, Volunteer Services Coordinator, 402-471-4033, 800-742-7691, email.
NCompass Live: Non-Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) to the Good Life
Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Non-Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) to the Good Life’, on Wednesday, November 22, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
Blind and visually impaired people use screen readers and other assistive technology to access computers. This presentation will focus on how free screen readers can be used in the library to help visually impaired patrons gain equal access to information. Learn how screen readers work and how to set up a computer station for the blind. The presenter will also provide an overview of how to make your websites more screen reader friendly. A virtual handout will be available with some helpful information, including resources for both librarians and patrons to learn how to operate screen readers.
Presenter: Amanda Sweet, Reader Services Advisor, Talking Book and Braille Service, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Nov. 29 – Libraries Rock! : Summer Reading Program 2018
- Dec. 6 – Guerrilla Storytime
- Dec. 13 How to Choose Your News: Educating College Students on Identifying Bias
- Dec. 27 – The Next Best Thing to Having Your Own Gigabit Internet
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Talking Books: Helping Patrons All Over Nebraska!
Join us for the next NCompass Live, ‘Talking Books: Helping Patrons All Over Nebraska!’, on Wednesday, October 4, 10:00am – 11:00am CT.
Join Scott Scholz, Director of the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book & Braille Service, to learn about the free audiobooks, audio magazines, and braille that are available through the TBBS. Scott will also talk about the various services that come together to provide accessibility to different kinds of resources for people with reading disabilities.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Oct. 11 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – Enjoy the 2017 NLA/NSLA Annual Conference!
- Oct. 18 – ALA Book Club Central
- Oct. 25 – Google Forms for Your Library
- Nov. 8 – Using YA Literature to Inspire Teen Girls’ Interests in STEM
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Talking Book and Braille Service Celebrates Volunteers
The Nebraska Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service celebrated the work of our volunteers at a luncheon on April 6, 2017. Pamela Davenport, a consultant from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) in The Library of Congress, thanked the volunteers for their contributions. NLS administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail through a national network of cooperating libraries, including the Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service.
Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner presented a special recognition to three volunteers:
- Marjory Gloe, who has narrated books and magazines for twenty-five years and is known for her infectious enthusiasm.
- John Sposato, who sorts new books into sets and has volunteered for twenty years, starting in audio duplication.
- Jerry Hall, who has volunteered for fifteen years and does a variety of tasks in readers services.
Retiring volunteer narrators Cherie Frederick and Karen Boyer, who are two of the voices behind the talking books recorded here at the Nebraska Library Commission, were also recognized.
The Nebraska Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service thanks all the volunteers who play an integral part in serving Nebraskans with disabilities. We provide free audiobooks and audio magazines and braille through the mail and through digital download to individuals with a visual or physical condition, or a reading disability, which limits the use of regular print. For more information see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/tbbs/. To volunteer, contact Annette Hall, Volunteer Services Coordinator, 402-471-4033, 800-742-7691, email.
Behind the Scenes: Learn about Recording Talking Books
If you have ever wondered how a book becomes a talking book, you can find out in the most recent edition of the NCB News from the Nebraska Center for the Book. The Nebraska Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service creates audio versions of print materials for the use of Nebraskans with a visual or physical condition or a reading disability that limits the use of regular print. The activities of staff and volunteers throughout the process of mapping, narration, review, postproduction, markup, and duplication are described in an article in the Spring 2017 NCB News (page 9 at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/docs/publications/NCBNewsSpring2017.pdf). For more information see http://nlc.nebraska.gov/tbbs/. To volunteer as a narrator, contact Annette Hall, Volunteer Services Coordinator, 402-471-4033, 800-742-7691, email.
Talking Book Advisory Committee Seeks Nominees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 17, 2016
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Scholz
402-471-6553
800-742-7691
Talking Book Advisory Committee Seeks Nominees
Two vacancies currently exist on the Advisory Committee to the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. The purpose of the committee is to represent the needs of talking book and Braille borrowers and to make recommendations concerning library policies, services, and programs. Membership consists primarily of library users but may include librarians, educators, health care providers, and others who understand the needs of individuals with disabilities. The committee normally meets twice a year.
The Talking Book and Braille Service provides free talking books, magazines, playback equipment, and Braille to any resident of Nebraska who cannot see regular print, or hold a book, or turn its pages. Books and magazines are received and returned through the mail postage-free or downloaded directly from the Internet. Persons interested in serving on the committee should contact Scott Scholz, Talking Book and Braille Service Director, 1200 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, NE 68508-2023. Phone: 402-471-6553 or 800-742-7691, fax: 402-471-6244, email: nlc.talkingbook@nebraska.gov. Deadline: March 20, 2017.
As Nebraska’s state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services-“bringing together people and information.”
The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
Scott Scholz: Director of the Talking Book and Braille Service
Congratulations to Scott Scholz, who recently completed his MLS degree from the University of Missouri. Scott joined the Library Commission in 2005 to take what might be described as the perfect job for someone with his interest in reading and qualifications for recording. We are fortunate his wife Heidi found the original job posting for circulation manager that led him to us. In recent years, he has taken a leadership role on a number of NLC projects, including moving lower level operations to a new space on the first floor of the Atrium Building in 2014, helping Nebraska become the first state to convert its magazine recording program to digital format in 2010, and implementing assembly and review procedures in the TBBS studios. Currently, Scott is performing the work of two staff, as both the Acting Director of the Talking Book and Braille Service and the Circulation and Audio Production Coordinator.
Scott’s commitment to books, culture, and community makes the Talking Book and Braille Service hum, and he is a devoted advocate for Nebraskans who are unable to use traditional print. This interest started early, in Columbus, NE, where Scott was raised only two blocks from the Columbus Public Library and served as a volunteer for summer reading programs. As a young reader, he was interested in all kinds of fiction and nonfiction, from Encyclopedia Brown to science books. While working at a bookstore in high school, Scott developed an interest in music and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music composition from the University of Denver. Scott lists authors David Foster Wallace, William S. Burroughs, and Miranda July among his current favorites, along with interests in Surrealist and Dada literature and history.
Outside of library work, Scott hosts a podcast called Words on Sounds, writes for several online publications, and runs a boutique experimental music label. Scott writes about and reviews experimental music to promote artists and connect with others who share the same passion for the underground music scene.
Scott credits Glee Nelson (the former children’s librarian at Columbus Public Library), and Kurt Cylke (former director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped) as influences on his career path.
On the home front, Scott has been married to Heidi Uhing for 13 years and they share their residence with two dogs, Olive and Izzy, as well as some backyard chickens. As a Lincolnite, Scott appreciates what is happening in the local arts and culture community, and the ease and beauty of life in Nebraska. As a staff member of the Library Commission, we hope he stays for a very long time, because nobody could ever replace him and what he offers to our staff and to our patrons.
.
NLC Staff: Meet Amanda Sweet
Meet Amanda Sweet who joined our staff in August as a Library Reader’s Advisor for our Talking Book and Braille service.
Amanda was born in Milwaukee, WI and was raised in the small town of St. Francis, near Lake Michigan. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English with an Emphasis in Publishing from Carleton College. After a brief stint with a literary agency in New York City, she decided to veer away from the making of books and shifted to the circulation of books in the library. As long as she is near a book, she is happy.
It was while working for Beyond Vision, a nonprofit that employs 85% blind and visually impaired individuals, that she began her Masters in Library and Information Science at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. At Beyond Vision she heard tell of some difficulties in raising awareness for TBBS services and she decided it was time to get more involved with the service as a whole. Here at the Commission, she loves the personal interaction she gets with patrons and will be completing her degree in December. If all else fails with the library career, she will content herself as a professional Dorito taster.
Amanda is a lifelong user of libraries and generally has at least one book in her oversized purse at all times. Some of her favorite authors include Sherman Alexie, Patricia Briggs, Dean Koontz, Richelle Mead, and many others. In her spare time she makes jewelry for the Etsy site she shares with her father- Sweetwater Creations. She lives with her boyfriend Sean and, since their move, they both have a craving for Oakland Gyros Greek Restaurant back in Milwaukee. The silver lining is that Amanda loves the people here in Lincoln as well as the new bead store/ art gallery she stumbled upon. Ideally, she would spend her entire weekend holed up with a gyro while reading, watching movies, making jewelry, and mindlessly surfing the web. We are grateful Amanda has joined us.
.
Talking Book Advisory Committee Seeks Nominees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 5, 2016
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Scholz
402-471-6553
800-742-7691
Talking Book Advisory Committee Seeks Nominees
Three vacancies currently exist on the Advisory Committee to the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. The purpose of the committee is to represent the needs of talking book and Braille borrowers and to make recommendations concerning library policies, services, and programs. Membership consists primarily of library users but may include librarians, educators, health care providers, and others who understand the needs of individuals with disabilities. The committee normally meets twice a year.
The Talking Book and Braille Service provides free talking books, magazines, playback equipment, and Braille to any resident of Nebraska who cannot see regular print, or hold a book, or turn its pages. Books and magazines are received and returned through the mail postage-free or downloaded directly from the Internet. Persons interested in serving on the committee should contact Talking Book and Braille Service, 1200 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, NE 68508-2023. Phone: 402-471-6553 or 800-742-7691, fax: 402-471-6244, email: nlc.talkingbook@nebraska.gov. Deadline: March 15, 2016.
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”
###
The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
NCompass Live: From the Basement to the West Wing: The Talking Book & Braille Service’s New Space
Join us for next week’s NCompass Live, “From the Basement to the West Wing: The Talking Book & Braille Service’s New Space”, on Wednesday, July 22, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.
Several Nebraska Library Commission staff members and volunteers describe the long process of moving the Talking Book & Braille Service stacks, circulation, duplication and studio operations out of the basement to prime space on the first-floor and show off the results.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- July 29 – Library Challenge: The Amazing Library Race
- Aug. 5 – The Secret Art of Patron Driven e-book Acquisition: A snapshot of cost and control
- Aug. 12 – The New Accreditation Guidelines as a Planning Tool
- Aug. 19 – Meeting the Unique Needs of Teens
- Aug. 26 – Could a Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament Be Your Next Fundraiser?
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
One Book, One Nebraska Selection Now Ready for Talking Book Borrowers
Death Zones and Darling Spies is now available at Talking Books.
The 2015 One Book, One Nebraska selection, Death Zones and Darling Spies: Seven Years of Vietnam Reporting, is now available on cartridge directly from the Talking Book and Braille Service (TBBS). Written by Beverly Deepe Keever and narrated in our studios by Judy Hanefeldt, the book can be ordered by TBBS borrowers as DBC 760. It can also be downloaded directly from BARD, a website hosted by the Library of Congress for talking book borrowers.The book is written by a Nebraska farm girl turned journalist who became the longest-serving American correspondent covering the Vietnam War. The author earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination. With compelling prose, Beverly Deepe Keever tells personal and human stories that are matched by her insights regarding the war’s political and military strategies. She draws form interviews with generals, politicians, American marines, captured North Vietnamese soldiers, Buddhist monks, and Viet Cong officials.
Talking Book Advisory Committee Seeks Nominees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2015
FOR MORE INFORMATION
David Oertli
402-471-4005
800-742-7691
Talking Book Advisory Committee Seeks Nominees
Four vacancies currently exist on the Advisory Committee to the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. The purpose of the committee is to represent the needs of talking book and Braille borrowers and to make recommendations concerning library policies, services, and programs. Membership consists primarily of library users but may include librarians, educators, health care providers, and others who understand the needs of individuals with disabilities. The committee normally meets twice a year.
The Talking Book and Braille Service provides free talking books, magazines, playback equipment, and Braille to any resident of Nebraska who cannot see regular print, or hold a book, or turn its pages. Books and magazines are received and returned through the mail postage-free or are downloaded directly from the Internet. Persons interested in serving on the committee should contact Talking Book and Braille Service, 1200 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, NE 68508-2023. Phone: 402-471-4005 or 800-742-7691, fax: 402-471-6244, email: nlc.talkingbook@nebraska.gov. Deadline: March 15.
As Nebraska’s state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services-“bringing together people and information.”
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
First Nebraska-Produced Talking Book Now Downloadable
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 19, 2014
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mary Jo Ryan
402-471-3434
800-307-2665
When the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service (TBBS) recorded I Am a Man: Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice, it enabled Nebraskans with a print-related disability to participate in the 2012 One Book One Nebraska statewide reading program. Now Nebraska’s recording is available for direct download to any qualifying U.S. resident through the Library of Congress’ Braille and Audio Reading Download service (BARD).
Written by Nebraska author Joe Starita and narrated by Alice Timm, this book is the first Nebraska Library Commission studio production to be offered through BARD online downloading. The book chronicles what happened when Chief Standing Bear undertook a 600-mile trek to return the body of his only son to their ancestral burial ground.
In recognition of Nebraska’s efforts, Library of Congress National Library Service Director Karen Keninger offered her congratulations, “Thank you for participating in the network-produced audiobooks on BARD pilot. I am pleased to inform you that your book . . . is now available on BARD. The posting of your book to BARD marks an important milestone in our efforts to increase the quantity of materials available on BARD.”
Launched in 2009 by the Library of Congress, BARD allows qualifying U.S. residents to download encrypted files of audio books and magazines, Braille, and music instruction materials. Materials can be accessed through home computers or through a mobile app for use with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch device. Currently 354 Nebraskans participate in BARD—9% of TBBS borrowers—many more could be eligible (see application instructions at https://nlsbard.loc.gov/NLS/ApplicationInstructions.html). For more information see https://nlsbard.loc.gov/login/NE1A or contact nlc.talkingbook@nebraska.gov, 402-471-4038, 800-742-7691.
As Nebraska’s state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services-“bringing together people and information.”
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
Talking Book Advisory Committee Seeks Nominees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2014
FOR MORE INFORMATION
David Oertli
402-471-4005
800-742-7691
david.oertli@nebraska.gov
Talking Book Advisory Committee Seeks Nominees
Two vacancies currently exist on the Advisory Committee to the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. The purpose of the committee is to represent the needs of talking book and Braille borrowers and to make recommendations concerning library policies, services, and programs. Membership consists primarily of library users but may include librarians, educators, health care providers, and others who understand the needs of individuals with disabilities. The committee normally meets twice a year.
The Talking Book and Braille Service provides free talking books, magazines, playback equipment, and Braille to any resident of Nebraska who cannot see regular print, or hold a book, or turn its pages. Books and magazines are received and returned through the mail postage-free or are downloaded directly from the Internet. Persons interested in serving on the committee should contact Talking Book and Braille Service, 1200 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, NE 68508-2023. Phone: 402-471-4005 or 800-742-7691, fax: 402-471-6244, email: nlc.talkingbook@nebraska.gov.
As Nebraska’s state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services-“bringing together people and information.”
###
The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
NCompass Live: New to Talking Book & Braille Service: Downloads and Apps!
Join us for the next NCompass Live: “New to Talking Book & Braille Service: Downloads and Apps!”, on Wednesday, November 20, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.
There are a few new ways to read talking books. For borrowers who use computers, the National Library Service BARD website allows for downloadable books that can be used with our digital players, and for borrowers with iPhones or iPads, a new app makes reading on mobile devices a breeze! Scott Scholz, from the NLC’s Talking Book and Braille Service, will demo these new options for TBBS users.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Nov. 27 – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: Excel at Rearranging Your Library
- Dec. 4 – Best New Youth Books of 2013
- Dec. 11 – Turning Your Library Around – Part 2: 4 Years Later
- Dec. 18 – To Bake or Not to Bake: Library Cake Pan Collection
- Dec. 26 (Thursday) – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: SHOG.US – Share with Flare
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
How to read when you’re blind
Ron McCallum was born blind. Regardless, he managed to fall in love with reading soon after. In this funny and heartfelt talk, he tours the history of reading gear for the blind and shows how each new design has impacted his life.
Professor Ron McCallum AO is one of Australia’s most respected industrial and discrimination lawyers and a prominent human rights advocate. With a long and successful career as a legal academic and teacher, in 1993 he became the first totally blind person appointed to a full professorship at any Australian university when he became Professor in Industrial Law at the University of Sydney.
He served as Dean of the University of Sydney Law School for 5 years and is now an Emeritus Professor. Ron is a leading light in the disabled community, working for equality among all Australians. He is also Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2011, Ron was named Senior Australian of the Year. His interests include reading, listening to music and meditation.
