[Litbl] LITBL NEWS

[LITBL News]

LITBL News is a "Read Only" listserv for Long Island Talking Book Library
patrons -- and anyone interested in the Talking Book program. It is designed
to distribute interesting and informative resources. This is not designed to
be a discussion list. If you have questions or comments about Talking Books,
please call us at 1-866-833-1122 or email us at lbph at suffolk.lib.ny.us. 


In this email:

1.National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
2.Cassette Books and Machines Are Now Digital Books and Machines
3.Downloadable Books from NLS

1. National Library Service (Talking Book Program)

If you are receiving this email, you are most likely already receiving the
Talking Books. However, you may want to share this email with others that
may be interested in registering for the program. Please feel free to
forward this email. 

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
(NLS)is a division of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. For the
past 76 years, NLS has provided books in audio and Braille formats for
people with disabilities. The books are delivered "free of charge" directly
to patron's homes through the United States mail. This is a federally-funded
library services that is designed to provide access to library materials in
alternative formats for people who cannot read print. 

Individuals may be eligible for this service if they have a "temporary" or
"permanent" visual, physical or learning disability. If you cannot hold,
handle or see well enough to read a regular print book -- if you cannot
comfortably hold a book or turn the page because of arthritis or other
mobility problems such as a broken arm or because of a recent surgery, if
you have low vision, are visually impaired or blind -- or if you have a
learning disability that can be documented by a Medical Doctor-- you may be
eligible to receive the Talking Books. 

The books are the same type of books you would find at your public library
-- best sellers, biographies, westerns, romance, fiction, non-fiction,
children's, adults, etc., etc. --- reading for all ages!

Applications are available by contacting us at 1-866-833-1122, email to
lbph at suffolk.lib.ny.us or by downloading an application from our website at
www.litbl.org .


2. Cassette Books and Machines Are Now Digital Books and Machines

For more than 40 years, the Talking Books have been produced on a four track
cassette tape. The cassettes have been played on a four-track cassette
machine. In mid-2009, the National Library Service (NLS) began distributing
the Talking Books in a digital format. The new digital books are produced on
a "cartridge". The cartridges are played on a digital machine. One cartridge
will hold an entire book, therefore, the containers that are sent to patrons
are smaller and slimmer, than in the past. 

The National Library Service has also designed two types of digital machines
-- a standard machine and an advanced machine. The standard machine performs
all of the basic player functions, such as play, pause, fast forward, rewind
and more. The advanced machine can perform all of these functions, along
with searching, book-marking, dictionary, spelling functions and much more.
The digital machines are also smaller and more slim-line. The machines'
controls are easier to navigate and the sound quality is far superior to
that of the cassette machine. The new machine is light-weight and easier to
carry and has a longer battery life, that will provide many hours of
uninterrupted listening. If you would like to try the new digital books and
machine, please contact us. 


3. Downloadable Digital Books from the National Library Service

Along with the new digital cartridges and machines. The National Library
Service (NLS)has created a website that offers Talking Books patrons more
than 20,000 downloadable titles of books. The website is called the BARD --
Braille and Recorded Audio Downloads -- it is for use with the NLS
cartridges and machines. You will need to purchase your own flash drive in
order to download the books from BARD. 

You must be a registered Talking Book patron, in good standing, in order to
use the BARD site. 

If you are interested in downloading digital books from the National Library
Service BARD site, go to: nlsbard.loc.gov and select the BARD Application
link. Fill out the application form and BARD will send you a temporary
password that will log you into the BARD site so you can get started with
your downloads. 

***Be sure to choose the "Long Island Talking Book Library in Bellport" as
your local library for the blind. 

If you have any questions about the BARD application or download process,
please call or email us at the Long Island Talking Book Library.
1-866-833-1122 or lbph at suffolk.lib.ny.us