Talking Book News Bulletin, Summer 2014

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Disability News
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Automatic Selection Categories

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Director's Report

Greetings! Here is the latest news:

Our email address is changing: Please note that our email address has changed to tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov.  Our old email address is still working but will be discontinued in the near future.  For other email addresses that are changing, please check out the “Helpful Contact Information” at the end of this column.

A new Public Awareness Coordinator: Many of you knew Ruth Wedergren, who was TBP’s Public Awareness Coordinator for the last few years; Ruth left TBP earlier this year at the end of February. While we have been in the process of hiring a new coordinator, Saidah Ochoa, one of our Reader’s Advisory Librarians, has stepped in and taken on the job of traveling around the state to promote TBP and its services. Our new coordinator, Heather Bailey, will be starting on August 1, 2014. If you would like to contact the Public Awareness Office about scheduling a visit or having brochures and bookmarks sent to you, please call 1-800-252-9605 and ask for the Public Awareness Coordinator or send an email to tbp.info@tsl.texas.gov.

Books recorded by TBP are now available on BARD: For a long time, we have been hoping that the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) would allow us to upload to BARD some of the books we record here in our studio in Austin. NLS began allowing the uploading of a small number of recordings from local studios earlier this year, and we were very pleased to have the very first local recording on BARD. As we go to press with this column, we now have five books on BARD and will be uploading more as they become ready.  If you have a BARD account, you may go to BARD and download these titles immediately. If you are interested in reading one of these titles in digital cartridge or large print (if available), please call 1-800-252-9605 or send an email to tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov, and ask for the available format.

•        DBC00008 Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall, et al. Also available in

DT06944 or LB 06315

•        DBC00009 Twelve Mighty Orphans by Jim Dent.  Also available in DT 07025

•        DBC00011 Hank the Cowdog: The Case of the Coyote Invasion by John R. Erickson. Also available in DT 07110

•        DBC00012 Cat’s Claw by Susan Wittig Albert.  Also available in DT 07108 or

LB 07109

•        DBC00010 Perfectamente Descarada by Emily McKay (in Spanish and narrated by TBP’s Saidah Ochoa).  Also available in DT 07155 or LB 05218

Book club news:  Please read the inserts in this newsletter on upcoming book club programs in 2014. Next up is Ready Player One by Ernest Cline on September 25, 2014, at 7:00 p.m; the author will be joining in the conversation.  The next Spanish book club will feature Zorro: Una Novela by Isabel Allende on August 21, 2014. To make a reservation, please call 1-800-252-9605 or send an email to tbp.ral@tsl.texas.gov

Helpful contact information for the Talking Book Program:


Until next time,
Ava Smith, Director, Talking Book Program

Disability News

Welcome to the first Disability News column! The Disability Information & Referral Center (DIRC) has been a part of the Talking Book Program for decades, but did you know that anyone in Texas can contact DIRC staff for disability and health-related information?

Here are a few examples of information we provide:

• Contact information for low vision services and technology.

• Sources for amplified telephones and hearing-related organizations

• Resources for higher education and employment

• Research on health topics such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, or spinal injuries

• The DIRC can help you find resources at the national, state, and local level.

So here is the first news item for the column. VisionAware is offering a free “Getting Started” kit for individuals with low vision. Topics in the packet include talking to your doctor, home safety tips, and an introduction to technology. Visit www.visionaware.org to either download the kit, or request one by mail. You can also call the DIRC at 800-252-9605, or email tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov. We have some kits in stock. We can also provide other low vision information.

 

Call the Disability Information and Referral Center toll-free at
1-800-252-9605 for information about disabilities and health conditions

 

Texas Talking Books will be closed for these holidays

Monday, September 1st -Labor Day

Of course, you can leave a voicemail message or send e-mail on a holiday.

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 Upcoming Book Club Meeting

All you need to participate in Book Club is a telephone.  Please call 1-800-252-9605 or email tbp.ral@tsl.texas.gov to RSVP.  Dates are subject to change. You can find the 2014 Book Club titles listed in one of the inserts of this newsletter.

Thursday, September 25, 2014. 7:00-8:00 p.m. Central Time.

(RSVP by September 4th)

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. (Author will join the discussion!) 2045. Multibillionaire James Halliday dies, leaving his last will and testament online for the world to see. His massively multiplayer online game OASIS has a hidden feature -an Easter egg- and the person who finds the egg first wins Halliday's fortune. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2011.

 

Automatic Selection Categories

The computer can select books for you automatically from any of these categories. Contact us to add or change categories for your service.

 

FICTION CATEGORIES

ADVENTURE (ADV) – Fictional, action packed adventure stories

AFRICAN AMERICAN FICTION (AFAF) – Fiction by and about African Americans

AMERICAN FICTION IN ENGLISH (813) – Fiction written in English by American authors

AWARD BOOKS (AWBK) – Books that have won literary awards (Newberry, Pulitzer Prize, etc.)

BESTSELLING FICTION (BESF) – Bestselling works of fiction

          Published all years

          Published in a single year (specify year)

BESTSELLING ROMANCE (BES-ROM) – Bestselling works of romantic fiction

BIOGRAPHICAL FICTION (BOGF) – A fictionalized account of the life of a real person

CHRISTIAN FICTION (CHRF) – Fiction that has Christian themes and reinforces Christian values

CLASSIC FICTION (CLAF) – Includes noteworthy fiction, often critically acclaimed, that stands the test of time

ENGLISH FICTION (823) – Fiction written by English authors in the English language

FANTASY FICTION (FAT) – Based on the imagination of the author, often involves magic and supernatural beings such as fairies, wizards and trolls

GENERAL FICTION (GFI) – Fiction not classified as a particular genre

GOTHIC FICTION (GOH) –Romance and mystery fiction with a supernatural element such as eerie setting, ghosts, etc.

HISTORICAL FICTION (HIF) – Fictional stories that take place in the past

HISTORICAL FICTION SET IN ENGLAND (HIF-ENG) – Stories that are set in England and take place in the past

HISTORICAL FICTION SET IN USA (HIF-USA) – Stories that are set in America and take place in the past

HORROR TALES (HORR) – Terror-inducing stories

HUMAN RELATIONS (HUM) – Stories that focus on interpersonal relationships

HUMOROUS FICTION (HUR) – Primarily funny stories; may include some humorous nonfiction

LEGAL STORIES (LEGF) – Stories that feature legal proceedings and have legal personnel or lawyers as the main character

MEDICAL STORIES (MEDF) – Fictional stories that feature medical personnel or that take place in a medical setting such as a hospital or doctor’s office

MYSTERY FICTION (MYS) – Fiction that features a crime to be solved or a secret to uncover

MYSTERY FICTION SET IN ENGLAND (MYS-ENG) – Fiction that features a crime to be solved or a secret to uncover, set in England

MYSTERY FICTION SET IN USA (MYS-USA) – Fiction that features a crime to be solved or a secret to uncover, set in America

MYSTERY FICTION IN LARGE PRINT (MYSLB) – Large print mystery titles

OCCULT FICTION (OCC) – Fiction that may include elements of witchcraft, voodoo, psychic phenomena or the like

PARANORMAL ROMANCE – Romance stories that feature supernatural creatures such as vampires, werewolves etc.

POLITICAL FICTION (POLF) – Fiction about politicians, political parties and government

PSYCHOLOGICAL FICTION (PSF) – Fiction in which the story primarily takes place in the mind of a character; often deals with a character’s internal struggles and involves internal dialogue

REGENCY ROMANCE (REGROM) – Romance fiction that is set in late 18th and early 19th century up to the reign of Queen Victoria

RELIGIOUS FICTION (RELF) – Fiction with religious themes

ROMANCE FICTION (ROM) – Love stories

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE (ROMSUS) – Love stories with an element of suspense or danger

SEA STORIES (SEA) – Fictional stories of adventures on the high seas

SCIENCE FICTION (SFI) – Stories that imagine future worlds with advanced technologies; also includes stories in which humans confront alien cultures or environments

SHORT STORIES (SHO) – Short works of fiction

SPICY ROMANCE FICTION (ROX) – Romance stories with heavy or explicit sex

SPORTS FICTION (SPT) – Fiction titles about sports

SPY FICTION (SPY) -Fiction about espionage against nations, individuals, or large organizations

SUPERNATURAL FICTION (SUPF) – Stories that feature elements of forces beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature; may include vampires, werewolves, ghosts, witches, etc.

SUSPENSE FICTION (SUS) – Fast-moving, suspenseful stories that feature dangerous situations

TEXAS FICTION (TEXF) – Fiction by Texas authors or set in Texas         

WAR STORIES (WAR) – Fictional accounts of soldiers or wartime events

WESTERN FICTION (WES) – Stories set in the Western U.S. that often include the adventures of cowboys, Indians, and early lawmen

WOMEN DETECTIVES, FICTION (WDETF) – Fiction featuring female detectives

YOUNG ADULT FICTION (YF) – Fiction considered to be of interest to young adult readers and written to appeal to that age group; main characters tend to be young adults

 

NONFICTION CATEGORIES

 

AFRICAN AMERICAN NONFICTION (AFAF) – Nonfiction works by and about African Americans

AUTOBIOGRAPHIES (ABIO) – Accounts of individuals’ lives as told by those individuals

BESTSELLING NONFICTION (BESN) – Bestselling works of nonfiction

BIOGRAPHY (920) – Detailed accounts of individuals’ lives

CHRISTIAN LIFE (CHRLIFE) – Books on how to live a Christian life

MEDICINE/HEALTH/NUTRITION (610) – Books about medicine, health and nutrition

MUSIC (780) – Includes biographies of musicians, the history of music, music theory, and the cultural significance of music

POETRY (811) – Poetry for all ages, anthologies of poetry, and some criticism

SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES (SELF-HELP) – General and specific techniques for self help

RELIGIOUS NONFICTION (RELN) – Nonfiction works with religious themes

SPORTS NONFICTION (SPOR) – Nonfiction titles about sports

TRAVEL (910) – Travel guides and travel memoirs

TRUE CRIME (CRIM) – Nonfiction titles that deal with crime, criminals, and law enforcement who try to catch and prosecute them

U.S. HISTORY (973) – History of the United States of America

WORLD HISTORY (930) – History of the world, both ancient and modern

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION (YN) – Topics considered to be of interest to young adult readers and written to appeal to that age group

 

CATEGORIES THAT INCLUDE BOTH FICTION AND NONFICTION

 

ANIMAL STORIES (ANIM) – Stories about animals, both fiction and nonfiction

BESTSELLERS (BES) – Bestselling works of fiction and nonfiction

INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA (IND-NA) – Books about indigenous peoples of North America

INSPIRATIONAL (INSR) – Inspirational works, both fiction and nonfiction

JUVENILE FICTION & NONFICTION (DIGI, JF3/JN3 and up) – Books of interest for children from infancy through Grade 9 (specify reading level)

LARGE PRINT (LB) – Fiction and nonfiction in Large Print

LITERATURE (800) – Includes biographies of authors, letters, essays, satire, speeches, plays, and some fiction

MOVIES MADE FROM BOOKS (MMFB) – Books that have been made into films

PRINT/BRAILLE – Books in Braille accompanied by print text

SPANISH LANGUAGE (SPA) – Books in Spanish, both fiction and nonfiction

TALKING BOOK PROGRAM NEWSLETTER BOOKS (TBPNEWS) – Books featured in any TBP news bulletin since 2005

TEXANA (TEX) – Texas authors and/or Texas subjects, both fiction and nonfiction

WARS – WWII (WWII) – Books about World War II (1932-1945)

 

Talking Book Program
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
PO Box 12927
Austin TX 78711-2927
1-800-252-9605 (in Texas)
512-463-5458 (in Austin)
512-936-0685 (fax)
tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov

 

Page last modified: July 30, 2014