Talking Book News Bulletin
Summer 2023

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From the Director
Many Faces of BARD
NLS Patron Listserv
TBP Poetry Contest
TBP iPads Coming Soon
Braille Calendars
NFB-Newsline®
2023 Texas Great Read Selections
Holidays

New Titles Recorded by Volunteer Studio

(PDF), (RTF), (MP3), (BRF)

From the Director

What a busy and exciting year it has been so far for the Talking Book Program. Some of the highlights include: the NLS Braille Zoomax E-Reader circulating to our braille patrons, assisting NLS with testing the new digital talking book machines, and our new iPads for loan—which will start circulating later in the year. Keep an eye out for more information on our blog and future newsletters.

For those of you interested in braille, for more than 20 years the Braille Revival League of Texas has been dedicated to preserving, promoting, and valuing braille as an essential mode of communication and path to literacy for people who are blind or have low vision. For more information, contact President, Michael Garrett at megarrett4443@sbcglobal.net. Braille gives feelings to words.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has instituted new policies for pickup of packages such as braille and digital books due to staff shortages, turnover, and seasonal workers. USPS requests that patrons use the online form at https://tools.usps.com/schedule-pickup-steps.htm to schedule pickup of library materials. If you do not have computer or Internet access, you may call USPS at 800-ASK-USPS or (800) 275-8777. Patrons who already have materials picked up successfully by their carriers do not need to make any changes.

Until next time,

Ann Minner, TBP Director

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Many Faces of BARD

Patrons of all ages—young and old—have been enjoying the NLS monthly Many Faces of BARD.  live webinars. It is a great place to get your questions answered. Each session has a general theme, but there’s time at the end for questions about all things BARD.

NLS Patron Listserv

If you are looking for updates on new NLS features, events, and initiatives, we encourage you to subscribe to NLS’ Patron Announce listserv. To start receiving these email updates, they need only email NLSPES@loc.gov and ask to be added.

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TBP Poetry Contest

The sixth annual TBP poetry contest is taking place and will run through January. To participate, you must be a current and active TBP patron. Deadline for submissions is January 31, 2024. Submit poems to: TBPinfo@tsl.texas.gov

PLEASE NOTE: By submitting your poem for the TBP Poetry contest, you are giving consent and permission to the Talking Book Program, its employees, and its agents to use your poem for any purpose whatsoever, including publications, advertisements, and governmental purposes, in all kinds of media and without compensation as part of the Talking Book Program Poetry Contest. These rights are not exclusive.

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TBP iPads Coming Soon

Starting November 1, TBP will begin offering iPads for loan to our patrons! iPads come pre-loaded with the apps BARD Mobile, Be My Eyes, EyeNote, Seeing AI, and NFB Newsline, as well as the ability to download a limited number of additional apps. The loan period is six months with an option to renew. We will offer monthly “Intro to iPad” trainings via Zoom if you would like instructions on how to use your technology and stay safe online—the first training will be at the end of November.

This project has been in the works for a long time, and we would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as we’ve navigated the launch of this unprecedented lending program. If you are interested in borrowing an iPad and have not already signed up, please call 1-800-252-9605 or email TBPTraining@tsl.texas.gov to be added to the waiting list.

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Braille Calendars Available

Beginning this fall, the National Library Service will offer free braille calendars to patrons. Patrons may receive a braille wall calendar, a braille pocket calendar, or both. The calendars sent this year will be for 2024, and once a patron is subscribed, they will receive the calendars every year unless they decide to cancel. To order a braille calendar, give us a call or send an email to tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov. Patrons can also contact the DIRC for other sources for braille calendars as well as for large print calendars.

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NFB-NEWSLINE® Texas

Read Any Time and Anywhere with the Zoomax Braille E-Reader. Join NFB-NEWSLINE Texas on August 29 at 2 p.m. (CST) via Zoom for a special Zoomax Braille eReader training. You will learn ways to read news, magazines, books, and more.

NFB-NEWSLINE® is a free audio news service for anyone who is blind, low-vision, Deafblind, or otherwise print-disabled that offers access to more than 500 updated publications, emergency weather alerts, job listings, and more. Content can be accessed across multiple platforms, including the Zoomax Braille E-Reader.

Please RSVP to receive the Zoom invitation. Register online: bit.ly/3Oig2U7 or call 281-968-7634 for assistance.

For more information about the event, contact Liz Wisecarver, NFB-NEWSLINE® Texas Coordinator at lwisecarver@nfbtx.org or 281-968-7634.

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2023 Texas Great Read Youth and Adult Selections Announced

The Texas Center for the Book at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission has announced its Texas Great Read titles for 2023. The Center has chosen NELL PLANTS A TREE by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Daniel Miyares, as the 2023 Texas Great Read Youth Selection and WEST WITH GIRAFFES by Lynda Rutledge as the 2023 Texas Great Read Adult Selection!

Every year, the Library of Congress asks each state’s Center for the Book to select titles that represent the state’s literary landscape to highlight at the National Book Festival, an event showcasing the importance of books and reading. This year’s festival was held on August 12 in Washington, DC, and online. Check out the Library of Congress website (www.loc.gov/events/2023-national-book-festival/) for details. For more information on the 2023 Texas Great Read Program, visit www.tsl.texas.gov/greatreadtexas.

In honor of this event, the Texas Talking Book Program will host a Bonus Book Club meeting so that our patrons can participate in the Texas Great Read initiative. The Texas Great Read is an event sponsored by www.tsl.texas.gov/centerforthebook.

Join us for a bonus book club on Thursday, October 19 at 7 p.m. (CDT) for WEST WITH GIRAFFES by Lynda Rutledge - DB 102687.

Holidays

The Talking Book Program will be closed on Monday, September 4 for Labor Day.

 

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New Titles Recorded by the Texas Volunteer Studio

 

TBP has its own volunteer recording studio where we record fiction and non-fiction titles that are of regional interest. If you would like to browse a random sampling of these titles through automatic selection, please contact our Reader Services department at 1-800-252-9605 for more information and be sure to ask to be set up to receive the TEXAS TBP TITLE reading interests category.

Adult Fiction

Detective and Mystery Fiction:

BUM STEER: A BLANCO COUNTY MYSTERY by Ben Rehder
DBC 18855        

DEATH AT DARTMOOR by Robin Paige
DBC 18409        

IF I HAD A NICKEL by Ben Rehder
DBC 18398        

JUSTICE AT REDWILLOW by John D. Nesbitt
DBC 18619

MURDER BY THE BOOK by D.R. (Doris R.) Meredith
DBC 18412

WINK OF AN EYE by Lynn Chandler-Willis
DBC 18401        

Thrillers:

PLEASANTVILLE by Attica Locke
DBC 18656

Western Fiction:

HELL WITH THE HIDE OFF by Jim Miller
DBC 26355        

Adult Nonfiction

Cookbooks:      

HOMESICK TEXAN'S FAMILY TABLE: LONE STAR COOKING FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS by Lisa Fain
DBC 18396                                                    

History:

SIX DAYS IN HAVANA by James A. Michener
DBC 26237        

Social Sciences:       

CONSPIRACY THEORY IN AMERICA by Lance Dehaven-Smith
DBC 18869

BY ALL ACCOUNTS: GENERAL STORES AND COMMUNITY LIFE IN TEXAS AND INDIAN TERRITORY by Linda English
DBC 18860

Children’s Fiction and Nonfiction

For grades Preschool-Grade 2:

PRIETITA AND THE GHOST WOMAN = PRIETITA Y LA LLORONA by Gloria Anzaldua (Bilingual: English/Spanish) DBC 26478

SI LE HACES UNA FIESTA A UNA CERDITA = IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PARTY by Laura Joffe Numeroff
(Spanish) DBC 18597

TUN-TA-CA-TUN: MORE STORIES AND POEMS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR CHILDREN (Bilingual: English/Spanish) DBC 18410

For grades 3-6 and older:

CASE OF THE THREE-TOED TREE SLOTH by John R. Erickson
DBC 18820

For grades 4-7 and older:

I LOVE YOU, DAISY PHEW by Ruby C. Tolliver
DBC 18618        

MAXIMILIAN & THE LUCHA LIBRE CLUB: A BILINGUAL LUCHA LIBRE THRILLER by Xavier Garza
(Bilingual: English/Spanish) DBC 18792

For grades 5-8 and older:

COYOTE UNDER THE TABLE = EL COYOTE DEBAJO DE LA MESA: folktales told in Spanish and English by Joe Hayes
(Bilingual: English/Spanish) DBC 18523

RED CALICO TRADED FOR YOUNG GIRL by Martha Tannery Jones
DBC 25485

 

End of Texas Talking Book News
Summer 2023