News You Can Use

Vol. 6, No. 2

September 1999

Welcome Our New Talking Book Librarian

Your new Talking Book Librarian, Marilyn Stevenson, joined the staff of the Pinellas TBL on August 2, 1999.

"As the new Talking Book Librarian in Pinellas County, I am very pleased to be here and excited about changes coming our way. With 17 years of experience in libraries for the blind and physically handicapped I hope to bring new ideas along with an understanding of the service, its history and future development."

"I worked for the Florida Regional Library for 14 years, during which time I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters in Public Administration from UCF. I graduated from USF with a Masters in Library Science in the summer of 1996. I then moved to Nashville, first as a librarian and then assistant director of the Tennessee Regional Library. As a Florida native I longed to return home and now live in Largo."

"I enjoy reading (of course!), shopping for antiques with my newly married daughter Elizabeth, and being entertained by my cat Terrorist (and yes, she deserves her name!) As a cat lover, two of my favorite authors are Lillian Jackson Braun and Rita Mae Brown."

Please join us in welcoming Marilyn to the Pinellas Talking Book Library.

News You Can Use

The Voice of Print of the NW FL Radio Reading Service, Inc. is a non-profit organization that records on tape written material for the blind and physically impaired. The service is free for any individual who needs it. Companies or for- profit organizations will incur a charge for the service based on the volume of materials to be recorded.

Taping is done by volunteers. Items recorded on cassette are forwarded via "free matter for the blind." Recipients are responsible for mailing (and insuring, if desired) the materials they want recorded. The Voice of Print can be reached, toll free, at (888) 941-2888. Their fax number is (850) 944-3563 and they can be e-mailed at bbazo@juno.com. Materials should be sent to:

The Voice of Print

6102 Chicago Avenue

Pensacola, FL 32526

Operating expenses for this free service are obtained through fund-raising and donations. The Voice of Print is a 501C3 organization, so donations are tax exempt.

Moving Update

Progress continues to be made regarding the redesign of our new quarters located at 1330 Cleveland Street in Clearwater. The architect’s plan has been finalized and work is underway. At present, the projected move-in date is January 2000. We are excited about the new facility, which will nearly double the capacity of the library. We look forward to being better equipped to serve Pinellas residents upon its completion.

Donations Welcome

The Pinellas Talking Book Library is grateful to those who have donated funds for free library services to people with print disabilities. We acknowledge donations in writing soon after receipt and apply gifts to purchase computer equipment, descriptive videos, reference books, and other library essentials. You may designate your donation to honor a special occasion including birthdays or anniversaries, or as a memorial for friend or family. Please make your check payable to the Pinellas Talking Book Library and mail it to the address printed on the back of the newsletter. Remember to include names and addresses so we may properly acknowledge your donation or memorial. Thank you for your continuing support.

Come and Visit Us

The Pinellas Talking Book Library is equipped with state of the art technology to better serve you. Among our assistive devices are:

The Reading Edge which scans printed material and reads it aloud;

CCTV’s (closed circuit televisions) which can be used to magnify and enhance visual matter, including print and photographic;

A computer using adaptive software with a 19" screen and a program that allows for searching on the Internet with greatly enlarged images and a program which reads aloud images on the screen (can be used to read pages on the web).

We would be happy to demonstrate any of these items. If you desire to use our equipment or to pick up books we would prefer that you call in advance so that we may be prepared to assist you and/or get your books ready in advance.

Fishing Is For Everyone

The Pinellas Talking Book Library held its 2nd annual Fishing Is For Everyone fundraiser on Saturday, May 22, raising $1700 for the enhancement of library services. The event again took place at Tenoroc Fishing Management Area's Derby Lake in Lakeland, Florida.

Assisted by library and Tenoroc staff who also supplied tackle, bait, food and transportation, 24 anglers with disabilities enjoyed catch-and-release fishing during two and a half hours. Even Capt. Eric Shapiro provided his professional expertise. Fishing piers and boardwalks made it easier for these anglers to get around the facility.

"Ski for Light 2000" Trip Planned

Are you a blind or visually impaired adult who would enjoy a week of great cross-country skiing in the winter wonderland of the Colorado Rockies? "Ski for Light" will invite over 100 adults to celebrate its 25^th year of cross-country skiing and enjoy dancing, hot-tubbing, music, and conversation around the fireplace. "Ski for Light" matches each visually impaired skier with a sighted ski guide who will instruct you; as a team you will set your own pace and distance while sharing the friendship and fun of an outdoor sport.

"Ski for Light 2000" will be held in Granby, Colorado from January 30-February 6, 2000. Skiers range in age from 18-81, and in ability from beginner to advanced. Cost of the week, which includes all meals, ski instruction, equipment for first time skiers, ground transportation from the Denver Airport, and after hours activities will be $650.00 double occupancy or $800.00 for a single. Cost of transportation from your home and from Denver is the responsibility of the participant. Partial stipends are available for first time participants based on financial need. Applications are due by November 1, 1999.

Please contact:

Judy Wilkinson

528 W. 111^th Street, # 7

New York, NY 10025

Telephone: (212) 662-9593

E-mail: judyw@sfl.org

Deposit Collections

We provide books and equipment to many facilities in Pinellas County. These include nursing homes, rehabilitation hospitals, group homes and schools. Our materials assist in meeting group activity needs and supplement required reading assignments in schools. If you are an activities director or teacher please remember we only send books to your facility which you have ordered from our library. We have catalogues and bibliographies available to assist you in selecting books for your residents or students. Please contact your Reader Advisor if you have any questions or need to order books for your facility.

Haven’t Gotten Books Lately?

The National Library Service (NLS) supplies all cassette books and players which we provide to our library patrons. Although we encourage you to also use our player for other materials (such as Bible Alliance materials, and textbooks if you are a student), NLS regulations state that you must receive at least one book from us each year or the player must be returned and our services cancelled. Please help us to continue meeting your book needs by ordering at least one book every year. We will be glad to replace equipment needing to be repaired or send catalogues for you to select books you would like to read. If it is difficult for you to select your own books, the computer can select for you automatically. This can be done by subject and/or author preferences. It should result in a steady supply of books. Just let us know how we can best meet your literary needs.

Library Staff

Marilyn Stevenson

Librarian

stevenm@tblc.org

Barbara Lapointe

Assistant Librarian

lapoinb@tblc.org

Rick Griffing

Office Manager

griffir@tblc.org

Marianne Morawetz

Library Assistant