Library
StaffThere have
been several staff changes during the last few months. Rick Griffing, Library
Office Manager, received his Masters in Library Science from the University of
South Florida in May. We wish him well as he seeks a new professional position.
Our current Office Manager is Jenny Helber. Previously she was with our
Administrative Agency, the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, as their
Administrative Assistant. Jenny then left to have a beautiful baby boy, and is
now with our library on a part-time basis. Please welcome Jenny next time you
call.
In
mid-August, Barbara Lapointe, the Library’s Assistant Librarian/Volunteer
Coordinator moved to North Carolina. Barbara was with our Library for two years
and will be greatly missed by staff, patrons and volunteers. Our new Assistant
Librarian/Volunteer Coordinator is Donald Booth. Please also welcome Don to our
library next time you call us.
Our third
change is Donna’s guide dog, Chris. He had to retire in July due to arthritis.
Her new guide dog is Ranger. He was puppy trained in Texas, then came to Florida
and trained with Donna for several weeks. We are all so glad Donna is back at
work, with Ranger, answering your calls!
Ski for
Light, Inc.
The next
annual Ski for Light (SFL) international, week-long, cross-country skiing event
will take place in Green Bay, WI, January 21 – 28, 2001. SFL pairs visually-
and mobility- impaired skiers with nondisabled guides. While primarily a
recreational event, SFL attracts skiers at all proficiency levels, from
beginners to competitors. Skiers and guides come from every age group (18+) and
occupation.
At SFL, the
skiers set the pace, asking their guides to assist with skills, technique,
endurance or simply enjoying the outdoors. The week ends in a Race/Rally and for
many skiers the goal is completing the 5K or 10K course, while others compete
against the clock for overall and age-group ranking.
Application
Deadline is November 1, 2000, so those who are interested in attending should
contact the appropriate coordinator as soon as possible: Visually impaired
skiers may contact Judy Wilkinson at 1-212-662-9593 or judyw@sfl.org; mobility
impaired individuals may contact Jeff Pagels at 1-920-494-5572 or jeff@sfl.org.
Time
Magazine is now available in large print. For more information or to subscribe,
write: Time Customer Service Department, P.O. Box 60001, Tampa, FL 33600-0001 or
call 1-800-843-8463.
Independent Living Course
The Hadley
School for the Blind’s revised “Independent Living” course helps people
who are newly blind learn about different ways to complete the everyday tasks
that they once performed with vision. Moving around safely, food handling,
housekeeping, time and money management, and adaptive aids are among the topics
covered. The course is available by mail, in large print and on audiocassette,
at no charge. For more information, call Student Services at 1-800-526-9909.
(provided by
Talking Books Plus, Bellport, NY)
WUSF Radio Reading Service
This service provides 142 hours of radio
programming week
WUSF Radio
Reading Service eligibility requirements are similar to Talking Books. Listeners
apply for the service and receive a special table-model sub-channel receiver for
as long as they need it.
For further
information, please contact us, or call WUSF Reading Service at their toll-free
number, 1-800-444-4193. This service is sponsored by the University of South
Florida. (provided by Talking Books Service, Bradenton, FL)
Tips for Better Service
Include your
name and address on all correspondence to the Library. Order forms, request
lists, etc. may become separated in the mail, so we then get part of a list with
no name of the patron. This is as frustrating to us as it is to you, and you end
up not getting the books you ordered! Please write your name on every piece of
paper you send to us.
Do not lend
your equipment or books to others. The equipment is the property of the federal
government, so we must maintain an inventory of every player and a record
matching the player with the patron to whom it was assigned. Also, just as you
were certified as being eligible prior to receiving library services, others
must also meet these criteria and complete an application.
Turn over
the mailing card and return each book as soon as you have finished it. Someone
may be waiting to read that book and will appreciate your consideration of
others.
When you
have a problem with your player and return it to the library for repair, please
call us and request a replacement machine. Remember, you may also come to the
library and pick-up the replacement player at the same time you drop off the one
needing repairs.
If you are
planning to move, please let us know your new address before the moving date, as
well as your new phone number when you are notified what it will be. If moving
out of state, we will transfer your records to the library in your new state.
BOOKS RECENTLY MADE INTO MOVIES
Many of the recently released movies are based on
books.
The following books have been adapted for the big
screen,
and are available from Pinellas Talking Book
Library:
Angela’s Ashes
(RC 42805) Reminiscence of a poor Irish
childhood.
Pulitzer Prize winner. We also have the sequel ‘Tis: A Memoir (RC
48813) that
continues the story from October 1949 when McCourt arrives in New York City at
age nineteen until his father's funeral in 1985.
Snow
Falling on Cedars
(RC 40688) A Japanese-American fisherman is charged with murder.
Election
(RC 47114) A wickedly funny account of a high school teacher whose personal and
professional life wind up in a comic shambles after he becomes obsessed with
trying to thwart a perky, overachieving student in her bid for class president.
Anna
and the King of Siam
(RC 46020) Anna Leonowens, a Welsh widow hired in 1862 to be governess to the
children
and
concubines of the king of Siam, finds the contrasts between the exotic Orient
and Victorian Great Britain striking.
The
Perfect Storm
(RC 44751) This is a vivid portrayal of the loss of a New England fishing boat
in a monster storm
The
Green Mile
(RC 44564) Tale of prison life and supernatural healing, by author Stephen King.
There
are a great many talking book patrons in Pinellas County who have no one to help
them order their talking books. Earlier this summer we actively sought
volunteers to join our Book Buddy program to assist these library patrons. Book
Buddies call patrons and help them choose books by reading book descriptions
from catalogs. The Buddy then submits the list to the Library via mail, e-mail
or the internet. We had an overwhelming response from the residents of Pinellas
County who want to assist our patrons in this manner. Now we would like to hear
from you! If you need assistance reading the Talking Book Topics or other
catalogs you receive from our Library, or need assistance ordering books or
other library materials, please contact your Reader Advisor and ask them to have
a Book Buddy assigned to help you. All contact is via the telephone, patron
records are confidential, and no one will know your address or come to your
home. So just give us a call and a Book buddy will assist you in ordering the
books you want to read.
To express
our good thoughts to Barbara and her new life in North Carolina, we asked that
staff, volunteers and friends donate items to her favorite charity Friends of
Strays. During her two years in this area, Barbara had volunteered at the
shelter and gained an understanding of its value. Over 165 kittens and puppies
benefited from the gifts of food, toys, litter, soap and bleach. Barbara was
able to take the items to the shelter, along with the balloons from her farewell
party, and convey her appreciation for all they do for strays in our county.
Correction
of Spelling: The State Librarian of Florida is Barratt Wilkins, not as
stated in the previous newsletter. We apologize for any problems or
misunderstandings this may have caused.
Newsletter
Formats: All active patrons and other interested parties automatically receive a
large print copy of this newsletter. If you would like to receive an additional
copy in an alternate format, please contact your Reader Advisor. Other formats
include cassette, braille, and electronically via our webpage.
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Library
Staff
Assistant
Librarian
Library Assistant
boothd@tblc.org
morawem@tblc.org
Office Manager Receptionist
You
may reach us Monday—Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(727)
441-9958
(727)
441-3168 TDD
(727)
441-9061 FAX
Pinellas
Talking
Book
FREE Matter FOR THE
1330 Cleveland
Street
BLIND OR HANDICAPPED
Clearwater, FL 33755-5103