Talking Books Library

Fall Classic Book Discussion Nov 17

By Alicia Waters | November 4, 2015

On Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 8:30 pm the Fall Classic  Discussion Group will be talking about The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Talking Books Plus (TBP) members may download or reserve a copy to be mailed to them. Visit the Book Nook Room to participate in the discussion. TBP members who are not already BARD members may sign up for download service at BARD.

Request DB56946.

Below is a description of the book taken from the Rhode Island TBP Catalog –

Young sailor Edmond Dantès, unjustly accused of helping the exiled Napoleon in 1815, escapes from jail after fourteen years to take revenge on the four men who caused his imprisonment. Now wealthy after recovering a buried treasure, Dantès assumes a new identity and plots the ruin of his accusers. 1845

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Fantasy Book Discussion Group Nov 24

By Alicia Waters | November 3, 2015

On Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 9 pm the Fantasy Book Discussion Group will be talking about Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey. Talking Books Plus (TBP) members may download or reserve a copy to be mailed to them. Visit the Book Nook Room to participate in the discussion. TBP members who are not already BARD members may sign up for download service at BARD.

This is the first in a long series called Heralds of Valdemar. This trilogy, called The Arrows Trilogy, focuses on the character Talia. Subsequent trilogies spotlight different people. Although each book continues to develop the story arc, they are complete novels in themselves.

Request DB32573.

Below is a description of the book taken from the Rhode Island TBP Catalog –

Talia lives on the borders of the kingdom in an isolated, grim hold. She knows little about the outside world except for the existence of the magical horse-like companions. Talia longs to become a herald and travel with her own companion to carry out the queen’s law. When she runs away and the companion Roland picks her up, Talia finds her dreams coming true. However, learning to be a herald is hard and dangerous. For grades 6-9.

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Scary Stories for all ages

By Alicia Waters | October 30, 2015

Halloween Reads for all ages…Stories to Scare You!

Victorian ghost stories! 35 scary tales about interaction between the living and the dead by Michael Cox. Narrator: Richard Brown. Length: 25 hours, 16 minutes. DB035421.

Thirty-five scary tales about interactions between the living and the dead, selected from the period when supernatural fiction, especially with the help of small magazines, flourished. Many stories are by well-known authors, such as Henry James, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, and R.L. Stevenson. Several are set in haunted houses, typically around Christmas.

Scary stories to tell in the dark by Alvin Schwartz. Narrator: Bonnie Isaac. Length: 2 hours, 11 minutes. DB19713.

Ghoulish stories of ghosts and witches, startling “jump” stories, macabre songs, frightening legends, and modern-day horror stories. For grades 5-8.

A Newbery Halloween: a dozen scary stories by Lloyd Alexander. Narrator: David Palmer. Length: 4 hours, 58 minutes. DB39186.

Since 1922 the American Library Association has awarded the John Newbery Award annually to the “most distinguished contribution” to children’s literature. This collection of scary stories–just right for Halloween–is by Newbery Award-winning authors. Includes selections by Beverly Cleary, E.L. Konigsburg, and Virginia Hamilton. For grades 3-6 and older readers.

The Halloween Monster: The Adam Joshua Capers by Janice Lee Smith. Narrator: Dave Corey. Length: 54 minutes. DB78322.

Two short stories. In “The Halloween Monster” Adam Joshua’s teacher asks the class to come to their holiday party in scary costumes. In “The Library Caper” a favorite book is stolen from the school library. For grades 2-4. 1988.

In a dark, dark room and other scary stories by Alvin Schwartz. Narrator: Susan McInerney. Length: 12 minutes. DB50750.

Seven very short, scary stories to tell at night in front of a fire or in the dark. Based on traditional narratives and folktales from various countries. For grades K-3. 1984.

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Novel Ideas Book Discussion Nov 20

By Alicia Waters | October 27, 2015

On Friday, November 20, 2015 at 9 pm the Novel Ideas Book Discussion Group will be talking about Upside Down, Inside Out by Monica McInerney. Talking Books Plus (TBP) members may download or reserve a copy to be mailed to them. Visit the Book Nook Room to participate in the discussion. TBP members who are not already BARD members may sign up for download service at BARD.

Request DB70170.

Below is a description of the book taken from the Rhode Island TBP Catalog –

Irish art-school dropout Eva Kennedy goes on holiday in Australia to visit childhood friend Lainey. As a lark they introduce Eva as a well-known sculptor/singer. Meanwhile, successful industrial designer Joseph Wheeler backpacks while on business down under. Joseph and Eva meet and fall in love with each other’s persona. 2002.

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Cassette Conversion to Digital Update

By Alicia Waters | October 21, 2015

The conversion of books from the analog cassette collection (RC) into digital audio (DB), which has been underway for more than ten years, is entering its final stages.

Except for a small number of medical and scientific works that were excluded as obsolete, every usable analog cassette book will be converted. Because the procedure is highly mechanized, the order of conversion is unpredictable, and we cannot accommodate requests to speed the conversion of specific titles. We ask for your forbearance in this process.

In the next six months, NLS contractors will convert approximately three thousand titles. In the following two years, NLS expects to assign the remaining fourteen thousand titles for conversion. These will be posted to BARD as rapidly as NLS Bibliographic Control and Quality Assurance staff can process them.

– This information is from the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) and Talking Books Plus at OLIS.

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BARD Mobile app for iOS devices 1.1

By Alicia Waters | October 21, 2015

The BARD Mobile app for iOS devices, version 1.1, is now available at the App Store. This updated version of the app includes the following features:

The BARD Mobile app enables Talking Books Plus members to download audio and braille books, magazines, and music scores directly to their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, provided they have a BARD account. A refreshable braille display is required to read downloaded braille materials. The user guide is available in the Help section of the app and online in HTML format at: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/apidocs/BARDMobile.userguide.iOS.1.1.html.

This announcement comes from the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and the RI network library, Talking Books Plus at OLIS.

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Talking Book Topics Sept Oct 2015

By Alicia Waters | October 14, 2015

Talking Book Topics is published bimonthly in audio, large-print, and online formats and distributed at no cost to Talking Books Plus (TBP)members.

The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including bestsellers, classics, biographies, romance novels, mysteries, and how-to guides. Some books in Spanish are also available. To explore the widest range of books in the collection, visit the TBP Catalog.

Talking Book Topics is available in downloadable audio files on the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service at http://nlsbard.loc.gov/.

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2016 Calendars

By Alicia Waters | October 14, 2015

Click here for a list of organizations that produce calendars in braille, print/braille, large print, or audio. Prices and availability are subject to change.

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NLS Produced Magazines 2015

By Alicia Waters | October 14, 2015

NLS (National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped) produced magazines are circulated through the U.S. mail either on digital cartridge or in press braille. Registered readers may download some titles in electronic braille or audio format from the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service at https://nlsbard.loc.gov or via the BARD Mobile app available from the App Store and Google Play. Click here to view the alphabetical listing of magazines produced by NLS. Talking Books Plus (TBP) members should contact TBP at 401-574-9310 or email olis.tbp@olis.ri.gov to subscribe to magazines through the mail.

 

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Project Director for Revised LBPH Standards

By Alicia Waters | October 14, 2015

Seeking Project Director for Revised Standards for Libraries for the Blind or Physically Handicapped (LBPH)

 
The Association for State and Cooperative Library Agencies, a division of the American Library Association, seeks a Project Director for the revision of the Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
The Project Director will facilitate and coordinate all phases of the standards development process including managing a working team and project advisory committee of consumers and librarians, as well as overseeing the revision of the 2011 Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Full details here.

 
Applicants must submit proposals by 4:30pm CT on November 9, 2015.

Full details here.

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