Cost of NLS Materials

Have you ever wondered how much your NLS materials cost?  Here is a breakdown of how much NLS spends on their hardware:

• Digital talking-book machine (DA1/DS1): $ 156.00
• Cassette book machine (C1): $ 300.00
• Headphones: $ 22.00
• Extension levers: $ 6.00
• Pillow speaker: $ 1.00
• Breath switch: $ 50.00
• Digital talking books (includes cartridge and container): $ 10.50 - $ 11.11
• Cassette books (per copy, includes container):  $4.42 - $ 5.27
• Braille books (per copy):  $31.00 - $ 121.16
• Magazines (per copy):  $0.57 - $3.73
• Talking Book Topics: $0.31 - $0.48
• Braille Book Review: $ 0.44 - $ 2.84
• Mailing cartons (with packing materials):  $ 2.75 - $8.74

Remember to take care of your NLS materials and return everything to the library when you are finished with it - all NLS materials are federal property.

NLS Patrons to Receive Catalog Order Forms

If you are a Talking Books patron, in the next few weeks you will receive a large-print or braille order form for catalogs that will be produced in 2010-2011.  Please complete the form and return it within three weeks.

The Talking Book Center can help you complete the form, but we cannot take your orders.  These order forms are being returned to our magazine contractor so they can get you all the catalogs you request.

Library Closed for Staff Development Day

This is a reminder that the Talking Book Center will be closed tomorrow, Thursday October 22, for a staff training day.  We will be open normal hours on Friday.

You are welcome to send us an email at talkingbooks@athenslibrary.org or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-531-2063.  You can leave book or machine requests and we will fill them on Friday.

Legislative Forum Set

The following flier is being circulated by Multiple Choices Center for Independent Living:

The Northeast Georgia Self Advocacy Network (SAN) in cooperation with the Multiple Choices Center for Independent Living, Inc. will be hosting a Legislative Forum on October 27, 2009.  The intent of the Forum is to educate the citizens of Region 5 (Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oglethorpe, Oconee, and Walton counties) about legislative activities and laws that affect services for individuals with disabilities and their family members.

If you are a resident of Northeast Georgia and have any concerns about laws, policies, and legislation which affect housing, transportation, employment, health care, and recreation for individuals with disabilities, please plan to attend this Forum.

We have requestsed the attendance of elected officials or candidates from all of the municipalities and counties in Region 5 and encourage you to be present to meet with them.

October 27, 2009

7:00pm

Multiple Choices Center for Independent Living

850 Gaines School Road Athens GA 30605

Further information will be provided by contacting the SAN at (706) 546-1020.

Clarke Co. School District Workshop

Clarke County School District's Special Education Department will be holding a "Preparing for Success" workshop next weekend.  This workshop will feature behavior support strategies, tips for transitioning from high school, life planning strategies, and displays from many area agencies.  Don't miss this important workshop!

Clarke County School District

Preparing for Success Workshop

Saturday, October 24

8:00am - 12:00pm

Clarke Middle School - Athens, GA

For more information, please contact the Student Services office at (706) 548-3550.

TBC Closure

The Athens-Clarke County Library, including the Talking Book Center, will be closed on Thursday, October 22 for staff training.  We will resume our normal hours on Friday, October 23.

Northeast Georgia Senior Provider Network Expo

Don't forget the Senior Expo next Wednesday, October 14!!

Senior Expo

October 14:  9am - 1pm

Athens Classic Center

Health Screenings * Door Prizes 

Free Parking * Free Admission

Medicare Seminar at 10:30!

 

Come view booths from over 40 area vendors and learn about assisted living, retirement communities, hospices, hospitals, medical services, mobility equipment, durable medical equipment, retirement planning, financial planning,  ramps, walk-in tubs, Talking Books, transportation, home health care, home companion services, referral services, and much more!!

Also, don't miss the Medicare seminar presented by the Northeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging at 10:30!  There will be valuable information about enrollment and someone there to answer any questions you may have.

www.athensseniornetwork.com/events.htm

www.onlineathens.com/stories/101009/new_503210353.shtml

HumanWare Releases Victor Reader Stream Library Edition

www.humanware.ca/web/en/newsletter/63-t.htm

Press Release


Humanware introduces the new Victor Reader Stream Library Edition


In the United States, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) is offering digital books and magazines through Internet download. In addition, the old cassette books and magazines are gradually being replaced by the new digital book cartridges that will be mailed to library patrons. Digital book cartridges are about the same size as a single cassette but the entire book fits on only one cartridge. There is no need to manage multiple cassettes or change sides anymore! NLS will provide free digital book cartridge players to all patrons over the next several years.


Readers who want to experience the benefits of the new digital books right away may consider purchasing the Victor Reader Stream book player from HumanWare. This is a pocket size player capable of playing both the download digital books and the new book cartridges.


The new Victor Reader Stream Library Edition is so easy to use, it is ideal to play the new NLS book cartridges. It comes with a book cartridge holder that attaches to the back of the Stream and allows you to play the cartridge directly on the player. It is designed to detect and start playing the book cartridge when you insert it. It will even resume playing the book from where you left it the last time! The Stream also has a copy feature to copy the book cartridge to the memory card of the Stream allowing you to keep multiple books on your Stream at one time.


The NLS digital books are encrypted and you must apply to the NLS BARD web site to get an authorization file that when loaded to the Stream will provide the necessary digital decryption key to play both the download books and book cartridges. To learn more visit the BARD web site at: https://nlsbard.loc.gov. This is your starting point to apply for BARD service and authorization to play the books on the Stream.


The Stream can also play books from many other Internet sources such as RFB&D.org, Bookshare.org, Audible.com, and ReadHowYouWant.com. It also plays music and even has a built-in computer voice to play computer documents. It is also able to use this computer voice to render the NLS electronic Web Braille books as spoken audio. The Stream even has a feature to record voice notes. To learn more about the standard Stream or Stream Library Edition contact HumanWare at 1-800-722-3393 or visit the Stream page at http://www.Humanware.com/streamLE

DTB Listserv

If you are using or plan to use a digital Talking Book player - either the one provided by NLS or one you have purchased - you may be interested in subscribing to the Digital Talking Book listserv.

This listserv is sponsored by NFB and allows users to share ideas, questions, and tips for using the digital books.

You can learn more about the listserv, subscribe to it, or read archives at http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org

Microchip May Help Restore Vision

Researchers at MIT are currently working on a microchip that can be implanted in the retina to offer direct visual input to the brain, thus restoring partial vision to the blind.

The microchip would be implanted in the retina and connect wirelessly to a small camera built into the frame of a special pair of eyeglasses. When the microchip receives visual data from the camera, it would stimulate nerve cells to carry the information to the brain.

This procedure would not totally restore sight, but would allow a blind person enough vision to recognize faces and navigate a room. The research team hopes to begin human prototype testing within the next three years.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/24/eye.microchip.wired/index.html

Piedmont Library Systems Struggles to Buy Books

The Piedmont Library System is facing the same funding problems that all public libraries are - there is simply not enough money to buy new books.  This comes at the same time as use of libraries skyrocket.

"Library patrons made 484,717 trips to Piedmont System libraries in the 2009 fiscal year, up from 328,990 trips in 2008. Computer use shot up from 96,483 sessions in 2008 to 145,992 in 2009."

For the rest of the article, please visit http://onlineathens.com/stories/100209/new_499923673.shtml

DePaul University Launches Program for Chronically Ill

DePaul University, located in Chicago, has begun a program geared towards students who wish to complete a degree program but have difficulty meeting normal deadlines due to chronic illness. These students may attend classes in person or online, and may take extended absences when needed without losing credit or tuition.

About 20 students have graduated from the program since its inception four years ago.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32863895/ns/health-more_health_news//