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WOLFNER NEWS

Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped

Fall 2002
Jefferson City, MO

Notes From the Director

Wolfner Library Migrates to Keystone

Wolfner changed to the Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS) the week of November 4, 2002. Wolfner staff's experience in the intricacies of the automation functions guaranteed a smooth transition. A good example: of the 100 mail cards normally expected the first day, Ken Gilliam, head of circulation, was organized so that 3,000 cards were printed and books mailed not only on the first day but each day that week!

Major KLAS Improvements

  1. Faster book delivery because of machine readable zip codes
  2. Descriptive information about new books for the library's catalog downloaded directly from the Library of Congress
  3. New books available to patrons within 24 hours of arrival at Wolfner
  4. System is available entire working day—a 20% improvement
  5. Back-up runs automatically at night
  6. Administrative reports easily created
  7. Monthly machine statistics sent directly to NLS
  8. Check-in of books easier
  9. If a patron enjoys a series, the Reader Advisors can arrange to have that series sent automatically to the patron, in the proper order.
  10. We can tailor a patron's reading profile. For instance, you can have an unlimited number of author likes (or dislikes).

E-mail Wolfner

We are receiving an increasing number of communications from Wolfner patrons via e-mail. That is a very expedient form of communication and we expect future growth. We would, however, appreciate relevant subject headings in all e-mail. Wolfner has also seen an increase in spam, unwanted e-mail. For security reasons, I delete all trite and questionable e-mail from Wolfner's mailbox. Please continue to e-mail Wolfner at wolfner@sos.mo.gov but please use pertinent subject headings.

Richard J. Smith, Director

NFB-NEWSLINE® News

Do you find yourself missing your morning or evening newspaper? If so, NFB-NEWSLINE may be just the service for you. NFB-NEWSLINE uses the latest technology and a computer synthesized voice to bring blind and visually impaired readers an easy-to-use telephone service that "reads" the text from various newspapers across the country. Calling NFB-NEWSLINE gives you access to all 80+ newspapers currently available including the USA Today, Washington Post, and New York Times, as well as Missouri favorites such as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Kansas City Star and Columbia Daily Tribune. Please note: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is not available on NFB Newsline until 4:30 p.m. The Jefferson City News Tribune should be available in the near future, perhaps as you are reading this.

ATTENTION:
A special test account has been set up for print-impaired Missourians who wish to see what NFB-NEWSLINE is like before signing up for the service.

Then, follow the prompts to access the newspapers, sections, and articles you wish to hear.

If after trying out NFB-NEWSLINE you wish to become a subscriber to this free service, call Wolfner Library at 1-800-392-2614, and we will be happy to set up an account for you and send you full instructions on how to use the service. We hope you will join our many Missouri subscribers who tell us: "It's like having an old friend back again."

New Recommended Reading Lists Available

The following bibliographies and mini-bibliographies have been produced since the last newsletter was released. If you would like to receive a copy of any of these recommended readings, please call the library at 1-800-392-2614, write us a note, or, if you'd like to join Wolfner's electronic distribution list, send an e-mail to wolfner@sos.mo.gov. They can also be viewed on our web site at http://www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/readings.asp.


Debbie Musselman, Public Services LIbrarian

Magazine Corner

There are three magazines in cassette format we are spotlighting with this issue of Wolfner News. If you are interested in signing up for any of them, just call Wolfner Library at 1-800-392-2614.

Country Woman is new to Wolfner Library. It contains household, farm, and gardening advice, as well as craft and decorating ideas and recipes.

AARP Bulletin has legislative news of interest to retired people including health care and costs, and Social Security.

Modern Maturity has articles of interest to senior citizens on health, money, lifestyle, travel and much more.

Take a Pleasant Stroll down Memory Lane

Wolfner Library's collection of Bi-Folkal kits is growing! These are group-program kits designed to promote reminiscence and discussion. A kit consists of a goodie bag filled with things to touch and smell, pictures on slides or videotapes, songs to sing, skits to improvise, and activities to play with. These program guides are all devoted to different themes, for example, Remembering School Days or Remembering County Fairs. To better serve our patrons and institutions, we have just purchased duplicates of some of our most popular kits: Remembering Automobiles, Remembering the Depression, and Remembering Pets. We have also ordered two kits on Remembering Springtime, which should be here in time for the April showers. In the meantime, you may be interested in the Remembering Home kit. It comes complete with a crocheted doily, clothespins, a canning jar gasket, a paintbrush, and catalog pages of home furnishings. There is also a "Floor Plan" game to design your dream home and a "Home Work" photo set depicting chores.

Anyone is welcome to check out Bi-Folkal kits for free; however, the kits CANNOT be sent "Free Matter for the Blind," so the user is responsible for the return postage, usually about $10. If you would like more information about receiving kits, please contact Ericka Alten, the Readers Advisor for Institutions, at 1-800-392-2614. Happy memories are waiting to be revived!

A Laudable Volunteer Effort—Wolfner's Print /Braille Project

A collaborative effort between the Wolfner Director, Richard J. Smith, Volunteer Coordinator, Deborah Stroup, and the Youth Services Librarian, Nancy Doering, has resulted in braille being added to over 60 children's books since April. The project pairs a sighted volunteer with a blind volunteer. As the sighted volunteer reads the text of a children's book, the blind volunteer uses a Perkins brailler to braille text onto clear adhesive strips. The strips are then placed on the corresponding page of text in the printed book. Annotations for a few of the resulting print/braille books are listed below. Contact your reader advisor at 1-800-392-2614 if you would like to order any of these titles or if you would like to order a print/braille catalog.

What Dads Can't Do BR 51072.
Regular people can cross the street without holding hands, but Dads can't. There are lots of things that Dads can't do. It's a wonder they ever make it through life.

Sit, Truman! BR 51083.
Oh, Truman...You beg. You slobber. Toilet water tempts you. But in your heart, you're a good dog...Aren't you? Spend a slobbery day with Truman, an enormous dog with a mind of his own.

Dappled Apples BR 51082.
Rhyming text and illustrations celebrate the pleasures of fall, from turning leaves and apple picking to pumpkins and Halloween.

Widget BR 51084.
A small stray dog is accepted into a household full of cats by learning to "fit in," but when his mistress is hurt, he demonstrates that being a dog is not all bad.

Seals on the Bus BR 51070.
Two children and their parents board a city bus. At the next stop, who should get on but a group of seals, who holler "errp, errp, errp" at the top of their lungs. Each time the bus stops a new kind of animal joins the passengers and adds to the din, to the children's delight and the parents' annoyance. But when several hissing skunks want to come aboard, even the children cry "help! help! help!"

Two Homes BR 51095.
A young boy named Alex enjoys the homes of both of his parents who live apart but love Alex very much.

Cock-A-Doodle-Moo BR 51094.
When the rooster loses its voice and must ask the cow for help to wake everybody, the resulting sound provides a hearty laugh for the farmer and his animals.


Deborah Stroup, Volunteer Coordinator

Wolfner NEWS is a quarterly publication of the Secretary of State.

Matt Blunt
Secretary of State

Sara Parker
State Librarian

WOLFNER LIBRARY STAFF

Richard Smith Regional Librarian, Director richard.smith@sos.mo.gov
Debbie Musselman Public Services Librarian debbie.musselman@sos.mo.gov
Lisa Sanning Reference Librarian, Editor
Nancy Doering Youth Services Librarian nancy.doering@sos.mo.gov
Bonnie O'Donnell Administrative Aide bonnie.odonnell@sos.mo.gov
Archie Andrews Machines Coordinator archie.andrews@sos.mo.gov
Deborah Stroup Volunteer Coordinator deborah.stroup@sos.mo.gov
Paul Mathews Reader Advisor A-Co paul.mathews@sos.mo.gov
Susan Higgins Reader Advisor Cp-G susan.higgins@sos.mo.gov
Ginny Ryan Reader Advisor H-L ginny.ryan@sos.mo.gov
Cheryl Hassler Reader Advisor M-R cheryl.hassler@sos.mo.gov
Carol Mathews Reader Advisor S-Z carol.mathews@sos.mo.gov
Ericka Alten Reader Advisor Institutions



WOLFNER LIBRARY IS OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

(CLOSED FOR STATE HOLIDAYS)

Toll-free within Missouri (800) 392-2614
Jefferson City Area (573) 751-8720
Toll-free TDD (573) 347-1379
E-mail address wolfner@sos.mo.gov
WWW Homepage http://www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner


Wolfner NEWS is available in large print, braille, or on cassette. If you would like to receive an alternate format, please call the library at 800-392-2614.