Notes From the Director

Wolfner Advisory Council

The Wolfner Advisory Council meets quarterly to provide user input about library services. The council consists of 14 members providing representation geographically, as well as from Rehabilitation Services, the Special Education Division of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri, the Missouri Council of the Blind, and one physically impaired consumer. Current members are Dennis Miller, Bill Burris, Phyllis Zirkle, Darlene Staples-Felts, Mary Dingus, Stan Veit, Betty Walker, John Donley, June Lenk, and ZeeZee Miller. Please note only 10 are listed so that means four vacancies. Please call if you are interested in serving on the council.

The primary purpose of the council is to aid in the improvement of library services. A major way for the council to do that is to bring input from you, the users of our services. Feel free to contact an advisory council member about Wolfner and let them know how you think services could be improved.

The next Wolfner Advisory Council meeting is May 16, 2003. I hope you find the time to give one of the council members your suggestions for improvement in Wolfner services.

Outreach

Have you heard Rita Moreno talk about Wolfner Library on the radio lately? As part of Wolfner’s outreach program, the public service announcement is being played across Missouri to encourage eligible persons to take advantage of talking books. You can help with Wolfner’s outreach program by distributing our color brochure. The brochure explains Wolfner services and gives information on eligibility. Distribute it to friends and relatives or at church or social functions. Just call 1-800-392-2614 and tell us how many brochures you can distribute. We will mail them to you with our thanks.

WolfPAC

Our new Online Public Access Catalog (WolfPAC) is now available over the Internet at www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/. Not only can you look up books by author, title and subject, but you can request those books with a click of a button. Use WolfPAC to order books from Talking Book Topics to speed up delivery of our newest titles. Soon you’ll receive a special mailing of instructions on using our new catalog.

Friends of Wolfner Library Support Programs

The Friends of Wolfner Library have agreed to support Wolfner’s summer reading program up to $2,000 for the purpose of purchasing prizes for participants who successfully reach their reading goal. Nancy Doering will be in charge of the summer reading program. Nancy’s innovative and unique approaches to attract and encourage Missouri youth in a summer reading program have been recognized by the National Library Service. The Friends’ financial assistance of the summer reading program is particularly helpful in making the program a success. Nancy’s past use of Friends’ funds to purchase books, games and educational items, makes the program a “look forward to” event by Missouri youth. For the past two years, Secretary of State Matt Blunt has drawn names for the prizes at the conclusion of the program. Indeed, Nancy’s prizes are so sought after we have to keep a tight rein on them when displaying them at the Friends meeting.
In addition, Friends of Wolfner Library have agreed to pay for the lunch for the Wolfner Library Annual Volunteer Recognition Program and the Friends annual meeting on April 26, 2003. Deborah Stroup will be in charge of the luncheon, and judging from past experiences, this combination program will be an event worth attending.

The Friends’ financial assistance of the Wolfner volunteer program is particularly timely because state funds for such functions as luncheons or recognition programs for volunteers are being restricted or even curtailed during the current budget shortfall.

Wolfner staff extends its appreciation to the Friends for their support and looks forward to another successful summer reading program and an enjoyable combination Wolfner and Friends program.

Richard J. Smith, Director

---

Wolfner Volunteer Recognition

The annual Wolfner Volunteer Recognition is being held in conjunction with the Friends Annual Meeting this year. Both will take place on Saturday, April 26th, at the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center. The volunteer program will begin at 10 a.m. There will be a luncheon at noon, and the Friends meeting begins at 1 p.m. For more information, call Deborah Stroup, Coordinator of Volunteers at 573-522-2766, or the Wolfner number 1-800-392-2614.

---

Magazine Corner

NLS has chosen a new magazine, Horticulture, to replace New Choices, which discontinued publication in May 2002. Horticulture is published eight times a year and is called the definitive magazine for the serious American gardener. It includes articles on garden design, landscaping, soil nutrition and the latest planting techniques.
Wolfner Library is also adding Guideposts: True Stories of Hope and Inspiration to the list of magazines we will circulate. Guideposts is an interfaith magazine written by people from all walks of life who have developed personal strength and positive attitudes through their faith in God.
Both Horticulture and Guideposts will be available in cassette format only. To subscribe to either of these magazines, which should be available in the near future, call Wolfner Library at 1-800-392-2614.

---

NFB-Newsline News

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked NFB-NEWSLINE questions. For further information, contact Debbie Musselman at 1-800-392-2614.

Q: How do I speed up or slow down the NFB-NEWSLINE voice?
A: When you are in an article, press 7 to slow down the voice, or 9 to speed up the voice.

Q: How do I add a newspaper from another state to my favorites?
A: At the first menu, press 4 to enter Your Favorites. To begin the process of adding newspapers, press 7. A list of newspapers will be presented in alphabetical order in groups of eight. Follow the instructions to select the paper you wish to add. Press 9 during the list of newspapers to advance to the next group of eight papers. You may have up to 6 papers in Your Favorites section.
Q. Will more Missouri newspapers be added to NFB-NEWSLINE?
A. We hope so! We are currently working with the Southeast Missourian, St. Joseph News-Press, and Springfield News-Leader to add them to the service.

---

Public Service Announcements

Wolfner Library will take part in the Take a Talking Book Public Service Announcements Campaign starting in July. We are distributing the announcements to television and radio stations throughout Missouri. If you hear one of the announcements playing in your area, please call Debbie Musselman at Wolfner Library (1-800-392-2614) and let her know which station you heard it on. We would like to send a note to the station thanking them for their participation.

---

Service Changes?

Are we sending your materials to the wrong address? Are you getting too many or too few books? Would you like a specific author, title or series? How about the type of books you are getting? Are we sending you mysteries, but you really want biographies? If so, then give us a call. We will gladly change your reading profile so you will get the type and number of books you really want. Call your reader advisor at 1-800-392-2614 today. We want to serve you better!

---

New Recommending 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 email to wolfner@sos.mo.gov. They can also be viewed on our web site at www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/readings.asp.

Adventure
Casino Adventures

Bestsellers
Top Sellers for the Year 2002

Horror
Psychological Horror

Humor
It’s a Family Affair

Poetry
How Do I Love Thee?

Romance
Gothic Romance

General
Historical Fiction in Series
A Little of This and a Little of That
Winter Tales
Changing Seasons
It’s Spring

Nonfiction: Personal Development
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
From Resolutions to Reality
How to Raise Your Self-Esteem

Nonfiction: General
The Legendary West
Words from 20th Century Presidents
The Middle East
Lives of the United States Presidents
Rock Music
Villains, Villains, and More Villains

---

Collection Development

Nancy Doering, Wolfner Library Youth Services Librarian, has been appointed to the National Library Service Collection Development Advisory Group.
Briefly, this group studies how books are chosen by NLS and offers new ideas and suggestions pertaining to the process. The group will be meeting May 21 through May 23, 2003. If you have any collection development concerns you would like Nancy to take with her, please contact her by mid-May at 1-800-392-2614

---

Wolfner News is a quarterly publication of the Office of Secretary of State.

Matt Blunt	Sara Parker
Secretary of State	State Librarian

---

WOLFNER LIBRARY STAFF

Richard Smith	Director of Wolfner Library	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

---