At the base of Mt. Rushmore, Wolfner staff at the NLS conference. Debbie Musselman, Ginny Ryan, Cheryl Schreiman, Richard Smith, Brandon Lammers, Ozzie Withers and Diann Stark. (Suzy Higgins not shown)

Notes from the Director

The 2004 National Conference of Librarians Serving Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals was held the first week in May. The theme of the conference was “Our Digital World” and major discussions were based on an executive summary from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS/BPH) of the Library of Congress that outlines the strategic plan for implementing digital recording. The plan calls for making digital talking books and digital talking book machines available to Wolfner patrons beginning in the year 2008. That will mean major changes, including new book formats, new machines, and new delivery methods for books and magazines throughout the network.

NLS is already phasing in the new technology. Cassette books and machines will continue to be the backbone of the system through 2007, while digital books are expected to replace cassette books and machines as the primary technology to be used by Wolfner between the years 2008 and 2012.

We believe this will be an exciting time and the new technologies planned by NLS will give us the opportunity to provide services and products requested by our patrons. If you would like to discuss the upcoming plans, please give me a call, or you may obtain a copy of the nine page executive summary that previews the changes by contacting your reader advisor. Please specify your preference of large print, Braille, e-mail or cassette.

A complete copy of the NLS Current Strategic Business Plan for the Implementation of Digital Systems can be found and downloaded from the NLS Web site: www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan2003.html#exec.

Richard J. Smith, Director

---

Wolfner Library’s Summer Reading Program

Attention all children and teens who use Wolfner Library: You are wanted in the State of Missouri! Wanted to be trailblazers, that is, to join us in the Wolfner Library summer reading program as we “Discover New Trails” through reading. The program begins June 6 and ends July 26. This year there are four different reading level divisions: preschool, primary grades, middle grades, and teen. You may choose your reading goal, and if you meet your goal, you earn a book to keep, courtesy of the Friends of Wolfner Library. You also may win one of the special prizes in the random drawing. For example, a U.S. Saving Bond donated by the Missouri Council of the Blind’s Library Users Group. New trailblazers are accepted throughout the duration, so if you haven’t registered yet, it’s not too late! Call the library today!

---

NFB-Newsline© News

Beginning in June you may be asked for a portal code before you enter your security and access codes. The portal code is 632. This change is due to a new telecommunications server, which may eventually allow us to provide automatic logon service if you call Newsline regularly from the same phone number.

---

Discovering Lewis and Clark

In honor of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial on May 14, 2004, Wolfner has created two packs geared toward group activity programming. The two kits are Discovering Lewis and Clark: The Corps of Discovery in Missouri and Discovering Lewis and Clark: The Corps of Discovery in the West. These multisensory kits contain everything you need to conduct fun, educational activities on the expedition theme.

The Discovery packs can be enjoyed by all ages. The items engage each of the five senses, so the programs are accessible to everyone regardless of disabilities. The kits contain:

• a timeline and tactile map of the Lewis and Clark route
• sample pages reproduced from the original journals
• wilderness-scented air fresheners
• recipes for authentic expedition dishes
• tactile objects such as buffalo hides and model boats
• replica tools and trade items
• photographs and prints
• a video and CD
• a leader’s manual

There are enough materials in each kit to conduct several programs on Lewis and Clark’s famous adventure.

The packs are loaned free-of-charge to patrons and institutions such as libraries, nursing homes, senior centers and schools; Wolfner Library even pays the shipping fees to send them out. However, borrowers are responsible for the return postage fee that is approximately $10.00. There is a four-week checkout period, and borrowers are limited to one kit at a time.

The Discovery kits are part of Wolfner’s program pack service. You may also be interested in the other program packs we offer—our Bi-Folkal kits. These are multisensory packs of activity materials on reminiscence themes like Remembering School Days or Remembering Pets. The kits contain items similar to the Discovery packs and circulate by the same guidelines. Wolfner has 26 different Bi-Folkal kits available.

For more information on borrowing and ordering program packs, contact:
Ericka Alten, Reader Advisor for Institutions
Wolfner Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
(800) 392-2614 or (573) 522-6057

---

Web-Braille Explained

“What is Web-Braille?” This is a question Wolfner staff members often hear. Web-Braille is an Internet, web-based service that provides books, music scores, and magazines produced by NLS. NLS patrons (that includes Wolfner patrons) are eligible to access the program.

Here is how it works: A patron will call Wolfner and give the reader advisor an e-mail address and select a six to eight letter password. The reader advisor will create a patron account for the caller. Once the account is activated, the patron can access the special Web-Braille documents provided by NLS. Keep in mind, Web-Braille files are in contracted braille ASCII format, and a computer with a refreshable braille display (an electronic device that raises or lowers an array of pins to create a line of braille characters) or a braille embosser are needed to read the files. More information on Web-Braille can be found at www.loc.gov/nls/reference/factsheets/webbraille2003.html.

---

Assistive Technology Resources

Quite often we receive requests from patrons who would like to purchase assistive technology products. Although we cannot promote any one particular company, we will offer a list from which the patron can choose. A few companies you might find helpful are:

• American Printing House for the Blind—1-800-223-1839
• Independent Living Aids-Can Do Products for Your Active Independent Life—1-800-537-2118
• LS&S-Products for the Visually Impaired and Hard of Hearing—1-800-468-4789
• MaxiAids-Products for Independent Living—1-800-522-6294

---

Machine Audit

This summer we will be performing a machine audit to meet the National Library Service’s recommended guidelines, and your help is needed. Please return any unused machines. These may be older record players that you no longer need, duplicate machines, or broken cassette players. If you need a carton and Styrofoam packing to return the machines, please call the library toll-free at 800-392-2614. Your help in making the audit run as smoothly as possible will be appreciated.

From the Desk of Duplication

We are pleased to announce advancement in our tape duplication department. Thanks to a new print/braille label program from the National Library Service and a braille printer known as Braille Blazer, all in-house duplicated cassettes will now have a braille overlay that indicates both the title and the side number. Previously, each cassette was fitted with a title label in print and a side number in braille. If books became mixed up, this caused confusion for our braille readers.

We periodically check to make sure that the printer is printing correctly. However, if you notice any problems, please notify us.

---

Magazine Corner

Wolfner Library is pleased to announce the availability of the braille edition of Guideposts, a magazine featuring interfaith inspirational stories. If you would like to receive Guideposts in braille or cassette, please contact your reader advisor at 1-800-392-2614.

---

New Recommended Reading Lists Available

The following 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 www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/readings.asp.

• Adventure Stories
  • Anchors Aweigh
    
    
• Bestsellers
  • Top Sellers of the Year 2003
    
    
• General
  • Historical Fiction
    
    
• Holiday
  • Home for the Holidays
    
    
• Mysteries
  • Hilarious Homicides
    
    
• Romance
  • Vintage Love Stories
    
    
• Westerns
  • On the Dusty Trail
    
    
• Nonfiction
  • People Who Inspire Us
  • Just the Facts Ma’am (Old West)
  • My Life, Your Life, and the Other Life
  • Gardening
  • The Holocaust
  • Growing Up in Small Town America
  • Women’s Health
  • Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
  • Unusual Sports

---

Recording Booth Complete!

Bill West, NLS audio engineer, approves Wolfner’s recording booth.

As you know, most of Wolfner’s books come from the National Library Service (NLS). They produce about 2,500 books, in all formats, each year. However, books specific to Missouri are not recorded by NLS unless they are by a best-selling author or of particular interest to the entire country, such as books about Harry Truman. Therefore, books about the state of Missouri, its history, travel and geography, for example, are generally unavailable from the NLS. In addition, novels by Missouri authors or with Missouri settings are seldom recorded.

To rectify this, the Secretary of State submitted a request to the legislature in 2003 for the funds to have a recording booth installed in Wolfner Library. That expenditure was approved in the budget, and the funds came from the Wolfner Gift Trust Fund. The Office of the Secretary of State put out a bid and awarded a contract to Industrial Acoustics to build the booth. A digital recording system, built to NLS specifications, will be purchased by Telex.

Now, volunteers will be trained to use the equipment and record books. Wolfner expects to enter the NLS Quality Assurance Program. This means that if our books meet their rigorous standards, they will distribute the books to all network libraries.

This is an exciting time for our library, and we look forward to announcing our first completed book, ready for your perusal!

---

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
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
Beth Duckworth	Special Services Librarian
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

---