Wolfner News Spring 2007 

Notes from the Director

I’d like to give you an update about some of the exciting things happening at Wolfner.

Wolfner Library is again in the running for the Network Library of the Year Award. Highlights of our achievements during 2006 include our outreach program, our innovative You Say It How? audio pronunciation guide project and our highly successful adult winter reading program called Never Judge a Book by Its Movie. You can view additional award details on our Web site at www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner under the Items of Interest heading.

Neil Bernstein from the Research and Development section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress will be the main speaker at the Friends of Wolfner Library annual meeting on April 21, 2007. Neil was in charge of testing the downloading of digital books by readers over the Internet. Please mark the date and join us at the Kirkpatrick State Information Center in Jefferson City for some informative information on the upcoming migration to digital talking books.

Wolfner Library is one of eight libraries in the country that will receive 500 digital talking book machines for a prelaunch test in the spring of 2008. Some Wolfner patrons will have the opportunity to try the new machines before the full production of 60,000 machines in the summer of 2008.

Richard Smith, Director

From the Editor’s Desk

Welcome to the spring 2007 edition of the Wolfner News, a newsletter produced quarterly for Wolfner Library patrons. I hope you find this newsletter an interesting source of information about the happenings at Wolfner Library.

Please spread the news about Wolfner Library by sharing this newsletter with a friend, neighbor or someone else who may benefit from Wolfner’s services. Thanks, and happy reading!

Elizabeth A. Lang, Editor

Youth Program News

The Children’s Summer Reading Program, 2007

Super sleuths and daring detectives are invited to join “Get a Clue @ Your Library,” the children’s reading program open to young patrons, preschool through middle school. There will be program packets with suggested books and activities for family fun. With three different divisions, called Read-to-Me, Beginning Readers and Independent Readers, everyone will have a chance to earn a book in the format of his or her choice and win other prizes. Registration begins in May. Watch for your invitation in the mail this spring! 

2007 Summer Reading Program for Young Adults

Young adult patrons of Wolfner Library are invited to join “YNK @ Your Library,” a summer reading program designed especially for young adults in secondary school and college. “YNK” is popular shorthand for “you never know.” Suggested reading lists and activities are included in YNK packets for the participants. Each participant who reaches his or her personal reading goal will earn a book in the format of their choice and be eligible to win additional prizes. Look for the YNK invitation in the mail in April and call the library to register.   

Nancy Doering, Youth Services Librarian

Volunteer News

It seems like we just had our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, which has been in October for the past couple of years. However, the Friends of Wolfner Library, who sponsor the dinner, have requested that we move it to the same day as their annual meeting.

Therefore, our next dinner will be on Saturday, April 21st, following the Friends annual meeting. It will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and current plans are to have it in the Kirkpatrick State Information Center. We ask all volunteers to mark their calendars for this important date.

Deborah Stroup, Coordinator of Volunteers

News Rack: Extra, Extra! Read All about It!

What is NFB-NEWSLINE?
Using synthesized speech, NFB-NEWSLINE® delivers 238 participating newspapers and six magazines to subscribers each day, and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from any touch-tone telephone. Once you’ve called us to sign up, you can listen to the news of your choice using one of our local numbers, which are (314) 558-1243 or (816) 276-1241, or the toll-free number which is 1-888-882-1629.

NFB-NEWSLINE® Adds TV Listings
TV listings are now available through Wolfner Library’s NFB-NEWSLINE® service. This enhancement gives you access to your local TV listings, all in one place, only a telephone call away. By entering your zip code, source of TV reception and time zone, you will have quick and easy access to your local TV listings. The listings are interactive and you can choose between date, time and/or channel listings.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Finally, blind television viewers can find out what’s on any channel, at any time, and within seconds.”

Newspapers by Email
NFB-NEWSLINE® can also email newspapers to your inbox in an easily navigable, searchable digital format called DAISY 3, which allows you to read the newspaper on a computer or portable device. To sign up for this service you must first be a registered NFB-NEWSLINE® user. If you are already a subscriber, you can complete your application online at www.nfb.org.

National Federation of the Blind Partners with AARP Publications
The National Federation of the Blind, the largest consumer group of blind people in the United States, and AARP, the membership organization representing nearly 38 million Americans over 50, have partnered to make AARP publications accessible to all blind and low vision people in the United States. AARP the Magazine, AARP Bulletin and AARP Segunda Juventud, AARP’s bilingual magazine, are now available on NFB-NEWSLINE®, the nation’s largest free, on-demand news service for the blind.

Catherine Ventura-Merkel, Director of AARP Publications, said, “Through our publications, we are able to provide vital news and information to older Americans. We are pleased to be working with the National Federation of the Blind to ensure that our publications are available to all older Americans in an accessible format.”

Service Notes

If you plan to move, or have already moved, you need to contact us in order to keep receiving your books and other materials. If you are a “snowbird” who moves to a warmer state during the winter months, please contact us with your address changes before you leave and after you return to Missouri. Contacting us promptly with address changes will ensure that you receive your books without interruption.

Did you know that in some instances, veterans are given a preferred status for library services? If you are a veteran, please contact us at 1-800-392-2614 to verify that we have a note indicating your status as such.

Upcoming Events

On April 21, 2007, the Friends of Wolfner Library will hold a meeting at the Kirkpatrick State Information Center in Jefferson City. The meeting will be followed by a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.