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Home > What Is Available > Services to American Citizens Abroad > Overseas Outlook > Jan-Jun 2002

NLS: Overseas Outlook

January to June 2002

Volume 25, Number 1

Mail problems

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has been experiencing delays in shipping and receiving mail since mid-October 2001. If you would like to contact the overseas librarian, you should use the telephone, facsimile, or e-mail. My telephone number is (202) 707-9261, facsimile is (202) 707-0712, and e-mail address is <raj@loc.gov>. Messages sent using the postal service may result in six-month delays. If it is necessary to send physical items, parcel or expedited delivery services should be used.

Music scores, books available on Web-Braille on the Internet

Music scores and books about music have been added to the NLS Web-Braille system that provides braille books on the Internet.

This extension of Web-Braille represents the first collection of braille music materials to be available on the Internet for use by NLS patrons. The specialized digital holdings contain items not available from any other source, including many braille music scores.

NLS has linked its International Union Catalog of braille and audio materials to Web-Braille. As a result, Web-Braille books, magazines, and music may now be accessed directly from the catalog by using author, title, subject, language, keyword, and other search parameters.

NLS launches initiative to involve blind and physically handicapped library users with Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport, the distinguished living maritime museum in southeastern Connecticut, and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped have announced expanded outreach and accessibility initiatives for museum visitors who are blind, visually impaired, or disabled.

Among the projects announced are collaborative efforts to conceive, develop, and publish a nautical alphabet book in large print, braille, and tactile formats; issue a digital audio version of an existing Mystic Seaport cookbook for the NLS digital audio development program and for Mystic Seaport's Internet web site; provide analog audio versions of Mystic Seaport books for blind individuals and for sale by Mystic Seaport to the general public; provide English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish audio and braille versions of the Mystic Seaport general handout for museum visitors; provide docent and interpreter training on awareness and accommodation issues for people with disabilities; develop a hands-on artifact package for blind visitors; and launch special projects and programs for blind children.

Noting that the Mystic Seaport project represents a continuing effort by NLS to make braille, audio, tactile, and digital materials available to blind individuals in a variety of settings, NLS director Frank Kurt Cylke said, "NLS has made a number of efforts over the years to work with other national institutions to promulgate accessibility of these reading materials to blind individuals. NLS has worked with the National Park Service to provide tour and information guides in braille and audio formats to several of its national parks, including Shenandoah National Park. Working with Cornell University's Department of Ornithology, NLS helped develop a birdsong tutor on audio cassette that has become a popular book for blind individuals. And the current effort with Mystic Seaport will add to our commitment to reach out to other national institutions."

The Seaport library has also announced a pilot project to allow registered NLS patrons to request a free Mystic Seaport library pass to visit the Seaport.

Patrons of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island regional libraries may request a one-day Mystic Seaport library pass from their library. Patrons in other states as well as the patrons living overseas may request their pass from the Office of the Director, NLS. Each pass entitles two adults and their children or grandchildren, eighteen years old and under, to free admission to Mystic Seaport on the day printed on the card. Passes are not valid during July and August.

For further information contact the overseas librarian.

Overseas Patron anchors in Singapore

Overseas patron Louise Nelson has been served by NLS with talking books for the last eight years. She and her husband, Todd, along with her brother, Mark, and sister-in-law, Sam, decided two years ago to travel around the world in their 51-foot wooden boat named Te Tainui. The four of them sailed the waters of Australia and Indonesia and had planned to cruise to Thailand and then on through Red Sea to the Mediterranean when heightened tensions in the Middle East and Afghanistan made them decide to anchor in Singapore until the situation settles down.

Legally blind since birth in her home state of Iowa, Nelson says, "I use lots of alternative techniques along with my remaining vision. I'm able to read print if it's not too small. I often use a magnifier and also a hand-held telescope for distant stuff-especially scenery."

She received her elementary education at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School and her secondary education at the Solon Public High School. Her travels began after graduation, as she entered the University of the Americas in Pueblo, Mexico, in 1974 and graduated four years later from Denver University, Colorado, with a degree in Spanish Literature and Secondary Education. After graduation, she returned to Iowa as a braille instructor, and later as a program coordinator for the Iowa Commission for the Blind (now the Iowa Department for the Blind). She completed a Master of Science in Special Education at Northern Illinois University and moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where she worked as a braille and home economics instructor at the Louise Rudd Center for Blind Adults.

She met her husband in Anchorage and they married in 1987. It was Todd Nelson who introduced Louise to open-water sailing aboard his 28-foot boat in the middle of an Alaskan winter in 40 knots of wind.

Having decided to delay their travels, Nelson says she and her crew are busy readapting to life on land. While they find Singapore beautiful, they find adjusting to a regular work schedule a little difficult after the freedom of the sea. The rest, however, will allow them to make repairs on the ketch and to take a look at the region they are in. "We are planning land trips to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Korea while we are here. We also hope to fit in China and Hong Kong."

I am sure the overseas readers will join me in wishing the Nelsons a safe and pleasant journey around the world.

Minibibliography: Afghanistan

Each issue of Overseas Outlook includes a bibliography on a subject that may be of interest to overseas patrons. This minibibliography lists works about Afghanistan, which has been a center of attention for the last several months.

Use the check box after each book description to select the book(s) you want. After selecting the books you want, complete the name and address information. As the final step, use the request button at the end. When you use the request button, an email is created and sent to the overseas services office at NLS.

Cassettes

Afghanistan by Sharifah Enayat Ali

RC 50889

Describes the geography, economy, and culture of the nation of Afghanistan-a country on the crossroads between Europe and the Far East. Traces its history up to 1992, when the communist regime was overthrown and an Islamic state established. For grades 5-8. 1995

Afghanistan: Key to a Continent by John Charles Griffiths

RC 19120

Brief account that attempts to present a rounded treatment of Afghanistan's geography, history, society, economics, and politics. Draws on the author's numerous visits to the strategic land of the high flags. 1981

Among the Afghans by Arthur Bonner

RC 27446

A journalist's analysis of the war in Afghanistan following the 1979 Soviet invasion. Having spent 1985 and 1986 in Afghanistan living with the mujahidin (holy warriors), the author provides a first-hand account of the day-to-day realities of their struggle. 1987

Caravans: A Novel by James A. Michener

RC 10890

Mark Miller of the United States Embassy in Afghanistan is sent to investigate a missing American girl whose parents have not heard from her since her impetuous marriage to a young Afghan engineer. In his search, Mark is absorbed by the land and the people of this exotic country. 1963

Caught in the Crossfire by Jan Goodwin

RC 26064

A journalist's experiences traveling with Afghan rebels. Describes the day-to-day hazards of life with the mujahidin, while their fight with the Russians extends into years. Violence. 1987

The Hidden War: A Russian Journalist's Account of the Soviet War in Afghanistan by Artyom Borovik

RC 34426

In 1988, Soviet journalist Borovik began publishing articles on the nine-year Soviet involvement in the Afghanistan war. As Gorbachev was easing the nation out of the war, Borovik was interviewing soldiers in combat, deserters, and soldiers' families to provide an eyewitness account much different from the version presented to the Soviet people during the 1980s. Some strong language. 1988

The Hour of the Lily by John Kruse

RC 28161

A novel about the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Swashbuckling Ghoram Khan is a rebel whose life is dedicated to the Afghan resistance and to combating the Russians, who have savaged his wife and leveled his village. His nemesis, Russian army official Andrei, has lost his own wife to Khan, so these opposing leaders are locked in a bitter fight to the death. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1987

In Afghanistan: An American Odyssey by Jere Van Dyk

RC 19642

With three cameras and a check from the New York Times, freelancer Van Dyk went to Afghanistan in 1981 to report on the Russian occupation. This is his account of an exotic land struggling for survival and also the story of a young man's quest for self-discovery. 1981

A Journey through Afghanistan: A Memorial by David Chaffetz

RC 17358

The author recounts his experiences and impressions while traveling and living for four months in western Afghanistan. Describes the old city of Herat, the legendary Cave of the Sleepers, the exotic nomads and countryside, as well as life in the bazaars, teahouses, and religious shrines. 1981

Kara Kush: A Novel by Idries Shah

RC 24922

The Soviets invade Afghanistan, but they do not fully reckon with tribal guerrillas whose leaders spring from a powerful military tradition. One of the most able chiefs is Kara Kush, the Eagle, who with his bank of resistance fighters wins one battle after another. When a fabulous treasure, the ancient Hoard of Ahmad Shad, is discovered, both sides intend to claim the billions of gold coins. Violence. 1986

"A Nation Is Dying": Afghanistan under the Soviets, 1979-87

by Jeri Laber and Barnett R. Rubin

RC 30498

Millions people fled to Iran and Pakistan during the Soviet-Afghan war. Using interviews with hundreds of these refugees, the authors paint a picture of a staggering number of human rights violations against the citizens of Afghanistan. Violence. 1990

Reaping the Whirlwind: The Taliban Movement in Afghanistan

by Michael Griffin

RC 52901

Analyzes the nature of politics and tribal rivalries in Afghanistan when the U.S.S.R. retreated in 1989 and the Muslim fundamentalists assumed power. Summarizes the rise of the Taliban rulers through the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen. Discusses American failure to recognize the threat of Osama Bin Laden's network. 2001

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby

RC 50235

The wry account of an Englishman who leaves the London fashion industry for the adventure of hiking into Nuristan, a remote corner of Afghanistan. Accompanied by a Foreign Service friend, he takes a four-day beginner's course in mountain climbing in Wales before departing on their expedition. 1958

Soldiers of God: With the Mujahidin in Afghanistan by Robert D. Kaplan

RC 32137

A journalist reports on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the defense of their country by the Muslim mujahidin. The war was characterized by technologically sophisticated weapons in the hands of primitive fighters, and by the planting of millions of mines meant to maim, not kill. 1990

Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid

RC 52899

Journalist with twenty years' experience covering Afghanistan discusses the origin and rise of the Taliban and its fundamentalist interpretations of Islam. Explains the importance of Afghanistan's energy resources for the region and the country's problems with smuggling, civil war, and lack of social services. 2000

The Taliban by Peter Marsden

RC 48185

Examines the beliefs and policies of the Taliban and their rise to power. Traces the history of other radical movements in the area. Discusses the gender issue and how it affects the interactions of the Taliban with the international community. Considers foreign support and opposition to the group.1998

An Unexpected Light: Travels in Afghanistan by Jason Elliot

RC 53152

An exploration of Afghanistan-its physical beauty, hospitality, religious variations, and long history. Elliot recounts events from his first visit at nineteen in 1986 traveling with anti-Soviet mujahidin to another journey ten years later when the Taliban forces were building power. 1999

Unholy Wars: Afghanistan, America, and International Terrorism by John K. Cooley

RC 53133

A veteran journalist's account of the unforeseen consequences of the United State's alliances with radical Islamist movements in the 1980s during efforts to contain Soviet expansion. Explains how, following the Russian withdrawal, Muslim guerrillas trained by the CIA to resist the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan reemerged as violent anti-Western factions. 1999

Braille

The Hour of the Lily by John Kruse

BRA 18639

A novel about the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Swashbuckling Ghoram Khan is a rebel whose life is dedicated to the Afghan resistance and to combating the Russians, who have savaged his wife and leveled his village. His nemesis, Russian army official Andrei, has lost his own wife to Khan, so these opposing leaders are locked in a bitter fight to the death. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1987

Land of the High Flags: A Travel Memoir of Afghanistan by Rosanne Klass

BR 17

As a teacher in an all-male school in Afghanistan from 1951-1954, the author learned to know and love the Central Asian country. She not only relates her experiences in teaching and keeping house, but also describes the country and its people. 1964

The Minaret of Djam: An Excursion in Afghanistan by Freya Stark

BR 1799

Recounting a journey in Afghanistan, the author includes a rich historical background as she travels through the country to Kabul, Herat, and Kandahar. 1970

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby

BRA 6635

The wry account of an Englishman who leaves the London fashion industry for the adventure of hiking into Nuristan, a remote corner of Afghanistan. Accompanied by a Foreign Service friend, he takes a four-day beginner's course in mountain climbing in Wales before departing on their expedition. 1958

Spies behind the Pillows, Bandits at the Pass by Kathleen Trautman

BR 1933

The Kansas-born wife of an American foreign service information officer recalls her family's experiences in Afghanistan, including problems of protocol, living conditions, fellow Americans, and the Afghan people. 1972

Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid

BR 13624

Journalist with twenty years' experience covering Afghanistan discusses the origin and rise of the Taliban and its fundamentalist interpretations of Islam. Explains the importance of Afghanistan's energy resources for the region and the country's problems with smuggling, civil war, and lack of social services. 2000

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Posted on 2006-02-24