News ISSN 1046-1663 July-September 2001, Vol. 32, No. 3 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped The Library of Congress Students to design talking-book machine The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and NLS are challenging student designers to help create the first generation of talking-book playback machines to use digital technology. The student design competition, scheduled to begin January 1, 2002, will assist in the design of a unique product that will help thousands of blind and physically handicapped people access books and magazines in digital audio and braille. Close to a million digital talking-book machines will be produced in the first ten years after their introduction. Current audio machines are using the same analog cassettes that made their appearance in the 1970s. "Analog technology has served us well, but it is moving toward obsolescence," says Frank Kurt Cylke, director of NLS. "Users are beginning to expect their talking-book playback machines to have navigation features found in CD and DVD players and computers, such as the ability to skip sections or return to a bookmark. As analog cassette technology becomes more scarce, it will become too expensive. We must move digital audio to take advantage of improved features and lower costs," says Cylke. Copyright restrictions So why not use existing digital devices? Both recordings and equipment in the NLS program are provided free to any U.S. resident or citizen living abroad who is eligible for service. NLS is permitted to produce books under U.S. copyright law, but the law requires that the materials circulated be unusable by the general public. Thus current talking-book machines and cassettes are different from conventional cassette players and tapes. When NLS decided to adopt digital technology, they determined to take advantage of the necessary conversion time to address the total design of playback machines. "Our analog machines were designed for our users by engineers and were built to be functional and durable, not necessarily attractive," says Cylke. The Library now has a chance to design new machines that are aesthetically pleasing, light and compact, and with amplification for hearing-impaired individuals--as well as being functional and durable. Working with IDSA When NLS conceived the idea of a student competition, the Reference Section had the task of identifying the appropriate organization to manage the competition. IDSA had just completed a Motorola student competition to make wireless technology accessible to all users. "It is a good fit. We wanted creativity and unique ideas, and the concept of a student competition was even more exciting," says Cylke. NLS staff under the coordination of John Bryant, head of the Production Control Section, have been working on the competition with IDSA's senior manager of communication. The students will be designing for the future, when the large group of baby boomers will be aging. "Many of our users are older people who were avid readers and now are unable to read. They must be able to operate the playback machines," Bryant says. Design principles Although the digital devices the students design will be specifically tailored for use by blind individuals, they will also adhere to the principles of universal design: they will be simple and intuitively operable, have a tolerance for human error, and require low physical effort. NLS has approximately 730,000 cassette talking-book playback machines in use worldwide today and maintains an inventory of more than 23 million copies of audio books and magazines. "The upgrade to digital versions of not only the talking-book playback machines but also the audio collection is the greatest challenge NLS has faced," says Cylke. "Student designers have the opportunity to inspire the development of a product that will meet a government mandate and benefit hundreds of thousands of citizens." IDSA is offering information on the competition on its web site , in its publications, at its national conference, and at the August National Education Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, and will distribute competition information kits to all fifty-four IDSA- affiliated schools. A jury assembled by NLS and IDSA will convene in June 2002, and awards will be presented during the IDSA National Conference, July 20 23, 2002. (photo caption:"Imagine helping 730,000 to read" is the theme of a promotional brochure for student designers that outlines the history of the talking-book program, summarizes the evolution of ideas about digital playback machines, and identifies features to be incorporated.) Advisory group considers book selection The Collection Building Advisory Committee, formerly the National Advisory Group on Collection Building Activities, met at NLS May 23 25 to confer and formulate recommendations concerning NLS book and magazine selection. The committee made seventeen suggestions for consideration by NLS and singled out some aspects of existing procedures for reaffirmation or kudos. Presentations On Wednesday morning, May 23, the committee assembled. James Herndon, Collection Development section head, along with members of his section, then provided the committee with an overview of NLS book production. They were supported by John Bryant, head of the Production Control Section, and studio director Margie Goergen-Rood, who conducted a tour of the NLS recording studio, emphasizing the evolution of the studio's digital recording capabilities. The next presentation was an update on the NLS Digital Talking Book Program by Research and Development officer Michael Moodie. After Quality Assurance specialist Tom Bickford commented on some of the unusual and often amusing problems he encounters in his day-to-day review of recorded products, the committee began the first of its four scheduled deliberations sessions. Sessions continued all day Thursday, May 24. The meeting concluded on Friday morning, May 25, with the presentation of the committee's recommendations to the director of NLS, various NLS officials, and interested staff members. Recommendations The committee's concerns and suggestions fell into four broad areas: automation, administration, publications, and selection policy. The committee recommended that search protocols be broadened and brought into conformity among different automated library databases, and that some on-screen features be redesigned to ensure greater efficiency in electronic information transfer between libraries and NLS. The committee expressed concerns about clarifying channels of communication between patrons and librarians and NLS, particularly in regard to patrons' suggestions and requests. Representatives also suggested expanding their own scope. The group appreciated receiving factual and statistical background material prior to the meeting, and hoped that the practice would continue with added data on magazine circulation, subject categories of recently processed books, and book genre percentages. Suggestions for improvement of information disseminated in Braille Book Review (BBR) and Talking Book Topics (TBT) included the following: that annotations contain more information about the setting, time, place, and cultural content of the work; that TBT and BBR both present annually complete lists of available magazines in all formats; that books be listed in TBT and BBR in alphabetical order by author instead of BR and RC number. The committee also reiterated a recommendation that authors' names be spelled out in full in the introductory announcements of cassette books. Recommendations in the area of selection included the following: that NLS continue to produce reissues with an emphasis on classics and books by high-demand authors; that series continue to be filled in whenever possible; that fewer works on dysfunctional human relationships be selected; that more religious material be chosen and plainly identified as such in annotations; that fantasy materials (folklore and fairy tales) be balanced with science and technology materials in selections for children; and that a braille gardening magazine be provided. Commendations The committee commended NLS on its support for producing print/braille materials for younger readers, for providing factual and statistical data to the committee prior to the 2001 meeting, and for increased success in acquiring out-of-print books to fill in gaps in the collection. The committee thanked Jim Herndon and his staff in the Collection Development Section for their facilitation of the meeting, chairperson Michael Richman and secretary Maggie Bacon for their work during the proceedings, and Sue Sugimura for bringing coffee and chocolate from Hawaii. On behalf of NLS, Jim Herndon acknowledged the commendations, and in turn thanked the members of the committee for their participation in these interesting and profitable discussions. (photo caption: Advisory committee in session. Front row: Michael Richman, Randy French, Carol Taylor, Barbara Walker, Jill O'Connell. Back row: Jane Toleno, Kathy Blackburn, Sue Sugimura, Michael Jones, Emma Schroth, Maggie Bacon, Ron Miller. For affiliations, see committee list below. Photo by Paul Hogroian, L.C.) (Collection building advisory committee members Consumer organization representatives: Jill O'Connell (California), American Council of the Blind; Ronald L. Miller (California), Blinded Veterans Association; Barbara Walker (Nebraska), National Federation of the Blind. Readers-at-Large: Jane L. Toleno (Minnesota), Midlands Region; Michael Richman (Vermont), Northern Region; Kathy Blackburn (Texas), Southern Region; Michael Jones (Colorado), Western Region. Librarians: Maggie Bacon (Michigan), Midlands; Carol Taylor (Connecticut), Northern; Randy French (Virginia), Southern; Sue Sugimura (Hawaii), Western; Emma Schroth (Louisiana), Children and Young Adults.) Four regionals have new librarians Delaware. The Delaware Division of Libraries has named John Phillos to the post of director of the Delaware Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH). Phillos came to LBPH on May 1 from the Delmar Public Library in Delmar, Delaware, where he was also director. He previously held positions at Georgetown Public Library and at the Delaware Technical and Community College Library, both in Georgetown, Delaware. A longtime state resident, Phillos has lived in Georgetown since 1986. He is married and has three children. Before returning to school to complete his education, Phillos's variegated career included time in the U.S. Navy and employment as an electrician while he studied flying. He obtained a commercial pilot's license and worked as a flight instructor, charter pilot, and corporate pilot for several years. He received a B.A. in Behavioral Science from Wilmington College and an M.L.S. from the University of Arizona. Under his leadership, Phillos hopes to see LBPH service in Delaware expand to serve all eligible state residents and provide the best possible service to patrons. "I looked at the demographics," he says, "and we're not reaching the population we should." He has launched a vigorous campaign of education and public relations to "take the story to the public, bang the drum, let people know we exist." He also sees "partnering with other agencies serving disabled people" as an important part of his mandate, and has been asked by the state librarian's office to act as an advocate within the library community for all people with disabilities. Among current tasks is oversight of new library building and building renovation, seeing to sensible planning that will address patrons' needs and convenience beyond minimal compliance with ADA requirements. The Delaware LBPH has been in existence since 1971 and has a collection of more than 50,000 books on tape. Phillos looks forward to thirtieth-anniversary observations later in the year as an opportunity for outreach as well as celebration. New Hampshire. Donna Gilbreth became the regional librarian in March. After twenty years as a reference librarian at the state library, Gilbreth says she looks forward to directing the program. She has no immediate plans for major changes, but is using her time to "learn the system" and to get to know her constituency. Gilbreth received her B.A. in English from Salem State College, Massachusetts, and her M.L.S. from Simmons College in Boston. New Jersey. Deborah Toomey Rutledge has assumed the post of director of the Library for the Blind and Handicapped (LBH) in Trenton, New Jersey. After graduating with a B.A. in history from Windham College in her native Vermont, Rutledge went on to receive an M.L.S. from the University of Maryland in College Park. After graduation, she worked for NLS in Washington, D.C., developing her skills and an appreciation of specialized library services for blind and disabled readers. Rutledge has worked in libraries for blind and physically handicapped individuals in Florida and Georgia as well as the New Jersey LBH. She has been a children's librarian, a reference librarian in Reading, Pennsylvania, and a statistics librarian for Vanguard Financial Services. She speaks enthusiastically about the prospects presented by her new role. "The free services LBH offers, talking books, large print, braille, Audiovision, and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Program, make this job very exciting and challenging. I'm exceedingly pleased not only to be back in these specialized services, but also to return to New Jersey. I really appreciate the diversity of both the land and the people here. New Jersey has a lot to offer." The New Jersey LBH is part of the New Jersey State Library and affiliated with Thomas Edison State College. The agency has been serving blind and physically handicapped individuals in the state for more than thirty years and continues to expand its services. Oregon. "I want to enable as many people as possible to share the magic of words," says Carolynn Avery, Oregon's Talking Book and Braille Services new regional librarian. Avery comes to the Oregon regional library from the Corvallis- Benton County Public Library, where she served primarily as a children's librarian. She also worked with DB-Link, the National Information Clearinghouse on Children Who Are Deaf/Blind, for approximately two and a half years. She found that her job there "truly made a difference, and that is important to me. The beauty and power of language have always intrigued me." Her primary goal is to increase the range of services offered to the library's increasing population of readers. As the library has not had a regional librarian for more than a year, Avery also looks forward to providing leadership and assisting the team in rebuilding its goals and mobilizing its efforts. The regional librarian holds an M.L.S. from the University of Arizona, Tucson, and an M.Ed. from the University of Alaska, Juneau. She received her undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, Massachusetts. Avery looks forward to the challenge of overseeing the daily operations of the library and to finding her own personal niche at the Talking Book and Braille Services. Regional conferences report activities The NLS network of cooperating libraries is divided into four geographical regions: north, south, midlands, and west. Regions hold conferences singly or with another region in odd-numbered years. Three regional conferences took place this spring. The entire network meets in a national conference in even-numbered years. Southern Conference Charleston, South Carolina March 11 13 States in attendance: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia The conference was called to order by chair Mike Gunde, Florida regional library. Guynell Williams, South Carolina regional library, welcomed the attendees. NLS staff members presented a four-part overview of "A Digital Future." Carolyn Sung, chief of the Network Division, chaired the panel and discussed the development and use of the braille and audio life- cycle model; Brad Kormann, chief of the Materials Development Division, covered the status of the Digital Audio Development Committee; John Cookson, head of the Engineering Section, spoke about the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) and the Open E-book. Following the technical reports, David Whittall, network consultant, discussed "Orchestrating the Change: Network Considerations." The NLS participants gave updates on current NLS program changes along with Jacqueline Conner and Karnell Parry, directors of the Multistate Center East and Multistate Center West, respectively. Both sessions were followed by questions and answers. The afternoon session held talks on "Web Ordering Systems for Talking Book Libraries" by Gunde and "Outreach Targeting" by Dave Holloman, Keystone Systems, Inc., on locating prospective patrons in limited outreach programs. Another network-conducted session featured a panel on "Special Collections and Services in Talking Book Libraries." Ann Bradley (Ft. Myers, Florida, subregional library), Jeannette Studley (Fairfax, Virginia, subregional library), and Greg Carlson (Florida regional library, formerly Pinellas, Florida, subregional) shared information and experiences. Gary Swint, chair of local arrangements from the Augusta, Georgia, subregional library, announced his new position as director of the Augusta/Richmond County Public Library. He also announced the retirement in August of the Macon subregional's Rebecca Sherrill. Both Swint and Sherrill have been with the network since 1974 and active in their region and on NLS committees. Carolyn Sung presented a plaque and certificate to Joyce Smith of Huntsville, Alabama, for her service of more than thirty-three years (see News, April June 2001). New chair: Barbara McCarthy, Virginia Vice-chair: Elizabeth Perkins, Louisiana 2003 conference: New Orleans, Louisiana Northern Conference Charleston, West Virginia May 2 4 States in attendance: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York (Albany), New York (New York City), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh), Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia The first day opened with NLS updates provided by Steve Prine, head of the NLS Network Services Section, and David Whittall, network consultant. Specific programs were devoted to reader statistics and Web- Braille. These meetings were followed by a commonality session in which conferees discussed topics of mutual interest. The second day began with a session on assistive technology, followed by a session on digital audio. In the afternoon conferees toured the West Virginia Library Commission (WVLC), which included the regional library, and attended a reception at the WVLC Reference Library. There they were welcomed by West Virginia's first lady, Sandy Wise; the secretary of education and the arts, Kay Goodwin; and David Price, director of the WVLC. New chair: Kathleen Rowan, New York 2003 meeting: New York City Midlands/West: Salt Lake City, Utah May 17 19 States in attendance: Midlands--Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan (Lansing), Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin; West--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington The Midlands/West regions, hosted by the Utah regional library, completed the round of 2001 regional conferences. The meeting began on the morning of May 17 with a welcome from Gerald Buttars, head of the Program for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Utah, and Rocky Anderson, mayor of Salt Lake City. Linda Montgomery, chair, Western Conference, from the Arizona regional library, presided as each regional library presented an oral report on recent activities and issues and introduced staff attending. These reports were followed by an NLS update from Brad Kormann, Carolyn Hoover Sung, Steve Prine, Mary Mohr, and Robert McDermott, automation officer. The multistate centers were represented by Karnell Parry and Jacqueline Conner, who brought the network up to date on current activities at the centers. In the afternoon, Dr. Julia Kleinschmidt, associate clinical professor, University of Utah, and director of the Patient Support Program at the John A. Moran Eye Center, presented a program on "Serving Others and Preserving Yourself." This program concentrated on stress and its sources in body, mind, and situations. Each region held business meetings in the latter part of the afternoon. Linda Montgomery brought the Western Conference meeting to order. NLS advisory committee reports on collection building by Lois Gross, Colorado regional library, and on audio equipment by John Brewster, Braille Institute, were submitted and distributed. Lissa Shanahan, chair of the Midlands Conference from the Indiana regional, brought the midlands meeting to order. Committee reports were presented. Discussion of old business items and new business ensued. The second and third days of the conference featured a guest speaker and special-interest sessions. Children's author Gloria Synski described her writing experiences. Panel presentations and discussions focused on NLS statistics, the network's changing role, and digital recording. Automation user groups met and discussed areas of mutual concern and pertinent issues surrounding automation. Six commonality sessions were held on the following topics: Friends Groups and Advisory Councils--Tips for Success, Service to Young Readers--How Do We Get Their Attention? Where Have All the Readers Gone--Why Aren't More People Signing Up for Talking Books? Outreach--What Really Works, Service to Assisted Living Facilities--How to Make It Work, and Web Sites--The Ones That Help Us and Our Patrons. New officers--Midlands Chair: Judy Bow, Columbus, Ohio Vice-chair: Marsha Valance, Wisconsin Secretary: Karen Odean, Northwest Illinois Treasurer: Gail Morse, Cleveland, Ohio 2003 conference: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota New officers--West Chair: Dr. Henry Chang, Southern California Vice-chair: Jerry Packard, New Mexico 2003 conference: Bismarck, North Dakota; May 15 17 (2002 National Conference of Librarians Serving Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals Place Richmond, Virginia Date April 28 May 2 See the next issue of News for more information.) Hillsborough, Florida, displays new home On Friday, April 6, the Hillsborough Talking Book Library hosted more than 120 patrons and guests at an all-day open house at their new, accessible location at the Jan Platt Regional Library in South Tampa, which opened on December 11, 2000. The event had been planned since January, shortly after the library opened. The talking-book facility at the branch was partially funded by a state construction grant. The new facility has a public greeting and display area, work spaces for the four full-time staff members, and movable shelving to house the collection of nearly thirty-five thousand cassettes, with room for expansion. The site also has a small braille book collection, a Florida-interest collection, descriptive videos, and some programming and outreach items. Just outside the doors on the main-branch floor are several assistive devices: JAWS Internet access, Kurzweil Personal Reader, Arkenstone OPEN Book, and CCTV enlarger. The assistive Internet station allows registered users (with their ID and PIN numbers) access to the library's Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS), which lets them order books on their own. The branch is also equipped with a drive-through, so that friends, relatives, and neighbors of talking-book users can speedily pick up pre- ordered selections, rather than wait for mail delivery. Several retirement centers made the open house a day outing for their residents, and the local bus company cooperated by providing free transportation from several sites in the county. As a special memento of their visit, departing guests were each offered a carnation from the floral arrangements decorating the event. (photo caption: Reception area at the newly located Hillsborough subregional) Mates receives Campbell Award Barbara T. Mates, head of the Cleveland (Ohio) Public Library's Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, was presented the 2001 Francis Joseph Campbell Award and Citation at the American Library Association (ALA) annual conference in San Francisco, California, on June 17. This award is sponsored by ALA's Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA). In her introductory remarks, NLS reference librarian Ruth J. Nussbaum, chair of the award committee, commended Mates for her outstanding contribution to the advancement of library service for blind and physically handicapped individuals over the course of more than twenty years. "Barbara Mates's focus on adaptive technology for print disabled individuals, her contribution as a writer in this field, and many years as head of the Cleveland Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped have made her a leader in the fields of literacy and accessibility." Mates is a pioneer in the use of adaptive technology for computers. She has written a number of books and articles that explain this emerging technology and offer guidelines in establishing accessibility to the Internet. Her most recent book on this subject, Adaptive Technology for the Internet: Making Electronic Resources Accessible to All, is available in both electronic and print formats. Mates is also a leader in the use of adaptive technology in automated book circulation systems. An active member of ALA and ASCLA since 1976, she has held several elected offices and has served on numerous committees for membership, promotions, publications, awards, and nominations. She is also an active member of the NLS Midlands Conference of Librarians Serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped and served as chair of the DRA Users Group (NLS) during 1995 1996. Mates has lectured extensively on adaptive technology. Mates graduated from John Carroll University with a B.A. degree in 1973 and earned her M.L.S. degree in 1974 from Case Western Reserve University. She has received several awards, such as the Ruth Garwood Award in 1996 from the National Federation of the Blind and the 1999 ASA/ASCLA Service Award. (photo caption: Francis Joseph Campbell Award winner Barbara Mates) Network exchange California (Los Angeles). The Braille Institute Library Services celebrated National Library Week on Wednesday, April 4, by emphasizing the dual role of libraries as both a source of entertainment and a provider of vital information. The program opened with the unveiling of the newly revised library web site. A demonstration of how to access the web site was provided, and guests were informed that Internet classes were available at the library. The chief attraction of the day's activities was an appearance by bestselling author Lisa See. Speaking about where she gets her story ideas, See enthralled 200 library guests with colorful family anecdotes about her Chinese American ancestry. As the author of the well-regarded mysteries Flower Net and The Interior, See is a favorite of library patrons and was warmly received by guests. A question-and-answer period followed See's presentation, with many patrons curious to know how one gets started in writing a book. To those lucky few with winning tickets, the library awarded audio cassettes of See's books as well as signed copies of print editions. This year's event was titled "@ Your Library," in keeping with the American Library Association's national campaign to emphasize libraries' roles in making computer technology accessible to library patrons. Greeting the many guests were Dr. Henry C. Chang, library director, and Dawn Fuller, reader services assistant manager, who chaired the event. (photo caption: Award-winning author Lisa See (center) flanked by Braille Institute library director Henry Chang and event chair Dawn Fuller) Missouri (Jefferson City). Deborah Stroup, coordinator of volunteers at the regional library, reports in the spring edition of Wolfner News a pilot project to bring more personal service to patrons. In conjunction with the Missouri Region II Area Agency on Aging, two existing groups of volunteers will be trained in the use of cassette machines. Long Term Care Ombudsman volunteers in eighteen counties will then be able to assist patrons in nursing homes. EVE (elders volunteer for elders) volunteers who provide in-home services in nine counties will visit new patrons shortly after they receive their machines and will work with them to ensure they understand machine operations. If the project is successful, plans are to extend it through the entire state. NLS participates in LC exhibit at ALA meetings This year marked the second time that NLS exhibited as part of the Library of Congress booth at the American Library Association (ALA) annual conference, held from June 16 19, 2001, in San Francisco, California. The prize-winning LC exhibit format attracts considerable attention at the conference. NLS had two prominent modules, providing an advantage in greeting passersby. One module held a 21" flat-screen monitor that enabled low- vision visitors to view the NLS web site more readily and also facilitated Web-Braille access. The second module displayed the cassette player, adaptive devices, and a print/braille book, permitting "show and tell" demonstrations. The NLS position closer to the public this year permitted interaction with visitors and aisle traffic, which led to increased information exchange and wider distribution of NLS promotional material. Many visitors were directed to the new Accessibility Pavilion, where Judith Dixon, NLS consumer relations officer, demonstrated the use of computer braille technology. NLS personnel were also able to show the NLS open-captioned video Meeting the Need in the LC theater on two different days. Following the video, NLS staff answered questions. NLS will continue to be part of the Library of Congress booth at future ALA conventions, both mid-winter and annual, and at the upcoming Public Library Association (PLA) convention in Phoenix, Arizona, March 12 16, 2002. (photo caption: Patricia Steelman, children's librarian in the NLS Collection Development Section, greets visitors to the NLS exhibit at the summer ALA annual conference in San Francisco.) International NLS, Canada plan collaboration NLS and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) identified mission-based initiatives for future cooperation during a recent two-day management retreat in Ontario, Canada. These initiatives represent the continuation of a collaborative venture of more than twenty years' duration. The International Management Retreat was conceived to allow management teams of both agencies to consider current program goals, objectives, and functions and to brainstorm about future possibilities. Recommended agreements for collaboration fell into three categories: content, access, and production. Content. NLS and CNIB will:  share lists of analog titles scheduled for digital conversion,  explore the possibility of NLS's increasing its purchase of audio and braille titles from CNIB,  explore the possibility of NLS's sharing foreign-language braille files for both books and magazines with CNIB,  explore collection overlaps in braille music; CNIB will explore collection development in the music area, and  explore organizing access to web resources. Production.  CNIB will share with NLS its guidelines on evaluating diagrams for possible production as tactile graphics.  NLS and CNIB will investigate NLS's contracting with CNIB to produce braille and tactile materials. Access.  NLS and CNIB will develop a plan for CNIB to use NLS-developed web-based interlibrary loan software.  NLS and CNIB will share information on outreach efforts.  NLS will share the results of its flash-memory research in relation to playback technology, devices, distribution, and media.  NLS will study CNIB's model for partnering with public libraries, explore possibilities, and follow up with CNIB as needed.  NLS will consider hosting a pre-conference on digital literacy at the 2002 national convention. Conference representatives were divided into teams assigned to pursue each area. They will submit progress reports in six months and follow up at a second retreat in 2002. NLS and CNIB began their international partnership in 1980 with an agreement permitting CNIB to purchase, with appropriate copyright clearances, NLS-produced books. In 1988, NLS implemented a procedure to clear copyright on behalf of CNIB at the same time NLS received copyright clearance for books in its collection. As the relationship grew, CNIB also purchased NLS-produced magazines, and NLS helped the Canadian agency to purchase cassette-mailing containers, granting permission to use the agency-owned molds. NLS also purchases CNIB- produced titles, mostly French materials for the foreign-language collection. CNIB is also a contributor to the NLS-maintained International Union Catalog of special-format books held by U.S. and foreign agencies such as Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, and the Xavier Society. Both are members of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) and have worked closely in developing braille codes, instructional materials, and certifications. They share in their respective conferences and, together, in 1991 organized the Friends of Libraries for Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals in North America. The two agencies have also collaborated on research, production, and training. Ireland. In April Joan Murphy of Fennel's Bay in Crosshaven received the Cork Person of the Month award for her many years of volunteer work for the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI). Murphy supervises the taped books program and produces a taped magazine every month. These audio magazines are sent regularly to 600 visually impaired people throughout Ireland. In addition to supervising the many activities of the Cork branch of the NCBI, Murphy, assisted by her husband, enlists volunteers to read books and newspapers on tape. She is so well known that her name has been sent forward for possible selection as Person of the Year at a function in Jury's Hotel Cork at the end of 2001. Oregon State Library renovates A bronze tactile-art panel now graces the reception area of Talking Book and Braille Services (TBABS), the regional library serving blind and physically handicapped individuals, at the Oregon State Library building in Salem. The project was part of a $7 million renovation of the state library, first constructed in the 1930s. Oregon poet Kim Stafford and visual artist Margot Thompson collaborated to create the panel. The design features an evocation of Oregon's natural heritage in the form of Oregon birds, and includes an original poem, "Birds Fly Upward Singing," that celebrates the mission of TBABS. The poem has been cast in bronze bas-relief in both print and braille. United States senator Mark O. Hatfield and state senator Cliff Trow were honored guests and speakers at a rededication of the building February 1. The rededication followed three years of renovations that resulted in modernization of office spaces and the building's climate control, electrical, and teledata systems. The work also included improvements to the public areas of the library. The renovation provides the regional library with more than 10,000 square feet of space to support over 7,000 patrons. Besides a larger and more inviting reception area for walk-in patrons and other visitors, the circulation area has been enlarged and improved for the benefit of staff and volunteers. There is now a separate room for Telephone Pioneers who come twice a week for machine repairs and a section with long tables for volunteers who do cassette-book inspection and rewinding on a regular basis. (photo caption: Bronze tactile-art panel created for the reception area of the Oregon regional library) The Program The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress publishes books and magazines in braille and in recorded form on discs and cassettes for readers who cannot hold, handle, or see well enough to read conventional print because of a temporary or permanent visual or physical handicap. Through a national network of state and local libraries, the materials are loaned free to eligible readers in the United States and to U.S. citizens living abroad. Materials are sent to readers and returned by postage-free mail. Books and Magazines Readers may borrow all types of popular-interest books including bestsellers, classics, mysteries, westerns, poetry, history, biographies, religious literature, children's books, and foreign- language materials. Readers may also subscribe to more than seventy popular magazines in braille and recorded formats. Special Equipment Special equipment needed to play the discs and cassettes, which are recorded at slower than conventional speeds, is loaned indefinitely to readers. An amplifier with headphone is available for blind and physically handicapped readers who are also certified as hearing impaired. Other devices are provided to aid readers with mobility impairments in using playback machines. Eligibility You are eligible for the Library of Congress program if:  You are legally blind--your vision in the better eye is 20/200 or less with correcting glasses, or your widest diameter of visual field is no greater than 20 degrees;  You cannot see well enough or focus long enough to read standard print, although you wear glasses to correct your vision;  You are unable to handle print books or turn pages because of a physical handicap; or  You are certified by a medical doctor as having a reading disability, due to an organic dysfunction, which is of sufficient severity to prevent reading in a normal manner. How to Apply You may request an application by writing NLS or calling toll-free 1- 800-424-9100, and your name will be referred to your cooperating library. News is published quarterly by: National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Library of Congress Washington, DC 20542 All correspondence should be addressed to the attention of Publications and Media Section. Editor: Vicki Fitzpatrick Writers: Jane Caulton, Robert Fistick, Irene Kost, Mary Mohr, Steven Prine, Edmund O'Reilly, and David Whittall