Moving toward Digital

Dictionaiy/Encyclopedia
A talking book (audiobook) An audiobook is a recording that is primarily spoken word. It is often based on a recording of commercial printed material. It is not necessarily an exact audio version of a book. (Wikipedia) The talking book program has a long history, dating back to 1931 and including reel tapes, cassettes, CDs and now USB cartridges.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audiobook#History

Journal Articles
In this entertaining article Guido Corona follows the path of the NLS Talking Book Program from its eary days of bulky audiocassettes, to CDs and even limited downloadable books to the recently launched digital format. The article is filled with entertaining stories and anecdotes. Even one involving Niagra Zinfendel wine! Yum! Seriously, the author admits that he held out reservations that the program would ever get a foothold, but now sees that it is well on its way and growing daily. What a gift to the visually impaired and all with reading disabilities.

Corona, Guido D.. Are you on BARD? The long-awaited switchto digital books. AccessWorld, July 2009, 10(4).
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=%20aw100403

Newsletters
The NLS has 3 newsletters available in print and online.
1. Flash - issued monthly is devoted to updates on digital books and serials.

2. News - issued quarterly reviews events of the NLS, its affilliated agencies and libraries in the US and around the world. As of 1999 the newsletter is in HTML format only.

3. Update - issued quarterly, gives information about current and upcoming volunteer activities at agencies and libraries affilliated with NLS.

Access to current newsletters and archives is available at: http://www.loc.gov/nls/newsletters/index.html

The Texas Talking Book Program also issues a newsletter, print, braille and electronic. It gives updates of current events, including the digital conversion process and the renovation of the State Library as well as user information, book reviews and suggested titles.
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/tbp/news/index.html

News/Press Releases
As the NLS and the Texas Talking Book Program embarked on their project to convert recorded materials to a digital format, they made sure that the media was involved. The NLS has compiled a page of links to many of the most prominant news releases.
http://www.loc.gov/nls/newsreleases/archive/index.html

Web Sites
The National Library Services web site offers an abundance of information - from access to online magazines and newsletters to interactive activities for kids and a catalog of books and resources for members and the general public.
http://www.loc.gov/nls/index.html

The Texas Talking Book Program web site gives a brief introduction to the program and its benefits to the visually and reading handicapped community. There are links to several pages that offer more information about the Program such as the BARD (downloadable books, volunteer opportunities, the digital book conversion project and access to their online catalog. In addition, there are links to information about visual disabilities, services for the handicapped and other important resources.
http://www.texastalkingbooks.org/

Another important organization that provides recorded materials to visually impaired individuals is Recording for the Blind & Dyslecsic (RFB&D). They provide mainly educational materials such as textbooks and documents. Their web site is quite informative about opportunities for visually impaired individuals and all of the services that are available to help them achieve personal, educational and career goals.
http://www.rfbd.org/

Other
Pictures of what the new digital player and USB cassettes look like can be viewed at:
http://www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan/playerdescription.html

This is a far cry above the bulky cassette player that I was issued in 1990 (and still use today). It plays 4 track tapes that must be turned over and rewound as well as having a charge time of about 8 hours, as opposed to the nearly 24 hours of the new unit.