Update ISSN 0160-9203 July-December 2000, Vol. 23, Nos. 3-4 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped The Library of Congress Telephone Pioneers of America honored in U.S. Congress Tribute by Senator Lincoln D. Chafee (R-RI) [Congressional Record: June 13, 2000, v. 146, p. S5024, (Senate): Tribute to the Telephone Pioneers of America] Mr. President, I want to take a moment to pay tribute to the Telephone Pioneers of America. This tremendous volunteer organization has provided 40 years of volunteer labor in service to the repair of talking-book machines for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Since 1960, the Pioneers have provided over $70 million worth of volunteer labor and have repaired nearly 2 million machines. More than a half-million blind and physically disabled individuals benefit from this outstanding volunteer repair service. In Rhode Island alone, Pioneers have volunteered 27,186 hours and repaired 17,146 machines since 1986. The Pioneers are a good-will organization of a million people. This international organization is led by its president Irene Chavira, of U.S. West; senior vice president Harold Burlingame, of AT&T; and executive director and chief operating officer James Gadd, of BellSouth. The organization is further supported by countless special people, a headquarters advisory board, and sponsoring companies. Concerning the talking-book program itself, there are 1,500 Pioneer men and women who work on talking-book repair. They consist of volunteer personnel from AT&T, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, Lucent Technologies, Southwestern Bell Corporation, SBC Communications, Inc., and U.S. West. They are ably supported by their Pioneer vice presidents and are also ably assisted by regional coordinators. Through the generosity of the sponsoring companies, talking- book-repair Pioneers are provided facilities in which they repair the equipment. Further, they are provided funding for tools, while the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped provides testing equipment and parts for necessary repairs. The Pioneer organization also ensures talking-book coordinator leadership, including administrative support, management support for the program, and funding for travel to training and for recognition events. The talking-book machines provided by the National Library Service to blind and visually impaired Americans are nothing less than a lifeline. Profound vision loss and blindness can seem like an insurmountable obstacle to what most of us take for granted, reading. We live in the information age, but for blind and visually impaired individuals, most information would be out of reach if it were not for the availability of specially designed talking-book machines. With talking-book machines, and other forms of assistive technology, blind boys and girls, men and women are reading for pleasure, for academic achievement, and for professional advancement. Volunteerism is one of the greatest of all American virtues, and most who give their time for the benefit of others do so without hope of fanfare. The Telephone Pioneers of America truly have sounded a clarion call for all other volunteer organizations to follow by responding to those in need, and I commend them for it. (photo caption: Director Frank Kurt Cylke presents Congressional Record tribute to Telephone Pioneers.) Texas regional library celebrates ADA The Texas Talking Book Program staff participated in the tenth anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in Austin, Texas, during June and July. Austin was the second stop of the Spirit of ADA Torch Relay, a twenty-five-city tour sponsored by the Association of Americans with Disabilities and by the Volkswagen of America Corporation. The relay culminated in the arrival of the torch in Washington, D.C., on July 26, 2000, the tenth anniversary of the signing of the ADA by President George Bush. Public awareness coordinator Carmen Keltner represented the Texas Talking Book Program on the committee of Austin area agencies and nonprofit organizations that serve Texans with disabilities--the groups that organized the torch relay that began on June 13 and proceeded along a 6.2-mile course through the city. Reader-consultant Kathy Blackburn served as one of about thirty torchbearers with disabilities. "Since I believe strongly in the implementation, enforcement, and preservation of the ADA, I was pleased to participate in the torch relay," Blackburn said. She is a member of the Austin Council of the Blind and secretary of the board of directors of Access Austin Arts. Four other Talking Book staffers assisted with the project. Reader-consultants Erin Norris and Irma Saldana helped set up and clean up the kickoff point at the state capitol building. Systems analyst Kimberly Spencer served refreshments at the finish line, near the buildings that house the Texas Rehabilitation Commission and the Texas Commission for the Blind. Collections specialist Jane Isaacs helped by caring for Blackburn's guide dog during the relay. "I congratulate our torchbearer, Kathy Blackburn, and the other Talking Book employees who worked on this worthwhile project," said Jenifer O. Flaxbart, director of the Texas Talking Book Program. "I was very pleased that the Talking Book staff participated in commemorating the anniversary of this important civil rights legislation." (This article was submitted by Carmen Keltner, manager, Outreach and Production Services, Texas Talking Book Program.) (photo caption: Torchbearer Kathy Blackburn (second from left) and volunteers prepare for the ADA celebration.) (photo caption: Talking Book Program staffers Kimberly Spencer, Erin Norris (both standing, l to r), and Irma Saldana (seated) worked as volunteers during the Spirit of ADA relay.) Braille student-instructor dialog The Braille Development Section receives numerous questions concerning a variety of problems in braille transcribing. This article addresses some of them. The question-and-answer format is intended to give clarity. Student: I am preparing my thirty-five-page trial manuscript for Library of Congress certification. The book that I have selected contains cover/jacket material. Should this material be included in my thirty-five-page manuscript? Instructor: No. Material found on the back of the dust jacket, on the jacket flaps, or on the inside of the book cover need not be included in your thirty-five-page trial manuscript. Specific instructions on how to transcribe such material are not presented in the 1984 edition of the Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribing. Student: Could you please explain why the "one" contraction is not used in the word "baronet." Section 45A of the official code, English Braille, American Edition, 1994, says that the "one" contraction may be used whenever "o" and "n" are in the same syllable. In the word "baronet," both the "o" and the "n" are in the same syllable. Instructor: Yes. It is true that the letters "o" and "n" are in the same syllable in the word "baronet." However, the letters "et" constitute a suffix. Since a contraction should not be used when the usual braille form of the base word would be altered by the addition of a prefix or a suffix, the "one" contraction should not be used in the word "baronet." Student: I am still confused about the use of lower-sign contractions in contact with punctuation. For example, is it permissible to use the part-word lower-sign contractions for "in" and "en" in the syllabified word, "in-dis-pen-sa-ble?" Instructor: Yes. Section 40 of the official code, English Braille, American Edition, 1994, says that any number of lower signs may follow one another without a space if one of them is in contact with a sign containing dot 1 or dot 4. Student: However, even though the "dis" contraction is a lower- sign contraction, I do not believe that it should be used in the syllabified word "in-dis-pen-sa-ble." Is this true? Instructor: You are absolutely correct. Because "be," "con," and "dis" represent more than one braille sign, they may not be used when in contact with a hyphen in a syllabified word. (See section 43 of the official code.) Student: I am transcribing some material that contains a lot of acronyms. I am having difficulty determining whether or not to use contractions in abbreviations representing more than one word. Instructor: You are not alone. Abbreviations that consist of the first letters of several words and are pronounced as letters are referred to as "initialisms." In braille, contractions are not used in initialisms. Examples: DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) EST (Eastern Standard Time) An abbreviation that uses the first letter or letters of each of the successive parts of a compound term (and is pronounced as a word) is an acronym. Contractions are used in acronyms if all the letters of the contraction fall within a syllable of the acronym--and for clarity, it is suggested that all of the letters that make up the contraction should come from the same word. If the meaning of an acronym cannot be determined, do not use contractions. Examples: M(ED)ICO (Medical Insurance Company) (For)tran (Formula Translation) Student: However, if "MEDICO" stands for Maine Development and Investing Company, the "ed" contraction should not be used. Correct? Instructor: That is correct. In this instance, "MEDICO" is an initialism, not an acronym. Therefore, the "ed" contraction should not be used. Salute to Tennessee Pioneers Fred Hicks, the Telephone Pioneers' regional coordinator for Region 16 (southeastern United States), hosted a recognition luncheon for the Tennessee Telephone Pioneers on April 6, 2000, at the Picadilly Cafeteria in Nashville. The event was held to honor the state's two Pioneer workshops--one in Nashville that repairs cassette players for patrons of Tennessee's regional library, and the second--recently moved from Hendersonville to Gallatin, Tennessee--that repairs amplifier boards for network libraries in the southeastern United States. Recognition certificates from NLS were presented by Hicks and Tennessee regional librarian Ruth Hemphill. Hicks presented Tom Bradbury and Garland Briley with a Norman Rockwell figurine of a telephone lineman in recognition of their work as workshop coordinators. Both repair groups have impressive records of accomplishment: the Nashville workshop's seven Pioneers repaired 764 cassette players in 1999; the six Pioneers of the Hendersonville/Gallatin workshop repaired 1,920 circuit boards in the same year. (photo caption: Nashville coordinator Tom Bradbury (left) and Hendersonville coordinator G.R. Briley (center) accept "lineman" award from Pioneers' Region 16 coordinator Fred Hicks.) (photo caption: Pioneers Jim Doyle (top photo) and W.K. Porter (bottom photo) engrossed in repairs.) J.C. Penney Co. honors Arkansas Pioneer Timothy ("Tim") Woods, a volunteer at the Arkansas regional library in Little Rock, was one of ten recipients of the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award at a special luncheon celebration last May. He received a framed certificate and a trophy; he was also presented with a $250 donation for the library from J.C. Penney. Volunteer manager Margie Lentz, library tape technician and volunteer assistant Phillip Wirzfeld, and library patron Wanda Burton accompanied Woods at the luncheon. Ms. Burton expressed her gratitude for all the work Woods had done over the years, and she emphasized the difference the volunteers had made in her life. The Golden Rule Award is presented to groups or individuals who have performed outstanding volunteer service in their communities. Woods was selected as a result of an essay submitted by Lentz. "We wanted to recognize Tim for his many years of dedicated service to the Arkansas Regional Library," she explains. "We are very proud that Tim was selected." Woods has volunteered at the library for thirty-six years, working four hours a week, reports Lentz. She adds, "His volunteer service has provided the state of Arkansas with 7,488 hours of work" (worth more than $100,000 at prevailing wages). In her essay Lentz noted, "When Tim began volunteering for the library in 1964, books recorded on phonograph records were sweeping the state. Increased life expectancy was creating a population whose vision declined with age and who generally did not learn to read braille. Talking books could allow these patrons to continue reading." In addition to his contributions to the library for the blind, Woods does volunteer work at the Veterans Affairs Hospital, the Arkansas Association for Retired Persons, the Arkansas Radio Reading Services for the Blind, and several other agencies associated with people with disabilities. "It is amazing and outstanding when a person such as Timothy Woods commits this much time to the same agency as a volunteer," says librarian John D. Hall. Woods says volunteering is not a duty--"it's just a good way to serve others." (photo caption: Wanda Burton thanks Pioneer Timothy Woods for his years of volunteer service.) NLS recognizes Georgia Telephone Pioneers The Georgia State Telephone Pioneers of America (TPA) gathered in Panama City Beach, Florida, for their 2000 annual convention in May. About 1,000 Pioneers and their family members attended. Freddie Peaco, NLS representative, was among the speakers during the initial business session. She told the assembly about the history of the TPA talking-book machine repair program and how NLS and its patrons have benefited from the repair service. Peaco concluded by presenting a plaque on behalf of NLS to the BellSouth Georgia State Telephone Pioneers for their outstanding service. The theme of the occasion was "BellSouth Georgia Pioneers: Soaring to Connect the World." There were numerous exhibits in two categories--those depicting scenes from various countries around the world where there are BellSouth operations and those illustrating volunteer activities of the BellSouth Georgia State Pioneers. Prominent among the presentations was a display of the NLS talking-book program. Peaco also helped with the display, answering questions about the service. Georgia has seven groups of Telephone Pioneers, about twenty-eight volunteers, repairing talking-book machines across the state. Pioneer John Tolbert coordinates the work of the groups, and his goal is to recruit more repair personnel in the future. The group had three new volunteers soon after the Florida meeting. Meetings National Braille Association (NBA) Fall Regional Meeting and Workshops, Omni New Haven Hotel, New Haven, Connecticut; Thursday, October 26-Saturday, October 28, 2000 Twenty-sixth National Conference and Workshops, Hilton Milwaukee City Center Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Thursday, April 26-Saturday, April 28, 2001 Fall Regional Meeting and Workshops, The DoubleTree Hotel, Sacramento, California; Thursday, October 25-Saturday, October 27, 2001 Spring Regional Meeting and Workshops, Holiday Inn Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia; Thursday, April 11-Saturday, April 13, 2002 For more information about these meetings, contact National Braille Association, Three Townline Circle, Rochester, NY 14623- 2513; (716) 427-8260; web site: . California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped (CTEVH) CTEVH XLII Annual Conference, San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel, Burlingame, California; Thursday, April 26-Saturday, April 28, 2001 For more information about this meeting, contact CTEVH, 741 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029-3594, (323) 666-2211; web site: . Visual Aid Volunteers of Florida (VAVF) VAVF 2001 Conference of Volunteers, Embassy Suites Hotel, Jacksonville, Florida; Thursday, May 17-Saturday, May 19, 2001 For more information about this meeting, contact Rella Corris, VAVF president, 4295A Mango Tree Court, Boynton Beach, FL 33436; (561) 738-0737; e-mail: . Michigan regional: "A special 'thank-you' to Telephone Pioneers" On April 20, 2000, Michigan's regional library at Lansing said "thank-you" to three Pioneer repair groups at one of the library's quarterly luncheons held for this purpose. "We know we wouldn't be providing this service without them," says Brent Duncan, head of the state library's machine lending agency. "They provide a vital contribution to the goal of reaching and serving eligible patrons, by ensuring that we have enough equipment in working order so that patrons never have to wait for a repair on a machine." "Because the Pioneers receive no remuneration whatsoever for their long hours (long years, in many cases!), we try to say "thanks" in other ways to the approximately fifty Pioneers who repair talking-book equipment," says Maggie Bacon, regional librarian. "This luncheon was our most recent effort for Pioneers from the Lansing area and Oakland County, as well as our newest Pioneer in Traverse City." Michigan's Telephone Pioneers from the Oakland County subregional in Pontiac received further recognition in May. This group was awarded the Detroit metro and greater Michigan area J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award for outstanding volunteerism. J.C. Penney representatives presented the Pioneers with a framed certificate and a $500 contribution to the library at a special awards luncheon at the Ann Arbor Sheraton. The Oakland County Pioneers often do repair work for other libraries in Michigan, traveling to those sites or having machines shipped to their repair facility in Pontiac. They also conduct training workshops on machine repairs throughout the region. (photo caption: J.C. Penney's representative Ken Smith congratulates Pioneers Bill Irey and Herb Judd (l to r) on receiving the company's Golden Rule Award.) (photo caption: Michigan Pioneers, hard at work: Bill Irey and Jerry Saver (standing, l to r); and Doug Coll, Mike White, and Warren Lindh (seated, l to r).) Talking Books Plus records Long Island history The history of Long Island, New York, is rich with strong and resolute women, from "The Grand Dame of Gravesend" Deborah Moody, the only woman who planned and directed a permanent settlement in early colonial America, to Elinor Smith Sullivan, the aviation pioneer who flew beneath four New York City bridges. This legacy was captured in a special section of Newsday (a Long Island daily), recorded by Talking Books Plus volunteer Ralph Romero. "Newsday Celebrates Women's History Month" tells the compelling stories of women in Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens counties from precolonial times to the present. Talking Books Plus recently recorded another local history selection. Volunteer Peter Murray narrated "Discovering the East End," a Newsday special publication that glimpses into the history of more than two dozen communities on Long Island's east end. It recalls the days when Sag Harbor's port was larger than New York City's and describes such history-making events as the landing of Nazi saboteurs on Long Island's Amagansett beach during World War II. Volunteers master new skills During the months of April-September 2000, certificates in braille transcribing were awarded to 100 persons. Ninety-four were awarded in literary braille transcribing, three in literary braille proofreading, two in mathematics braille transcribing, and one in music braille transcribing. Note: Lois Bitler's name was omitted from the April-June 2000 Update. She was certified as a music braille transcriber on March 2, 2000. LITERARY BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS Alabama Dionne L. Ballard, Talladega Valerie F. Burrage, Talladega Jeffrey Gotham, Talladega Arizona Kenneth Anderson, Douglas Rodger H. Brady, Douglas Michael P. Dougherty, Florence Craig J. Flewellen, Florence Thomas J. McKeever, Douglas John Clinton Savage, Florence California Carolyn L. Brian, Citrus Heights Beverly Glick, Orinda Glenda L. Henderson, Santa Maria Winifred M. Hinson, Long Beach Kay McMasters, Walnut Creek Sachi Nakabayashi, Santa Monica Taketo Nishi, Torrance Wendy S. Opdycke, Anaheim Barbara D. Scott, Westminster Helen F. Treinen, Santa Rosa Angela M. Van Appelen, El Cajon Orlando Cruz Vasquez, Folsom Ruth Nodder Wallace, Porterville Fran Whipple, Moraga Connecticut Cesar C. Ambert, Cheshire William A. Daugaard, Cheshire Dave A. Dominy, Cheshire Frankie Fernandez, Cheshire Thomas J. Grant, Cheshire Jose Raul Perez, Cheshire Exel A. Rivera, Cheshire Delaware William J. Douglas, Wilmington Florida Lindley L. Becker, Saint Petersburg Donald H. Busselle, Lake Wales Jo Busselle, Lake Wales Lisa K. Elwell, Ponte Vedra Jeanne M. Ferguson, Niceville Karen F. Keller, Clearwater Georgia Kazue Iino, Atlanta Illinois Jane V. Kelley, Libertyville Marite V. Poulk, Libertyville Iowa Randy J. Ekstrom, Newton David Lang, Anamosa Roger Leslie, Cedar Rapids Betty N. Treakle, Montezuma Massachusetts Susan Marie Descarage, Northampton Michigan Malcolm Bryant, Jackson Gene A. Mezeske, Jackson Matthew Williams, Jackson Minnesota Calvin Brown, Waseca Paul Child Jr., St. Paul Karen Cotch, Plymouth Stephanie L. Finlay, St. Paul Danial J. Gergen, Fridley Curtis Harrison, Waseca Sandra M. Koehler, St. Michael Octavio Leon Nevarez, Weseca Kathryn M. Manemann, Champlin Florence Scharber, St. Michael Nancy Jean Schmidt, St. Anthony Mary Jo Ulmen, Madelia Nevada Randy H. D'Alesandro, Las Vegas Chris Dehnhardt, Las Vegas Miguel Romo, Las Vegas John E. Strickland, Las Vegas James Tingley, Las Vegas New Jersey Kathleen R. Cowan, Morris Plains Kathryn Dalton, Morristown Heidi Garcia-Walpow, West Orange Barbara M. Kately, Sparta Betty A. Mensinger, West Caldwell Barbara A. Owens, Jackson Christina D. Stopa, Morristown New York Kathleen A. Bloden, Webster Carlos A. Duque, Napanoch Karen Emily Neiman, Sands Point North Carolina Donna M. Gurley, Statesville Ohio Robert L. Eutz, Grafton James C. Grace, Grafton Anthony M. Green, Grafton Leonard Jones, Grafton Oregon Joel Phifer, Eugene Pennsylvania Priscilla H. Getty, Pittsburgh South Dakota Terry L. Feist, Sioux Falls Jane M. Guericke, White Lake Burton K. Landman, Sioux Falls Benny Silman, Yankton Chris M. Spindler, Yankton Texas Robert D. Walling, San Antonio Virginia Esther A. Gavurin, Charlottesville Washington Marilyn E. Engel, Coupeville West Virginia Marc D. Dailey, Huttonsville David J. Francisco, Huttonsville Wisconsin Barbara Henning, Madison Dennis A. Pecore, Oshkosh LITERARY BRAILLE PROOFREADERS Richard H. Fidler, Hatboro, Pennsylvania Joan Hodom, Utica, New York Paul Roberts Pell, Corning, New York MATHEMATICS BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS Mounir A. Kublawi, Las Vegas, Nevada Betsy McBride, Dallas, Texas MUSIC BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS Sylvia Jean Clark, Edinburg, Texas Ray Hagen receives special Scourby Award On June 12, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) presented NLS narrator Ray Hagen with a Special Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in recording books for visually impaired readers. The occasion was the AFB's fourteenth Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Award ceremony, held at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York. It was a gala, late-afternoon event in the Big Apple. AFB president Carl Augusto and master of ceremonies Rob Morrison (co-anchor of the televised "Weekend Today in New York") presided over the event. Among those present were Mr. Scourby's widow; AFB Board of Trustees chairperson Lyn Comfort, who recognized the special guests; and NLS studio director Margaret Goergen-Rood, who provided remarks from NLS's perspective. Brian Charlson, a trustee from the Carroll Center for the Blind/AFB, presented Hagen with the Lifetime Achievement Award. There were three other honorees: Graci Ragsdale of Insight for the Blind, who received the Narrator of the Year Award in fiction; James DeLotel of the American Printing House for the Blind, for nonfiction; and Tom Martin of AFB, for classical fiction. For Hagen, the event was a crowning achievement in a distinguished career. He is a prolific narrator; his voice can be heard in more than four hundred titles recorded since he came to NLS in 1973. Among his diverse recordings have been many biographies, Jewish fiction and nonfiction, and comedies. Hagen was born in Brooklyn and raised in Manhattan. As a self-described theater buff, he became an "all-purpose actor- singer-dancer" on and off Broadway from 1957 to 1972. His other credits include nightclub work, touring shows, and television appearances. At NLS Hagen began his career as studio director but after several years found that he preferred narrating to management. By June 2000, he was working on his 424th book for NLS. The author he has recorded most is Isaac Bashevis Singer (thirteen titles). He names as his most enjoyable Armistead Maupin's six-part Tales of the City series, Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis, and the TV series Fawlty Towers by John Cleese. Hagen has also written many works of his own. From 1962 to 1974, he published articles on film history and interviews with film stars for several magazines. He coauthored The American Movies Reference Book, published in 1969, as well as two plays, Grave Diggers of 1971 (1970) and Miss Stanwyck Is Still in Hiding (1979)--both of which were produced off Broadway. Hagen has also written numerous articles for NLS and has a regular column in Update, with advice for studio personnel on narrating. His articles have appeared in NLS's Projects and Experiments, covering such topics as how to do research on the correct pronunciations for a book. Other publications have included "'Marks of Terror'--Narrator's Ordeals with Punctuation" and "Bring Yourself with You!" (emphasizing the importance of being "your own listener" for a while). Hagen has also compiled two resource works: Say How?--A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures holds more than 8,500 names with pronunciation and is updated biannually; and The ABC Book: Acronyms, Brand Names, and Corporations is updated regularly and distributed to all NLS studios. (photo caption: Ray Hagen, NLS narrator. Photo by Yusef El-Amin.) Library of Congress issues new braille manual NLS, Library of Congress, announces the publication of the fourth edition of the Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribing. This version of the manual was developed under the leadership of Constance Risjord, literary braille transcriber, former member of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) literary technical committee, and past chairperson of the National Braille Association (NBA) literary technical committee; John Wilkinson, NLS literary braille advisor; and Mary Lou Stark, head, Braille Development Section. More than forty transcribers, peer reviewers, computer specialists, educators, and editors contributed to the project. The manual is designed for use in the correspondence course in English braille transcribing conducted by NLS and in similar braille classes in locations across the United States. The course is intended to familiarize students with the braille system, with braille contractions and their usage, and with the rules of braille transcribing set forth by BANA and published in English Braille, American Edition, which became the authorized braille code for use in the United States in 1959. The original plan for the manual was to slightly modify the 1984 edition to reflect code changes adopted in 1987 and 1991, but the need for more drastic revision emerged as the project progressed. In the new edition, explanations have been expanded and many simulated braille examples added; drills and exercises have been updated and increased; and lessons have been modified to facilitate the smooth progress of the course. Persons interested in enrolling in the braille transcription course or wishing to obtain further information should contact the Braille Development Section, NLS, at 1-800-424-8567. Update is published quarterly by: National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Library of Congress Washington, DC 20542 Correspondence should be addressed to Publications and Media Section. Coordinating editor: Freddie Peaco Publication editor: Rita Byrnes Braille student-instructor dialog: John Wilkinson