Update ISSN 0160-9203 January-March 2001, Vol. 24, No. 1 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped The Library of Congress Texas volunteer gains national audience Hundreds of people in Austin, Texas, have enjoyed Ev Lunning Jr.'s stage performances since the early 1990s. Others know him from their student years at St. Edwards University, where Lunning is assistant professor of theater arts. And thousands of Texans with visual disabilities know Ev Lunning from the sound of his voice--as a volunteer narrator at the Texas regional library, he has recorded thirty-three books since 1992. Last year Lunning's audience expanded across the country when his recording of Footnotes, the autobiography of Broadway star and Texan Tommy Tune, was accepted into NLS's national collection of audio recordings. It was the first title recorded by Texas volunteers to receive this honor and only the eighth volunteer-produced book certified by NLS's quality assurance (QA) program, which is run by the Multistate Center East in Cincinnati. "Now people with disabilities around the country will be able to easily request this recording and enjoy Ev Lunning's work," said then-program director Jenifer Flaxbart. "We congratulate our staff and volunteers who made this possible." The regional library receives about 2,000 professionally recorded titles annually from NLS, Flaxbart explained. "Our volunteers supplement the national collection by recording books and magazines with a 'Texas connection' that NLS doesn't have the resources to record." "Volunteering at the Talking Book Program is a wonderful part of my week," Lunning said. "I have been performing professionally for nearly thirty-five years now. I have trained as an actor, and I have always read aloud for the literature classes I have taught." But Lunning says he didn't really become enamored of reading aloud until he began reading to his daughters. "Those hours spent sharing the grand old stories--fairy tales, Arabian Nights, the Greek myths--were very special." He describes entering the recording booth each week with those memories in mind. "I am sharing the joy of the spoken word with someone like my daughters, someone who will respond to the humor, the fear, the pity." Recording studio managers Patricia Alvarez and Sara Stiffler have worked with many of the volunteer narrators, monitors, and reviewers to meet NLS's QA standards. "This program is blessed with coordinators who are expert in their guidance and who show their appreciation for the work that all the volunteers do," Lunning said. "I am grateful for this recognition, and no doubt the Texas Talking Book Program will place many more volumes, many more narrators with the NLS collection," he continued. "The joy is in the work." (photo caption: Narrator Ev Lunning Jr. with studio managers Patricia Alvarez (left) and Sara Stiffler (right)) Regional libraries honor volunteers North Carolina The Friends of the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NCLBPH) sponsored a festive dinner on October 18 to honor the regional library's outstanding volunteers. The event was held at Meredith College in Raleigh and was attended by representatives of the state government and the regional library. The keynote address was delivered by Betsy Buford, deputy secretary of the state's Department of Cultural Resources. Librarians Karen Griffith, Francine Martin, and Sarah Royal; Library Services Section chief Denise Sigmon; and state librarian Sandy Cooper presented NCLBPH awards to Manual Betencourt, Amber Brake, Cecil Brake, Tio Campanile, Maria Collins, Sylvia Gordon, Ben King, Joyce McKellar, Robert Osborne, Betty Rowland, Paul Rowland, Drew Smith, Roy Stamper, Marjorie Stein, and Winifred Yarger. Cultural Resources Awards, presented by Betty Ray McCain, secretary of the Department of Cultural Resources, were presented to Hal Lininger, Johnna Simmons, Ralph Thompson, and Deborah Young. Governor's Awards were presented by Will Lindsay, director of the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, to Len Kochuk, Ardell Nolte, Linda Ray, Harvey Sage, and Linda Strupp. NLS Materials Development Division chief Brad Kormann presented Library of Congress Awards to Jim Howard, C.C. Hudson, James Hutchins, Willard Martin, William Porterfield, and Jane Scoville. Organizations were also recognized for contributing to library services for blind and physically handicapped readers. These included the Telephone Pioneers of America, the local Lions Club chapter, and the Simple Solutions Computer Company. The library's director of volunteer services Gary Ray reported that eighty volunteers had contributed a total of 5,925 hours of service in the year from mid-1999 to mid-2000. Their efforts produced forty-two magazine issues, five recorded books, four braille books, thirteen newsletters, and two catalogs. The volunteers also responded to at least thirty-eight special requests for information during the year. Montana "Our Volunteers Are Jewels" was the theme of the Montana State Library's annual volunteer appreciation luncheon on September 29. Seventy-six of the library's 123 volunteers were treated to an elegant luncheon at the Green Meadow Country Club in Helena. In recognition of their dedicated service, they received decorative pins created by several of the library's artistic staff members, based on a design by the library's data coordinator, Diane Gunderson. Montana author Roland Cheek, from Columbia Falls, gave the keynote address, emphasizing the importance of literacy in American society and the contribution made by library volunteers in support of this goal. He thanked the Talking Book Library's volunteers, in particular, for providing books to blind, low-vision, physically handicapped, and reading disabled Montanans. Among the awards presented at the luncheon was the Telephone Pioneer Award for 2000, given to Jack Buckley for years of dedicated repair work on the playback machines. Phyllis Herbert received the Special Appreciation Award for her years of work as recording program assistant. Recording Team of the Year Awards were presented to narrator Mary Zednick, monitor Lea Blunn, and reviewer Jane Briney. Seven five-year volunteers and seven ten-year volunteers were recognized for their dedicated service. Nine young volunteers received engraved commemorative coins from State Library Commission member Cheri Bergeron, representing the Office of Public Instruction. The luncheon ended with the Bookmarks, a local singing group, giving its rendition of "Hey, Good Lookin'" (with apologies to Hank Williams). The audience was delighted with the entertainment and with the opportunity to say "thanks" to Montana's volunteers. Wyoming Five members of the Telephone Pioneers of America who have amassed forty-nine years of volunteer work at the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Department of Education talking-book repair center were honored at a ceremony on September 27. Bill Desch, Bob Havens, Jim O'Dell, Roy Page, and Jack Ritz have repaired as many as 600 playback machines a year. Gary Olson, Bev Lee, and Marvin Billings from the Wyoming Department of Education, Services for the Visually Impaired, were there to honor the volunteers. "We are very proud of our Pioneers and grateful for their hard work," said Billings. "The Services for the Visually Impaired and the Wyoming Department of Education congratulate these gentlemen on a job well done and on their commitment to the talking-book program in Wyoming," he continued. NLS's Network Services Section head Steve Prine awarded certificates to the Pioneers and thanked them for their dedication. (photo caption: Celebrating Wyoming's success (left to right): Steve Prine (NLS), Jim O'Dell (volunteer), Gary Olson (Dept. of Education), Bill Desch (volunteer), Bob Havens (volunteer), Marvin Billings (Dept. of Education), and Jack Ritz (volunteer). (Roy Page was not present.)) Arizona volunteers bring their work home When Chuck and Lora Spear volunteered to work a few hours a week at the Mesa, Arizona, library in 1997, they expected to do most of their work at the main library building in downtown Mesa. But now, the Spears bring their work home with them on a regular basis, repairing talking-book machines in their garage--now a workshop. Chuck Spear, a retired electrical engineer, responded to the library's publicized request for skilled repair technicians, only to discover that many members of the group, like the Spears, lived in east Mesa. They were looking for a worksite closer to home, and that's where the Spears stepped in, offering to convert their garage into a repair facility. The Spears still put in one day a week at the main library, picking up and delivering machines, but "on any given Wednesday, you'll find six to ten volunteers in Chuck's workshop," reports library volunteer coordinator Janice Gennevois. Lora Spear also works regularly in the volunteer office, Gennevois notes, "but on Wednesdays, she's at home, at the kitchen sink, washing every machine by hand." The Mesa volunteers have repaired more than 1,200 machines since the Spears opened their garage-workshop, and the group now completes work on some two hundred machines a month, on average. And while these accomplishments are impressive, Gennevois stresses that there is a constant need for volunteers with electronics or engineering backgrounds. She says, "It's a great way for retired folks with these special skills to make a contribution to the community." Meetings National Braille Association (NBA) 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 the 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 42nd 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: . 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 have submitted my 35-page trial manuscript for Library of Congress certification. My manuscript has been prepared according to the formatting rules presented in the 1984 edition of the Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribing. I realize that there is now a 2000 edition of the manual, and that it contains a number of changes in formatting of a trial manuscript. Will I be penalized for submitting my trial manuscript according to the 1984 edition? Instructor: Excellent question. It is true that the Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribing (4th ed., 2000) contains a number of changes, especially in preparing the preliminary pages of a braille book. But the Library of Congress will accept a trial manuscript prepared according to the 1984 edition of the instruction manual at least until the end of 2001. Student: Does the new instruction manual now allow a student to use a braille translation program for preparing the lessons in the braille transcribing course? Instructor: No. The student is allowed to prepare the lessons and the 35-page trial manuscript on a slate, a brailler, or a computer using a six-key entry. Translation programs are not permitted. Student: In the 1984 edition of the manual, a 38-cell line was required for preparing Lessons 1 through 15. But beginning with Lesson 16, the student was asked to change to a 40-cell line. Since most transcribing groups now use a 40-cell line for producing braille books, does the new instruction manual still require the use of a 38-cell line for part of the braille transcribing course? Instructor: No. All of the drills and exercises, as well as the 35-page trial manuscript, are prepared using a 40-cell braille line. Student: I believe that the new instruction manual recommends that a word consisting of a beginning or ending single-letter syllable need not be divided between braille lines. Therefore, a student would no longer be required to divide words such as "away," "along" and "body." Is this true? Instructor: Yes. The new instruction manual now recommends that single-letter beginning or ending syllables not be separated from the rest of the word. However, if a prefix or a suffix is added to such words, the division can be made--e.g., "give-a-way," "bod-y-guard." In addition, it is also recommended that words not be divided between braille pages. Keep in mind that if an agency allows words to be divided between braille pages, you should follow the requirements of the agency. Student: I have one more question about dividing words that contain single-letter syllables. The dictionary I'm using shows the syllabification of such words as "away," "body," and "along." If I divide such words in my 35-page trial manuscript, will points be deducted from my score? Instructor: Absolutely not. As long as these words are syllabified correctly, points will not be deducted from your score for dividing them. Student: Does the new instruction manual recommend a particular dictionary for the braille transcribing course? Instructor: No. The 1984 instruction manual recommended Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (9th ed.). The 2000 edition says that any reputable dictionary less than ten years old may be used. It is recommended that the 35-page trial manuscript include a letter to the grader, indicating which dictionary was used. (See Section 20.10 of the Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribing, 2000.) Montana recording workshops win praise The Montana Talking Book Library held special workshops on April 25 for its nineteen teams of volunteers who work at the state library in Helena and at the State Prison studios in Deer Lodge. Regional librarian Christie Briggs explained, "We hadn't had a recording workshop for several years, so we asked NLS to send someone to update us on how they have been doing things. This occasion also gave us a chance to review and clarify our procedures together, to share recording 'tricks,' and to exchange information." NLS narrator Laura Giannarelli served as facilitator at both sessions. Referring to her experiences recording more than 230 books, Giannarelli gave a general overview of NLS studio operations and recalled some creative responses to problems that confront narrators. Her talks generated questions and lively discussions, as well as many positive comments. Prison narrator Kris Han offered succinct high praise, saying, "Boy, she really knows what she's talking about." Phyllis Herbert, volunteer recording program assistant at the Helena studio, commended Giannarelli for her mastery of both the subject and the audience, and participants mentioned how much they had gained. One audience member commented that they had "certainly laughed a lot--a sure sign of learning." (photo caption: NLS narrator Laura Giannarelli fields questions from Montana narrators.) Zero tolerance by Ray Hagen I've pretty much run out of generalities, so it seems time to attend to some matters of singular particularity. I've noticed that various narration viruses seem to pop up periodically and infect narrators all over the country at the same time. How does this happen? "Don't know, don't care, doesn't matter." Let's just get to a few that seem to be all the rage right now. Zero tolerance This one is going on all over America. The "0" in every series of numerals--phone numbers, credit card numbers, account numbers--must, it seems, always be said as "zero." I guess it says so somewhere. The old slangy "oh" seems to have fallen into deep disrepute, and narrators have followed the rigid lead of those wonderful new role models, telemarketers, by rigidly conditioning themselves to say "zero" every single solitary time the number "0" pops up in print. The old song "Pennsylvania 6-5000," once sung as Pennsylvania six-five-thousand, would now become "Pennsylvania six-five-zero-zero-zero." Addresses are now given as "one-zero-zero-three Main Street, apartment five-zero-four, Washington DC two-zero-zero-zero-five." This is no doubt meant as a service to the listener, who would of course be thrown into total confusion upon hearing "ten-oh-three Main Street, apartment five-oh-four, Washington DC two-triple-oh-five." Never mind that this is how people talk--we are above such mundane vulgarisms. We are narrators! Foreign aid In our quest for fulfillment and pronunciations, narrators have picked up on some wonderfully handy European rules, and boy oh boy, do we love rules. Two universal favorites: the French don't speak final consonants, and two vowels together in German means the final vowel is emphasized. So the "hors d'oeuvres" at a party in the Bronx turn from plural to singular, regardless of context, and every surname in America that ends in "s-t-e-i-n" is said as "stine" (or even "shtine"). Hey, that's the rule, right? Wrong! We're in America now, and the English language is rife with confusion and illogic. Leonard is a Bern-stine, but Carl is a Bern-steen. Same spelling, Americans both. Benoit isn't always ben-wah, sometimes it's just plain old ben-oit. A Bronx hostess is unlikely to inform her guests that "the or-derv are terrific today, hon." (And if her name is Eva, for heaven's sake don't assume she pronounces it Ava just because Hitler's girlfriend did. Maybe she was born in Montpelier. No, not maw[n]-pee-LYAY in France, mont-PEEL-yer, in Vermont.) Foreign languages have rules. English has potholes. Get used to it. Name game Biographical dictionaries are pretty essential tools for getting specific people's names right. Duh. But may I put up a warning flag? First, multiple choices. It's one thing for a dictionary to give eight or nine pronunciations for "prescience," but quite another thing to give multiple choices for how to pronounce George Cukor's last name. Do you know what it means when a dictionary gives multiple choices for a specific person's name? It means they don't know how that name is pronounced. When such waffling greets your eye, your research remains incomplete. Go elsewhere. Flag 2: If you need to find out the name of a 1923 baseball player named Skinny Dubois, do not just look up "Dubois" in the bio, find some French sculptor with that name, and figure your research is complete. You should be looking for Skinny Dubois, not just Dubois. Lazy is good, and I'm all for it--but not that lazy. The moving cursor, having vent, moves on.... Summit Award for Telephone Pioneers The Telephone Pioneers of America talking-book repair program has won the prestigious Summit Award in the Associations Advance America program for the year 2000. The national competition is sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in Washington, D.C. The year 2000 award was presented to the Pioneers' president, Hal Burlingame, in formal ceremonies at ASAE's annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, last August. The award recognized the Pioneers for forty years of service to the talking-book program and to NLS. "The Telephone Pioneers have played a unique and significant community service role through the talking-book machine-repair program," said Burlingame. "The Pioneers have repaired more than two million machines over the years and dedicated countless hours in workshops around North America. This momentous effort represents at least $4 million a year in high-quality machine repairs." Now in its tenth year, the Associations Advance America award program recognizes organizations that propel America forward--with innovative projects in education, skills training, standards-setting, business and social innovations, knowledge creation, citizenship, and community service. The awards are a tribute to people and projects that have a great impact but may go unnoticed by most of the public. "The Pioneers' program truly embodies the spirit of the Associations Advance America campaign. It is an honor and an inspiration to showcase this activity as an example of the many contributions associations are making to advance American society," remarked ASAE president Michael S. Olson. (photo caption: Telephone Pioneers president Hal Burlingame (r) accepts award from ASAE president/CEO Michael S. Olson (l) and board chairman Jeffrey W. Raynes.) 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