Mr. Ronald Butler, Warehouse Laborer retired in April after thirty-eight years of behind the scene library service with the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped/Free Library of Philadelphia. Mr. Butler brought a touch of class to our Warehouse. We miss Ronnie and wish him all the best well.
Mr. Melvin Cason, Library Assistant II, is retiring after forty years of library service with the Free Library of Philadelphia. Mr. Cason is looking forward to traveling, seeing shows in New York, and visiting museums. According to Mr. Cason, the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, where he has spent the last twenty years, is the best branch in the Free Library system. Mr. Cason will miss the many friends he has made among its staff and patrons. We will miss Melvin and we wish him all the best.
Ms. Meghan Clark McDaniel, Librarian I, was born and raised in Connecticut. She received her BA from Smith College. Ms. Clark McDaniel received her Master’s degree in Library and Information Sciences from Drexel University in December 2003. Ms. Clark McDaniel began at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped/Free Library of Philadelphia as a Library Intern. Meghan and her husband recently moved to Old City and are looking forward to getting a puppy. In her free time, Meghan enjoys camping, sailing, and spending time at the beach.
INFO EYES
You can ask a librarian to help you find information on anything – from animal care strategies to the best recipe for marmalade to the history of zippers. A virtual reference program is currently available for patrons to test out on a trial basis. Patrons can email questions, engage in live text chat, or voice-chat in a virtual reference room with a librarian. A nationwide network of librarians is taking part in the service, so service hours extend beyond those of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. To find out more information about the service, or to give it a try, please visit the website at www.infoeyes.org.
BRAILLE REVIVAL LEAGUE
BRAILLE REVIVAL LEAGUE
Jenny Beck Chapter
The Braille Revival League is devoted to promoting the awareness, use and teaching of braille. BRL functions as an advocacy group resulting in utility bills, menus, and owner’s manuals in braille. BRL also provides a transcription service with a history of transcribing small projects for community organizations and individuals. For more information, call BRL at 215-829-9997.
VOLUNTEER CORNER
VOLUNTEER CORNER
VOLUNTEER CORNER
SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME
School’s out and the gang’s all here. . .
The summer brings out some changes in personnel in the volunteer department. A lot of the regular volunteers take vacations during this time and the summer youth program makes up the majority of the volunteer department.
The Summer Youth Corps Program is a program that has been in existence at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for over twenty-five years.
The Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition and Communities in Schools are two of the agencies in partnership with LBPH/Free Library of Philadelphia. The group of about forty youth workers work a five-hour day, four days a week for six weeks. Youth workers assist in many behind the scene tasks, working closely with Library staff as well as produce for school a group research project. These young people are energetic and a joy to work with. WELCOME SUMMER YOUTH!
ON-LINE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
A volunteer application has been added to the LBPH web site.
The volunteer application will explain the various opportunities available and includes an application that can be completed online and then printed and mailed directly to the volunteer coordinator.
WE AIM TO PLEASE
This is an invitation for you to send us your list of favorite authors, your subjects of current interest, and/or your request lists. You may fax to 215-683-3211; email to flpblind@library.gov; mail to LBPH, 919 Walnut Street, first floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107; or call in your wishes: 800-222-1754 or 215-683-3213.
We need you to remember to put your name and address or stick your name and address label on all lists you send to us because we serve thousands of patrons. We want to serve you better.
WEB-BRAILLE MAGAZINES
Web-Braille is a free web-based service that, in addition to braille books, provides all braille magazines produced by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Copyright laws require that access to Web-Braille be limited to NLS patrons and eligible institutions such as schools for the blind, public and private schools serving blind children, and nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is the production of braille books. To register for Web-Braille, please call us at 800-222-1754 or 215-683-3213.
OPAC
The Philadelphia Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) is available on our web site. A link to this catalog can be found at http://lbph.library.phila.gov. This catalog lists recorded cassettes, braille and large print books available from us. You may search this catalog by Author, Title, Word in Title, Subject, or Narrator.
Anyone can search the OPAC. However, only registered patrons of LBPH can borrow books through the OPAC. Registered patrons should contact the Library at 800-222-1754 or 215-683-3213 to receive a User ID and Password necessary to borrow books through the OPAC.
NFB-NEWSLINE
Newsline is a service sponsored by the National Federation for the Blind and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in Pennsylvania, that offers over the telephone, several newspapers and a few magazines from around the United States. If you would like to sign up for this free service, please call the Library at 800-222-1754 or 215-683-3213. If you would like further information about NFB – Newsline, please call NFB at 410-659-9314.
NEBA’s 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
National Exhibits by Blind Artists (NEBA) will open its “Art Beyond Sight” exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on October 13, 2004. The artists’ reception is scheduled for Thursday, October 28, 2004, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The juried show will feature 65 selections including sculptures, paintings, multimedia pieces, and photography. Earlier shows may be viewed online at www.nebaart.org.
Currently on display at the NEBA Touch Gallery located on the first floor at 919 Walnut Street are fiberworks by NEBA artist Martha Cowden. Visit the gallery Monday through Friday, 9-5.
ABE/GED PROGRAM UPDATE
Our Adult Basic Education/General Education Diploma Program has been focused on preparing students for the official examinations. We expect that five of our students will have their diplomas in hand by the new year.
After a much earned vacation, our very small program staff will spend weeks completing required paperwork and providing statistical data to the Pennsylvania Department of Education using a Windows based database not easily accessible to the visually impaired. Needless to say, staff would much rather be teaching, but paperwork is inescapable.
If you have any questions regarding the ABE/GED Program, contact Ms. Jill Gross at 215-683-3213 or send email to saluki@shellworld.net. Have a nice summer!
NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE CONFERENCE 2004
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, which supplies most of your recorded books and braille books, held its 24th biennial conference April 30 – May 6, 2004 in Rapid City, South Dakota. This meeting brings together the librarians from regional and sub-regional libraries from around the country every two years to discuss the major issues confronting our libraries and you as our readers. The attendees confront issues and developments in areas such as book production, computer networks, braille service, and financial issues. They have the opportunity to deal with these and other issues as they attempt to assure that every reader in the United States gets the same quality of service from their Regional Library.
This year’s conference focused on new American Library Association standards for service to our readers; progress in the transition to the digital talking book here in the United States and in Europe; how Regional Libraries are coping with shrinking budgets; library automation; new adaptive technologies and accessible computers; and new web networks and resources. Pennsylvania was well represented at the conference by librarians from both the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Regional Libraries.
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
Free access to some full text databases, the Internet, and word processing are available for individuals with visual impairments. There is a charge for printing or braille embossing. There is also a nominal charge for a computer diskette if you would like to save your documents for future updates.
In addition to the workstations at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the following branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia have Access Technology Workstations. An appointment is recommended.
Andorra Branch – 215-685-2552
Central Library, Government Publications Department – 215-686-5330
Independence Branch – 215-685-1633
Joseph E. Coleman/Northwest Regional – 215-685-2150
Northeast Regional Library – 215-685-0500
South Philadelphia Branch – 215-685-1866
Blackwell/West Regional – 215-685-7420
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
We receive requests frequently from patrons who would like to purchase assistive technology products. Although the Library does not endorse or promote any particular company, we would like to share the names of a few companies whose products you might find helpful.
American Printing House for the Blind, 800-223-1839
Independent Living Aids, Can Do Products for Your Active
Independent Life, 800-537-2118
LS&S Products for the Visually Impaired and Hard of Hearing, 800-468-4789
MaxiAids Products for Independent Living, 800-522-6294
The New Vision Store, 215-629-2990
HADLEY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
The Hadley School for the Blind (700 Elm Street, Winnetka, IL 60093-0299) offers tuition free correspondence courses for legally blind persons. You may obtain a high school diploma, learn braille, or study technology, foreign languages, or independent living skills. Over 90 courses are offered in braille, cassette or large print. Founded in 1920, the school is fully accredited with an average annual enrollment of 12,000 students from all 50 states and over 70 countries. Students study in their own homes, at their own pace, completely free of charge. Additional information about the Hadley School is available at www.hadley-school.org. Please feel free to contact Ellen L. Falkof with any questions at 800-323-4238 or by email at ellen@hadley-school.org.
NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA REGIOINAL SKI FOR LIGHT
Coordinators of Northeastern Pennsylvania Regional Ski for Light are recruiting visually impaired individuals, and sighted individuals who are willing to assist in guiding for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing and hiking during the week-long event held January 16 through January 23, 2005 at the Land of the Viking Lodge in Sherman, Pennyslvania. For more information, please call Barry or Louise Wood at 201-868-3336.
FRIENDS OF LBPH
It is our pleasure to share with you a few of the accomplishments of the Friends of LBPH. Our Friends sponsor our annual volunteer recognition reception, sponsored special issues of our newsletter, supported our ABE/GED Program and established our descriptive video collection. A current Friends project is to expand our popular descriptive video collection. Want to become a Friend of LBPH?
Name _____________________________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________
City _______________________ State ______________ Zip code ___________
_____ I wish to join the FRIENDS for 2004/2005 and I am enclosing $10.00 for an individual membership.
_____ I wish to join the FRIENDS for 2004/2005and I am enclosing $25.00 for a family membership.
_____ I wish to make a donation to the FRIENDS and I am enclosing the following amount: $ ____________
Please make checks payable to “FRIENDS OF LBPH.”
For more information, please call Vickie Collins or Renee Snowten at 800-222-1754.
Please return this form to:
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
919 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107