NLS: That All May Read

What's New? 2003

What's New? is an annual update for those already familiar with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). It describes the most recent developments in the NLS program. Please contact your cooperating network library to request any item mentioned, unless otherwise indicated.

Digital Materials

Efforts to provide NLS materials in digital form continue. Digital Talking Books: Progress to Date (May 2002) is the most recent publication covering updates on next-generation technology. It includes articles on the digital talking-book standard, NLS's computer-based cost-analysis system, and the formation of the Digital Long-Term Planning Group; next steps to implement the use of digital talking books; and other digital issues such as recording systems and Web-Braille. The report also contains a bibliography. It is available from the NLS Reference Section in braille and large print, on cassette, and online at <www.loc.gov/nls/technical/dtbprogress>.

Frequently Asked Questions: Digital Talking Books (2002) is a brochure designed to answer questions from current program users about digital talking books and the transition to the new format. It is available from the NLS Reference Section in braille and large print and online at <www.loc.gov/nls/dtbfaq.html>.

Digital Audio Magazine Delivery Pilot.

During 2003, NLS is conducting a pilot program to test delivery over the Internet of digital audio magazines presented in human speech. A small group of eligible readers will participate in the program, working closely with the NLS engineering group to develop a successful system.

Current plans are for the pilot to include three NLS-produced audio magazines that will be marked up to conform with the new NISO digital talking-book standard. Users, selected to be part of the test, will be able to download selected articles or an entire magazine issue.

Web-Braille.

Web-Braille, NLS braille books and magazines on the Internet, continues to grow and receive enthusiastic responses from users. With more than 2,800 users and almost 5,800 titles, Web-Braille is now a permanent part of the NLS program.

During 2002, NLS approached the five braille book producers to determine if they still had any files for older NLS-produced braille titles. It turned out that they did and, through this effort, NLS was able to add more than 700 additional titles below BR 8900 including many classics, lots of children's books, and earlier books in series. These titles can be located through the NLS online catalog.

The development of the NLS-sponsored software package called WB-View has been completed. This software allows Web-Braille users to browse Web-Braille materials more easily both online and offline. Features include the ability to set multiple bookmarks, go to bookmark, find and find again, go to last visited position on open, autoscrolling, and much more.

Publications

Two large-print catalogs were completed: Cassette Books 2002 and Braille Books 2001-2002. For Younger Readers 2000-2001 has been produced in braille and on cassette. Readers who requested these catalogs on their annual publications order forms should have received them through the mail.

Braille Book Review/Talking Book Topics on computer diskette is now being produced with a braille diskette label in addition to its large-print label.

Copies of other catalogs of braille books are available in braille--either to keep or on loan, depending on supplies. Other catalogs of recorded books are available on voice-indexed audiocassettes that you can borrow through your library and, for catalogs produced between 1985 and 1998, on flexible discs that you can keep.

Music materials

The Music Section at NLS continues to acquire new materials, in all formats, that are available for loan. In braille, for example, new items include: the Hal Leonard

Student Piano Library, Levels 3 & 4; Christmas Piano Solos, Levels 1-4; the textbook Harmonic Materials in Tonal Music; music from Grease and Cats (lyrics, melodies and chords); Vivaldi's The Four Seasons transcribed for piano; jazz and popular songs arranged for classic guitar.

Among new instructional cassette recordings, featuring the guitar, are the Bar Chord Course, 1 & 2, from Bill Brown, along with Guitar Theory 1-3, Intro to the Bass Guitar, and individual songs such as "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Hotel California" (E. Cruz), "Sweet By and By," "Sleepwalk" (Stray Cats), "Misty," and "Brown-Eyed Girl."

The Music Section is also adding many items from its collection to Web-Braille including the very important two-volume work Dictionary of Braille Music Signs, by Bettye Krolick.

Automated Catalog

The NLS International Union Catalog has moved to the Voyager Integrated Library System (ILS), the standard bibliographic system at the Library of Congress. NLS will use this system to present two interfaces for searching the database: Voyager and text-only. The Voyager is the standard search interface supplied by the vendor. It is feature-rich, but has complex screen layouts and uses Javascript. The Text-only interface uses the Z39.50 protocol to search the database and display records to ensure compatibility with assistive technology. Both interfaces have "help" pages.

Reference Materials

Reference factsheets, circulars, directories, and bibliographies provide information on topics of interest to persons with disabilities and to service providers. Reference publications all appear on the NLS web site at <www.loc.gov/nls/reference> and can be provided on computer diskette upon request from the NLS Reference Section.

The following NLS-produced reference materials have been recently updated:

Facts: Books for Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals 2003. Available in regular print and online at <www.loc.gov/nls/reference/factsheets/annual.html>
Facts: 2003 Calendars. Available in large print and online at <www.loc.gov/nls/reference/factsheets/calendars2003.html>

The Reference Section has produced two new reference circulars available in large print and online:

Information for Travelers with Disabilities (2002) <www.loc.gov/nls/reference/circulars/travel.html>
The Magazine Program of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) (2003) <www.loc.gov/nls/reference/circulars/magprog.html>

The Reference Section has produced two new reference bibliographies available in large print and online:

Disability Awareness: A Selected Bibliography (2003) <www.loc.gov/nls/reference/bibliographies/awareness.html>
Library and Information Services to Individuals with Disabilities (2002) <www.loc.gov/nls/reference/bibliographies/library.html>

A large-print edition of the directory Magazines in Special Media 2003 is in process and should be available by fall 2003, with braille and recorded editions to follow.

Consumer Input

NLS receives information and advice on its program through two standing committees: the Collection Development Advisory Group and the National Audio Equipment Advisory Committee. If you have ideas on the development of the NLS book collection or on playback equipment, contact your consumer organization or your local library for the name of your representatives on these committees.

In addition, your comments and suggestions concerning the NLS program are always welcome. Address them to the NLS Consumer Relations Officer at the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, by e-mail <jdix@loc.gov>, telephone (202) 707-0722, or fax (202) 707-0712. Requests for copies of reference materials may be addressed to the Reference Section by e-mail <nlsref@loc.gov>, telephone (202) 707-5100, or fax (202) 707-0712. Requests sent by the U.S. Postal Service may be considerably delayed.

Library of Congress Home NLS Home Comments about NLS to nls@loc.gov

About this site Comments about this site to nlswebmaster@loc.gov

Posted on 2006-05-30