Update ISSN 0160-9203 October-December 2001, Vol. 24, No. 4 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped The Library of Congress Louisiana volunteers become stars The State Library of Louisiana has undertaken a new venture that makes books with local appeal available to its visually impaired readers through the Louisiana regional library in Baton Rouge. Louisiana Voices, an audio-book production program, opened in February 2001 with the goal of "enhancing information access to Louisiana's blind and physically handicapped residents by recording Louisiana-interest materials in a local studio." It unveiled its first production, You Are My Sunshine: The Jimmie Davis Story, by Gus Weill, in June. Weill has since visited the studio, which has produced three books and has twenty-eight in process. "Louisiana Voices is an excellent title for the program, because it credits not only the voice of the author, but the many volunteers who make this project so successful," notes Christy Oliver Reeves, the manager of the program and its sole paid employee. The program has sixty volunteers who serve as producers, operating the control board and directing the recording session; as narrators, preparing and recording the books; and as reviewers, checking the quality of the tapes. "Volunteer recruitment has been constant since the program began and continues daily," Reeves says. She explains that the response to the project has been outstanding, though people must complete an orientation and training session on the fundamentals of audio-book production. Narrators also have to audition. Reeves, who holds an M.L.S. and a B.A. in theater, says, "This is the perfect job for me. It allows me to combine my library background with fifteen years of theater experience." She loves working with the books, providing customer service, training studio volunteers, and working with the community. She began her affiliation with the state library as executive director of the Louisiana Library Association. Taking on the studio required summoning her creative powers. "We inherited a storage area in the basement of the state library. It was in a bit of a disarray. Elizabeth Perkins, coordinator of special services and NLS regional librarian, and I wondered how we could make anything good out of the space," Reeves recalls. In light of the studio's theme, "Become a Recording Star," the women used a star motif to convert the space into an inviting facility. They even had about twenty-five young men from the Young Leaders' Academy help them paint a row of stars leading to the studio. The stars become larger as the trail gets closer to the studio. Reeves explains, "Stars signify our volunteers, as they are the stars of our program. Volunteers are essential to our success. Their involvement and participation are vital, as they are an integral component of Louisiana Voices." The studio includes a recording booth about the size of a "broom closet" and office space for its manager. It was established with grant money from private donations. "The Mrs. W. Caruth Jones Foundation for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is our greatest advocate," says Reeves. It helped raise funds to pay for the studio and paid for its support staff. BellSouth, the E.J. and Mary Ourso Family Foundation, and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation also contributed to the project. Perkins and her predecessor, Sharilynn Aucoin, deserve credit for writing the grants and doing the follow-up that brought the project to fruition, according to Reeves. Reeves is also grateful to Margie Goergen-Rood, NLS Recording Studio director, and Bill West, NLS audio-book production specialist. "Margie taught us a great deal when she attended the opening. She changed the way we did things," says Reeves. West had been a part of the process from its beginning about two years ago, lending his expertise in consultation. He advised Louisiana on meeting the NLS specifications necessary for producing high-quality books. He also provided technical advice on selecting and installing the sound booth and the mastering equipment. The best part of the job has been the readers. "Patron response to this program has been extremely positive. There is an incredible demand for each title produced," says the manager. The project also received enthusiastic support from the local media. (photo caption: Louisiana state librarian Tom Jaques, NLS audio-book production specialist Bill West, and Louisiana Voices studio program manager Christy Oliver Reeves are interviewed by a reporter from InRegister, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, newspaper.) (photo caption: Gus Weill (far left) speaks to Christy Oliver Reeves (center) and volunteer narrators about the importance of the program.) (photo caption: The new Louisiana Voices studio.) NLS video honors Telephone Pioneers of America The Telephone Pioneers of America (TPA) have been "answering the call" repairing talking-book and cassette book machines for the network of libraries serving blind and physically handicapped readers since 1960. Now a new video commemorates that service. Telephone Pioneers of America Answering the Call was produced last summer in honor of the organization's forty years of service to the NLS network. During this long partnership with the Library of Congress, the Pioneers volunteers have saved the government more than $70 million keeping talking-book machines in good operating condition. The film opens with a Pioneer asserting, "Answering the call, in my way of thinking, is going out and doing something of your own volition without anyone telling you that you have to do it." Another notes, "In this busy world, it's nice to know you're doing something that makes a difference and helps other people." Central to the message of the film are the discourses of Jim Gadd, TPA executive director/chief operations officer, and Bob Toye, TPA talking-books resource manager. Gadd notes, "Our mission is to provide rewarding community service experiences and fellowship opportunities for all of our employees, retirees, partners, and families." Toye corroborates, "With the number of hours contributed, machines repaired, dollars saved, and lives impacted, the Telephone Pioneers have played an important role in the growth of the talking-book program. We're helping to bring the simple but incredible joy of the printed word to those who cannot see." As the film rolls, an NLS patron explains, "What the Pioneers do and their efforts is just so remarkable...and so wonderful." One of America's oldest volunteer organizations, the Telephone Pioneers of America was founded in 1911 by retirees from the telephone industry. Today the organization boasts eighty-four chapters with about 800,000 members in the United States and Canada. Much of Telephone Pioneers of America Answering the Call was filmed in Denver, Colorado, at the Telephone Pioneers headquarters and the Colorado Regional Library. The film was produced by InFocus Video of Herndon, Virginia. The commemorative project has been distributed to each of the TPA talking-book repair shops in the NLS network and to TPA regional coordinators, regional vice presidents, and sponsoring agencies. Telephone Pioneers of America Answering the Call will also be used to recruit new talking-book repair persons. (photo caption: Jim Gadd, executive director/chief operating officer of the Telephone Pioneers of America, Inc., works the phones from his office at the Denver, Colorado, headquarters.) (photo caption: Telephone Pioneers regional leaders (left to right) Dick Iverson, Jerry Adamson, and Joe Bernal discuss machine repair at a National Audio-Equipment Advisory Committee meeting.) Insight honors Telephone Pioneers of South Florida At a luncheon ceremony held in March 2001 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Insight for the Blind presented a special award to the Telephone Pioneers of South Florida commemorating the extensive service and dedication rendered the organization. The Pioneers actually built Insight's permanent headquarters, a 5,000-square-foot state-of-the-art recording studio. Fifty-two other Insight volunteers were also honored for contributing from 100 to 15,000 hours producing material for the talking-book program. Insight for the Blind, established in Fort Lauderdale twenty-five years ago, is the largest of three all-volunteer studios producing material for patrons of the NLS program. Two of its narrators have won the prestigious Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Award from the American Foundation for the Blind in New York, New York. (photo caption: Gizelle Pierandozzi (left), from the Telephone Pioneers of South Florida, accepted an engraved plaque from Insight's president, Judge George Richardson (center). Richardson also honored Trudi Nadel (right) of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, for contributing 15,000 volunteer hours of service producing material for the talking-book program.) Wichita Pioneers boast 171 combined years of volunteer service The Wichita Pioneers were recognized for their remarkable service during the year at the annual Wichita Public Library Volunteer Luncheon, which took place in April 2001 at the Wichita Botanical Gardens. For more than twenty-five years, seventeen active Telephone Pioneers have offered 171 years of combined volunteer service at the Wichita, Kansas, subregional library. Pioneer Gerald Hungate leads the group with nineteen years of volunteer service. Ten others have ten or more years to their credit: Cliff Calvert, Lucille Cannady, Lilah McCarter, and Mirian Winters, sixteen years each; Ray Scofield, fourteen years; Lloyd Wilbert, thirteen years; Elmer Obermuller and Harold Parson, eleven years each; and Dean Ham and Robert Kuhlmann, ten years each. Phyllis Calvert, Gerald Pauls, Fred Shiney, Bennie Wilson, and Tom West are also members of the repair team. The group meets the first Thursday of each month. Subregional librarian Brad Reha said, "When I did the math I was stunned. It's easy to take such dedicated volunteers for granted. I will never do that again." He added, "Not only do they provide an invaluable service, they are a terrific group of people. Needless to say, they have become a very important part of the Wichita Talking Books family." Over the years, the Wichita Pioneers have received several honors for their unfailing contribution to the talking-book repair program, including the NLS Commendation for Service award and the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award. Congressman Hayworth records for Arizona regional library The Arizona regional library has hosted a congressman, received help from its Friends, gained new fans, become visible in the neighborhood, and gotten a face-lift. In August, U.S. Congressman J.D. Hayworth (sixth district of Arizona) visited the library to record two children's stories, House Mouse, Senate Mouse and The Jack Tales, for the collection. Hayworth is known for reading the first--his favorite children's book--at Arizona libraries and schools. Library staff thought he was an excellent choice to read the first story of The Jack Tales, a classic collection of American folktales. Other notable Arizonans will be asked to read one each of the remaining seven stories. The Arizona Friends of Talking Books, which is helping the library publicize its services by contacting groups of eye-care professionals, is incorporated and has been approved for tax-exempt status. The organization, which has raised money for a descriptive video collection, is seeking to expand its thirteen-member board. Last May, teacher Bernadette Ortega and six of her seventh graders from the Wilson Elementary School stopped by to learn how people with visual disabilities read. The honors English students were shown around by librarian Sandra Everett. She spoke about the development of braille, described NLS service, and explained how the library circulates books. Recording studio staff led the students in hands-on activities to teach them about audio-book production. The students recorded simple books from their school library and each student had a turn operating the recording equipment. Toni Corkery, the studio clerk, transferred the master tapes made for each book to a cassette. The students said they plan to donate their tapes to the school library. The experience was the second cooperative effort with students from the Wilson Elementary School in 2001. Earlier a group of younger students who were studying about braille spent time with Everett. The children were so excited about what they learned that they raised money so the library could purchase several print-braille books. Last summer, the Arizona regional library acquired a fresh look after extensive renovation to the first floor. The building opened in 1983 and was long overdue for a thorough overhaul. The refurbishing included a fresh coat of paint, new carpeting, and new work stations. The low-walled cubicles in the public-services area have soft surfaces that help reduce noise levels and give the place a clean, unified look. The project was completed in a month's time, with minimal disruption to service. The staff is happy to have a more comfortable and attractive work environment with wider aisles and more usable space. (photo caption: U.S. Congressman J.D. Hayworth narrates his favorite book while Arizona regional library volunteer Joan Miller monitors the recording.) (photo caption: Bernadette Ortega and students from Wilson Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona.) New Jersey volunteers shine Last spring during Volunteer Week, the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Trenton, hosted a catered dinner on site to honor its volunteers. "This gives us the chance to formally thank all these dedicated people, and it gives the volunteers a chance to see and talk to other volunteers as well as some of our staff. Everyone really enjoys the evening," said Joyce Christensen, volunteer coordinator. Christensen opened the after-dinner program and introduced keynote speaker Freddie Peaco, NLS government information/volunteer specialist. The theme, Volunteers Are Shining Stars, was evident throughout the celebration, which was attended by about one hundred people. They included recording volunteers, who contributed 2,899 hours of reading time; office volunteers, who donated 1,521 hours of miscellaneous services at the library; and machine-repair volunteers, who contributed 1,600 hours of repair service. Held biennially, the recognition dinner is supported and paid for by the Friends of the Library. Each volunteer received a certificate of appreciation. Volunteers and guests each received a pad of star-shaped Post-it notes. (photo caption: Machine-repair volunteers Vince Labella (left) and Chris Charron (second from right) enjoy dinner at New Jersey's Volunteer Recognition. They are joined by their wives, Eleanor Labella (second from left) and Verna Charron (far right).) Ohio holds talking-book conference The State Library of Ohio held its eighteenth Annual Talking-Book Conference May 10-11, 2001, in Columbus, Ohio. Attended by about 90 participants representing sublending agencies and including local members of the Telephone Pioneers of America, Inc., and the GE Elfuns, the event was a joint briefing and recognition session for the individuals who supply and maintain equipment used by eligible patrons in Ohio. On the first day, participants received updates from NLS Network Services head Stephen Prine; from Ohio's two regional librarians, Donna Foust of Cincinnati and Barbara Mates of Cleveland; and from Ohio State Library talking-book coordinator Judy Bow. Chairperson Jana Schroeder, Consumer Advisory Committee on Ohio Library Service to Blind and Handicapped Individuals, also spoke. This was followed by updates from Radio Reading Service and Newsline--services for visually impaired people--and a program on adaptive technology in public libraries designed for print- handicapped Ohioans. The day ended with a banquet featuring Michael Lucas, the state librarian of Ohio, and a speech by Carol Stewart, recording studio director at the American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, Kentucky. On the second day participants attended parallel sessions. Machine-repair staff and volunteers attended a workshop while coordinators attended a meeting on equipment concerns, promotion and marketing strategies, and an adaptive technology demonstration. The conference closed with lunch and, for those interested, a tour of the State Library of Ohio's new building. Meetings National Braille Association (NBA) Spring Regional Meeting and Workshops, Holiday Inn Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia; Thursday, April 11-Saturday, April 13, 2002 Fall Regional Meeting and Workshops, Marriott Hotel, Overland Park, Kansas; Thursday, October 17-Saturday, October 19, 2002 Twenty-seventh National Conference, Radisson Hotel, Middleburg Heights (Cleveland), Ohio; Thursday, May 1- Saturday, May 3, 2003 Fall Regional Meeting and Workshops, Best Western Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona; Thursday, November 6-Saturday, November 8, 2003 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 XLIII Annual Conference, The San Diego Mission Valley Marriott, San Diego, California; Thursday, March 14- Saturday, March 16, 2002 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 2002 Conference of Volunteers, St. Petersburg Hilton Hotel, St. Petersburg, Florida; Thursday, May 16-Saturday, May 18, 2002 For more information about this meeting, contact Peggy Rogaski, VAVF President, 1780 Leyburn Court, Jacksonville, FL 32223-5006; (904) 262-6705; e-mail ; web site . Arizona volunteers have fun giving to the community The Arizona Talking Book and Braille Library is proud of the newest of its seven repair facilities. Located in East Mesa at the Fountain of the Suns Mobile Home Park, in the home of volunteers Chuck and Lora Spear, it has an enthusiastic roster of fifteen volunteers. The Spears began volunteering at the Mesa Public Library repair shop in 1997. Chuck, a retired electrical engineer, learned to repair talking-book machines at the main repair shop in Phoenix. Lora, a retired insurance company broker, started cleaning talking-book machines at the library and eventually began working on them at home. In 1997 they opened their garage as a repair shop, as many of the volunteers were reluctant to drive to the Mesa Public Library or to the Phoenix workshop, though they loved their work. When the Spears added a room to their home in 1999, they invited the volunteers to use it as a repair shop. The members of the group meet every Tuesday and Wednesday morning and lend support to each other, if needed (as when one of the machines decides to be cantankerous), as they work on the talking-book machines. They also enjoy coffee, doughnuts, and camaraderie. The Spears and their repair group have been doing great work for the Braille and Talking Book Library and have been enlisted to assist libraries in other states. The group repairs machines from the Phoenix facility; the Sacramento, California, regional library; and the Seattle, Washington, Braille and Talking Book Library. Last year, the volunteers repaired 2,287 machines and this year, 1,481. Chuck, who is quite the handyman, has also repaired 1,369 amplifier boards. The Washington Braille and Talking Book Library also benefited from Spear's expertise when he visited in June. He designed and made wall organizers for the Washington library. "At the present, Chuck and his repair group continue to work on Washington and Arizona machines. He is a very dedicated volunteer of the library and is always coming up with new test designs and methods of doing things. He, like all of our volunteers, is a tremendous asset to the library and its patrons. We admire and appreciate all the work and talent that the volunteers bring to us," says Jill Barlett, Arizona outreach librarian. "I personally would like to say thank you to all of our volunteers for the great work they do. So far this year they have repaired 6,500 machines." Arizona Braille and Talking Books has six other repair centers in the state. The main facility in Phoenix has fifteen volunteers, Sun City has ten, Mesa has five, Payson has six, Tuscon has seven, and Prescott has five. Volunteers master new skills During the months of June-August 2001, sixty-three people received certificates in braille transcribing. Fifty-eight of those were awarded in literary braille transcribing, two in literary braille proofreading, two in mathematics braille transcribing, and one in music braille transcribing. LITERARY BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS Alabama Jill L. Dunaway, Oxford Arizona Joseph Raymond Conway, Douglas John A. Enriquez, Douglas Kathleen Krause, Tucson Christine Pratt, Chandler Keith Robert Wiedman, Florence California Lorraine Cilley, Novato S.S. Nagaraju, Camarillo Faith Olson, Pomona Barbara J. Penwarden, Anaheim Lois Wood, Redlands Colorado Elaine Brown, Castle Rock Brian Linn, Florence Connecticut Shawn Carlson, Cheshire Robert De Jesus Jr., Cheshire Florida Pamela L. Allen, Jacksonville Arlene D. Jensen, Orlando Patricia S. Schiff, Ponte Vedra Beach Georgia Barbara R. Kaplan, Atlanta Marie B. Mulder, Marietta Hawaii Wayne Kaneshiro, Honolulu Iowa David W. Parks, Anamosa Maine Dean Alton Curtis, Thomaston Maryland Debra A. Adle, Baltimore Sharon L. Kraft, Pasadena Christina Blandy Powell, Baltimore Minnesota P. Scott Horne, North Oaks Lynn M. Nelson, Minneapolis Tracy Olson, St. Paul Deborah Price, Plymouth Nebraska Sarah Margaret Sykes, North Platte Sara L. Wolfson, Omaha Nevada Frank R. Esposito, Las Vegas Roger T. Jenkins, Las Vegas John Lang, Lovelock Terrance C. McNichols, Las Vegas Chris A. Simmons, Las Vegas New Jersey Joan Drum, Millburn Triveni Gurikar, Parsippany Chrisoula Pagoulatos, Millburn New York Lourdes I. Rodriguez Atkins, Bronx William Lamy, Fairport Nelson Velasquez Jr., Napanoch Oregon Marlene Beverly Khosropur, Portland South Dakota Richard E. Bauer, Sioux Falls Jerry Godfrey, Yankton Dwight Dean Sundby, Yankton David E. Timperley, Sioux Falls Texas June J. Applen, Quinlan Delores Alma Billman, Gatesville Betty Carlene Hines, Gatesville Tari L. Hughes, Gatesville Angela D. Skierski, Gatesville Tracey L. Whitmire, Gatesville Washington Carole R. Moore, Olympia Wisconsin Donald S. Martin, Oshkosh Timothy S. Shaw, Oshkosh Susan A. Van-Auken, Milwaukee LITERARY BRAILLE PROOFREADERS Dorothy Dean, Plainview, New York Sharon Monthei, Minneapolis, Minnesota MATHEMATICS BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS Arleen Larson, Nevis, Minnesota Clifford C. Nelson, Thousand Oaks, California MUSIC BRAILLE TRANSCRIBER Julie Nichol, Hartwell, Georgia Braille music transcriber retires Jean Atkinson, one of forty-four active music braille transcribers certified by the Library of Congress, has retired after thirty-eight years as a volunteer braillist with Volunteer Services for the Visually Handicapped (VSVH), Inc. Atkinson is also one of the founders of VSVH, a nonprofit braille and audiotape transcription organization located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Atkinson helped establish the Transcription Center, as VSVH was originally called, which consisted of a small group of braillists and braille students dedicated to providing braille textbooks for the students in two Milwaukee area schools. When it became evident that Wisconsin had no central transcription agency to serve the entire state, the group decided to make its services available throughout the state and included recorded and large-print materials as part of its services. Before offering services in all three media, the fledgling transcription group needed information from other "like" organizations. So Atkinson, as its first volunteer coordinator, visited large transcription agencies in other states to learn about available published guidelines for special training, newly marketed equipment and materials, record maintenance, and general office procedures. Having no funds to seed such an operation, Atkinson and eight enthusiastic volunteers sought donations from friends, organizations, and corporations to purchase materials and equipment. After their initial fundraising efforts proved to be successful, the Milwaukee city librarian arranged for the volunteer group to have permanent quarters in the downtown Central Library building, as an auxiliary to the regional library for the blind. VSVH is still located in Central Library, next to the Wisconsin Regional Library for the Blind. By 1965, this hard-working group boasted 180 volunteers in various phases of transcription and was serving all of Wisconsin and beyond! With the organization firmly established, her literary braille certification approved, and five years of experience behind her, Atkinson decided to use her music education background as a music transcriber. After receiving LC certification in that code, she found herself busier than ever with assignments from all over the country. Atkinson lived in several other states before moving back to Wisconsin in 1983, but she still took assignments through VSVH for her many "regular clients," all using her old Perkins brailler. When she returned to Milwaukee, she "graduated" to a computer for her transcribing and spent time regularly at the VSVH office embossing her work and enjoying her "braille days." Now at eighty-three, Atkinson says it is time to retire. "Both my computer and I are pretty obsolete!" she quips. Her retirement means the loss not only of a dedicated volunteer, but also of a braille transcriber whose emphasis on quality defined the organization she helped to found. More important, many visually impaired musicians are losing someone who used her skills and time to meet their special needs. (photo caption: Jean Atkinson) Unified English Braille Code samplers available The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) has produced sample materials on the proposed Unified English Braille Code (UEBC) for braille readers, educators, and transcribers in the United States and Canada to review and provide BANA with feedback. If you are interested in receiving a copy of either Sampler 1 (literary braille, nontechnical material, and simple math) or Sampler 2 (examples of technical material including algebra, calculus, chemistry, and computer programs), and have not already received one in the mail, you may request them as follows: For Sampler 1, braille edition, contact Kim Charlson, Braille and Talking Book Library, Perkins School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472; (617) 972-7249; e-mail: . For Sampler 2, produced in two braille volumes, contact Eileen Curran, BANA Chair, National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115; 888-965-8965 or (617) 266- 6160 ext. 17; e-mail: . For Sampler 1 or Sampler 2 print editions (including original print and simulated braille examples), contact Frances Mary D'Andrea, American Foundation for the Blind, National Literacy Center, 100 Peachtree Street, Suite 620, Atlanta, GA 30303; (404) 525-2303; e-mail: . Canadian residents may request either print or braille copies from Darleen Bogart, Canadian National Institute for the Blind Library, 1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4G 3E8; (416) 480-7530; e-mail: . Florida library gets help from teenage campers Since no good deed should go unpublished, the Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services, Daytona Beach, Florida, notes that it has had a wonderful experience working with Passport Youth Camps, a Christian youth group based in Louisville, Kentucky. Work teams of twenty-five to thirty Passport campers, aged twelve to eighteen from all over the United States, made significant contributions in June and July. They spent numerous afternoons shifting braille books, sorting cassette tapes, shelving returned books, collating large-print publications, and performing other essential tasks. "The library first hosted campers last year, and we are pleased that Passport again selected us as a community service project site," says R. Greg Carlson, library program administrator. Meredith Holladay, Bible study leader and chaperone, said, "At the beginning of the week, the kids were unsure about how to work with people who are blind. By the end of the week, they were excited to see the difference they were making." The library feted seven groups of campers with a Thursday pizza party. It also presented each camper a personal "passport" containing a photo as a record and remembrance of his or her library experience. (photo caption: Passport campers reshelve braille volumes.) 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. Is it permissible to submit my trial manuscript in interpoint (braille on both sides of the page)? Instructor: No. All trial manuscripts must be submitted in single-sided embossed form. Interpoint will not be accepted. There are specific rules for producing braille books in interpoint that are not addressed in the new Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribing, Fourth Edition, 2000. Student: I assume then that computer disks and simulated braille are not allowed. Instructor: That is correct. The trial manuscript must be submitted in hard-copy braille. If it has been produced on a computer and embossed, remove all sprocket strips, separate and collate the pages, and remove all blank pages. The manuscript should be submitted so that it is ready to read. Remember that thermoformed copies of the manuscript will not be accepted. However, it is highly recommended that, if possible, the student keep a thermoformed copy of a manuscript that was prepared on a braillewriter. Student: I have just completed the final lesson in the braille transcribing course. Since I have submitted my lessons by correspondence, I am not affiliated with a transcribing group. Should I give the Library of Congress as my affiliation on the title page of my trial manuscript? Instructor: No. If the student is not affiliated with a transcribing group, only the transcriber's city and state should be given on the title page. Student: I am currently working on Lesson Nine in the braille transcribing course. I am still confused about whether the initial-letter contraction for "had" should be used in "hadji." The new 2000 edition of the instruction manual shows the word "hadji" with the "had" contraction used. However, the word "hadji" is written without the "had" contraction in the official code, English Braille, American Edition, 1994. Could you please clarify this for me? Instructor: Certainly. Section 34b7 of the official code says that a contraction may not be used where the use of a contraction would cause difficulty in pronunciation. Since the use of the "had" contraction could cause a problem in pronunciation, the word "hadji" should be written without the "had" contraction. This error has been corrected in the errata to the fourth edition of the instruction manual. Student: I just recently submitted Lesson Eleven in the braille transcribing course. In Sentence 42, I divided the word "blinded" and used the short form for "blind" according to Section 11.5 of the new instruction manual. However, the report on my last assignment indicated that I should have written the entire word "blinded" on the next braille line. Of course, I would then not use the short form for "blind." Which is correct? Instructor: Excellent question. Section 11.5 of the 2000 edition of the instruction manual says that when the words "after," "blind," or "friend" are followed by a vowel, the short forms cannot be used because they often take on the appearance of another word. However, if these words are divided between lines and the vowel falls on a new line, the short-form word is used. Therefore in Sentence 42, there is sufficient room at the end of the braille line to divide the word "blinded," and the short form for "blind" should be used. Student: The book that I have chosen for my thirty-five-page trial manuscript does not give the name of the state for the publisher on the print title page. However, the last sentence in Section 19.2B(11) of the instruction manual seems to imply that I should use a two-letter state abbreviation when no state is given for the publisher in print. This is quite confusing especially when only the city is given on the print title page. Instructor: That is understandable. When a publisher's state is not given on the print title page, one should not be given on the braille title page. Section 19.2B(11) will be corrected in the next errata to the 2000 edition of the instruction manual. Florida volunteers spin and twirl at the annual fete Volunteers and staffers stepped out to the lively beat of the Daytona Beach Dance Band playing tunes of the 30s and 40s when the Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services recognized volunteers with a dance and luncheon on April 19, 2001. Approximately 150 volunteers and guests attended the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Daytona Beach Hilton, where NLS network consultant David Whittall was the guest speaker. Two Telephone Pioneers couples, Irving and Shirley Symonds and Jim and Kay Bonneville, were honored with the Volunteers of the Year Award for contributing more than eighty years of combined volunteer service. The bureau estimates that volunteers contributed more than 100,000 hours of service this past year. More than 200 volunteers contributed to library services for 43,000 Florida talking-book customers. The event was hosted by staff and underwritten by a customer bequest. (photo caption: Volunteers get into the celebration.) (photo caption: Florida regional library volunteer services center specialist Doug Hall introduces the Daytona Beach Dance Band.) 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: Jane Caulton Braille student-instructor dialog: John Wilkinson