News ISSN 1046-1663 July-September 2002, Vol. 33, No. 3 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped The Library of Congress Winner of digital player design contest chosen NLS and the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), cosponsors of the 2002 Digital Audio Playback Device Competition for Students, selected the prize-winning entries on June 7 in Washington, D.C. Six judges convened at NLS to evaluate 146 submissions from 28 design schools around the country. At the end of the day they announced the names of three third-prize winners, two second-prize winners, and the first-prize winner, Lachezar Tsvetanov, a senior at the University of Bridgeport. Tsvetanov's design, a model called "Dook," earned him a cash award of $5,000 and an expenses- paid trip to the annual meeting of IDSA in Monterey, California, in July to receive the prize. Tsvetanov's faculty advisor, Robert Brainard, was honored with a $2,000 cash award as well. The student design competition, which began January 1, 2002, and solicited entries from fifty-five IDSA-affiliated schools, was established to give students a "unique opportunity to inspire the next generation of audio playback machines" (see News July-September 2001, Vol. 32, No. 3). The massive digital conversion project currently in progress at NLS will lead ultimately to a complete transition from analog to digital technology in service operations and revolutionize not only talking-book recording, duplication, and playback procedures, but braille delivery systems, communications within the network, and interactions with other agencies as well. "The upgrade to digital versions of not only the playback machines but also the vast collection is the greatest challenge NLS has ever faced," NLS director Frank Kurt Cylke has remarked. The machine competition was not intended to yield a working prototype for a playback machine--that is one to two years in the future--but to generate ideas, stimulate creative thinking, and encourage more widespread understanding and acceptance of universal design principles throughout the professional design community. Cylke conceived the design competition, which was coordinated by John Bryant, head of the NLS Production Control Section, in cooperation with Gigi Thompson, IDSA's senior manager of communications. Jim Mueller, working designer, IDSA member, and chair of IDSA's Universal Design Professional Interest Section, served as professional advisor. Mueller regarded the competition as a springboard to help propel NLS into the new century's technological realities. "The competition did exactly what it was designed to do, and that was to give NLS new ideas and concepts for them to begin to make decisions about what the digital playback device should look like and what it should do," he remarked. "This was also a great opportunity for the students to do field research, think about the commercial and user applications, and to make real-life models for the client to inspect." Mueller, who also served as a juror, affirmed the multifaceted benefits conferred by the contest. "It has presented students with the unique opportunity to design a product that makes books and magazines accessible to hundreds of thousands of people with visual or physical disabilities each year. By encouraging students to design for all ages and abilities, the competition has given them vital insight toward successful design practice in the twenty-first century." First-prize winner Tsvetanov, a native of Sophia, Bulgaria, studies at Bridgeport under a full scholarship he won for academic excellence. "It was great to work on a product addressing the challenges faced by those whose needs are frequently overlooked," he commented. "This was not only a design exercise, but also a life experience." His winning design, Dook, resembles a book that opens to reveal a speaker and a media cartridge port. Hinged along the "spine," which also houses a volume control and storage space for a power cord, Dook may be opened fully and laid flat for maximum tabletop stability or opened partially and stood upright, allowing full directionality of its speaker. Folded shut, Dook may be easily carried in a purse, a backpack, or even a large pocket. The main controls are readily accessible in any position. Aiming across generations of visually impaired readers, Tsvetanov thought that older people might feel more comfortable with "something in front of them that resembles a book...something they were familiar with before losing their sight," while younger readers would be drawn to the shape because it would not make them feel conspicuous in a crowd. Two second prize winners will each receive $2,000:  Christopher Garnaas and Laura Hackbarth, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Entry called "Nero." Faculty advisors: Pascal Malassign‚ (IDSA fellow) and Bill O'Dell.  Anna Mastriano, University of Bridgeport. Entry called "Book Talk." Faculty advisor: Roy Watson. Three third-prize winners will each receive $1,000:  Nicki Kuwahara, California State University, Long Beach. Entry called "Digital Talking Book." Independent, self- directed project.  Brian Potempa and Michael Matheau Potempa, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Entry called "Insight Personal Assistance Device." Faculty advisors: Pascal Malassign‚ (IDSA fellow) and Bill O'Dell.  Emilie Williams, North Carolina State University. Entry called "D1." Faculty advisor: Percy Hooper (IDSA member). All six winners attended the IDSA annual meeting in Monterey, California, July 20-23, as guests of NLS to receive their awards in person. (photo caption: First-place winner "Dook," named for its resemblance to a print book, is hinged along the spine to allow easy access to controls when open and to fold flat for carrying. The spine houses a volume control and has storage space for a power cord.) DTB design contest judges  Jim Mueller, IDSA member and chair of the IDSA's Universal Design Section. Mueller has developed products for people with disabilities and served as a consultant to product manufacturers. Mueller is a national advocate of the idea of universal design and coauthor of the seven "Principles of Universal Design," used by competition jurors in evaluating the student entries.  Michael M. Moodie, NLS research and development officer. Moodie, who has been deeply involved in all aspects of NLS digital planning, organized and chaired the NISO Digital Talking Book Committee up to the acceptance of the DTB standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on March 6, 2002.  Thomas Bickford, senior reviewer for audio books, NLS Quality Assurance Section. Bickford's background in foreign languages and literature has made him an avid consumer of audio reading materials as well as a professional in the field. He began reading talking books in 1948 with The Three Musketeers, as narrated by Alexander Scourby and played on hard disks at 33-1/3 rpm using steel needles. He has witnessed numerous technological upheavals in his lifetime.  Philip Vlasak, partner of Personal Computer Systems of Michigan, a company that creates computer games for blind persons using the Windows operating system. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Until he lost his sight in 1982, he worked as a designer for a retail store chain.  Brian Matt, IDSA member and founder and CEO of Altitude, Inc., a Boston-area product design and development firm. He received his bachelor's degree in Industrial Design from Rochester Institute of Technology. Matt is a member of the board of directors of the Association of Professional Design Firms, has held various senior IDSA offices, and is an active member of the Design Management Institute.  Sam Leotta, IDSA member and retired industrial designer. He began his career before World War II and during the war designed bomber and fighter aircraft. Later he established an industrial design firm that provided product design, development, engineering, graphics, and office-space planning services throughout the country for forty-seven years. (photo caption: Contest judges: standing, Jim Mueller (IDSA), Michael Moodie (NLS), Philip Vlasak (IDSA), Brian Matt (IDSA); seated, Sam Leotta, (IDSA), Tom Bickford (NLS)) The DTB design contest: what have we learned? Although manufacture lies some years in the future, the development of a digital talking-book playback machine took another small step forward as the IDSA/NLS-sponsored student design competition entered the evaluation and judgment phase. The six competition judges convened early on the morning of June 7 in the Pratt-Smoot meeting rooms at NLS to confront the daunting task of examining and rating 146 model talking-book players submitted by student designers from twenty-eight design schools around the country. No two of the students' creations were alike; they ranged in size from palmtop to desktop, and in shape from a boomerang to a football--though many seemed to draw their inspiration from existing consumer electronics: personal stereos, organizers, or game controllers. Construction materials were limited only by the students' imaginations: models were built of balsa and bass wood, carved and molded plastic, Bondo, styrofoam, rubber, and PVC, and colored across a wide spectrum. Along with their models, students were asked to submit a documentation package that included development sketches, an annotated account of human-factors research, mechanical and technical drawings and specifications, software-generated 3-D color images, and color slides. By the end of the day the judges, suffering from what Tom Bickford identified as sensory overload, had gone a little giddy; the final decisions had to be made, and the six decision makers came together around a table to compare notes, review their ratings, and speak on behalf of their favorites. The models were no longer arrayed in militarily exact rows on the long table tops, but were passed from hand to hand, some now showing signs of wear. The judges had given a few of the late-stage entries pet names--the Starship Enterprise, Darth Vader's death mask, the hamburger press--and in the aura of mirth and anticipation, a resemblance might forgivably have been noted between the scene of judgment and a disorganized toyshop after a long day. But the work somehow got done and the difficult decisions were reached: Lachezar Tsvetanov's meticulously constructed "Dook" was declared triumphant. Director pleased. NLS director Frank Kurt Cylke said, "This contest has given NLS an opportunity to examine what the brightest students in the industrial design world proposed as solutions to the complex design challenges a digital talking-book player presents. We're truly pleased with the caliber of the entries and look forward to examining them further." Judgment criteria. Entries were judged for creativity and ingenuity within two sets of constraints: the models were to possess the characteristics outlined in an NLS- authored document on the design requirements for a future talking-book player, and they were to adhere to the principles of universal design advocated by IDSA. The seven Principles of Universal Design, formulated by a team of designers, architects, researchers, and engineers that included contest judge Jim Mueller, were applied to the contest entries in the form of seven questions, used by the judges to rate the models along a scale from excellent to unacceptable. Is the design useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities? Does the design accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities? Is use of the design easy to understand regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level? Does the design communicate necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities? Does the design minimize hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions? Can the design be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue? Is appropriate size and space provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility? In addition to the universal design principles, judges looked at a few additional features that are specific to NLS: the design should include a readily accessible media cartridge, controls for eighteen specified features and four jacks, and the ability to direct the speaker's output. The design also had to exhibit compatibility with assistive devices such as mouth sticks. The player was required to be stable yet movable, usable without vision, easy to clean and spill-proof, self- contained and portable, and durable. Finally, a set of criteria was applied to the process of design creation and to the procedures followed by the students in reaching their objective: is the design solution well thought out? Is the selection of materials and processes appropriate? Has the student demonstrated research into the design solution? Has the student demonstrated attention to detail, proper model craftsmanship, and documentation of work? Staff reaction. The two members of the NLS staff who served as judges were gratified by the response elicited by the competition. Michael Moodie and Tom Bickford were both impressed by the effort put forth by the creators of the models, many of which had a finished "off-the-shelf" quality. The exhaustive research conducted by many entrants particularly impressed Moodie, and the underlying grasp of relevant issues that their research implied. A number of the models reflected their designers' awareness that the machines must function within a complex system--a system that embraces the interests of patrons, librarians, and distribution, repair, and maintenance personnel--and could not stand on aesthetic merit alone. Both judges found sources of inspiration in the models and inventive approaches to the problems of machine design. Moodie singled out several areas where the designers' ingenuity shone: stability combined with portability--the need for a low center of gravity for table-top use, the capacity to be moved readily from place to place, and ease of use in transit; speaker directionality--an anticipated improvement over the C-1 machine with its upward-facing speaker; power-cord storage and management; tactile icons for the operating controls; and the means of media cartridge insertion and ejection--including various systems of ramps or tactile markers. Tom Bickford also emphasized the many good new ideas with which NLS was presented. As a partisan of portability, he was particularly engaged by the array of innovative carrying straps and handles the students had developed. Though many submissions went beyond the requirements of the competition, and some offered features that were outlandish, even the rejects helped to concentrate vague or unfocused thinking, perhaps helping to specify which design elements would be disadvantageous in the DTB player of the future. Some otherwise good entries were reluctantly disqualified because they broke a contest rule: one attractive model was rejected because, with its "docking station," it violated the contest's one-piece construction stricture. But Bickford reiterated the understanding that the competition would not yield a production prototype. "Most entries showed a lot of imagination, creativity, and serious thought, and in due course we'll get a good machine out of this process." Project coordinator John Bryant was happily surprised at the vigor with which student designers undertook this project, and the interest and thoroughness they brought to meeting the challenge. And one of the main benefits of the competition, he said, was "making students aware of the need to bring the principle of accessibility to all of their design work--and how much of a need there was still to make people aware of these issues." (photo caption: Hours of hands-on effort went into evaluating a wide range of creative models for technological concepts, usefulness to patrons, and durability. Photo by Gary D. Cotton) (photo caption: Brian Matt and Michael Moodie hard at work) (photo caption: Jim Mueller and Tom Bickford contemplate one of the 146 contest entries.) Braille collection tops advisory group agenda The Collection Development Advisory Group, made up of readers, consumer group representatives, and librarians from across the country, presented twenty-one recommendations for enhancement of the NLS book collection at its Washington, D.C., meeting May 22-24, 2002. At the top of its list was the expansion of the print/braille collection. The committee recommended that NLS add ten additional titles, equally divided between grades K- 3 and 2-4, each year. The group also recommended that more popular books, such as bestsellers, be added to both the braille and the audio collections. It requested that more high-interest, one-volume books suitable for adults learning to read braille be selected for grade 2 braille production, and that grade 1 braille titles similar to those selected for adults be produced for young adults and teens. Members of the committee also asked NLS to continue "to select clean, religious, spiritual, and inspirational fiction titles," and that these characteristics be reflected in the annotation. They asked NLS also to continue updating its collection of nonfiction books on science, countries, medicine, and celebrities; to produce books for young adults "with themes of self-esteem and disability-coping skills" and to continue producing books on the military and veterans. The librarians, readers, and consumer organization representatives commended NLS for adding print/braille titles for older juvenile readers, for including the spelling of authors' names at the end of recorded books, and for producing "well-written annotations." (photo caption: Committee members discuss recommendations. Clockwise: Jane Toleno, Jill O'Connell, Lissa Shanahan, George Brummell, Ever Lee Hairston, Randy French (chair), Emma Schroth, Kathy Blackburn, Blas Yslas Sr., Sue Sugimura) Collection Development Advisory Group Consumer Organization Representatives: Jill O'Connell (California), American Council of the Blind; George Brummell (District of Columbia), Blinded Veterans Association; Ever Lee Hairston (New Jersey), National Federation of the Blind Readers-at-Large: Jane L. Toleno (Minnesota), Midlands; Diana Brash (Pennsylvania), North; Kathy Blackburn (Texas), South; Blas Yslas Sr. (Colorado), West Librarians: Lissa Shanahan (Indiana), Midlands; Renee Snowten (Pennsylvania), North; Randy French (Virginia), South; Sue Sugimura (Hawaii), West; Emma Schroth (Louisiana), Children's/Young Adult Massachusetts patrons meet famous authors In April of this year, Massachusetts "whodunit" lovers heard the inside scoop on popular sleuths and thrillers from the people who know them best--their creators. Hosted by the Perkins School for the Blind Braille and Talking Book Library, a special brunch gave library patrons and local residents a chance to meet three bestselling mystery writers. The library wanted to provide a unique and interesting program for its patrons and raise awareness of its services to blind and visually handicapped individuals. Currently, some 17,000 individuals benefit from services offered by the Perkins School, which estimates that it reaches only 11 percent of the eligible population in the Northeast. Library patron Dean Denniston says that access to the printed word is crucial: "Whether we read with our eyes, our ears, or our fingers, I can think of nothing more beneficial." Kim Charlson, regional librarian, moderated the panel, which featured the following authors:  Barbara Neely, radio host and creator of the Blanche White mystery novels. Her first book in the series, Blanche on the Lam, won three of the four major mystery awards for best first novel--the Agatha, the Macavity, and the Anthony.  Robert B. Parker, creator of the streetwise Boston private eye Spenser. His novels inspired the popular television series Spenser: for Hire and two made-for-TV movies.  Michael Palmer, former emergency-room-physician-turned- novelist. His chillingly realistic medical suspense thrillers appear frequently on the New York Times bestseller list, and one, Extreme Measures, became a 1996 film. A standing-room-only crowd greeted the authors, who had graciously donated their time. Palmer said that one of the great heroes in his life is his brother-in-law, who, though blind, graduated from law school with honors and bicycled solo across the country. "It's a joy to come here because I know how much reading means to him," said Palmer. Following a lively question-and-answer session conducted by Kevin J. Lessard, director of the Perkins School for the Blind, the authors signed autographs for their enthusiastic fans. Attendees wholeheartedly praised the program. (Material for this article was provided by Kim Charlson, Massachusetts regional librarian.) (photo caption: Barbara Neely. Photo by Teresa Salgado) (photo caption: Michael Palmer. Bantam Books) (photo caption: Robert Parker signs a reader's book.) Pinellas, Florida, intern spurs PSA airings The Pinellas Talking Book Library (PTBL) has set a national record. In just over one month, from May 27 to June 30, NLS public service announcements (PSAs) in the Rita Moreno series aired 398 times over sixteen stations on the Verizon/Americast cable system. This achievement was the result of the efforts of Michelle Lewin, a Library and Information Science graduate student at the University of South Florida. The Pinellas library, working in cooperation with its Daytona Beach regional, selected the PSAs Diagnosis and Rita Moreno to distribute to the media. Lewin undertook the public service announcement project as part of an internship. She also cataloged and entered large-print books into the KLAS circulation system during her one-month stay at PTBL. Her supervisor, Marilyn Stevenson, subregional librarian, was ecstatic about her media success. "She had a very short amount of time to do an incredible amount of work, and she did an excellent job. Because of our close proximity, her efforts should impact not only Pinellas subregional, but also Hillsborough and Manatee subregionals. Michelle was able to complete both assignments in four weeks, working close to full time each week," she says. Stevenson says Lewin worked the entire month of May researching the media and making contacts. "She contacted four nearby TV stations; two local TV stations (Americast and Public Access Pinellas); eight radio stations, several of which broadcast over more than one frequency; and seven newspapers," Stevenson explains. According to Lewin, who graduated in August 2002, "The hardest part of the job was actually going to places cold and trying to get in to talk with people. The big stations won't see you or make appointments to discuss your PSAs; they just want them sent in," says Lewin. She found that most stations post guidelines for submission on their web sites or the requirements are available by phone. Lewin continues, "Making cold phone calls wasn't as hard, but it did take some thought as to what to say, who to ask for, how to shmooze the receptionist into transferring you to the right person, or at least giving you the name of the right person so the PSA could be sent directly to him or her." "My Americast contact was especially friendly and cooperative. I found out who the advertising person was by calling the receptionist and telling her who I represented, then explained to the contact about the talking-book library services. She agreed to show the PSAs from May until December and told me that if I wanted to continue them after that, I should just call her and let her know!" Lewin says she believes she got such a great response because the talking-book program "represented something that she thought was important." Stevenson describes Lewin, who started work in June as the director of library resources at the Tampa Technical Institute-Pinellas Campus, as "friendly, outgoing, assertive, and a great believer in talking books and the positive impact they have on our population." Stevenson was not surprised by the outcome of having one person dedicated to implementing the PSA campaign. "I knew we would have a good response from community providers and can expect a ripple effect as others also run the PSAs." (photo caption: Michelle Lewin) ASCLA (ALA) awards Steve Prine, head of the Network Services Section at NLS, won two 2002 awards of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) during the annual meeting of the American Library Association (ALA), of which ASCLA is a division. ASCLA awards recognize outstanding achievement by librarians and libraries serving special populations. The ALA met June 15-18 in Atlanta. Prine's citation for the ASCLA Service Award commended his 25 years of work for ASCLA in numerous positions and a variety of roles, while his ASCLA Leadership Achievement Award citation praised his depth of knowledge gained over decades, as well as his open mind, commitment to service, and special brand of humor, all welcomed throughout the NLS network of cooperating libraries. Reached in Washington for comment, Prine said he would be "deeply honored by either [award], but both in one year is overwhelming!" (photo caption: Steve Prine with his two ASCLA awards) Julie Klauber, librarian at Talking Books Plus, Outreach Services, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, New York, is the recipient of the 2002 Francis Joseph Campbell Award, also presented at the ASCLA President's Program at the Atlanta ALA meeting. The award, which includes a medal and citation, is given for an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library service to blind and physically handicapped persons. NLS's Ruth Nussbaum, awards committee chair for the award's sponsor, the Library Service to People with Visual or Physical Disabilities Forum of ASCLA's Libraries Serving Special Populations Section, cited Klauber for creating and maintaining the newsletter Disability Resources Monthly and the web site "Disability Resources: A Monthly Guide to Disability Resources on the Internet" at . "These current and constantly updated resources are invaluable guides for librarians and the general public. Julie's boundless energy and devotion to the dissemination of information have made a profound impact on the library service to individuals with blindness or physical impairments." Also at the ASCLA President's Program and Awards Ceremony at ALA, the prestigious Exceptional Service Award for 2002 was bestowed on Michael Gunde, who is bureau chief of Braille and Talking Book Services, Division of Blind Services, Florida Department of Education. He is regional librarian for Florida in NLS's network of cooperating libraries. This award recognizes professional leadership, effective interpretation of programs, pioneering activity, and significant research in serving a constituency including patients, the homebound, professional hospital staff, and inmates. Awards committee chair Jan Walsh commended his professionalism, leadership, intelligence, energy, and advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities, praising his "unique combination of innovation and practicality." (photo caption: Julie Klauber, Campbell Award winner) New regional facility opens in Springfield, Illinois The Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service (TBBS) officially opened its doors to the public on June 27 during an 11:30 a.m. grand-opening celebration. Jean Wilkins, director of the Illinois State Library (ISL), greeted guests. Jesse White, Illinois secretary of state, and Carolyn Hoover Sung, chief of the NLS Network Division, spoke to participants before the ribbon-cutting and reception. Staff from the six Illinois subregionals were on hand to visit with patrons and guests. Tours of the building were given to the approximately seventy-five guests. The new facility, at 401 E. Washington Street in Springfield, is located to take advantage of other government departments that share similar clientele. The Illinois Assistive Technology Project, the Springfield Center for Independent Living, the Bureau of Blind Services, the Department of Aging, and an assisted-living complex are less than a block from the site. Because of the location, the library facility includes a public browsing area complete with two adaptive computer stations and an Optelec magnifier. A collection of descriptive videos is also available on-site for circulation. Two conference rooms are available for use by other government agencies, support groups, and registered users. The Illinois State Library began administering the talking-book program in January 2000, when the regional library in Chicago closed. The ISL had been funding the program through grants to the Chicago Public Library. When that library decided to stop offering regional library service because of building problems, it was logical for the ISL to begin administering the program it had funded since the 1970s. While awaiting the completion of the facility in Springfield, ten new staff members were hired and began providing service from a temporary location at the ISL. Although the biggest part of the collection and records were in storage for two years, the staff was able to circulate new items as they arrived. Magazine duplication began in earnest, with 4,000-5,000 copies of twenty titles being produced each month. Services throughout Illinois are provided by six subregional libraries called Talking Book Centers (TBCs), which in turn receive materials, training, and support from the regional. Bibliographies are custom-designed for any Talking Book Center that requests them. Statewide readers' advisory workshops are held semiannually. The TBC directors meet four times a year by teleconference and in person. Regional library staff visit the TBCs quarterly to provide computer training on the Keystone Library Automation System software and to monitor machine inventory. (Material for this article was provided by Sharon Ruda, Illinois regional librarian.) (photo caption: Getting ready for the ribbon-cutting ceremony are Carolyn Sung, chief of the NLS Network Division; Sharon Ruda, Illinois regional librarian; Jesse White, Illinois secretary of state; and Jean Wilkins, director of the Illinois State Library.) Ann Arbor, Michigan, exhibit draws large crowd April 17 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was the warmest day of 2002 so far--nearly 80 degrees of unexpected sunshine. It was a perfect day for people to attend Visions 2002: What's New in Technology and Services for the Visually Impaired. The crowd was huge. Counters indicated that at least 1,500 people participated, more than doubling the attendance of Vendor Fair 2000. Visions 2002 was held at the Morris Lawrence Building on the campus of Washtenaw Community College. The event was cosponsored by the Washtenaw County Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled (LBPD) and the Michigan Commission for the Blind, who in turn partnered with agencies who work with and for people with disabilities in the greater Washtenaw County area. More than 1,200 patrons and visitors came from all over Michigan (including a couple from as far away as Marquette in Michigan's Upper Peninsula) and from Ohio, Indiana, and even Canada. In addition, 135 sighted individuals volunteered to be assistants. Volunteers came from Greenhills School in Ann Arbor and Manchester High School Honor Society, Washtenaw County/MSU Extension, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, and Friends of Ann Arbor District Library, and included clients of Washtenaw County Community Mental Health and members of the Washtenaw County Library Board. Over 70 businesses and organizations exhibited. Attendees received a large-print or braille program that included an annotated listing of exhibitors with telephone numbers and web site addresses. Visions 2002 was an invaluable and unique experience for the disabled communities and visually impaired, as evidenced by the comments received from participants. Readers found low- and high-tech solutions to meet their daily needs. One library patron purchased a machine that enlarges and automatically focuses print so that he can instantly read materials that were formerly inaccessible to him. Comments from attendees were very positive, with the majority looking forward to another event in 2004. Vendors, including doctors from the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, raved about Visions 2002. Some commented that this was the best event of its size from the Midwest to the East Coast, and all indicated they would participate again. Volunteers, too, thoroughly enjoyed Visions 2002. Volunteer activities were coordinated by Sonia Matthews from the Washtenaw County LBPD staff, and volunteer coordinator Michelle Rueter, who is a purser for Northwest Airlines. Volunteers received training from Virginia Dean, a teacher at the Michigan Commission for the Blind, on "what to do when you meet a blind person." Michelle Rueter provided volunteers with insights on how to greet and help attendees make the most of the exhibit area. Students from sixth grade through senior high, who were happy to be skipping school, found satisfaction in greeting attendees and helping them get refreshments. (Material for this article was provided by Margaret Wolfe, subregional librarian at the Washtenaw County library in Ann Arbor, Michigan.) (photo caption: Area potter Kay Yourist provided guests with hands-on opportunities to work with clay.) (photo caption: Young volunteers help attendees around the exhibit area.) (photo caption: A patron tries out a reading aid.) Puerto Rico regional library uses many resources for Spanish-language books and magazines The Puerto Rico Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped was established on February 20, 1975, through an agreement between the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and the Puerto Rico Department of Education. This agreement opened a window of information and knowledge for thousands of blind Puerto Ricans who could finally enjoy reading along with the rest of the population. Materials available. The library's collection consists of books and magazines on disc, on cassette, in braille, and in large print. It is estimated that the collection in Puerto Rico has around twenty-five thousand titles in different languages, English predominating. The collection covers different topics, the most requested being health, religion, biography, history, and fiction. Of the seventy-five magazines provided free of charge to users, two are in Spanish: Buenhogar and Selecciones del Reader's Digest. In addition, network libraries produce Geomundo and Buena Vida. In spite of the large number of Spanish titles, the collection consists mainly of books in English. Although it is said that Puerto Rico is a bilingual country, the reality is that only about 11 percent of the population understands English well enough to read it. A 1995 survey of the 1,600 users of the service at that time coincided with the overall studies on bilingualism; that is, 89 percent of the library's users indicated that they did not understand English and could not read the language. After reading all the available books in Spanish, the users who do not read English (but who are avid readers) must wait for NLS to record more books in Spanish as part of its foreign language collection. At present, NLS records about thirty to forty titles a year in Spanish. Other resources for Spanish materials. Other organizations in Latin America cooperate with the Puerto Rico Library for the Blind. The Braille Foundation of Uruguay provides the library with four monthly magazines and with braille books for children. The Foundation for the Development of Special Education of Venezuela also provides braille books for children. From the Library of the National Institute for the Blind of Colombia, the Puerto Rico library receives braille books for children and adults; their books for children are notable in that they also have print texts and raised-line illustrations. This facilitates and promotes reading between blind and sighted children, and permits parents and teachers to assess the reading progress of blind children. The National Braille Publishing House of Argentina also provides braille books and magazines to the Puerto Rico Library for the Blind. This cooperation has allowed the Library for the Blind to acquire more recorded and braille materials to satisfy the reading needs of its users. Puerto Rico recording project. When the Library for the Blind was established in Puerto Rico, one of the objectives was to convert the library into a recording center for Spanish books and to cooperate with the NLS network of libraries, helping to develop this area of the collection. This object was never realized despite efforts to achieve it. The project, called "Adopt a Talking Book," was revitalized in 1998. The library, together with the Society of Friends of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, dedicated itself to the task of recording books by Puerto Rican children's authors. In the first phase, recording equipment was purchased and the recording booth was constructed. Funds for this were acquired by means of proposals and campaigns undertaken by the Friends Society. This phase took about two years, and it was not until 2000 that recording commenced, with a total of ten titles. In this initial recording phase, they hope to record around thirty books, including one or two books for scholars. Once recorded, the books will also be produced in braille, as an important step in promoting braille reading among blind children of Puerto Rico. The primary goal is to participate in the development of a network collection of bibliographic materials in Spanish and add in a modest way to the marvelous service that has benefited the lives of so many users in Puerto Rico over the past twenty-seven years. (Information for this article is from a report, Building a National Service in a Multilingual Environment, presented at the ACURIL (Association of Carribbean University Research and Institutional Libraries)/IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions), Section of Libraries for the Blind, preconference held in Jamaica May 25 and 26 by Igri Enriquez, Puerto Rico regional librarian.) Eagle Scout candidate creates Connecticut garden James Dossot approached the regional library looking for a project for his Eagle Scout candidacy--something that would be meaningful and would benefit others. The staff's suggestion of a sensory garden was the most appealing to him. The idea was to design a garden that would come alive for people with different disabilities by combining plantings that have color, texture, and smell with wind chimes and flowing water to bring sound and relaxation to the garden. Dossot worked with landscape architecture students from the University of Connecticut for the garden design. He contacted individuals and companies to donate the required materials: plants, stone dust for the pathway, soil, and mulch. He recruited individuals to create the flower beds and the pathway, including people who could provide the needed construction equipment. Regional librarian Carol Taylor says, "The end result is much more than the library could ever have imagined." The garden design spans the entire front of the library on both sides of the walkway. Visitors pass by a weeping cherry tree, roses, bee balm, rosemary, lilac, hosta, coreopsis, ornamental grasses, daisies, and rhododendron, to name a few of the plantings. A stone dust pathway leads off to the left across the front of the building, past a bench, and to a turnaround for wheelchairs. The water fountain (to be provided later by the library) will be located close to the bench, with the wind chimes hanging under the building's eaves. Taylor adds, "What a thrill it has been to see this young man in action, planning and organizing this tremendous undertaking! Jim has continued to monitor the plantings and discussed with us the garden's maintenance needs, so we will have a wonderful garden that our library patrons can enjoy for many years to come." (Information for this article is from Carol Taylor, Connecticut regional librarian.) (photo caption: Volunteers working to create the sensory garden.) The Program The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress publishes books and magazines in braille and in recorded form on discs and cassettes for readers who cannot hold, handle, or see well enough to read conventional print because of a temporary or permanent visual or physical handicap. Through a national network of state and local libraries, the materials are loaned free to eligible readers in the United States and to U.S. citizens living abroad. Materials are sent to readers and returned by postage-free mail. Books and Magazines Readers may borrow all types of popular-interest books including bestsellers, classics, mysteries, westerns, poetry, history, biographies, religious literature, children's books, and foreign-language materials. Readers may also subscribe to more than seventy popular magazines in braille and recorded formats. Special Equipment Special equipment needed to play the discs and cassettes, which are recorded at slower than conventional speeds, is loaned indefinitely to readers. An amplifier with headphone is available for blind and physically handicapped readers who are also certified as hearing impaired. Other devices are provided to aid readers with mobility impairments in using playback machines. Eligibility You are eligible for the Library of Congress program if:  You are legally blind--your vision in the better eye is 20/200 or less with correcting glasses, or your widest diameter of visual field is no greater than 20 degrees;  You cannot see well enough or focus long enough to read standard print, although you wear glasses to correct your vision;  You are unable to handle print books or turn pages because of a physical handicap; or  You are certified by a medical doctor as having a reading disability, due to an organic dysfunction, which is of sufficient severity to prevent reading in a normal manner. How to Apply You may request an application by writing NLS or calling toll-free 1-800-424-9100, and your name will be referred to your cooperating library. News is published quarterly by: National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Library of Congress Washington, DC 20542 All correspondence should be addressed to the attention of Publications and Media Section. Editor: Vicki Fitzpatrick Writers: Jane Caulton, Nancy Galbraith, Irene Kost, and Edmund O'Reilly