News ISSN 1046-1663 October-December 2000, Vol. 31, No. 4 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped The Library of Congress Beowulf selected for recording, braille Beowulf, the anonymous Old English epic about the spectacular exploits of a heroic Scandinavian clan chieftain, was a surprise bestseller on summer 2000 booklists. But even before sales of the retail trade edition surged, NLS had selected the book because of its high literary distinction, and production was well under way in both braille and recorded formats. The long-awaited new translation of this classic text is by Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney, and was initially commissioned by publisher W.W. Norton in the mid-1980s. Heaney's vigorous and highly readable version of the poem is colored by the earthy dialects of his native Northern Ireland. It appears in print side by side with the Old English original, which dates from somewhere between the seventh and tenth centuries A.D. (scholars are divided on the exact date of composition). The layout facilitates comparison of the two texts, a feature useful to students of the history of the English language as well as readers seeking an insight into thorny issues of translation. The popular narrator Patrick Horgan has been summoned from retirement to read Beowulf in both languages. Since 1959, the actor has recorded nearly 500 books and is much admired for his distinctive touch, particularly with nineteenth-century English classics as well as with later, lighter works that are, like himself, of British origin. Horgan is no stranger to linguistic challenges; one of his most enduring achievements is the recording of James Joyce's Finnegans Wake (RC 21424). The audio version of Beowulf is in production in the studios of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). The modern English text of the poem and some minimal explanatory material are followed by Heaney's illuminating commentary and finally the narration of the Old English version. A braille edition of Beowulf is being undertaken by the National Braille Press. Old English is treated as a foreign language and rendered in uncontracted grade 1 braille. Certain characters of the Anglo-Saxon alphabet--the thorn, edth, wen, and yogh--derived from Runic symbols that have passed into extinction are rendered according to the Code of Braille Textbook Formats and Techniques. Although its exact origin is unclear, some things are known about the original Beowulf. The poem is thought to have been written by a Christian scribe sometime during the last three centuries of the first millennium. The Beowulf poet drew extensively on traditional oral poetry, Scandinavian legends, and the pre-Christian British past. The poem mingles a Christian religious sensibility with the unremitting fatalism of a violent warrior culture and an uneasy supernaturalism betokened by the pervasiveness of ominous forces, whether cannibalistic monsters that prowl outside the mead hall or the hostile military powers massing at the national borders. The story is at once a brisk adventure yarn laced with scenes of combat and fabulous pagan custom and ceremony, a searching meditation upon last things, and a fascinating window on long-vanished social arrangements. Readers and critics alike have applauded Heaney's achievement, observing the congruence of Beowulf's major themes with ideas that recur in Heaney's own poetic practice: the inscrutable workings of fate, the contradictions of the human heart, and the dark consolations of harsh northern landscapes. Abstruse material A highly stylized epic poem, riddled with obscurities, unyielding enough in modern English but presented in its impenetrable original language as well, would understandably be a daunting prospect for any production team charged with transforming standard print into audio. Because of the growing volume of complex, difficult, or graphically challenging material entering the NLS collection, NLS has created a special contract to appoint a producer who would dedicate the requisite time, energies, and resources to dealing with such "abstruse" materials. The contract was awarded to AFB in the fall of 1999. At present, up to ninety-five books may be identified and processed annually in this special category. A book may be designated "abstruse" if it exhibits one or more of the following characteristics:  Multiple languages. The book contains "a substantial number of phrases, quotes, poems, sayings, proper names, etc., in languages with which U.S. narrators are frequently familiar, such as Western European Romance languages. Typically, one of these titles will contain at least three languages in addition to English."  Less familiar languages. The book contains "a substantial number of phrases, quotes, poems, sayings, proper names, etc., in languages with which U.S. narrators are typically unfamiliar." (Examples include Native American languages, classical "dead" languages, African, Asian, and Middle Eastern languages.)  Scientific, technical, or mathematical terms. The book contains "a substantial number of scientific, technical, or medical terms, and/or numerous mathematical symbols or equations."  Descriptions. The book contains "a substantial number of illustrations, charts, graphs, tables, etc., requiring description because they are integral to the text."  Formatting or research. The book requires "difficult formatting decisions and/or lengthy preparation of text for recording." Examples include extensive use of sidebars, notes, heavily annotated references and cross-references, and elaborate use of fonts or graphics as a formatting tool. Also included are materials that require extensive research for pronunciations, including acronyms. Beowulf, which falls into at least two and possibly three of the difficulty zones, is just the kind of book for which the special contract was designed. The finished recording will provide patrons with complete access to this literary masterwork, with the original language, translation, commentary, and scholarly apparatus intact. But there is a notable extra dimension here in that Beowulf, emerging from an ancient oral tradition, began life as an exciting story meant to be heard. The NLS recording in a very real sense restores the poem to its original intentions. (photo caption: Patrick Horgan is narrating both the modern text and the Old English version of Beowulf.) (photo caption: Interlaced human figure from St. Gall Cathedral Library, MS 1395, 8th century) Bringing network productions into NLS collections Network libraries and volunteer studios anywhere in the United States can apply to have their own locally produced recordings included in the NLS national collections. These local works are valuable supplements to NLS nationally distributed books; they expand the range of resources available for patrons. In many cases, the books recorded feature the history and culture of a particular state or region of the United States. For the recording studio, it is a mark of distinction to have a nationwide readership and to have a product distributed through the NLS program. To become part of the national collection, network recordings must meet the quality standard patrons have come to expect of NLS materials. Overall sound quality and many aspects of the narration itself are measured according to strict criteria. "The quality issue is important," says Carolyn Sung, chief of the NLS Network Division. "Patrons don't always make allowances for differences among producers or technical obstacles faced by narrators; they just want to enjoy what they are reading. In order to encourage quality, NLS contracts for a Quality Assurance program at the Multistate Center East to work with libraries to improve quality and facilitate wider distribution by placing recordings that meet the quality standard in the national collection." A recent outstanding example of success in meeting NLS quality standards is the Texas State Library and Archives Commission recording of Footnotes (RCN 009), a memoir by Broadway dancing star Tommy Tune, narrated by volunteer Ev Lunning Jr. Like most network-produced books, Footnotes was initially selected by network librarians because of local interest--in this case, in Tune's Houston childhood. Then the group decided to submit the recording to the MSCE QA Program due to its high quality and the broad appeal of Tune's coming-of-age memories of New York City and his account of hard-won success as a stage and screen performer. Expanding readership The Quality Assurance (QA) Program for locally produced materials was established in 1981 in response to patrons' and librarians' requests to have NLS assistance in circulating magazines, in particular, to other regions of the country. A few years later, the QA Program was expanded to include books that regional librarians judged to be of national interest. From the several hundred recordings produced by volunteers across the country each year, regional librarians submit about a third for the QA Program review. Network libraries are always free to record materials that are likely to appeal to local readers. These titles are circulated locally and to other network libraries by the producing library; these recordings supplement, but are not part of, the NLS collection. However, NLS encourages libraries to list such books in the NLS Union Catalog. QA specialist Christopher Mundy at the Multistate Center East (MSCE) in Cincinnati, Ohio, manages the NLS MSCE QA Program for network-produced magazines and books in coordination with the NLS QA Section and Network Division. Mundy reviews and evaluates all magazine recordings and all of the books submitted to the program. After review some books are sent on to NLS's QA Section for additional review and evaluation. NLS QA monitors and spot- checks the MSCE's technical decisions. The end result of a QA Program review is not just a "pass" or "fail." Instead, there are generally several states of adjustments and improvements in a studio's recordings, and there are milestones that mark progress toward producing a work that qualifies for national circulation. Meeting quality requirements During a title's development phase, Mundy, as well as NLS QA and Engineering Sections and Recording Studio, is generous in providing assistance to network libraries and volunteer organizations who seek it. The audio experts make suggestions and, when necessary, visit the studio to help make adjustments or implement necessary changes. The benefits to the studio go well beyond a single title. Volunteer producers generally appreciate tips on quality that can apply to recording procedures in general. Mundy reviews new magazines with particular care before giving them a QA stamp of approval. Once a magazine issue is approved and accepted, subsequent issues may be reviewed in less detail. Occasionally, a single issue may be delayed to bring a particular recording up to the required standards. As in any volunteer effort, recording-studio personnel sometimes change while a work is in progress, and production teams often need a little time to adapt to a project. If three separate issues of a periodical are rejected outright, the publication is dropped from the program. The QA process for books is sometimes lengthy. In 1999, for example, MSCE QA Program reviewed nineteen books. Several were judged to be potential candidates for inclusion and may be accepted after some improvements are made. The entire book review process may take up to several months. Duplication and distribution A significant new step in the QA magazine distribution process is performed by MSCE duplication technician Mary Crain, who converts the analog recording into a digital (computer) file. The digital file is then returned to analog format, and a four-track intermaster is created for each subscribing library. Network library staff, in turn, can copy the intermasters onto cassettes and circulate them to patrons. Regional libraries in Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio, and Texas are regular participants in the NLS QA Program. Several recording studios in Florida--especially Insight for the Blind (IFB), Second Sight Taping Studios, Inc., and the Brevard Association for the Advancement of the Blind (BAAB)--have also recorded titles of regional interest in cooperation with the Florida regional library. IFB gained a national readership for some of its outstanding productions, and it benefits from the fact that NLS bears the tape and duplication costs of sending recordings to other areas of the country. Volunteers' pride in their success in the QA Program is often evident in their perseverance and dedication to the program. Texas volunteers, for example, record an average of ten books a month, and submit one or two of these to the QA Program. Some Texas volunteers have logged more than 3,000 hours of service in some twenty years of working with the recording studio at the Austin facility and its Midland, Texas, satellite. Among the network-produced magazines distributed through the QA Program are Southern Living and the Kansas publication Capper's, as well as the Report on Disability Programs, Smithsonian, the National Geographic Traveler, and the children's Humpty Dumpty's Magazine. At least half a dozen others are under development for inclusion in the program. Mundy encourages network libraries to submit recordings they would like to share with other readers. "We're excited about the recent works," he says. "We urge people to get involved. It's very impressive to see the outstanding work of volunteer studios reaching such a wide audience." Patrons' responses, too, have been enthusiastic, and nationwide readership is expanding. In 2000 more than 20,000 patrons received network- produced materials distributed through the QA Program. NLS exhibit schedule--FY2001 NLS will exhibit at twenty conferences in fiscal year 2001 as part of its public outreach effort. Audiences are selected to maximize contact with potential patrons and groups that work with eligible individuals. Exhibits are operated by NLS staff and local network affiliates. Conferences on the 2000-2001 schedule are listed below in order of their occurrence. American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging Miami Beach, Florida October 23-25, 2000 American Music Therapy Association St. Louis, Missouri November 15-19 Gerontological Society of America Washington, D.C. November 17-21 American Library Association Washington, D.C. January 12-16, 2001 Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Charleston, South Carolina January 25-27 Music Library Association New York, New York February 21-24 International Vision Expo New York, New York March 23-25 American Occupational Therapy Association Philadelphia, Pennsylvania April 19-22 National Braille Association Milwaukee, Wisconsin April 25-29 American Academy of Pediatrics New York, New York June 13-15 American Library Association Annual Conference San Francisco, California June 16-19 American Diabetes Association Philadelphia, Pennsylvania June 21-26 American Optometric Association Boston, Massachusetts June 27-July 1 American Council of the Blind Des Moines, Iowa June 30-July 7 National Federation of the Blind Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 1-7 American Federation of Teachers Washington, D.C. July 12-15 American Association of Diabetes Educators Louisville, Kentucky August 15-19 American Legion National Conference San Antonio, Texas August 24-30 Blinded Veterans Association Las Vegas, Nevada August 26-September 2 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation New Orleans, Louisiana September 13-15 NLS outreach programs offer network opportunity NLS offers cooperating network libraries two major public service campaigns about talking books, the Take a Talking Book campaign for seniors and a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) series for the general public. Such outreach campaigns represent a cooperative venture between NLS and network libraries. NLS provides materials; libraries work to make them effective. Considerable effort is required on the part of each library to mount the campaign effectively and to follow up with new patrons. Most participating libraries have found the effort worthwhile in reaching people for whom the service was designed. Twenty-eight states and Puerto Rico have completed the Take a Talking Book campaign. Six of those states mounted the seniors campaign during the past year. Many states report results of a 10 percent or greater increase in eligible senior adults. The Take a Talking Book campaign continues nationally during 2001, with states that have not yet conducted or completed the campaign given first priority for obtaining materials. Participating libraries use custom-made mass-media products that are prepared by the NLS Publications and Media Section according to needs identified by the libraries. "There are many factors involved in achieving optimum results with this campaign," says Bob Fistick, head of the NLS Publications and Media Section. "They include the level of ability of the participating library to secure optimal broadcast slots for the radio and television public service announcements; good coverage in local newspapers; the interest level of local media outlets in the campaign; and the availability of volunteer organizations to assist with the distribution of posters and brochures and help at exhibits and events during the four-to-six-month campaign. Another key factor is a well-staged campaign kickoff event, which is designed to bring media, library, and state and local government attention to the campaign at the outset by their participation," Fistick noted. The new Public Service Announcement series was market-tested in 1999- 2000 by three states--North Dakota, South Dakota, and Louisiana--with excellent results. For example, in North Dakota, former regional librarian Stelle B. Cone reported that during May 1999 the library added 49 new patrons. "Traditionally, we have not added many patrons in May...as of June 24 we have added almost as many patrons as we would normally add during the entire month," Cone said. "We were very pleased with the results of our public outreach campaign. The NLS-produced PSAs allowed us to have a more effective campaign with broader coverage. I received many calls with favorable remarks about the PSAs. These comments were from North Dakota citizens, service providers, and members of the broadcast industry," Cone noted. Both the Take a Talking Book seniors campaign and the latest PSA series have been honored with well-known national and international awards. (The NLS Public Service Announcement (PSA) series includes six different PSAs for radio and television, all with both English and Spanish scripts. The series is targeted for the general public. One of the PSAs is anchored by stage and screen star Rita Moreno, who describes the talking-book service in 60-second, 30-second, and 15-second versions of the television script. The remaining five announcements all feature NLS patrons in a variety of settings using and enjoying talking books.) (photo caption: Rita Moreno on location shot for PSA with Robert Fistick, head of the NLS Publications and Media Section.) (The Take a Talking Book campaign is a multimedia approach designed to attract eligible seniors to the talking-book program. The materials, produced in both English and Spanish, are a comprehensive effort to meet the reading needs of senior adults with visual or physical disabilities through outreach to potential patrons, their families, and their friends. The program currently serves about 349,000 people sixty-five years old or older, who make up more than half of the NLS readership. Currently there are about 1.8 million eligible readers in this age group.) (photo caption: Take a Talking Book campaign) (photo caption: Network librarians report to the 2000 biennial conference of Librarians Serving Blind and Physically Handicapped Individuals on participating in the Take a Talking Book seniors campaign and on using the new Public Service Announcements. Shown left to right are Deborah Rutledge (New Jersey), Lissa Shannahan (Indiana), Carol Taylor (Connecticut), Linda Montgomery (Arizona), Fara Zaleski (Alabama), and Connie Sullivan (South Dakota).) Network exchange California (Los Angeles). Braille Institute Library Services reports another highly successful summer reading program, which was celebrated in medieval splendor on July 28 in a program that featured actress Shelley Long and a Renaissance performing group. The occasion attracted 125 children, parents, and teachers. Shelley Long, known for her starring role in the TV series Cheers, went back in time to read from Robin Hood and His Merry Men (RC 42339). The young participants joined in arts and crafts, as well as dancing. A total of 141 young readers from preschool to grade 12 enthusiastically took part in the overall summer effort conducted from June 5 to July 27, according to Dawn Fuller, chair of the reading program. Another event drew 630 patrons to the library's annual open house in October and the promise of "Health, Happiness, and Humor." Author Kate Adamson described "How I Saved My Own Life"--a story of triumph over a double stroke through determination and rehabilitation. Author Connie Goldman explained that "65 Is the Speed Limit, Not the Age Limit." And movie and TV personality Fred Willard provided laughs. The library awarded prizes to those who best completed the phrase "Happiness is..." in twenty-five words or less. A special event was the presentation of a Golden Cassette Award to Sister Ruth Kent for her long years as a devoted volunteer. After lunch, attendees visited a vendor's fair featuring twenty-seven health and technology booths, including displays of the latest adaptive devices for visually impaired individuals. Many guests also took part in tours of the entire Braille Institute facility. (photo caption: Actress Shelley Long and Regional Librarian Henry Chang with preschool/kindergarten winner Vejas Vasiliauskas) (photo caption: Open house chair Tina Herbison with Sister Ruth Kent, who displays the first Golden Cassette Award) Illinois (Coal Valley). Karen L. Odean, director of the Talking Book Center of Northwest Illinois, was recently selected as the 2000 recipient of the Alexander J. Skrzypek Award. This award was established by the Illinois Library Association to recognize an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library services for the blind or physically disabled in Illinois. It was conceived as an appropriate honor to the first librarian for the blind at the Chicago Public Library. The Talking Book Center recently converted to the Keystone Library Automation System KLAS from DRA. Odean was instrumental in coordinating a smooth transition from DRA to KLAS. In submitting the nomination, Lori Bell, director of Library Services at Spoon River College, Canton, wrote that with 25 years of talking-book service, Odean is one of the senior talking-book consultants in the state. She praised Odean's knowledge of the DRA automated system, which tracks patron requests, and her knowledge of the talking-book collection itself. This knowledge was the reason Odean was chosen to lead a statewide recataloging project, whose purpose was to assign more accurate subject headings to titles in the talking-book database. "Odean has been most willing to share her knowledge with other librarians through personal assistance and through service to the organized profession," Bell continued. Odean was presented a specially designed plaque at the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference Awards Ceremony on October 16 at the Peoria Civic Center. In addition, her name will be added to the permanent plaque on display at the Illinois Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Springfield. Michigan (Ann Arbor). Narrator Bob Askey highlighted a program at the Washtenaw County Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled (LBPD) on September 6, 2000. "Discovering the Possibilities: A Blind Services Forum" was cosponsored by the Washtenaw County LBPD and the Michigan Commission for the Blind. Pat Cannon, director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind, introduced Askey with fulsome praise for his narration skills. After a brief history of the talking-book program and explanation of how books are physically recorded, Askey shared his experiences narrating books for NLS during his 25 years at Talking Book Publishers, Inc., in Denver, Colorado. He described the recording studio and detailed how the narrator, monitor, auditor, and quality assurance specialist work together to produce tapes of superior quality to send to NLS for review, approval, final production, and distribution to libraries in the NLS network. Askey said he is one of the last of a vanishing breed of NLS narrators. He feels that someday technology will make it possible for NLS to make books available digitally using voice output. Until then, NLS narrators continue to interpret what a book says, including the correct way to pronounce words that have multiple meanings or pronunciations (i.e., a farmer "produces produce"). Askey's presentation followed a panel discussion regarding the services available to individuals in southeast Michigan through the Michigan Commission for the Blind and the Washtenaw County LBPD. The program was followed by a social hour where guests met and talked with Bob Askey, Pat Cannon, commission staff, and library staff. Many of the individuals who attended this program participate in bimonthly meetings of the Washtenaw County LBPD's Book Lovers Club. The group generally reads one fiction and one nonfiction book for each meeting. Occasionally, a volume of poetry or a classic children's book is also read. For more information and for a complete listing of books read, visit the Washtenaw County LBPD web site's special events section. (Material for this article was provided by Margaret Wolfe, librarian at the Washtenaw County, Michigan, subregional. It is available, with more photos, on the library's web site .) (photo caption: Pat Cannon, director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind; Margaret Wolfe, subregional librarian; and Bob Askey, featured speaker) South Carolina (Columbia). Guynell Williams, South Carolina regional librarian, was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB)in South Carolina. The award is the highest honor NFB gives to a sighted individual. NFB is one of the major advocacy and constituent groups of blind persons in South Carolina. A native of Clinton, Williams is a graduate of South Carolina State University and holds a master's degree in library science from the University of Denver, where she prepared her thesis on service to blind and visually handicapped individuals. Her professional background includes being an academic librarian at Lake Forest College in Illinois as well as a school media specialist at Pendleton High School. She began her service at the South Carolina State Library as a reference librarian before becoming assistant director of services to the blind and physically handicapped in 1990. She was named director of the department in 1992. Illinois regional has new director, new home Sharon Ruda is the new director for the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at the Illinois State Library (ISL) in Springfield. Earlier this year the ISL assumed administrative and funding responsibilities for the regional library and moved the entire operation from Chicago to Springfield. The Illinois State Library is a division of the Secretary of State's office under the auspices of Jesse White, who also serves as state librarian. Ruda assumes her new position at an exciting time because the Blind and Physically Handicapped Unit is preparing to move into a new state- of-the-art facility in Springfield during the coming months. Ruda says one of the highlights of the new facility will be a large public browsing area with two computers that will enhance the unit's assistive technology efforts. Ruda comes to the ISL with a wealth of library-related experience. Previously, she served as coordinator of policy and planning at the Chicago Public Library and worked as a special project manager for the Chicago Library System. She spent more than six years with the DuPage Library System and three years as head of information services with the Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Ruda also served as library director of the Wilmington, Illinois, Public Library. As regional librarian, she is supervising a fourteen-person staff. Ruda has been involved in various activities with the Illinois Library Association, and is the recipient of Baker and Taylor's Grassroots Award. She received her masters degree in library and information studies from Northern Illinois University and received undergraduate degrees from Joliet Junior College and Northern Illinois University. The Illinois State Library funds a variety of services for disabled individuals. The talking-book program provides braille services and allows users at six subregionals to obtain audiocassette books and tape players, magazines, and other materials. The Illinois Radio Information Service provides current items from local newspapers. The Illinois Newsline Network for the Blind allows patrons to obtain the full text of several national newspapers by 6:30 each morning from one of eleven locations. Summer camp teaches computer skills A group of blind and visually impaired high school students from Fairfax County, Virginia, enhanced their computer skills this summer in an innovative Computer Camp program sponsored by four cooperating local organizations. Spearheaded by the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that offers a broad range of programs and services, the camp was held at the Fairfax County Government Center from July 10 through August 4. Using computers and software donated by Unisys Corporation, the young people studied word processing, Internet navigation, e-mail, and other computer applications that will support increased academic success and improve their competitiveness and flexibility in the employment market. Fairfax County Public Schools cosponsored the initiative, along with Fairfax County Public Library Access Services, who provided staff librarians to tutor the students in the use of online databases and other reference resources. Field trips to local businesses were included in the camp's curriculum to broaden students' appreciation of the practical everyday uses of their classroom pursuits. On one of their trips they met a blind woman who runs a computer help desk at Unisys, in Reston, Virginia. "The kids were wonderful," says Jeanette Studley, subregional librarian in Fairfax County, "and the synergistic effect of several organizations was incredible. Barnes and Noble bringing the Harry Potter books was a nice added touch--serendipity." NLS consumer relations officer Judy Dixon visited the camp as an observer and came away brimming with enthusiasm. "The camp was a striking success," Dixon says. "It was great to see a winning collaborative project of this kind that, in the end, benefits everyone involved--especially the kids." The first project of its kind in the Washington area, the camp was the inspiration of Matt Ater, director of assistive technology at the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind. Ater, who is visually impaired, experienced considerable frustration during his teenage and college years from a lack of intensive technology instruction in traditional special-education environments. So, in addition to teaching computer skills that will help to level the playing field in terms of the campers' future employability-- including proofreading, layout, formatting, and other "visual" aspects of document management--he hoped to familiarize them with the latest developments in assistive technology, including speech output and screen magnification software. Nevertheless, as Ater points out, assistive devices are only a means to an end: "Our goal is to make them good computer users rather than good assistive technology users." Ater points to a dismaying 70 percent national unemployment rate among people who are blind or visually disabled. "Advances in assistive technology have made it possible for people who are blind to successfully compete in today's demanding job market," says Dale Otto, president and CEO of the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind. The CLB summer camp provides "the opportunity for visually impaired youth to learn the technology required for their future employment success and economic independence." The technology camp built on the Lighthouse's experience with Camp Lighthouse, a three-week summer camp, now in its forty-first year, that offers swimming, hiking, drama, music, and living skills to blind and visually impaired children in the greater Washington area. (photo caption: The students temporarily abandoned their computers when Barnes and Noble unexpectedly provided a collection of Harry Potter books in braille.) International brief South Africa. Collection development is a main focus of the South African Library for the Blind, whose mission is to provide a national library and information service to blind and print-handicapped readers. The Blindlib Directors Report 1999-2000 states that, despite tight budget restrictions, 626 new braille titles were added to the collections. To date, the total braille book collection consists of 22,642 titles. The library's circulation of braille books increased by 11,608 titles. On an annual basis, more than 285,643 braille books and magazines are read nationwide in seven languages. Braille production facilities were expanded and improved. In 1997, 190 titles (209 copies) were completed. Production for 1998 was 167 titles (292 copies); for 1999, 203 titles (431 copies). Membership in the South African Audio Library increased by 287 new members, raising the total number to 6,960. The production of audio books continued to increase and 328 new titles were added to the collection. More than 70 percent of these new titles were recorded by Blindlib narrators. IFLA meeting held in Jerusalem The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) held its annual conference at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, Israel, August 11-18, with more than 1,900 people from over fifty countries in attendance. The theme was "Information for Cooperation: Creating the Global Library of the Future." Brad Kormann, chief of the NLS Materials Development Division, represented the United States on the Standing Committee for the Section of Libraries for the Blind. Canada's Rosemary Kavanagh presided as chairperson at the Standing Committee for the Blind. The theme for the meeting was "Building Smart Communities: Knowledge as the Key to Growth and Development for Print- Disabled People in a Competitive World." Papers were presented on a variety of topics, including telephone access to library services, building virtual collections, reference services of public libraries for print-handicapped people, and libraries in smart communities and benefits for blind people. Kormann and others toured the Israel Central Library for the Blind, which has 10,000 patrons. The library's director is Uri Cohen, a Six-Day War veteran who lost his sight during the conflict. The Central Library has major library operations in both Tel Aviv and Netanyah. Cohen provided the group with informative tours of both facilities. The library currently uses a two-track cassette book system. While at Netanyah the group reviewed Israel's digital efforts and received a demonstration by Votronics, Inc., of a product called EDU-CHILD, an interactive talking-book system that teaches reading, math, and many other basic skills in a human, friendly voice. NLS will host the Standing Committee's next preconference August 13- 15, 2001, in Washington, D.C. (photo caption: Brad Kormann) 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: Rita Byrnes, Robert Fistick, Irene Kost, and Ed O'Reilly