ISSN 11046-1663046

Library of Congress January–March 2015, Vol. 47, No. 1 CMLS PRESORTED STANDARD NNewsews PO Box 9150 POSTAGE & FEES PAID Melbourne FL 32902-9150 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON, DC Address Service Requested PERMIT NO. G-103 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped www.loc.gov/nls

The basic braille alphabet doesn’t change in UEB— In the News but other things will. California teen wants to make braille embossers affordable NLS prepares to implement Unifi ed English Braille A California eighth-grader has launched a chip. The new model, Braigo 2.0, can On January 4, 2016—the 207th birthday translating a wider array of symbols. company to develop a low-cost braille printer— translate electronic text into braille before of Louis Braille—the National Library The Braille Authority of North and he made his prototype out of Legos. printing. Executives at tech giant Intel were Service for the Blind and Physically America (BANA), which oversees the According to an Associated Press (AP) so impressed they invested in the project. Handicapped (NLS) will implement the use, teaching, and production of braille story, 13-year-old Shubham Banerjee asked his Shubham also was invited to join more than Unified English Braille (UEB) code. in the United States, parents one day, how do blind people read? 100 students, entrepreneurs, engineers, and “This is the first extensive change adopted the code in They told him to Google it—and when he did, researchers from around the country at the to the English braille code since November 2012. It then he was shocked to discover that braille printers first-ever White House Maker Faire. the 1930s,” said NLS director Karen began preparing con- (also called embossers) cost at least $2,000. Shubham’s goal is to develop a desktop In this issue: Keninger. “The new code will be espe- stituents for the change “I know that there is a simpler way to do braille printer that costs around $350 and cially beneficial to students and other to ensure implementa- Narrator Ray Hagen users of technology because it resolves this,” Shubham recalled thinking. So he built weighs just a few pounds. retires ...... 3 tion in 2016. Seven Implementation a braille printer with a Lego robotics kit. After “He’s solving a real problem, and he persistent translation errors that occur other English- of UEB will be New NLS poster tied to the 207th the “Braigo”—a name that combines wants to go off and disrupt an existing when, for example, a student’s work is speaking countries series ...... 4–5 birthday of Braille and Lego—won numerous inindustry.dust And that’s really what it’s all translated to print for a teacher to read have already adopted APH narrators retire ....6 or when print material is translated to Louis Braille. awards, he started Braigo Labs last ababout,”out Edward Ross, director of Inventor UEB. braille.” “Since many BANA members summer with an initial $35,000 invest-t- PPlatformslatf at Intel, told the AP. Colorado honors volunteer... Those who use computers, smart- produce braille or transcribe braille, ment from his father, the AP Braigo Labs aims to have a pro- ...... 6 reported. totype ready for organizations that New Multistate Center phones, e-books, and texting features the NLS announcement will not be Shubham built a more sophisti- support blind people to test this West director...... 7 will also find UEB useful, as it uses the a surprise. They have already been same six-dot cell pattern as the present preparing,” said Judy Dixon, NLS cated version of his printer using summer and have a printer on the Teen creates a an off-the-shelf desktop printer market later this year. Updates are less-expensive braille code but drops some contractions, uses consumer relations officer and NLS and a newly released Intel computer posted at www.braigolabs.com. printer...... 8 different spacing rules, and allows for representative to BANA.

8 8 News January–March 2015 News January–March 2015

The Program “Over the past 80 years there achieving certification. The National Library Service for the Blind and have been a variety of subtle NLS is also reviewing its Valentine promoted to Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, publishes books and magazines in braille and changes to braille,” said Tamara recently revised specification for director during a in recorded form for readers who cannot Rorie, NLS braille development the production of literary braille hold, handle, or see well enough to read “hectic time” at conventional print because of a temporary or specialist. “UEB will represent books and will release them to permanent visual or physical disability. one more not-so-subtle change.” braille producers this spring, Multistate Center West Through a national network of state and local libraries, the materials are loaned free NLS is taking steps to prepare although “the adoption of UEB After serving three months as acting to eligible readers in the United States and to for the upcoming implemen- is not expected to lead to sub- director, David Valentine was formally U.S. citizens living abroad. Materials are sent to readers and returned by postage-free mail. tation, including providing stantial changes,” Rorie said. confirmed as director of Multistate Most books are also available for download on courses and training to ensure Existing books in English the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download Center West (MSCW) in Salt Lake City, (BARD) website, https://nlsbard.loc.gov. that braille transcribers and Braille American Edition will Utah, in January. Books and Magazines proofreaders are certified in remain in the NLS braille collec- It is a “hectic time” for MSCW, “I’m excited to take on more leadership Readers may borrow all types of popular- UEB. Through the National tion and be available to patrons. Valentine said. The transition from interest books including bestsellers, classics, responsibilities while continuing to work mysteries, westerns, poetry, history, biographies, Federation of the Blind (NFB), UEB books are not expected to READS to WebREADS—an upgraded, religious literature, children’s books, and its transcription training and with great people,” David Valentine says. foreign-language materials. Readers may be available from the collection remote-hosted circulation control also subscribe to more than seventy popular certification program con- for at least six months. Patrons system that interfaces directly with brought on to replace recent retirees. magazines in braille and recorded formats. tractor, NLS is offering an exam who currently read books the Patron Information and Machine Valentine himself was promoted to Special Equipment Special equipment needed to play the designed to determine the UEB in English Braille American Management System (PIMMS)—is in administrative assistant in May of 2014 audiobooks is loaned indefi nitely to readers. proficiency level of transcribers Edition can use the same equip- full swing. And after a string of retire- after the former assistant, Carolyn Amplifi ers with headphones are available for eligible readers who are also certifi ed as and proofreaders who are cur- ment to read UEB books. ments the center is busy training new Sweeney, retired. That put him working hearing impaired. Other devices are provided rently certified in the existing “Patrons have asked if we hires. But Valentine, who has been with directly under then-director Paula Stuart to aid readers with mobility impairments in using playback machines. braille code. have any materials in UEB that MSCW for more than a dozen years, and serving as her second whenever she Eligibility “Those who pass will receive a would allow them to see how easily stepped into his leadership role. was away. He also took a role in planning You are eligible for the Library of Congress letter of proficiency in UEB from easy it is to read. I tell them MSCW and its eastern counterpart in for the iBill currency reader distribution program if  You are legally blind—your vision in the NLS, which will be a supplement that we have approximately Cincinnati, Ohio, have served as decen- project. When the Utah State Library for better eye is 20/200 or less with correcting to the certification document,” 10 books on BARD (the NLS tralized storage and distribution points glasses, or your widest diameter of visual the Blind and Disabled hired Stuart as a fi eld is no greater than 20 degrees; Rorie said. Transcribers and Braille and Audio Reading for NLS materials since the 1970s. readers advisor librarian, Valentine was  You cannot see well enough or focus long proofreaders who do not pass Download website),” Rorie said. enough to read standard print, although you Valentine began helping out at MSCW the obvious candidate for her former wear glasses to correct your vision; must wait at least 90 days before “Also, BANA has a document long before he became an employee. position.  You are unable to handle print books or retaking the exam. Since a called UEB Reader that they can turn pages because of a physical handicap; “When I was younger, we would some- “I’m excited to take on more leader- or plethora of material is already request, along with quite a bit times do Eagle Scout projects at the ship responsibilities while continuing to  You are certifi ed by a medical doctor as available that can be used to of related material at www.brail- having a reading disability, due to an organic multistate center, helping to weed and work with great people,” Valentine said. dysfunction, which is of suffi cient severity to learn UEB, NLS and NFB are leauthority.org/ueb.html.” NLS sort the collection,” Valentine said. “I believe strongly in the value of our prevent reading in a normal manner. not providing study materials, also will distribute a document That—and his friendship with then- service.” How to Apply but will provide a resource this summer that provides a list director Karnell Parry’s son—put the In today’s digital age, that includes You may request an application by calling toll- list with links to the existing free 1-888-NLS-READ or download one from of commonly used UEB symbols, center on his radar. It was Karnell Parry more than simply circulation. Valentine the NLS website at www.loc.gov/nls. material for those who request it. and patrons will have an oppor- who first mentioned to Valentine that wishes more network libraries took NLS/NFB literary transcrip- tunity to get a more detailed MSCW was looking for a warehouse advantage of the multistate centers’ tion and proofreading courses document upon request. worker. He took the job in September talking-book duplication service, News is published quarterly by have been updated to incorpo- 2002 and, in his words, “fell in love.” through which they can create as many National Library Service for the rate UEB code changes. Any Blind and Physically Handicapped “I had worked odd jobs here and as 500 on-demand copies a year for Library of Congress applicant who starts the training there after high school,” Valentine said, each library. “I hope to promote that Washington, DC 20542 program in 2015 and successfully Correction “but the multistate center was the first function more,” Valentine said. “It’s All correspondence should be addressed to the completes it will be certified as National Audio Equipment place I wanted to stay.” easy to miss some of the depth we offer, attention of Publications and Media Section. To UEB proficient. Applicants who change your address or cancel the subscription, Advisory Committee member He wasn’t the only one. “I didn’t see in terms of both content and services. please enclose mailing label. began training prior to 2015 will Craig Hayward’s name was a new person hired in my first 10 years,” Before I started working at the multi- Editor: Mark Layman be given the option to switch to misspelled in the October– Valentine recalled. “But it’s been crazy state center, I had no idea such a rich Contributors: Ingrid Davitt, Lina Dutky, Claire the updated UEB course or take December 2014 issue of News. lately.” Four new employees have been collection of talking books existed.” Rojstaczer, Janice Wallace the UEB proficiency exam after Printed using recycled paper 2 7 News January–March 2015 News January–March 2015

APH narrators Friedlander and Avers retire NLS narrator Ray Hagen retires after 42 years Mitzi Friedlander and Roy Avers, classic works, including Gone with the Ray Hagen, a “triple threat” actor- When Hagen began compiling the longtime American Printing House for Wind. Her all-time favorite is Charlotte’s dancer-singer who performed on and guide on index cards in the 1970s, the Blind (APH) narrators whose voices Web. She was the first recipient of the off Broadway from the 1950s to the pronunciation guides for the names of are known by thousands of Didymus Award for the narra- 1970s, brought a bit of glamour and people in popular culture were nonexis- NLS patrons, recently rose tion of 1,000 talking books for celebrity to the NLS studio staff. By tent. “There were a few dictionaries that from their microphones. the Library of Congress, and in Hagen’s count, he narrated more than would tell you how to say dead people’s During her 53-year career, 1993, she was honored with the 540 books over 42 years at NLS before names, but nothing about live, current Friedlander recorded more Alexander Scourby Award. his retirement in January. In 2000 people,” he recalled. “So we began cata- than 2,000 titles for NLS— Avers recorded his first talking he was given an Alexander Scourby loging the names of every imaginable more than any other narrator book in 1971 and became APH’s Lifetime Achievement award person. In the end I think we got more in the program’s history. first Alexander Scourby Award and cut back his recording than 11,000 names. I feel that this is “She is an icon for gen- winner in 1990. hours. But that didn’t reduce the main thing I’ve done that’s made a erations of talking-book Friedlander Avers, who studied theater arts his acclaim or status as a contribution to the agency.” readers like me,” said NLS director in college and sang with the Louisville narrator’s narrator in the But Hagen’s contributions loom Karen Keninger. “One of my earliest Opera, was doing volunteer work as a NLS studio or the network of larger in the minds of his fellow memories of talking books is listening textbook narrator but was directed to recording volunteers. NLS narrators and his many fans. to Mitzi read Ramona the Pest when I was APH because his voice was so emotive, “Ray’s gift as a narrator “He was a good teacher. He was my a young girl.” Mullins said. He recorded more than is his ability to tell a story mentor,” said veteran NLS narrator “Mitzi has many fans,” said Steve 1,750 titles for NLS. At an appearance simply and directly, as if Laura Giannarelli, an award-winning Mullins, studio director at APH. “Many before fans in Illinois, Roy was declared he’s speaking just to you,” narrator. “He’s the only narrator I people have grown up listening to her, “legendary.” said Celeste Lawson, NLS know who makes his own corrections and now, with so many of her books “Roy wanted nothing more than Recording Studio director. to his narrations. He’s also done some on BARD, I am sure that many people to return to narration” despite being “He’s proof that it’s not about very long books. He did On the Air: in the future will be listening to her plagued by ill health in the past few the voice—his is slightly The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. It’s recordings and becoming new Mitzi years, “but mobility issues proved too nasally with a hint of a more than 84 hours’ worth of reading fans.” troubling,” Mullins said. “We kept Brooklyn accent—but five time and catalogs more than 1,500 Friedlander began narrating for hoping Roy would return but it was to 10 minutes into the book radio shows. He had the perseverance APH in 1962 and has recorded titles not to be. He always brought books you don’t even notice the to stick with it and the dedication to of many different literary genres and to life.” narrator’s voice: You become get it right.” immersed in the story. When It was Hagen’s passion for radio that Colorado Talking Book Library honors 35-year volunteer NLS Studio director Celeste Lawson Ray narrated Catcher in the drove him to become a narrator in shares a moment with narrator Ray Rye, he became Holden the first place. “I grew up on radio—I The Colorado Talking Book Library Hagen at his retirement gathering Caulfield. preceded TV—and I always wanted (CTBL) recently honored long-time January 30, 2015. “Also, he was extremely to be a radio actor, but by the time volunteer Norma Sierota for 35 years of conscientious about doing his research. I got into acting there were no parts narrating talking books in its Denver He tracked things down and was really for radio actors,” he said. “This is the studios. Sierota was presented a certifi- dedicated to getting the pronuncia- closest I’ve ever gotten to it. I just sit cate from NLS by John Brown, head of tion right,” Lawson added. Getting the down in front of my books and read my the Engineering Section, on behalf of right pronunciation in a talking book lines. . . . I just loved the atmosphere of Karen Keninger, director, at the annual is similar to getting the spelling right the studio and all the other narrators CTBL volunteer brunch. in a print book. Hagen counts among there. We grew old together.” Sierota also received a CD of her his greatest achievements as a narrator “greatest hits”—selected excerpts of his conception and publication of Say books she narrated; a plaque inducting How?, a pronunciation guide that is Longtime APH narrators Mitzi her into the CTBL Golden Microphone CTBL volunteer narrator Norma Sierota still one of the most popular items on Friedlander and Ray Avers retire. Club; and a certificate signed and receives a plaque from NLS Engineering the NLS website. Page 6 presented by CTBL director Debbi Section head John Brown as CTBL studio director Tyler Kottmann looks on. MacLeod, along with a gift card. 6 6 3 News January–March 2015 News January–March 2015 News January–March 2015

Bev Collins of Seattle, Washington, enjoys reading with the BARD Mobile app as she and her husband sail around the world on their boat, the Mersoleil. Bev discovered NLS after Maryland School for the Blind fourth grader Virginia Jacobs, 11, being diagnosed with glaucoma, which is gradually narrowing was born in Thailand and lives with her adoptive parents outside her field of vision. This photo was taken by a visiting friend Baltimore. She reads as many as ten talking books a week. BARD while the Mersoleil was docked in Fiji. Mobile makes it easy for her to read before going to sleep.

Page Fox, Bonne Brown, Joan Vogel, and Kate Armstrong, residents of Goodwin House in Alexandria, Virginia, share a talking book on the patio. NLS unveils new poster series NLS welcomes the spring with a newseries of posters featuring NLS patrons. Two of the posters highlight BARD and the BARD Mobile app. “The new posters tell a story of them any ways our patrons use the braille Oral Miller reads and talking book program and thew ays NLS uses the latest technology both braille and to make reading easy and convenient for them,” director Karen Keninger Tamara Rorie— talking books said. Network libraries will be able to order posters customized with their photographed and was eager to contact information. Here is a looka t the six new posters. with her guide learn how to use dog Jaya—is BARD, too. He the NLS braille got some help Bernadette Jacobs— development from Rose Asuquo Virginia’s mom—has officer. An NLS in the Center been an NLS patron patron since she for Accessibility since she was seven. was six, Tamara at the Martin She uses the BARD particularly enjoys Luther King Jr. Mobile app—“It’s reading dramas, Memorial Library so easy!”—and also medical and legal in downtown reads braille books mysteries, African Washington, D.C. from the NLS col- American litera- lection. She began ture, and humor. learning braille when she was four and finds reading “both relaxing and 4 4 invigorating.” 5 5