Spring 2015 Read On Issue 22 RNIB National Library Service magazine for readers Jeff Harding The man behind the voice Josephine Cox What inspires her Read On 22 Read On is published by RNIB. First words ©RNIB April 2015 Julie Gibson Library Engagement Manager RNIB charity nos. 226227, SC039316 Hello, and a very warm welcome and 1173 to the spring 2015 edition of Read On! Spring is a time for new beginnings and fresh Read On is available shoots, and that’s exactly what is happening in print, DAISY audio here at RNIB Library. I arrived just 6 months ago CD, braille and email. as the new Library Engagement Manager and Email already feel like I’ve been part of the family for [email protected] much longer. You’ll hear more about my role later in this edition. You will also meet the new Visit National Library Manager Mark McCree, and rnib.org.uk/reading discover more about exciting plans for the future of your service. To join We’re delighted to feature interviews with the Call RNIB on author of dozens of bestselling novels, the 0303 123 9999 fascinating Josephine Cox, as well as the owner Email of a voice which many of our talking book users [email protected] know and love already; Jeff Harding. We also hear from one of our wonderful Reader Support Volunteers, Helen Donnelly, about how much it means to her to share the love of reading with people. All in all, this is a very exciting time for RNIB Library. Mark and I hope to make you proud of your Library and get the most from it. We would love to hear your thoughts on what you’d like us to include in this magazine too, so please do email us at [email protected] or call 0303 123 9999. Have a wonderful spring and enjoy this issue! ISSN 1758-0188 2 Contents 4 News 18 Literary news 4 RNIB Insight Radio 18 National Trust 4 New online library catalogue hoping for a 4 New DAISY made-to-order titles Wolf Hall effect 5 MANIL 18 David Thewlis 5 Changes to braille books to lead cast of 6 Meet our Reader Support An Inspector Calls volunteers! 18 Filming begins on BBC One’s War and Peace 8 All together now 19 Mel Pepper and the 10 Author meaning of wife profile: 19 Hugh Laurie and Tom Josephine Cox Hiddleston to star in The Night Manager 19 Last writes 20 Books of my life: 12 Narrator Selina Mills profile: Jeff Harding 22 On my bedside table 24 Children’s author profile: 14 World Book David Almond Night 2015 16 More notes from a Small Island 26 Children’s book recommendations 28 Carnegie Awards 30 Behind the scenes 3 News RNIB Insight Radio New online library catalogue Insight Radio, the award winning RNIB has been working over the Radio Station of RNIB, broadcasts last few months on building a new the needs, interests and online library catalogue that aspirations of blind and partially people can access any time. For sighted people throughout the UK. the first time, all the RNIB Library collections will be searchable in Broadcasting 24 hours a day, one place. More developments are Insight Radio covers news, sport, planned with the website, which entertainment, talking books and will bring greater functionality and social opportunities. In-depth independence for customers. It has feature interviews and lifestyle a lot more features than the programmes address a wide range previous catalogues and the of issues affecting blind and design has been informed by partially sighted people. customer comments. You can listen live on Freeview The site has been road-tested by channel 730, on 101FM in West users, staff and others, so we hope Central Scotland area, on smart that you enjoy it (and all the books devices via apps such as TuneIn or you can find on it). Radioplayer and online at insightradio.co.uk New DAISY made-to-order titles The most recent additions to RNIB’s made-to-order DAISY range include Richard Flanagan’s 2014 Booker prize-winning The Narrow Road to the Deep North (Order no 805468) and Joshua Ferris’s To Rise Again at a Decent Hour (805453), which was shortlisted for last year’s Booker prize. 4 Also newly available to buy are all been working hard to ensure that four of Louisa May Alcott’s books the transition is as smooth as about the March sisters: Little possible. Women (805512), Good Wives Here at RNIB Library, from 1 April (805513), Little Men (805514) 2015 we will begin producing all and Jo’s Boys (805515). new titles added to the Library in All are single-CD titles, priced UEB. This will not affect the existing £9.99 each. Call the Helpline on stock, which we will continue to use 0303 123 9999 to order. as before. You will therefore not notice any changes until you MANIL borrow one of those new titles. This year’s Make a Noise in The changes to your usual braille Libraries Fortnight will take place are minor, but to help with any from 1-14 June 2015. We will be queries you might have, we are encouraging public libraries to join producing a guide sheet to the in and organise activities. new UEB code. This sheet will be MANIL is all about raising posted out to all braille readers, awareness of the library services who can keep this sheet handy for RNIB provides and also about future reference. making public library services There is more information available more accessible. about UEB at rnib.org.uk and if you Look out for what’s going on in need any advice, you can call us on your local library. 0303 123 9999 or email [email protected] Changes to braille books From 1 April 2015 there will be some developments in our braille Library. As you may already know, the organisation responsible for braille standards in this country, UKAAF, voted to adopt a revised braille code known as Unified English Braille or UEB, back in October 2011. Since that time RNIB and other members of UKAAF have 5 Meet our Reader Support volunteers We now have a new group of volunteers to help blind and partially sighted people with their reading choices. Part of the told us why she chose to volunteer Technology for us and what she most enjoys Support Squad, about her role. who’ve been helping people “I’m training to be a rehabilitation with technology worker and as part of my course I in their homes need to gain as much experience for over 70 as possible of working with people years, our new Reader Support who have sight loss. RNIB was the volunteers can visit you at home to obvious place to look for give face to face help with anything volunteering opportunities and this related to reading. This could be role sounded very interesting, help deciding what reading options combining reading and technology are best for you, help using a with meeting and supporting service such as Talking Books or people. RNIB Overdrive, or just some “My son, who’s now 23, has been friendly and knowledgeable advice blind since birth. He’s a braille on what books you might enjoy reader and although he still reading. occasionally gets books from the To arrange a visit from a reading library, his usual method is Reader Support volunteer, just to download audio books which he call our Helpline on can then listen to on his computer 0303 123 9999 or email or phone. [email protected] “I read every day. I normally read a Helen Donnelly from Bristol is a physical book, but I’ve borrowed an Reader Support volunteer for RNIB, e-reader so I’m going to give that a visiting blind and partially sighted go. Kate Atkinson is one of my people in their homes to help them favourite authors at the moment. decide what, and how, to read. She I also love Carol Shields, Ann Tyler, 6 Bill Bryson, Colin Dexter, “As well as my role here, I volunteer Ian Rankin, Martin Cruz Smith and at a work club supporting disabled David Mitchell. and older people to use computers and look for work, and I also help “When I joined RNIB as a volunteer, lead walks for Walking for Health. I was surprised to find out how I get a tremendous amount from many different people are involved volunteering; perhaps the best thing in so many different ways, and just is the people I’ve met. It’s always how important volunteers are to interesting, often good fun and the organisation. there’s the satisfaction of knowing you’re making a difference.” Helen recommends: Samad; Millat and Magid their White teeth by Zadie Smith twins; Clara the equally young wife of Archie, who is from “Jamaica via White teeth was Lambeth” and Irie their daughter. British author Zadie While you may not agree or Smith’s award-winning sympathise with the characters, first novel. you become involved with all “White teeth is set in these different voices, and want north west London to know what’s going to happen and revolves around next. the lives of Archie I don’t often re-read books because Jones and his friend Samad Iqbal, I always have too many that I’m a newly arrived immigrant, who waiting to read, but this is one book met when they were soldiers. I enjoyed just as much the second The novel starts in 1974 and time around.