Center for the Book at the New Hampshire Book Notes State Library Fall 2006 Vol. 2 , Issue 2 Reading is for Everyone By John Barrett Regional Librarian, tative Ruth Pratt (H.R. 11365) and program was authorized by Con- Talking Book Services, NHSL Senator Reed Smoot (S. 4030) to gress to collect and maintain a library provide adequate service on a na- of musical scores and instructional Books and reading are important tional scale through an appropriation texts. In 1966, Congress passed because they give people a form to to be expended under the direction Public Law 889-522 authorizing the interpret fact and fiction to make their of the Librarian of Congress. The Library to provide talking-book ser- lives more productive and meaning- Pratt-Smoot Act became law on vices to all persons who could not ful. This is as true for the visually dis- March 3, 1931. For fiscal 1932 there read standard print because of visual abled as it is for the sighted commu- was $100,000 appropriated to carry or physical disability. This brought nity. “Blind and physically handi- out the provisions of the act to pro- about an immediate need for an ex- capped individuals are entitled to high vide books for blind adults. This pro- pansion of program activities. Book quality free public library service with gram would become NLS/BPH. collections in NLS/BPH and those access to all information, books, and Eighteen libraries were selected, in in established regional libraries were materials perceived as useful,” says addition to the Library of Congress, strengthened by building a reserve Frank Kurt Cylke, Director of the to provide adequate service and re- collection of books and increasing the Library of Congress National Library gional coverage of the country. number of copies of recorded and Service for the Blind and Physically Braille titles produced, eventually Handicapped (NLS/BPH). Two significant developments oc- leading to the establishment of addi- curred in 1933: the establishment of tional regional and subregional librar- Library service for the blind in the a uniform system of Braille for all En- ies. In response to serious limitations U.S. began in the late nineteenth cen- glish-speaking countries and the in- on storage space at NLS/BPH in the tury. The Boston Public Library es- vention of the talking book. The first 1970’s, multistate centers, one on tablished a department for the blind talking books were recorded on a each side of the Mississippi River, after receiving eight embossed vol- disc by the voice of a good reader were created. Each multistate center umes – with raised text readable by and reproduced by means of a pho- provides services, including interli- touch – as early as 1868. New York nograph machine. A durable record, brary loan of books in various for- became the first state to create a de- perfected in 1933, recorded at 150 mats, tape duplication, magazines, partment for the blind in a state li- grooves to an inch, so that a book of equipment, supplies, forms, and pub- brary in 1896. The concept of a na- 60,000 words could be contained on lications, for cooperating libraries. tional library for the blind was devel- eight or nine double-faced, twelve- oped in 1897 by John Russell Young, inch records with thirty minutes of Continues on page 11 the Librarian of Congress, when he reading time on each record. The established a reading room for the Library’s appropriation did not at first blind with about 500 books and mu- include funds for playback machines. INSIDE THIS ISSUE sic items in raised characters. Con- These had to be purchased either by NH Books Column 2 gress in 1913 provided that, under the person who desired to borrow government subsidy, one copy of Letters About Literature 3 the recorded books or by philan- Award Notes 4 each book in raised characters made thropic organizations on his or her for educational purposes was to be 50 Years of the Hale Award 5 behalf. Peyton Place Turns 50 6 deposited in the Library of Congress Reader Recommendations 8 by the American Printing House for Several times the Act has been Portrait of a NH Book Seller 9 the Blind (APH) of Louisville, Ken- amended and appropriations in- The NH Writers’ Project 10 tucky. In 1930, identical bills were creased. Service to blind children was LC Names New Poet Laureate 12 introduced in Congress by Represen- initiated in 1952, and in 1962 the Fall 2006 - 1 Center for the Book New Hampshire Books at the By Donna Gilbreth New Hampshire State Library New Hampshire celebrity Fritz Wetherbee (he even has his Mary A. Russell, Director own bobblehead doll) has 603-271-2866 compiled many of his charm- [email protected] ing New Hampshire stories into a new collection titled Fritz Wetherbee’s New Hampshire. The stories have the humorous and conversational style of Wetherbee’s television essays on WMUR’s New Hampshire 2006 Advisory Board Chronicle program. Indeed, many of the stories were first heard on that program. Wetherbee, an 11th generation New Englander, has gathered a Chair treasure trove of tales about New Hampshire’s towns and residents over Becky Albert NH Educational Media Association the centuries. People both famous and obscure populate the stories and the emphasis is on little-known, and somewhat peculiar, New Hampshire Vice-Chair history. For instance, you might know that the original “Uncle Sam” (Sam Andrea Thorpe Wilson) grew up in Mason, New Hampshire. But did you know that NH Library Association Sam’s wife was originally pursued by John Chapman, who later became known as “Johnny Appleseed”? And did you know that the first man to Van McLeod fire a shot at the Battle of Bunker Hill was an overanxious resident of NH Dept.of Cultural Resources Deerfield (John Simpson)? Mr. Wetherbee cannot help but give his own humorous twist to many historical tales. He tells the story of an eccentric Dr. Lyonel B. Tracy doctor found cradling his dead wife’s body in her tomb. Later, after the NH Dept. of Education death of the doctor’s friend, as Mr. Wetherbee states, “Dr. Sylvanus Brown did not cradle the dead body of his friend, but he did cradle the Michael York New Hampshire State Library live body of his widow.” But there are also tragic stories that expose the harsh reality of life in early New Hampshire. Mr. Wetherbee tells of the Barbara Yoder hanging death of unwed mother Ruth Blay for the death of her stillborn New Hampshire Writers Project child – hanged just five minutes before the governor’s pardon arrived. Mr. Wetherbee ends his book with a few tales of his ancestors and him- Deborah Watrous self. This is a fun and informative read. NH Humanities Council Wetherbee, Fritz. Fritz Wetherbee’s New Hampshire. Concord, Patricia Fargnoli NH: Plaidswede Publishing, 2005. Poet Laureate of New Hampshire Another fun read is a first novel by Hollis resident Michaeline Della Fera. Carrie Thomas Colby-Sawyer College Trading Faces is a charming addition to the ranks of murder mysteries. Protaganist Cecce De Lucca is a 39-year-old, overweight, Italian-Ameri- Jackie Gardner, CHILIS can private detective in suburban Hollis, New Hampshire. De Lucca is also single, although enamored of a married police detective and her horse Sally Jones Eddie. The story begins with De Lucca almost killed while following a NH Library Trustees Association philandering husband. To recuperate from her gunshot wound, Cecce, her mother Sophia, and best friend Ginny take a two-week vacation at a Pat Frisella swank health spa in Arizona, financed by Sophia’s gambling winnings. Poetry Society of New Hampshire Junk food lover Cecce barely tolerates the spa’s healthy cuisine and the hot Arizona climate. She spends the vacation complaining, sweating and Eleanor Strang sneaking in contraband Cheez-Its to survive. Finally, she finds some ex- Urban Public Library Consortium citement when a spa staffer, who had been dating Ginny, is found dead. Willard Williams Cecce launches into action to clear Ginny of suspicion and find the mur- Toadstool Bookshops derer. She is almost killed again, but solves the mystery with the help of Ginny, Sophia, and the local redneck sheriff. Katie McDonough Kimball Public Library, Atkinson Della Fera, Michaeline. Trading Faces. Richmond, KY: Wings ePress, Inc., 2005. Letters About Literature Read. Be Inspired. Write Back. Letters written by Isabel Starr of Hollis, Kylee Drugan-Eppich of Madbury, and Steve Therrien of Thank you to our 2006 NH Exeter were selected as the New Letters About Literature Judges! Hampshire winners in the 2006 Let- ters About Literature (LAL) writing • Ann Hoey, Youth Services Coordinator at the NHSL competition. They each received a • Selma Naccach-Hoff, English Department Coordinator, cash prize and a gift card to Target Manchester High School Central Stores. Additionally, their letters • Amanda Joaqin-Allan, Special Education Teacher, were sent on as entries in the national Auburn Village School LAL competition. Ms. Drugan- • Rob Greene, Editor, Hippo Press Eppich’s letter was selected as a run- • Donna Ciocca, author of Harley & Homer ner-up in the national competition. • John-Michael Albert, poet. Letters About Literature is a reading and writing promotion program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, presented in partner- Upper Elementary School, wrote a independence from my eating disor- ship with Target Stores and coordi- letter to Natalie Babbitt about her der, I have had so many dreams that nated in New Hampshire by the Cen- book The Search for Delicious, I know I wouldn’t be able to achieve ter for the Book at the New Hamp- which was selected as the Granite if Ed was sill in charge of my life.” shire State Library.