From the Director’s Desk
Hello readers,
Fall is almost here and after a two-year hiatus our outreach efforts are nearly back to normal. Maggie and I are excited to talk with many of you at the KABVI and NFB-KS conferences and meet new readers at several health fairs and professional conferences.
While our outreach calendar is filling up, it isn’t yet full. If you would like a Kansas Talking Books representative to speak at a meeting or know of an outreach opportunity in your area, please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
That said, patron word of mouth is the best outreach and marketing tool that we have. You are our best advocates. Tell everyone you meet about the talking books program, how you use it, and how you enjoy it. Thank you for your support and helping to spread the word about Kansas Talking Books.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly at 620-341-6287 or email me to discuss them.
Keep reading and keep talking about Talking Books!
–Michael Lang, Director
KTB Updates
Introducing New Acting State Librarian, Ray Walling
Earlier this year, Governor Laura Kelly announced that Ray Walling had been selected as Acting State Librarian, starting on June 1. The duties of the State Librarian include administration of the three divisions of the State Library: Reference, Statewide Services, and the Talking Books Service. The State Librarian also administers state and federal library funding, the state publications depository program, and the Kansas Center for the Book.
Walling earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Westminster College (PA) and Master of Science degree in Information from the University of Michigan. While finishing his graduate degree, he worked in the university’s Government Documents Center. In 2008, he moved to Kansas to serve as a librarian for Baker University. In addition to coordinating their federal depository collection, Walling managed the library’s electronic services, including their website, database, periodical, and ebook collections. In 2015, he was promoted to Director of Library Services.
Since moving to Kansas, Walling has been an active member of the Kansas Library Association, serving in leadership roles within the Government Documents Roundtable, the Private Academic Libraries Section, the College and University Libraries Section, and the organization’s educational foundation. His professional service also extended to the Kansas Council of Academic Library Deans and Directors. As a member of the council’s Collections and Resource Sharing Committee, he negotiated consortium pricing for databases and streaming video licensing that was offered to all academic libraries in the state. He went on to serve as the committee’s chair and the council’s vice-chair. For the last six years, Walling has served on the State Library of Kansas Board, including a term as board chair.
Phone Book Club, September 14th and December 14th
Gather to meet and discuss books with other Kansas Talking Books patrons from across the state. Discussion time is at 12:00 p.m. (noon). Call the office at 1-800-362-0699 or email KTB@ks.gov to sign up. We look forward to hearing from you.
September 14th – DB 105197 The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
December 14th – DB 94113 Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi
Visit our website for more information.
Oceans of Possibilities: Summer Reading 2022
Thanks for all those who participated in our Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading program! We had a record number of youth patrons who participated. So awesome!
Congratulations to our two grand prize winners: Barbara S. in Wichita and Meghan H. in Olathe.
Thank you to the Kansas Advisory Council for Talking Books services for their support and donations of the prizes for the summer reading program.
News from NLS
NLS Launches Braille-on-Demand Pilot Project
NLS has launched the Braille-on-Demand pilot project. This project allows active NLS patrons to request and receive one hard-copy braille title per month, which they can keep for their personal use.
Braille titles are limited to books that are currently available on BARD. At this time, requests are limited to one book per patron per month. Only complete titles will be distributed. Requests for partial titles (for example, volume one of a three-volume book) will result in receiving the entire book.
The form to request a braille-on-demand book can be found at this link. Readers may complete the form themselves or contact Kansas Talking Books for assistance.
NLS Quarterly Patron Corner
On Monday, September 12, at 6:00 p.m. Central, NLS will host their quarterly Patron Corner. The topic for this session is Narration: The Art of Telling the Story. The guest speakers will include Celeste Lawson, narrator and head of the NLS Media Lab. She will include other NLS narrators on her panel. The session will run for 90 minutes.
Visit the NLS services website for log in information.
The Many Faces of BARD
A new monthly program called The Many Faces of BARD will occur on the second Thursday of every month at 6:00 p.m. Central Time. It will cover one aspect of BARD usage and will last for one hour. Each program will start with a brief presentation. The remainder of the time will be spent answering questions about the presentation or other questions related to BARD usage.
These sessions are open to all patrons and can by joined online or by phone through Zoom. All Many Faces of BARD programs will be recorded. To learn more about the next Many Faces of BARD, visit the NLS Services webpage.
Eight Talking Book Topics Formats
Talking Book Topics (TBT) is available in eight accessible formats. Each of the formats has unique features that will allow you to learn about selected titles chosen from among the newest additions to the collection.
- HTML with direct links to BARD for downloading or adding books to wish lists in BARD Mobile. This is a convenient way to experience TBT, allowing you to access titles right away through BARD.
- PDF which include order forms for Adult, Children, and Foreign Language-Spanish titles.
- Audio cartridge, which comes with a large-print order form. This might be ideal if you do not have access to the Internet or mobile devices.
- BARD audio magazine, downloadable to cartridge or to BARD Mobile. This might be ideal for patrons who like to call their reader advisors or like to use this in combination with accessing BARD.
- Braille Book Review’s TBT Abridged section in hard-copy braille, which includes basic information about titles, authors, and recording times. A hard-copy braille order form listing books from TBT is also included in each hard-copy braille edition of BBR.
- Braille Book Review’s TBT Abridged section within the BRF file for BBR that can be downloaded from BARD or from the BBR landing page. Back issues of BBR are also available from this page.
- As a digital book on cartridge and on BARD and the BARD Mobile app. This format is built on the audio magazine available from BARD and is available a week or two after the audio magazine is available on BARD.
- As a publication offered by NFB-NEWSLINE. This might be ideal for patrons who have landline phones but do not have regular access to the Internet or mobile devices. Visit the NFB Newsline webpage or call 866-504-7300 for more information.
Book Description Updates
NLS is now using publisher-provided book descriptions in lieu of NLS-written annotations for the majority of titles being added to the collection. These publisher-provided book descriptions are longer and more complete, presenting the same information that is routinely used by other libraries and book providers. This change has affected only new acquisitions to the collection, starting in May 2022.
Services Spotlight: KABVI and NFB-KS Annual Conference Dates
Mark your calendars for two upcoming conferences this fall. We’ll meet you all there.
The Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Annual Convention will be held virtually Friday, Sept. 23rd and Saturday, Sept. 24th. Time is 10:00 AM—5:00 PM with a “banquet” at 7:30 PM on Friday. Combined KABVI membership and conference registration fee is $20. If participants only wish to listen, they can do so on ACB media 7 via Alexa. If you have any questions contact KABVI by phone 1-800-799-1499 (Toll free in Kansas) or email KABVI@cox-internet.com
The National Federation of the Blind of Kansas 2022 Annual Convention will be held November 4, 5, and 6 at The Hilton Garden Inn and Convention Center 3320 S. 9th St. Salina, KS 67401. Reservations can be made by calling (785) 309-0440. Room rates are $109.00 per night. Stay tuned to the NFB-KS Convention website for updates.
Readers’ Advisor Recommends: Fall in Love
Fall into love this autumn by reading any of these romance novels selected by our KTB staff.
DB 105060 A lot like adiós by Alexis Daria
Years after fleeing the Bronx and his overbearing family, Gabe Aguilar is coming home. He needs help opening the New York branch of his gym and gets referred to Michelle Amato, the marketing genius who was once his best friend. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
DB 108632 Little wishes by Michelle Adams
"On her favorite day of the year, Elizabeth Davenport awakens in her cottage on the wild and windy Cornish coast, opens her front door, and discovers a precious gift: the small blue crocus and a note that begins I Wish . . . The notes are never signed, but she knows they've been left by her first and truest love, Tom Hale. Each of these precious missives convey a simple wish for something they had missed, and the life they might have shared, if circumstances hadn't forced them apart all those years ago. She has kept them all. But on this day, what should have been the fiftieth anniversary of their falling in love, the gift fails to arrive. Could something have happened to Tom? Elizabeth has always been plagued by thoughts of "what if?" Propelled by worry and decades of pent up longing, Elizabeth packs a little suitcase, leaves Porthsennenon, and journeys to London . . . to find the love of her life once again. Finding him, Elizabeth is faced with the desperate knowledge that any time they might have now is running out. Never before had she thought that she might truly lose time--forever. And now, knowing that life is too short, Elizabeth vows to fulfill as many of Tom's wishes as she can. Yet she fears that her efforts may expose the shameful secret that, until now, has kept them apart. Can she continue to hide the truth, or will she have the courage to reveal herself completely and finally make their dreams come true--before it's too late?" -- Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
DB 90825 A princess in theory by Alyssa Cole
When grad student Naledi Smith gets an email claiming she is betrothed to an African prince, she assumes it is a scam. Prince Thabiso comes to America to track down Naledi, pretending to be a regular guy to secretly get to know her. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2018.
DB 96859 No judgments by Meg Cabot
A massive hurricane cuts off Little Bridge Island, Florida, from the mainland, severing all power and cell service. Bree Beckham is worried about how many islanders are separated from their pets and sets out to rescue them--with the help of her boss's sexy nephew, Drew. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2019.
DB 102611 Act your age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
Eve Brown has a hard time sticking with anything for long, and her parents have just shut off her trust fund. She applies for a job as a chef at a country bed and breakfast, but immediately clashes with Jacob, the owner. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
DB 103484 One last stop by Casey McQuiston
For August, seeing her subway crush becomes the best part of her day. She discovers there's one big problem: Jane is displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
DB 95304 The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky twin, until her sister Ami's entire wedding party gets food poisoning. The only two not affected are Olive and the best man, Ethan. Rather than have Ami's Hawaiian honeymoon go to waste, Olive and Ethan pretend to be newlyweds. Contains some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2019.
Upcoming State and Postal Holidays
Monday, September 5: Labor Day
Friday, November 11: Veterans’ Day
Thursday, November 24 & Friday, November 25: Thanksgiving
Contact Kansas Talking Books
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m
Mailing address:
1 Kellogg Circle, Box 4055
Emporia, KS 66801
Phone:
800-362-0699 (Toll Free)
620-341-6280
Email
Website
Talking Books Talk Blog
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On Twitter : @KSTalkingBooks