BITS OF GOLD NEWSLETTER

BY THE MONTANA TALKING BOOK LIBRARY (MTBL)

Winter 2017

WHERE YOU CAN FIND A MOTHER LODE OF INFORMATION

Contents

Librarian’s Logbook (page 2)

Montana Digital Recording Program (page 3)

Reader’s Alley (page 4)

Memorials and Donations (page 5)

Technology Tailings (page 5)

Contact Information and Library Holiday Closures (page 6)

Easier BARD Downloading!
BARD Express for Windows is a free application now available to use for easier downloading. An active BARD account and a personal computer running Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, or 10 are required to use BARD Express. No more unzipping and moving issues, this program will lead you through the process. Use the program to search for the book you want. Insert your flash drive or cartridge to the computer, press download, and the book will be on your “bookshelf.” BARD Express detects your flash drive or cartridge and enables you to copy the book to it. Current BARD users can download the BARD Express app by logging into their BARD account and scrolling to Additional Links. The BARD Express app is the 4^th link. In addition, the link has Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s). You can also get video tutorials on YouTube by searching for the term BARD Express. If you have questions or would like to re-activate your BARD account, just call 1-800-332-3400 and we’ll be happy to assist you.

A Gift from NASA to the Talking Book Library
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has produced a tactile and Braille book explaining eclipses in preparation for the total solar eclipse occurring August 21, 2017 – the first in the US since 1979. While Montana is not in the path of totality, we will see 75-95% of the sun obscured by the moon depending on your location in the state. We received two copies of Getting a Feel for Eclipses: A Tactile Guide to Eclipses, MBT11089, that are available for checkout. Please contact your Readers’ Advisor for more information.

Upcoming Events
June 14th—Helena—Open House celebrating MTBL’s new 2nd recording booth

October 12th—Helena—Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Librarian’s Logbook – Christie Briggs, Regional Librarian
Patron Survey Results
Your feedback is important and assists us to improve services.
Here are some survey highlights: An overwhelming patron satisfaction in the quantity of MTBL materials received. Increased quality of life and knowledge were noted as the two major benefits of MTBL services. Other benefit comments included: MTBL service keeps my mental acuity sharpened; keeps me in contact with my community and the world; keeps me current with my professional literature.

Primary preference is to receive books through the mail. Patrons prefer using the free loaned player to listen to audio materials, although patrons downloading from BARD also use iPads, iPods, certain Kindle models and other Android devices with the BARD Mobile App. Most patrons may not be aware of the benefits of MTBL’s Online Catalog (WebOpac). For internet users this is a quick way to search and order books to be mailed, or link directly to downloading BARD books. If you have any questions about MTBL services, please contact us.

MTBL Funding
President Trump’s proposed budget for the federal fiscal year 2018 would eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and all associated funding. The Library Services Technology Act grant funds, which are appropriated through the IMLS, make up about 40 percent of the Montana Talking Book Library budget.

Those cuts come on top of the Montana state budget’s recommended 5 percent operational reduction costs across most state agencies. About 60 percent of MTBL’s overall budget is state funded. Information about how the State Library Commission currently plans to address these state funding cuts is available online at http://bit.ly/2mYTx8R. The Commission currently does not plan to reduce the MTBL budget to make up for the loss of State funds.

Regarding the federal funding, it is up to Congress to determine how many of the President’s proposed cuts are enacted and at what level. Presently, the Congressional budget process does not have a timeline.
Questions about the federal budget process should be posed to Montana’s U.S. Senators:
Steve Daines (Republican) at 320 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510; phone: 202-224-2651, homepage: https://www.daines.senate.gov/
Jon Tester (Democrat) at 311 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2604, phone: 202-224-2644, homepage: https://www.tester.senate.gov/
Montana’s U.S. Representative seat is currently vacant.
Montana’s Digital Recording Program
You have started to see books with a different prefix, DBC. This prefix identifies books recorded by a local talking book library recording program such as ours. They are available both through BARD and on cartridge. Books with the MDB prefix are available only on cartridge from MTBL’s in-house collection.
New MTBL Recording Studio titles:
The Southwest Corner by Mildred Walker. DBC01260 (Family Fiction) A short novel about an indomitable Vermont woman of eighty-three who has spent her whole life on her farm. As another winter approaches, she feels the need for someone to help out, and begins to make creative arrangements for a live-in companion. 1951.
Jeannette Rankin 1880-1973: Bright Star in the Big Sky by Mary Barmeyer O’Brien. DBC01244 (Young Adult Biography) Chronicles the life of Jeannette Rankin: the first woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress and the only woman who voted to give all United States women the right to vote. She was a leading advocate for both woman's suffrage and world peace. 1995.
Yellowstone Trivia by Janet Spencer. DBC01240 (MT Interests) The most incredible, unbelievable, wild, weird, fascinating, fun and true facts about Yellowstone National Park. Great for all ages. 2006.
Tenting To-Night: A Chronicle of Sport and Adventure in Glacier Park and the Cascade Mountains by Mary Roberts Rinehart. DBC01253 (Humorous Biography) A popular mystery novelist wrote about her family's humorous and lively 1916 camping adventures through Glacier National Park and Washington's North Cascades. Written under the sponsorship of the Great Northern Railway’s extensive “See America First” publicity campaign to promote the beginning of the National Park system. 1917.

Death Al-Dente: A Food Lovers’ Village Mystery by Leslie Budewitz. DBC00744 (Mystery) In the town of Jewel Bay, Montana - known as a Food Lovers' Village - Erin Murphy takes over her family's century-old general store, turning it into a boutique market filled with local delicacies. But Erin's freshly booming business might go rotten when a former employee turns up dead. Includes recipes. 2013.
Seasonal Disorder: Ranger Tales from Glacier National Park by Pat Hagan. DBC01224 (Humorous Biography) Park Ranger, Pat Hagan, relates humorous tales of his many summers spent as a ranger in Glacier National Park. 2006.
Montana: High, Wide and Handsome by Joseph Kinsey Howard. DBC01241 (History) A significant, comprehensive, and readable history of Montana. Kinsey’s highly documented writing exposes the character and people of Montana. 1943.
Jokes That Will Even Make Your Heart Smile by Mabel Pepperling Badgett. MDB00785 (Humor) This book is filled with jokes from the radio, the Internet and the mouths of friends to make your heart smile. 2004.

Reader’s Alley
Mrs. Sinclair’s Suitcase by Louise Walters. DB 82472 (Family Fiction) Thirty-four-year-old Roberta pines after her boss Philip as she works in the Old and New Bookshop. Then her father brings in her grandmother's suitcase, and Roberta discovers secrets her grandmother has hidden – secrets Roberta cannot ask her about – concerning an encounter with a Polish fighter pilot during World War II. 2015.
Sightless in Seattle: Adventures with my Guide Dog by Claire Anderson. DBC00271 (Memoir) After a stroke causing blindness in both eyes, Claire, in her sixties, decides to continue her active lifestyle with DaVida, her service dog. Explore the journey of two inexperienced individuals, canine and human, working to form a team. 2012.
North Star: A Barnaby Skye Novel by Richard S. Wheeler. DB 69922 (Western) Set in 1870. With an aging body and a changing West, mountain man Barnaby Skye looks to settle down. While Barnaby and his Crow wife, Victoria, confront brutal Texas cattlemen and cheating Indian agents, Barnaby's Shoshone wife, Mary, sets out to find their son, whom Barnaby sent away to school years before. 2009.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. DB 85533 (Historical Fiction) Set in 1922. Count Alexander Rostov, judged by a Bolshevik tribunal to be an unrepentant aristocrat, is sentenced to house arrest for life. He joins the community in the luxurious Hotel Metropol and tries to enjoy life, befriending a young girl longing to be a princess. 2016.
Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews. DB 72492 (Romance) Battling TV chefs— a handsome Georgia redneck and a struggling young professional woman—find themselves competing for a coveted weekly time slot on national television. The winner-take-all cooking competition intensifies especially as love ups the ante. 2008.
The Wild Marsh: Four Seasons at Home in Montana by Rick Bass. DB 70308 (Memoir) Bass, a naturalist, recounts the year he and his family spent in Montana's Yaak Valley wilderness. Describes his encounters with neighbors and animals outside his cabin, as well as the region's assorted vegetation and the changing seasons. 2009.
The Blue Zones: Nine Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner. DB 75844 (Aging/Culture) In this updated edition, the author describes his travels to five areas of the world where a concentration of the inhabitants live longer than the norm. Suggests ways to incorporate the lifestyle habits that prevail in these regions. 2012.
Room by Emma Donoghue. DB 71989 (Mystery Suspense) Five-year-old Jack describes the locked room where he has always lived with his mother. He stays in the wardrobe when Old Nick visits and brings supplies. Jack watches TV but thinks all of it is make believe. Then Jack's mother asks him to help with an escape plan. 2010.
Travels with Casey by Benoit Denizet-Lewis. DB 79571 (Travel/Dogs) A NYT Magazine writer details the cross-country RV trip he took with his nine-year-old lab Casey, to explore the story of America's dogs. Along the way he adopts an ill reservation dog and experiences a fundamental change in his relationship with Casey. 2014.

Memorials and Donations
The generosity of our donors enhances library services to patrons. Tax deductible contributions are greatly appreciated. An acknowledgement is sent to each donor. Please include the person’s name for whom a memorial is made and the name and address of those to be notified of a contribution.
Memorials: July - December 2016

Robert DeMontigny — Donna Davis

Clarence Rostad — Jerry & Emily Graves

Elizabeth Hotchkiss — Kenneth & Judith Hotchkiss

Dorothy Carpenter — Donna Davis

Archie Bishop — Karen & Duane Fercher, Tolly Eriksson, George & Sherry Deaton, Gerald & Carol Gunderson, Ronnie & Cathi Hemry, Leland & Tami Bishop Rhodes, Brenda & Mary Gillhouse, Sonya Hughes

Jon Richard Beck — Nancy & Jack Glaser

Donations: July - December 2016

Thank you to: Rose Leary, Al Beavis, Kay Stevens, Bruce & Bonnie Grimes, Charles & Carol Aumell, Louise Neff, Dr. Lynn Banowsky & Tonya Riley, Evelone Hodges, Solveig & Lester Finneman, Ivan O’Neil, Dwain & Lillian Rennaker, Nancy & Jack Glaser

Technology Tailings

NLS is introducing a new accessory for use with digital talking-book machines (DTBMs): a USB breath switch. The accessory is compatible with both the standard model (DS1) and the advanced model (DA1). The USB breath switch provides control of all functions of the digital player except power on/off. The breath switch comes with a shirt clip, removable mouth tube, and inline moisture filter. It connects to the player via the USB port. Because the breath switch does not have the ability to turn power on or off; the player should always be connected to AC power when in use. Contact your Readers’ Advisor if you need one of these switches.

Contact Information

Address:
Montana Talking Book Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800

Phone Numbers:
1-800-332-3400 (toll-free in-state)
406-444-2064

Library Phone Hours:
Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Voice mail 24/7

E-Mail: mtbl@mt.gov
Website: www.tbl.msl.mt.gov
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Upcoming Library Holiday Closures:
May 29 (Monday) - Memorial Day
July 4 (Tuesday) - Independence Day
September 4 (Monday) - Labor Day

DISCLAIMER: The products and services mentioned in this newsletter are for your information only and do not imply endorsement by MTBL.