Digital Talking Books and Players Have Arrived
A new era is beginning for readers with visual and physical disabilities. Digital talking books and players are now arriving at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH). This new format will eventually replace the outdated analog audiocassette books and players used since the 1970s. The digital books and players are being distributed by the Library as they are produced.
The new digital system has many advantages. Slightly larger than a credit card, the digital talking book is a flash cartridge that provides a clearer sound quality. An entire book can fit on one cartridge (for most of the collection) and will play without flipping sides. The format is very reliable since the cartridge has no breakable moving parts.
Smaller and lighter than the audiocassette machine, the digital player is more portable. It also has enhanced navigation features for the reader to jump to various sections. Consumer testers appreciated its sound quality, tone, volume responsiveness and variable speed capability as well as its index and bookmark features.
One feature many readers appreciate is the ability of the new Digital Talking Book Player to use a small external flash drive, commonly called a "Thumb Drive" to store the titles they have downloaded from the NLS BARD web site or other sources. These are available from many different places and come in a variety of storage sizes depending on your needs.
To help you get acquainted with the player, we have prepared a Quick Reference Guide to the controls of the Digital Talking Book Player. You may view it on-line or download it to your computer for future use or printing by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently ran a story about the Digital Transition. You may access the article through the following link: www.post-gazette.com.
To learn more, call LBPH at 800.242.0586 or e-mail lbph@carnegielibrary.org. You may also visit the LBPH Web site at: www.carnegielibrary.org/lbph.
Blogging Book Topics
Our staff is passionate about books and reading. Every morning when we come to the library to present you with the best talking book service possible, our staff knows we have a fun day ahead talking with each other about the books that excite us — we discuss the books we love, new books we’re checking out for the first time, and also pass along recommendations that we hear from you. We’ve long thought that it would be exciting if we could somehow share these conversations with you. Now, we can. We’re thrilled to present BLOGGING BOOK TOPICS as a place where we can share with you our favorite reads — a place where you can expect to find staff picks, to learn about exciting new titles, to read about some of our all-time favorite books, and to discover great new authors.
We’ll also use BLOGGING BOOK TOPICS to keep you updated about what’s happening at our library, provide you with updates and tips for using BARD and from time to time provide answers to some commonly asked questions.
Many of us here at LBPH will contribute to the blog as we go along, so expect different insights and information as we highlight the numerous interests of our team of writers.
Check back often, and let us know what you think. As always, feel free to give us a call at 1-800-242-0586, or drop us an email at lbph@carnegielibrary.org
Want to know more? Read Blogging Book Topics now!
Our Digital Collection Is Continually Expanding
Our volunteer narrators and editors have been busy. Their combined efforts have resulted in a number of new locally-produced titles, including this one, for younger readers:
- First You Try Everything
- By Jane McCafferty
- Narrated by Thelma Snyder
- DBL 435
Click the headphones to hear a sample from this title - From their early days in college, Evvie and Ben were drawn to each other by feelings of isolation stemming from their wounded childhoods and passionate idealism. But as the years passed, they grew apart. Now Ben wants a future alone or with someone else. Convinced that he cannot live without her, Evvie obsessively devises ways to reclaim his love. Some strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. 2012
Listening Time: 7 Hours, 38 Minutes
For more locally produced titles on digital cartridges,
visit our new Pennsylvania Titles Page by clicking this link.
Funding for the library’s recording studio was made possible by the Western Pennsylvania Medical Eye Bank Foundation and the FISA Foundation. Additional funding was provided by an LSTA grant through the Commonwealth Libraries of Pennsylvania.
Recently Added Large Print Titles
In The Bag Number 53, the June Issue, is now available!
We are always adding new titles to our Large Print Collection. Here's just one such title:
- Flight Behavior
- by Barbara Kingsolver
- CL 15062
- Feathertown, Tennessee. Dellarobia Turnbow is on her way to an adulterous tryst when she sees what looks like a forest fire but is actually the migration of millions of monarch butterflies. Soon, Feathertown residents are caught up in a fight between faith and science. Bestseller. 2012
For more recently added Large Print titles,
visit our In the Bag page by clicking this link.
For more information about these books and other titles in our Digital Talking Books collection, call our Library at 800-242-0586, e-mail the Library lbph@carnegielibrary.org or visit us at 4724 Baum Boulevard in Pittsburgh.
Community Events
The Third Thursday Book Discussion Group is now known as:
Talking Books @ LBPH
Talking Books @ LBPH recently met to discuss I’m Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen — My Journey Home (DB 71726), Shoshana Johnson's first hand account of her being the first African American female in United States history to be held as a prisoner of war.
Watch this space for a recap of the discussion and to see what the next book slected will be.
Don't miss out! If you enjoy discussing the books you read, you can join this group, by either sending an e-mail to the Library at lbph@carnegielibrary.org or by calling the Library at
412-687-2440 / 800-242-0586 Toll Free
Scheduled Library Closings
Our next scheduled closings will be:
Thursday, July 4, 2013
for Independence Day
We will also be closed on
Monday, September 2, 2013
for Labor Day
Our normal business hours are
Monday through Friday
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Remember, we are always open on-line!
You may also order books by voice using VOPAC.
Call 412-621-7762 or Toll Free 800-747-0715
