We re Here to Serve You!

We re Here to Serve You! The Oakland Talking Book Service (OTBS@RHPL) is a free service administered by the Rochester Hills Public Library which loans talking books and magazines, large print books, Braille and talking book players to eligible Oakland County residents of all ages. If you are receiving this newsletter you qualify for this service and so much more. RHPL offers one of the most robust, if not the most robust, outreach service programs in the state. Since the early 1970 s, we have worked to make the library and our collections accessible to everyone in our service area and now throughout Oakland County. If you cannot travel to the library, we are happy to send large print books, magnifiers, descriptive movies and other low vision materials through the mail once you qualify for the OTBS service. In addition to a large print collection, ebooks, databases, and talking books, the library offers over 60 different kinds of low vision aids. These various magnifiers go from 2x power to 12.5x power and are hand-held, can be worn like glasses, hung around your neck, or can stand on a table top so you put materials under the magnifier to enlarge and read it. They vary in price from $5 $400. Although the library does not sell the magnifiers, you can borrow them to determine which style works best for you before you purchase your own magnifier. There is also a closed circuit television (CCTV) in the library and two smaller models that can be borrowed that will enlarge material up to seventy times the original print size. These devices also can display light letters on a dark background as well as dark letters on a light background which helps people with certain vision issues. Our assistive technology lab provides computers with large print keyboards and JAWS (Job Access With Speech) software which is the world s most popular screen reader. This software was developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse. JAWS provides speech and Braille output for the most popular computer applications on your PC. Please contact Marsha at 248-650-5682 if you wish to schedule assistive technology training in the library or via phone. Of course many people have other issues that make it difficult for them to use the library. Our Make Your Life Easier kits offer materials and devices for people living with Parkinson s disease, arthritis or other mobility challenging conditions. There is even a kit for caregivers that offers activities and games that caregivers can use with people with disabilities. If you are able to visit the library, we have two electric scooters available for people who have mobility challenges. By using the library s elevator or drive-up window, everyone is able to access any part of the library. We also have small shopping carts that can help people who might use a walker. The carts are easy to roll and provide a basket for items you want to check out. We also offer you a wide range of free programs, concerts, and lectures. As an OTBS client you are welcome to attend these programs and to bring an assistant with you to the program. You must register for programs, but the OTBS staff can help you do that. The most valuable services we offer here at RHPL are provided by our talented staff. Our Outreach librarians focus on working with people with special needs. They help people navigate our assistive

technology options or find appropriate materials in the library. They are available via the phone (800-774-4542), email (Outreach.Reference@rhpl.org) or in person here in the library. Just let them know what you need and they will make it happen. The Outreach & Bookmobile Services department is located off the library s first floor lobby. We are the public s library and are here to serve you. Christine Lind Hage RHPL Library Director Playaway: An Audio Book on the Go Playaway is a simple and portable way to listen to an audio book. This light-weight device is about the size of a digital cartridge but only requires earphones to enjoy. You can listen to it while walking, working or generally on the go. No downloads or digital players required! Playaway audio books remember where you left off in the book, bookmarks your favorite section, adjusts the speed of the narrator s voice and works with most headphones. OTBS@RHPL has approximately 250 Playaway audio books for you to enjoy. We are happy to send them to you through the mail upon request. If you would like to request one of these audio books, call Jennifer at 248-650-5680 or 1-800-774-4542. Can t Locate the Descriptive Track on your DVD? Audio Description involves the accessibility of the visual images of theater, television, movies, and other art forms for people who are blind, have low vision, or who are otherwise visually impaired. For movies, the description generally has been prerecorded and synced to the movie soundtrack (though sometimes this is done live). For videos distributed on DVD, the audio description, when available, is accessed via the DVD menu for the movie as a special feature of the Languages menu. The track can often be located simply by repeatedly pressing the Audio button on the remote. To make the process as simple as possible, OTBS is now including customized printed instructions on accessing the descriptive track with every movie sent through the mail. OTBS customers can now request over 300 described movies from the RHPL collection. These movies can be sent and returned through the mail much like other OTBS materials. To identify what is currently available, please visit the library catalog and search on the subject, descriptive video. In addition, there is a link from otbs.rhpl.org to the descriptive video list. Just select the request items tab and you should find it listed. OTBS customers will need an RHPL library card to check out the films. As always, our staff is happy to assist you with this process. Winter Program Highlights Sunday, December 13 Sunday Holiday Concert: Reasonable Facsimile

Tuesday, January 12 Thursday, January 14 Sunday, January 17 Sunday, February 7 Tuesday February 23 Let s Listen to Some Old Time Radio Financial Workshop: Social Security Sunday Concert: Lynn LaPlante Seven Sunday Concert: Thornetta Davis Organized Crime and the Purple Gang in Detroit As an OTBS customer, you are welcome to register and attend any of the programs scheduled at the Rochester Hills Public Library. We are happy to help you obtain a valid RHPL Library card which is required for program registration. To view a complete listing of the fall/winter programs visit http://calendar.rhpl.org or call 1-800-774-4542 for assistance. Sensory Kits The Braille Institute offers free materials to visually impaired children and qualifying organizations. Through their special collections, educators can select materials, which include contracted Braille books, large print books, and an activity related to the story. Our first kit includes a Curious George book (contracted Braille), Now I Eat My ABCs (large print, board book), and Braille Alphabet letter blocks. Each block has the upper and lower case letters, one on each side, along with the letter in Braille. These kits will be housed in the Youth Services room near the Parent Teach Collection. The library will add to the collection throughout the year, and our goal is to reach all patrons by enriching literacy skills for children with or without disabilities! 2016 Braille/Large Print Calendars Now Available There is a limited supply of 2016 APH Insights Braille/Large Print Calendars available upon request. The type is 36 point and the calendar measures 8.5x11 inches. To request a calendar, contact Michelle at 248-650-5681 or email michelle.wisniewski@rhpl.org. Limited to one per customer. Let s Go To The Movies! Have you been to a movie lately? I mean at a movie theater? Well, neither had I, that is, until about six months ago. That s when I learned my neighborhood Regal Theater provides a descriptive video service for the visually impaired and now my wife and I have a regular movie night out. Here s how it works. The device, which you get at the manager s desk, is about two inches by three inches by a half inch deep and comes with earphones. The manager will set the device for the movie you re seeing. Just make sure it s set for video and not audio (which is a different option). When the movie starts (not the previews) simply hang the device around your neck, put on the earphones and enjoy as this amazing little thingamajig describes what s happening on the screen!

A couple of hints... if I may. First, there are two tiny buttons on the top of the device allowing you to control the volume. Second, the only theater chain I know that has this service is the Regal Theaters. There may be others, I don t know, so check before you go. Third, get your own popcorn, it s really, really good! FYI, this great service is not just for the visually impaired. Also available, for the hearing impaired, are glasses that actually scroll a closed caption of the dialogue for the user to read. Hats off to great technology and to Regal Cinemas for making it available. MEET YOU AT THE MOVIES! Arnie Serlin Innovate Collaborate Motivate!!! June 9-11, 2015 Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, Indiana OTBS Librarian, Michelle McTeer Wisniewski joined her network colleagues as they worked together to discuss innovations in technology, programs and services to the blind and low vision communities. Tis the Season If you are having a hard time coming up with a holiday gift for friends or family consider recognizing them with a contribution to OTBS. Such a donation is also one of the most satisfying ways of recognizing a special occasion, honor a relative or friend s birthday, anniversary or other event or could be used as a thank-you gift for your enjoyment in using OTBS. We ll send you an acknowledgement for tax purposes and we ll also send a letter to the person you are recognizing to inform them of your gift. You might want to invest in tomorrow by designating a gift from your current assets or a portion of your estate to OTBS. By participating, you will help us continue to improve and enrich the lives of people with low vision. There are a variety of ways you can contribute. If you want to make a bequest the library has sample legal forms that you can use as you plan your estate. Gifts to OTBS are deductible on your federal and state income tax forms to the extent allowable by the law. If you would like more information about how to support OTBS, we invite you to contact us so we can explain the many benefits and strategies for making donations. We wish to thank the following people for their generous gifts to OTBS this past year: Shawn M. Christensen David & Ruth Henke William Lipton Wayne & Laura Zumwait

The Swenson Family Rebecca Marquardt Sol M. Benaderet Revocable Living Trust Follow OTBS on Facebook Would you like to be connected to other members of the OTBS community? If so, please consider following OTBS on Facebook at http://otbs.rhpl.org. If you don t have a Facebook page, go to www.google.com on your web browser. Type in OTBS Facebook and we should be the third of fourth search result from the top. It will say OTBS@RHPL Library. If you do have a Facebook page, please login and search for OTBS. Once we are located, please like us and then you ll get the latest OTBS news. Marsha s Computer Corner How to Set Bookmarks Using Your Advanced Digital Talking Book Player If you use the advanced version of the digital talking book player from NLS, then you have the ability to insert bookmarks into what you read. This function is handy for marking non-fiction such as cookbooks, books read in book clubs, or other passages that you might want to review. It also would help a student mark key places in a text book. The bookmark key looks like a rectangular key marked with a Braille and large print B. The bookmark key is located on the right side of the digital player just above the volume up and volume down buttons. To insert a bookmark, go to the section of the book that you would like to mark. Then, press the bookmark key. The player will say bookmark inserted. You may insert up to 2000 bookmarks in a single book. Once you ve inserted multiple bookmarks in a book you can navigate between them. First, press the horizontal rectangle button marked with an M located above the crescent shaped sleep button. This is your menu key. Press it until the player says Bookmark Jump. Then press the previous and next keys on either side of the menu key to move back and forth through your book marks. There may be times when you want to remove a bookmark that you ve inserted. Removing bookmarks is easy. Use your menu key to get to Bookmark Jump and then navigate to the bookmark you want to remove. Once the bookmark begins to play, immediately press the play/pause button to stop speech. You need to be right on top of the bookmark to remove it. Once on top of the bookmark, press and hold the bookmark key. When your player says Bookmark Removed you can release the bookmark key. OTBS Offers Large Print Books by Mail For our OTBS patrons that enjoy large print books, RHPL has a collection of over 10,000 fiction and nonfiction books available in big print. Recently, we have begun adding large print stickers inside the covers of these books to advertise OTBS services to our library patrons. You can request large print books-by-

mail by giving us a call, sending an email or searching the RHPL catalog at www.rhpl.org. For more information, please call 248-650-5680 and ask for Jennifer. Look Again: News from OTBS is also available in Braille by request. The current version of the publication can be found at http://otbs.rhpl.org. OTBS Hours Monday-Thursday 9 am-9 pm Friday, Saturday 9 am-6 pm Sunday 1-6 pm during the school year 1-800-774-4542 or 248-650-7150 outreach@rhpl.org Visit us at: http://otbs.rhpl.org