Vol. 37, No. 3
December 2007
VOLUNTEER NEWS
Mark Your Calendars
All volunteers please mark your calendar and reserve this date. The 28th Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, 2008 at noon. Join us at the Arizona Club on the 37th floor of the Chase Tower in downtown Phoenix for one of the best views in town. Each volunteer is invited to bring one guest compliments of the library. Additional guests are welcome but must pay for the luncheon. Individual invitations will go in the mail in early February.
Welcome to New Volunteers
We welcome new volunteers who have joined us since the last newsletter.
Patricia Ariza – Public Services & duplicating
Beverlee Cochrane – Reader, director/Phoenix
Steven Coger – Phoenix, magazines
Kami Krenz – Audition evaluator
Antoinette Mease - RRRB
Alexis Mulvaney - Duplication
Katie Oliver – Public Services, summer reading
Robert Rowe – Reader, director/Phoenix
James Spurling – Machines/Tucson
Tom Wallford – Machines/Mesa
Music for the Season
Volunteer John Schumacher enjoys working with computers and has given hundreds and hundreds of hours towards converting the studio for Recorded Recreational Reading for the Blind in Sun City to digital. The system is running and John is training some new teams to record books.
With the approaching holiday season, volunteers might be interested in checking out another project John has put together using his computer skills. He has compiled a 14 hour playlist – “ECLECTICChristmasWaves” - of Christmas and German/Swiss festive music available on the internet. If you have a computer with speakers and an internet connection you can access his program at www.live365.com/stations/schumacherabds.
Local Digital Recording Going Great!
Nothing is perfect but being able to record our local books using digital software is making studio work easier for the volunteers in numerous ways.
A few comments from volunteers –
“I really like the computerized system. It is a lot quicker. I think we average about ten more pages than we did with the reel to reel. It saves a lot of time when you need to make a correction and, while I was getting adept at changing tapes, just opening a file is so much quicker.” D.H.
“For both recording and reviewing it is just easier and smoother to transition from side to side and to locate specific places on a recording.” S.R.
More Info on Digital
If you would like to learn more about the progress of conversion to digital books within the National Service Library Network take look at www.loc.gov/nls/newsletters/flash.
Friends Third "Whine & Cheese" Event a Great Success
Friends of the Arizona State Braille & Talking Book Library held their third Annual Silent Auction & Fundraiser “Whine & Cheese” on September 28th 2007 at the University Club of Phoenix.
Once again the evening was a great success thanks to the generosity of many donors and the Friends’ Board of Directors. We were honored to have the unforgettable TV legend of the “Wallace and Ladmo Show” and award-wining talk-show host, Pat McMahon emcee the fundraiser! Pat was accompanied by his wife.
Musical entertainment for the evening was provided by a talented string quartet from Marcos de Niza High School Orchestra in Tempe. June Yoon-1st violin, Suzi Williams-2nd violin, Ilyana Orozco-viola, and Gregory Grossman-cello created the evening’s sublime ambiance.
Our studios are now upgraded to digital and these funds will go toward new booths. The library patrons will begin receiving new digital audio books in 2008.
A heartfelt thank you to those who donated items for the silent auction:
Arizona Diamondbacks; Arizona Highways Magazine & Books; Arizona Lottery; Arizona Public Service; Arizona Science Center; AZ-TV; Ballet Arizona; Bamboo Club; Bikini Boot Camp; Camelback Village Racquet & Health Club; Canyon Records; Castles n’ Coasters; Changing Hands Bookstore; Chatham’s Fine Chocolates; Cheesecake Factory; Desert Surf Company; Dolly Steamboat; Essilor & Bristow Lab; Eye Tech Eye Associates; Fairytale Brownies; Fender Musical Instruments; Fusion Restaurant and Lounge; Harkins Theatres; Healthnet; Herberger Theater Center; Inn Suites Hospitality Trust; La Fontanella; Massage Envy; Maui Jim; McCormick & Schmick’s; Mecha Salon; PetsMart; philosophy, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Coyotes, Phoenix Mercury, Phoenix Suns; Phoenix Zoo; Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center; Sees Candies; SuperShuttle/ExecuCar; Trojan Horse Company; Tucson Symphony; U.S. Airways Center; Verizon Wireless; Wag n’ Wash; W.R. Williams Fine Jewelry.
Thank you for other donations from: Miguel Batista; Arthur Chapa; Camille Chung; Susan Davison; Lisa Ho; Sharon Kangas; Maggie Lougee; Ames & Robbie McGarey; Leslie Rachels; Dr. Ric Rios; Lynn Rockwell; Sam’s Club; Pat Schwalbe; Southwestern Eye Center; Elaine Warner; and the Arizona Friends of Talking Books.
5,000 Hour Award Presented
Volunteer Ted Anderson listens as his 5,000 hour award letter is read.
photo by: M. Usrey and P. Zeller
Ted Anderson has volunteered with the Phoenix Machine Repair Group since May of 1990. In addition to repairing amp boards and talking book machines Ted has given much time and attention to repairing studio and duplicating equipment. At the last annual volunteer luncheon, Ted was listed in the program as a 5,000 hour volunteer. He was unable to attend so we held his award for a special presentation at the library.
In the summer, library staff presented Ted with a letter of thanks from Governor Napolitano and a crystal weight thanking him for his service. The ceremony was held during the regular Tuesday repair session at the library. As usual, there was much good humor among the volunteers and they all quickly returned to repairing machines following the presentation.
Our thanks go to Ted for all your service as part of this fine group of volunteers. We couldn’t ask for better!
Changes, Changes
One of the few certainties in life is change. At the Braille and Talking Book Library we have been experiencing a lot of change recently - in staff, volunteers and technology. The following three articles focus some of those changes.
New Staff in Special Services
New Audio Duplication Technician Maria Pina begins a magazine duplication run.
photo by: J. Pawlowski
If you’ve not already met her, say hello to Maria Piña. She replaces Don Farnsworth, who retired in July after 37 years as Audio Duplication Technician. “I know I have big shoes to fill,” quips Maria, “But I’m excited about my new role.” That role, which mainly consists of duplicating books on tape, also enables her to interact with volunteers, assist in the recording studio and “hopefully, involve outreach.” A graduate of Arizona State University, Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting and communications. Ultimately, her goal is to get her master’s degree, though “it’s been somewhat elusive,” she laughs.
When not in the studio or tape library, Maria enjoys freelancing as writer and photographer for several valley publications. She also volunteers as reader and director at Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. “I love to read, it’s for a good cause, and it’s so much fun. It’s a perfect combination!” says Maria, who’s also fluent in Spanish. Her idea of fun is traveling, cooking, and of course, reading and writing.
Maria has lived in Arizona for 14 years and most recently moved to South Mountain, where she watches beautiful displays of color when the sun sets and rises. One day, Maria hopes to lives on a beach or somewhere that can accommodate her pets and family when they visit. Maria has one brother, four sisters, eleven nieces and nephews, a mini dashound named Gretchen and a blonde tortoise nicknamed “Turtle”. Stop by, say hello and help yourself to candy on her desk!
Assistant Director Retires
Sandy holds her retirement gift, a quilt signed by staff and volunteers, designed and pieced together by Librarian Nancy Morris.
photo by: C. Coughlin
Sandy Everett began as assistant director for BTBL in 1994. Before coming to BTBL she had worked in public and academic libraries in several other states. One staff person who has worked at the library a few years says when she started at BTBL she thought Sandy was a twin because everywhere she looked, there was Sandy. Sandy ably addressed needs and issues in all areas of the library’s operation.
Some volunteers and staff attended Sandy's retirement party in costume.
photo by: M. Usrey
Staff and volunteers and several recently retired staff gathered at a party at BTBL on Halloween to wish Sandy well. Her last official day at BTBL was Nov. 16.
Sandy said she didn’t have big plans immediately. She wants to spend more time with her husband, two grown sons and their wives, two young granddaughters and a third grandchild on the way. She says she has lots of projects at home that need attention after her many years in the workforce.
Good-bye to Some Long-time Volunteers
The autumn held some sadness in the deaths of two long-time volunteers and the wife of one of our machine repair volunteers.
Wally Kautenburger repaired talking book machines with the Phoenix Machine Repair Group for 16 years. It was a rare Tuesday that Wally couldn’t be found working upstairs at BTBL. He had battled numerous health problems for several years but he always had an upbeat, positive outlook to share with others. Wally repaired machines until three weeks before he passed away in late September.
John Sobeski was a member of the machine repair group in Sun City for 7 years. It had been more than a year since John had been able to regularly volunteer due to his deteriorating health. He and his wife Rose were able to join the last Christmas gathering for the RRRB and BTBL volunteers in Sun City. John passed away on Oct. 3.
Phyllis Gillespie, wife of Phoenix Machine Repair Group volunteer Don Gillespie, was not an official BTBL volunteer yet she could not have been a more involved supporter. For years, Phyllis was the newsletter editor for the Phoenix Life Member Pioneer Club newsletter. She publicized the accomplishments of the machine repair volunteers and the additional needs for repair help at BTBL. She passed away in Oct.
Wally, John and Phyllis, thank you for all your years of service. We miss you.
Any mention of products and services in Talking Book News is for information only and does not imply endorsement.
Talking Book News is also available in braille, on cassette as part of Newsletters Unlimited and on our website at http://www.lib.az.us/braille/ If you would like to receive this newsletter on cassette or in braille, please call 602-255-5578 or 1-800-255-5578.
Talking Book News is published quarterly by the Arizona State Braille and Talking Book Library Division, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
Director: Linda Montgomery and Editor Catherine Coughlin.
1030 N. 32nd Street | Phoenix, Arizona 85008 | 1-800-255-5578