Fall 2016 - Volume 51, No. 3
- Highlighting — SOS! Call the Library
- Calendar - CTBL will be closed on the following days
- From the Director
- SAVE THE DATE! Wine, Friends & Jazz
- CTBL Reads - Reading Around the World
- Staff Updates
- Tech Talk - Online Catalog Passwords
- Online Databases now available
- Volunteers - Rare Gems
- Post Office Problems?
- Resource of Interest
- Collection News - Featured New Titles
- Friends of the CTBL Board
- Contributors to the Friends of CTBL
- Wanted — Finished reading your books & magazines?
- Legacy Gifts
- Contributions to the Friends of CTBL
- Amazon Smile
- How to Reach Us
Highlighting — SOS! Call the Library
Not getting the books you like? Not getting enough books? Getting too many books?
Don’t take it sitting down — call a reader advisor.
Have your books stopped completely?
Don’t wonder why — call a reader advisor.
Have you changed your address or phone number lately? Need your player replaced? Looking for a new author to read?
Let us know — call a reader advisor.
Not sure how to use the bookshelf feature for the magazines on cartridge?
Get helpful support — call a reader advisor.
Call us at 303-727-9277 or 1-800-685-2136 (toll-free within Colorado) or email us at ctbl.info@cde.state.co.us
CTBL will be closed on the following days in 2016 and 2017:
- September 5th
- November 24th & 25th
- December 23rd & 26th
- January 1st
- January 16th
From the Director
Change — it is something no one really likes but happens all the time. The old adage that “the more things change, the more they stay the same” we hope is true at CTBL. As you read along in this newsletter, you will read about staff changes. We know it is hard to have our reader advisors change but we hope that each new RA still provides you with the same great customer service. We hope that does not change.
We are aware that with USPS postal changes that took effect in January, it has compromised the transit time of your books. It is just taking longer. So we have raised the number of books we send to patrons so you will always have books to read.
Check out the Friends of CTBL Facebook page or follow on Twitter.
Debbi
@DebbiMacLeod 
SAVE THE DATE! Wine, Friends & Jazz
The Friends of CTBL will be hosting a fundraiser on Saturday September 24th from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Stacey Donaldson of Denver 7 News will be our emcee and Master of Ceremonies. Erik Weihenmayer, of Boulder, Colorado the only blind mountain climber to climb Everest is donating a private hike for 15.
We can use your help by spreading the word. One objective in fundraising is to broaden our community.
For more information: http://ctblfriends.peatix.com/
CTBL Reads — Reading Around the World
For this upcoming year we will be reading books that are translated from another language. There is a great Ted Talk about this topic.
http://www.ted.com/talks/ann_morgan_my_year_reading_a_book_ from_every_country_in_the_world
The next CTBL Reads begins September 12th and we will be reading:
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman DB083204 translated from Swedish.
Seven-year-old Elsa is acknowledged as weird. The grandmother she lives with is flat-out crazy, but she shares tales of the fairyland of Miamas. When her grandmother dies, Elsa is entrusted with delivering letters of apology and learns about her place in the world. 2013/14.
Call the library to sign up, have a copy of the book sent to you and get on the list for the book talk, phone number and passcode.
Staff Updates
We have had many changes in the last two months. We said goodbye to Mike Toth, our mail operations manager as he moved to WY and Jim Sullivan who took a job 10 minutes from his home. They both left CTBL in July.
Tod Zeigler is our new manager who comes to us with over 20 years experience in operations. Most recently he was Operations Supervisor at Tricor America. Lily Li replaces Jim and comes to us from China and most recently worked as a sales manager.
In August we also bid a fond farewell to Katherine Ingraham, a reader advisor, who left for Cincinnati in a family move. We are sorry to see her leave so soon. Replacing her is K Ann Alderete who came to us from Talking Book Publisher, and NLS contract studio.
Tech Talk — Online Catalog Passwords
Many of our patrons have asked about being able to change their password for our online catalog. While there is not a direct way to change your password when you are logged into the system, you can change your password using the “Click here to recover access to your account” link on the sign-in page: https://ctbl.cde.state.co.us/co1aopac/login.jsf
This link will take you to a page that asks for your patron ID number and an email address. Once you enter that information, select the “send recovery email” button. The system will send you an email with a link to reset your password. Your new password will need to have at least 6 characters.
For patrons who do not currently use the online catalog, you would be able to set-up your password using the process above. You would just need to know your patron ID number. If you need that information, contact the library by email: ctbl.info@cde.state.co.us or by calling 303-727-9277 or 1-800-685-2136 and asking for a Reader Advisor.
Online Databases now available @ www.myCTBL.org
We have databased that patrons can access from your computer. You will need your patron number to access them. A highlight of the individual databases available is: Consumer Health Complete — provides convenient access to easily understandable health and medical information. Consumers can search and browse within medical encyclopedias, popular reference books, and magazine articles.
For more information and to explore these databases and how to access them in detail, please go to: http://www2.cde.state.co.us/ctbl/collection/tbdatabases.html
Volunteers — Rare Gems
A volunteer is like a rare gem. When placed in the right setting and cared for, they will shine and give pleasure to all who see them. — Unknown
CTBL has many volunteers who are real gems! They light up the library with their joyful spirit and endless energy, making our work lighter and our days fly by just trying to keep up with them.
Ellen C. has been the driving force behind a team of volunteers finding and reaching out to community partners who can help us reach more book-lovers and future patrons in every small community in Colorado. She is using skills she developed in her professional career in sales and marketing.
April P. has joined us just for the summer months and has successfully solicited donations for the Friends of CTBL’s first fundraiser. Then she turns her creativity and enthusiasm to finding and making the decorations, too. She has made our event sparkle through her talent as a middle school music teacher.
Tisha D., Andrea L., Serena M., Mary L., Al B., are each librarians who use their professional training and experience to help in cataloging, reviewing, circulation, and throughout CTBL. It is hard to imagine getting by without them!
We have so many more gems in our library; people who bring their talents, expertise, and skills to make our services shine.
Post Office Problems? Here’s What to Do!
We hope that all of our patrons know that any of the library’s books, machines, or equipment sent to the library via U.S. mail should ship postage free. Simply write “Free Matter for the Blind and Physically Handicapped” in the upper right-hand corner, where postage would normally go. Any book order forms or typed large-print correspondence (not handwritten) sent to the library through the U.S. mail also ships as “Free Matter for the Blind.”
This service is available in every city, county, state, and territory in the U.S. There is no such thing as a city or U.S. Post Office that does not participate in the program. The U.S Postal Service is paid annually by the U.S. government to support this program. And all of our patrons, because you were certified to enroll in our service, qualify to use the “Free Matter for the Blind” service.
Following are some things you can do to expedite your post office experience:
- Make sure materials are addressed to us at the “Colorado Talking Book Library”. Your post office should be very familiar with handling our materials.
- Remember to leave paper letters unsealed to comply with postal regulations.
- Make sure you’re at a U.S. Postal Service Office. FedEx and UPS do *not* participate in the “Free Matter for the Blind” program.
It seems that no matter how well we might know the rules, individual postal employees might not! Here are some things to do if you encounter any hardships when trying to return library materials to us:
- Keep cool and explain again that you are sending back library materials for the blind and print disabled and that you are a member of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
- Ask to speak to the Postmaster and have her/him explain specifically WHY they won’t accept the material as free matter.
Remember with which post office you had the problem and the names of any employees with whom you spoke. Many cities have more than one post office, and we will want to know specifically where the trouble happened. Then, contact us! We have a USPS postal liaison in Denver, and we will bring the matter to the liaison on your behalf.
Adapted from The Braille and Talking Book Library Sacramento
Resource of Interest — Are you a Veteran with a Visual Impairment?
Did you know that the Department of Veterans Affairs provides health and rehabilitative services to help you overcome the everyday challenges of vision loss?
All U.S. military veterans, whether they served during war or peace, whether service connected or non-service connected may be eligible.
VIST Coordinators are case managers who coordinate services for veterans with vision problems that impact their safety and independence. They can assist with:
- VA Eligibility and enrollment
- Review of veteran’s benefits
- Referrals to VA inpatient, outpatient and in home programs for assessments and training.
- All adaptive aids recommended during training are provided to veterans as part of their rehabilitation program.
For more information contact the Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) Coordinator nearest you:
Pamela Newton
Denver VIST
303-399-8020 X3040
or toll free 888-336-8262
Evalyn Christensen
Pueblo VIST
719-553-1000
Thomas Ziemann
Grand Junction VIST
970-263-5080
Rhonda Riley
Cheyenne, WY VIST
(Northern Colorado)
307-433-3607
Or visit the VA website address: http://www1.va.gov/blindrehab
Collection News — Featured New Titles
Descriptive Video Feature: For Kids
These DVDs and Blu-Rays have descriptive video embedded in each disc. You can turn-on this feature by following directions starting at the disc’s main menu.
Children’s picture books on DVD were purchased for children with visual and/or learning disabilities. The picture children’s titles are similar to the classic public television show "Reading Rainbow" and feature a narrator reading the book accompanied by an animated version of the book's original illustrations. Each of these DVDs has both descriptive video and caption features that help children develop reading skills and build their vocabulary. The Magic School Bus DVD’s are from the PBS series of the same name.
Picture Books
- MD00084 — Extra Yarn
- MD00085 — Harry the Dirty Dog
- MD00086 — Children Make Terrible Pets
- MD00087 — One Cool Friend
- MD00088 — The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
- MD00089 — Stone Soup
Magic School Bus
- MD00090 — The Magic School Bus: Works Out
- MD00091 — The Magic School Bus: Gets Lost in Space
- MD00092 — The Magic School Bus: Under Construction
Featured New Titles
Patrons would like a list of the Large Print books that we receive. We have over 21,000 titles and receive hundreds, we can’t provide a comprehensive list but we are changing this format to include more titles. Please note, these titles are not in audio format:
Non-Fiction
- PR024640 — A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold
- PR024513 — Becoming Grandma: The Joys and Science of the New Grandparenting by Lesley Stahl
- PR024403 — Buster: The Military Dog Who Saved a Thousand Lives by Will Barrow
- PR024639 — For the Glory: Eric Liddell’s Journey From Olympic Champion to Modern Martyr by Duncan Hamilton
- PR024580 — Master of Ceremonies: A Memoir by Joel Grey
- PR024395 — Rescue Road: One Man, Thirty Thousand Dogs, and a Million Miles on the Last Hope Highway by Peter Zheutlin
- PR024582 — Sailor and Fiddler: Reflections of a 100-Year-Old Author by Herman Wouk
- PR024642 — The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race To Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts by Joshua Hammer
- PR024593 — The Bridge Ladies: A Memoir by Betsy Lerner
- PR024581 — The Doctor Is In: Dr. Ruth On Love, Life, and Joie De Vivre by Ruth Westheimer
- PR024637 — The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee
- PR024427 — The Lovers: Afghanistan’s Romeo and Juliet by Rod Nordland
- PR024511 — The Mathews Men: Seven Brothers and the War Against Hitler’s U-Boats by William Geroux
- PR024428 — The Only Street in Paris: Life On the Rue des Martyrs by Elaine Sciolino
- PR024519 — The Phantom Killer: Unlocking the Mystery of the Texarkana Serial Murders by James Presley
- PR024512 — The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss by Anderson Cooper
- PR024480 — Their Promised Land: My Grandparents In Love and War by Ian Buruma
- PR024578 — Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
General Fiction
- PR024530 — Everybody’s Fool by Richard Russo
- PR024430 — The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
- PR024577 — Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
- PR024445 — Miller’s Valley by Anna Quindlen
- PR024556 — The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Susan Higginbotham
- PR024422 — The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martelli
Mysteries
- PR024423 — Death of a Nurse: Hamish Macbeth #31 by M. C. Beaton
- PR024603 — If Onions Could Spring Leeks: Country Cooking School #5 by Paige Shelton
- PR024417 — Louisiana Saves the Library by Emily Beck Cogburn
- PR024491 — Treachery At Lancaster Gate: Charlotte and Thomas Pitt #31 by Anne Perry
- PR024560 — My Sister’s Grave: Tracy Crosswhite #1 by Robert Dugoni
- PR024412 — The Drowning: Patrik Hedstrom #6 by Camilla Läckberg
Romance and Love Stories
- PR024470 — Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld
- PR024399 — Property of a Noblewoman by Danielle Steel
- PR024626 — Sweet Haven: Home Sweet Home #1 by Shirlee McCoy
- PR024625 — The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer
- PR024620 — The Witches of Cambridge by Menna van Praag
- PR024509 — The Wedding Tree by Robin Wells
Suspense and Thriller
- PR024486 — Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben
- PR024497 — Off the Grid: Joe Pickett #16 by C. J. Box
- PR024569 — Redemption Road by John Hart
- PR024483 — The Devil In Jerusalem: A Novel Inspired By True Events by Naomi Ragen
- PR024471 — The Passenger by Lisa Lutz
- PR024449 — The Travelers by Chris Pavone
Western Fiction
- PR024614 — Destiny, Texas by Brett Cogburn
- PR024498 — Flintlock Kill Or Die: Flintlock #3 by William W. Johnstone
- PR024575 — Free Winds Blow West by L. P. Holmes
- PR024410 — Justice At Redwillow by John D. Nesbitt
- PR024596 — Showdown At Gun Hill by Ralph W. Cotton
- PR024576 — The Poachers Daughter by Michael Zimmer
Young Adult
- PR024468 — Soundless by Richelle Mead
- PR024565 — The Hidden Oracle: Trials of Apollo #1 by Rick Riordan
From the Colorado Collection — Audio Books:
Crossing the Line: Antonio Burns #3
Author: Clinton McKinzie
Narrator: Moni Monismith
Set in the Rocky Mountain West, the story of two brothers: Special Agent Antonio Burns, who wants nothing more than to see his dare-devil brother, Roberto, out of trouble with the law. Contains descriptions of sex, some violence, and strong language. 2004. Adult Fiction. DBC00678
Cowboys, Yogis, And One-Legged Ski Bums: The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary Coloradans
Author: Don Morreale
Narrator: Sharon Huckins
A collection of popular Denver Post articles about the life and times of contemporary Coloradans. Contains some strong language. 2014. Adult Non-Fiction. DBC02945
Giraffes Can’t Dance
Author: Giles Andreae
Narrator: Joe Garcia
A tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance and is finally able to dance to his own tune when he gets some encouraging words from an unlikely friend. Fiction preschool-grade 2. Spanish DBC03098 and English DBC03095
Going Underground: Mount Rushmore, Badlands, Wind Cave
Author: Mike Graf
Narrator: Norma Sierota
The fourth book in the Adventure with the Parkers series, the family goes underground at Wind Cave, experiences severe thunderstorms in the Badlands, and witnesses poachers illegally taking fossilized bones. Fiction ages 8 to 13. 2012. DBC03068
High Trail to Danger
Author: Joan Lowery Nixon
Narrator: Marjorie Braisted
In 1879, seventeen-year-old Sarah travels from Chicago to the violent town of Leadville, Colorado, to locate her missing father. Fiction grades 6 to 9. 1991. DBC03126
Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad
Author: Jacqueline Tobin
Narrator: Louise Hausburg
Traces the origin of the Charleston Code from Africa to the Carolinas, and shows how three people from completely different backgrounds pieced together an amazing American story. 1999. Adult Non-Fiction. DBC03129
I Love You, Stinky Face
Author: Lisa McCourt
Narrator: Joe Garcia
A mother and child discuss how the mother’s love would remain constant even if her child were a stinky skunk, scary ape, or bug-eating green alien. Fiction for preschool-grade 2. Spanish DBC03150 and English DBC03097
Jane and the Man of the Cloth: Jane Austen Mystery #2
Author: Stephanie Barron
Narrator: Cathy Gloeckner
Writer Jane Austen’s family goes for a holiday by the sea. The local customs man asks Jane to carry out an undercover investigation. Adult Fiction. DBC02987
Joaquin Murrieta: The Life of a Legend
Author: Michael Romero
Narrator: Bill Folger
This book examines Joaquin Murrieta as a New world “Robin Hood,” an eth-class hero who led an insurrection in California. 1974. Adult Non-Fiction. DBC03119
Mountains of Silver: The Story of Colorado’s Red Mountain Mining District
Author: P. David Smith
Narrator: Nelson Grabenstetter
The history of the communities that sprang into being around the rich mines of the Red Mountain Mining District in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. 1994. Adult Non-Fiction. DBC03123
No Regrets
Author: Kitty Edwards
Narrator: Karen Cranford
Regrets can hold us back in life; they get in the way of living. This recording includes two articles written by Kitty Edwards, Executive Director of The Living and Dying Consciously Project. 2016. Adult Non-Fiction. DBC03093
Of Time and Change: A Memoir
Author: Frank Waters
Narrator: Moni Monismith
In this collection of essays, Frank Waters presents reminiscences of the time and changes he lived through in Taos in the 40s and 50s. 1998. Adult nonfiction. DBC03125
On a Mission: Mamadou’s Wedding and My Naming Ceremony
Author: Jane Banks McIntosh
Narrator: Karen Cranford
Born and reared in Iowa, McIntosh felt a need to connect with her African roots. This is the story of her pilgrimage to Senegal and Gambia to connect with her ancestry. Adult Non-Fiction. DBC02983
One Drowsy Dragon
Author: Ethan Long
Narrator: John Hickenlooper
As one dragon tries to take a nap, his ten little dragons, in increasing numbers, disturb his sleep by making milk shakes, screaming at scary movies, and playing loud games. Fiction for preschool-grade 2. Spanish DBC03099 and English DBC03096
The Spanish Peaks
Author: Jon Chandler
Narrator: Renee Tewell
For legendary scout and mountain man Sam Tate, the murders of his daughter and her family by a vicious gang of desperados sets in motion an odyssey of reflection and revenge. 1998. Adult Fiction. DBC03124
Rise of the Undead Redhead: Dorothy’s Derby Chronicles #1
Author: Meghan Dougherty
Narrator: Sharon Huckins
Eleven-year-old Dorothy Moore and her younger sister, Sam, must move into their eccentric grandmother’s funeral home; but things get easier when Dorothy discovers Grandma’s old roller skates. Fiction grades 4 to 7. 2016. DBC03065
The Dig: Matt Turner #1
Author: Michael Siemsen
Narrator: Stephanie Briggs
A mysterious artifact is found at a paleontological dig in Africa. Once in Kenya Matt’s mind journeys back in geological time to make a discovery so shocking that it forces us to rewrite all human history. Contains some strong language and violence. 2012. Adult DBC03067
The Mantle Ranch: A Family’s Joys and Sorrows In The Beautiful, Remote Yampa River Canyon
Author: Queeda Mantle Walker
Narrator: Joanne Rudoff
Memories and history of the Mantle family and the ranch they established in the Yampa River Canyon in Colorado with a focus on the life and efforts of Evelyn Fuller Mantle. 2005. Adult DBC02984
The Song of the Hammer and Drill: The Colorado San Juans, 1860-1914
Author: Duane A. Smith
Narrator: Nelson Grabenstetter
Traces the mining and urban history of the San Juans from 1860 to 1914 through the lives of people who opened, settled, and developed the beautiful but rugged mineral-laden peaks of southwestern Colorado. 2001. Adult DBC03128
The Spirituality of Gentleness: Growing Toward Christian Wholeness
Author: Judith C. Lechman
Narrator: Sharyl Baasch
In a world of terrorism, television violence, and alienation, Judith Lechman calls us back to a central Christian virtue — the gift of strong gentleness, a gift that is not always appreciated or understood. 1987. Adult DBC02994
Timberline Tailings: Tales of Colorado’s Ghost Towns and Mining Camps
Author: Muriel Sibell Wolle
Narrator: Nelson Embleton
Based on letters and interviews of the hardy men and women who met the challenges of the gold and silver mining camps of Colorado with stamina, ingenuity, and a keen love of life. For adult readers. 1993. Adult DBC03121
What Really Matters: 7 Lessons for Living from the Stories of the Dying
Author: Karen M Wyatt
Narrator: Norine Domenico
A hospice physician relates stories about the end-of-life spiritual wisdom of several dying patients and their families in order to offer seven profound lessons to change one’s perspective toward suffering, life, and death. 2016. Adult DBC03077
You Get What You Need: Stories of Fans of The Rolling Stones
Author: Andrea J. Baker
Narrator: Laverne Rios
Author Dr. Andrea Baker talked to over 100 people from online communities to compile these experiences of Rolling Stones fans of different ages, from different countries, and from different fan boards. Contains some descriptions of sex and strong language. 2014. Adult DBC03057
Friends of the CTBL Board
As most readers of this publication are aware, CTBL is blessed in having a strong and creative Friends of the CTBL Board whose mission is to assist the library by raising money to enhance library revenue beyond the budget provided by the State of Colorado. The Friends are crucial to this library and its ability to serve its patrons. The board is currently seeking interested candidates. They are particularly interested in those with management level experience or who will contribute to fundraising efforts. Meetings are held the third Tuesday night of January, April, July and October from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Attendance in person is required and transportation is not reimbursed.
For more information or an application, please email ctbl.info@cde.state.co.us, or visit http://www.friendsofctbl.org/index.htm
Contributors to The Friends of the Colorado Talking Book Library and The Colorado Talking Book Library
The list of contributors to Colorado Talking Book Library and the Friends of CTBL from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, has been omitted from this format. Interested parties may access this information through the PDF version of our newsletter. Further assistance may be requested through the Reader Advisors.
Wanted — Finished reading your books & magazines?
Please send them back when you have finished reading. Other patrons may be waiting to read those titles. And for the newsletters and magazines the cartridges need to be reused.
Legacy Gifts
Legacy gifts to the Friends of CTBL are a vital way to ensure ongoing support for all the services the library provides to patrons. The Friends have established Eyes to the Future that honors and recognizes the generosity and vision of patrons, families and friends who have chosen to leave a legacy through their estates or other deferred gifts.
We invite you to become a member of Eyes to the Future. Enrollment in this honorary group is simply a matter of advising us about your plans to make a legacy gift, such as a bequest in a will or living trust, or designating The Friends of CTBL as beneficiary of an individual retirement plan, 401k or life insurance policy. The Friends of CTBL is a public 501(c)(3) charity and the tax ID is 23-7243950.
Contributions to The Friends of the Colorado Talking Book Library and The Colorado Talking Book Library
An additional way to contribute to either the Friends or to CTBL is through a charitable bequest as part of a will or through life insurance. You do not have to rewrite your current document but can add a written amendment called a codicil. Such a bequest only becomes irrevocable at your death. Giving to the library helps support the programs and service we provide to our patrons and helps to secure the future.
AmazonSmile
The AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to charitable organizations. If you make purchases through Amazon, try AmazonSmile and designate The Friends of CTBL as a recipient of charitable donations. Several patrons have already done this. Thanks!
How to Reach Us:
Colorado Talking Book Library
180 Sheridan Blvd.
Denver, CO 80226
303-727-9277—metro Denver
1-800-685-2136—outside Denver
www.myctbl.org
- Katy Anthes, Interim Commissioner of Education
- Eugene Hainer, State Librarian
- Debbi MacLeod, Director, CTBL
Social Media:
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The Colorado Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or age, in access to, employment in, or provision of any of CDE’s programs, benefits, or activities.
This newsletter was published with funding from the Friends of CTBL.
