Update
July-September 1996, Vol. 19, No. 3
ISSN 0160-9203

National Library Service 
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
The Library of Congress

Cincinnati Elfuns host Pioneers, receive NLS appreciation award

The Cincinnati Chapter of the Senior Elfun Talking-Book Repair
Project hosted a first-ever meeting with Telephone Pioneers
regional coordinators August 2. The coordinators had scheduled
their annual meeting in Cincinnati August 1-3 to provide an
opportunity for this exchange of ideas between members of the
two major machine-repair groups.
     At a recognition event held in conjunction with the
meeting, Brad Kormann, NLS materials development chief, thanked
the Elfuns for their service to the machine-repair program.
Roger Verny, state librarian for planning, evaluation, and
research, and Robert Henderson, chairperson for the Cincinnati
Chapter, also participated in this event. 
     "We are very grateful to the Cincinnati Elfuns for their
leadership and for the quality of their machine repairs. We
especially appreciate their aggressive approach to solving
repair problems," said Mr. Kormann.
     He also cited Judith Bow, head of the State Library of Ohio
Talking Book Program, for her leadership in promoting the
volunteer machine-repair program. In addition, Ms. Bow was
instrumental in organizing both the Pioneers recognition
ceremony held on April 15 and the Elfun recognition ceremony on
August 2.
     Stuart Beekman, project leader for the Cincinnati Elfuns,
commented, "It was a privilege to meet the Telephone Pioneers
and to exchange information."
     He notes that the Cincinnati Chapter has worked hard to be
"one of your highest quality producers of overhauled machines"
since the group began service in 1990.
     The Cincinnati Chapter was also instrumental in initiating
the NLS study of machine-repair problems that led to the
Volunteer Repair Project (VRP). Having received training from
NLS staff in previous years, the Elfuns are currently doing
their own training under the Train the Trainer program.
(photo caption: NLS's Brad Kormann presents an appreciation
plaque to the Cincinnati Elfuns. From left: John Betchkal,
National Senior Elfun representative; Stuart Beekman, project
leader; Bob Henderson, Cincinnati Chapter chairperson; Brad
Kormann, NLS; Judith Bow, State Library of Ohio Talking Book
Program head. Photo by Elfun Society.)
                              ###

QA procedures improve machine repair

Machine-repair groups using quality assurance (QA) procedures,
NLS repair standards, and new test equipment improve their
performance dramatically, according to statistics compiled in an
NLS pilot program. "These numbers show that for really great
improvements in machine repairs, quality assurance is a must,"
says Brad Kormann, NLS materials development chief, who heads a
program to improve volunteer machine repair.
     A comparison between the performance of machines repaired
prior to 1994 and results of the pilot program shows that the
number of flawless machines rose from 9.4 percent to 45.5
percent, while the number of still faulty machines dropped from
42.8 percent to 25 percent.
     The 1994 statistics were reported in a study by NLS
consultants and reflect the performance of eight hundred
repaired machines at twenty libraries nationwide. (See _Update,_
April-June 1995.)
     Figures for the pilot study were compiled from five groups
that volunteered to test the effectiveness of the NLS QA
procedures. Numbers reflect repairs by the pilot groups from
December 1995 through June 1996. 
     The pilot involves repair groups in Charleston, West
Virginia; Denver, Colorado; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; San
Antonio, Texas; and Wichita, Kansas. Volunteers in these groups
received special training in the use of machine-testing
equipment and newly developed NLS repair standards. Groups were
urged to appoint a QA inspector to make sure each machine
performs satisfactorily after repair. In current practice, the
volunteer who repairs the machine also verifies the machine's
performance. 
     To gauge the effectiveness of the QA procedures, each group
sent a sample of its repaired machines to NLS for evaluation.
There, technicians rated machines using a point scale developed
for the 1994 study. A defect rating of zero indicates that the
machine shows no defects in the forty-four checkpoints
evaluated. A score of up to twenty defect points indicates a
machine is probably usable. If a machine has a defect rating of
more than twenty, it is probably unusable and is considered to
have failed the test.
     Each point checked in the evaluation is assigned defect
points in proportion to the seriousness of the defect. For
example, a defective battery would cost twenty points, while a
noncritical out-of-spec torque test would cost only five points.
A problem such as imprecise torque would not likely be noticed
by a talking-book reader. As QA procedures are perfected, repair
groups will be able to catch and correct more of the problems
still present in their repaired machines and to ensure that
machines sent out as repaired are really problem free.
     The effectiveness of the QA inspection becomes even more
apparent when the results obtained in the five pilot groups are
compared. The four groups using a QA inspector all improved
performance, while the group not using a QA inspector actually
showed a higher "failure" rate than the 1994 national average. 
     In addition to comparing the performance of the pilot
repair groups with the 1994 national average, NLS can also
compare the actual "before" and "after" performance of one of
the pilot groups. Group 2 was one of the repair sites that
participated in the 1994 study. For this group, the percentage
of machines that had no defect points went from 3.4 percent in
1994 to 66.7 percent with the use of QA procedures. Machine
failures dropped from 72.4 percent to 25 percent.
     "What the pilot shows is that repair groups with no QA
procedures continue to send out machines with problems, while
repair groups that have appointed a QA inspector and now inspect
to the standard have improved the quality of their outgoing
machines," says Robert Kost, head of quality assurance at NLS.
     The need to improve the quality of machine repairs had long
been noted by repair volunteers and was highlighted in a 1994
study by ManTech, a consulting firm NLS hired to develop
information about the machine-repair program. In the fall of
1993, NLS began gathering recommendations from repair groups and
others, and these recommendations were incorporated into the
repair standards now being used in the pilot. 
     Meanwhile, the training program for repair volunteers,
including introduction of the repair standards, new test
equipment, and QA inspection, was extended nationwide in January
1996. (See _Update,_ October-December 1995 and April-June 1996.)
(figure caption: Machines repaired in NLS pilot program compared
with machines tested in 1994.)
(figure caption: Machines repaired by Group 2 in the NLS pilot
program compared with machines repaired by Group 2 in 1994
study.)
                              ###

      MachinesZero defectsRejections
       1994 ManTech study9.4%42.8%
    Pilot Group 1 (QA inspection)53.6%21.4%
    Pilot Group 2 (QA inspection)66.7%25.0%
    Pilot Group 3 (QA inspection)46.4%17.9%
    Pilot Group 4 (QA inspection)25.0%25.0%
   Pilot Group 5 (No QA inspection)12.5%62.5%
                              ###

Network libraries thank volunteers

Virginia
Volunteers at the Fairfax County Public Library Access Services
were honored at two events during the county's Volunteer
Recognition Week, April 21-27.
     Wellington Machmer received an engraved Napoleon clock for
his three thousand hours of service. Ed Ruch and Pat McPhee were
awarded Jefferson cups for their one thousand hours each. The
awards were presented by Herbert Doyle, president of the Library
Board, and Kate Wanderer, volunteer coordinator for the Fairfax
County Library. 
     On April 26, Ed Ruch and Wellington Machmer were again
recognized for their service by the Volunteer Center of Fairfax
County at an awards ceremony held at the McLean Hilton. Susan
Allen, wife of the governor of Virginia, delivered the keynote
address, speaking about the value of volunteers to Fairfax
County residents.
     Volunteer recognition activities concluded with a festive
barbecue for all twenty-five of the Access Service volunteers.
     "The generosity and expertise of these twenty-five
wonderful people are vital to the quality of service the Access
Services is able to provide to our patrons," says Carole
McElvain, volunteer coordinator. 

Montana
More than eighty Montana State Library volunteers, most of whom
serve the Talking Book Library, were honored at a May 31
appreciation banquet that culminated a week of volunteer
activities. In 1995 these volunteers donated 14,900 hours of
service.
     Two volunteers received special awards. The Narrator of the
Year award went to JoAnn Mayala for eight years of service -

during which she recorded seventeen books. Beverly Hill received
the We Can Count on You award for her willingness to tackle any
task that needed to be done. 
     Ten volunteers received recognition for five years of
service. All the volunteers received stained-glass hearts
handcrafted by Talking Book Library staff during evenings and
weekends.  
     Sandra Jarvie, talking-book services librarian, introduced
special guests: Mike Schultz, who brought greetings and praises
for the volunteers from the State Library Commission, and Linda
Brander and Sheena LaMere, both former volunteer coordinators of
the Talking Book Library. They each congratulated the volunteers
and reflected on the history of the volunteer program. 
     Freddie Peaco, NLS government information/volunteer
specialist, was the guest speaker. Focusing on the dinner theme
Circle of Giving, Mrs. Peaco highlighted the important role
volunteers play in providing library services to people who are
blind and physically handicapped, on the national level and
around the library network. 
     Sixty-four volunteers, spouses, and guests attended the
event.
     Earlier in the week, Mrs. Peaco and Gen Allen, volunteer
coordinator for the Talking Book Library, conducted a workshop
on Volunteer/Staff Interaction for the State Library staff.
Fourteen people attended the day-long workshop, which covered
such topics as the orientation process; training, teaching, and
coaching volunteers; recognizing volunteers; and legal issues
affecting volunteers. In another half-day session led by Mrs.
Peaco, six members of the Talking Book Library staff discussed
issues of specific concern to the Talking Book Library volunteer
program. Ideas and questions focused on recruiting and methods
of categorizing awards. 

Florida
The Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
hosted its 22nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the
Daytona Hilton on April 26. 
     Doug Hall, head of Consumer and Community Relations,
presented the following special awards: Volunteer of the Year,
Jane Henderson; Diplomat, Frances Smith; Versatility, Beatrice
Beckenbach; Special Achievement, Erv and Jean Perkins.
     Bureau staff recognized other outstanding volunteers with
certificates of appreciation for dedicated service to the
Bureau's patrons. Mr. Hall stated that there are three hundred
volunteers who make library services a reality for more than
39,000 individuals in Florida.
     Mrs. Freddie Peaco, NLS government information/volunteer
specialist, pointed out the important role volunteers play in
library service to people with print disabilities.
     An award-winning local high school chorus entertained the
160 volunteers and other guests.
     Preceding the appreciation luncheon, Mrs. Peaco had led
eight staff members in a workshop on the evaluation process for
programs and volunteers.
(photo caption: Ed Ruch, Fairfax, Virginia, 1,000-hour
volunteer, uses the library's adaptive workstation.)
                              ###

Nevada opens large-cell library

The Northern Nevada Braille Transcribers group has opened a free
lending library of large-cell braille books. The volumes are all
transcribed in grade 2 braille, and a list of the titles is
available on request. The books are produced on brailon plastic,
and director Lois Baskerville suggests that they are easier to
read if a piece of cardboard is placed behind the page to keep
the dots beneath from bleeding through.
     Large-cell braille is intended for touch-impaired braille
readers or those readers trained to read Jumbo braille. A more
recent improvement over Jumbo braille, large-cell braille has
sharp, clear dots with increased spacing between dots, cells,
and lines.
     Anyone interested in borrowing books or obtaining further
information should write to Northern Nevada Braille
Transcribers, 1015 Oxford Avenue, Sparks, NV 89431-3037, Attn.:
Lois Baskerville, Director.
                              ###

Ohio braillest dies

Caroline Skall, braille transcriber and instructor and member of
the board of trustees of the Cleveland Society for the Blind
Sight Center, died at her home on April 16, 1996. 
     Certified in literary braille transcribing in 1959, she
served continuously as a braille volunteer at the Center for
thirty-seven years and as a member of its board of trustees
since 1986. She transcribed braille textbooks for students in
all subjects, including college French, German, Spanish, and
Russian. Although she did not understand Russian, she learned
the Cyrillic alphabet and was one of the few braillists in the
United States who could transcribe Russian braille. 
     Mrs. Skall worked at her home each morning for at least
four hours and spent every Thursday in the volunteer office
cleaning the shelves and brailling a variety of requested
materials, such as business forms, restaurant menus, and other
small items. 
     She brailled until a few months before her death and,
according to Center records, transcribed 177,500 pages of
braille, not including the many items she brailled for
individuals beyond her work for the Center. 
     A braille instructor for many years, Mrs. Skall was
described by her students as a structured and strict teacher who
demanded the highest quality braille. When asked how long it
takes to learn braille transcription, she would reply, "You
never stop learning. It takes about nine months to learn
braille, but you're always learning new things." 
     A passionate proponent of volunteerism, Mrs. Skall received
many honors for her dedication to helping visually impaired
individuals maintain their independent access to print
materials.
     In 1995 she received the Eye-Deal Volunteer Award of the
Cleveland Sight Center. "In her customary modest way, Mrs. Skall
accepted the plaque on behalf of all volunteers," says Marlene
Smith, chairperson of the braille services program. "She spoke
of the good feelings she derived from coming into the Sight
Center and working with other volunteers and the staff. She also
stated, as she often did, that her years brailling have been of
greater benefit to her than to those who receive her braille." 
     In 1990 Mrs. Skall was named Volunteer of the Year by the
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and
Visually Impaired (AER) of Ohio. She also received a certificate
of achievement from the Federation for Community Planning.
     As a member of the Center's board of trustees, Mrs. Skall
secured funds to support its programs and recruited volunteers
to assist the agency's staff. She also brailled financial
information for a blind board member. 
     Born in Philadelphia, Mrs. Skall moved to Cleveland with
her husband, Arthur, in the 1930s. She is survived by a son,
three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Her husband
and a son preceded her in death.
                              ###

Lehigh Valley guild cofounder dies

Miriam N. Nelson, cofounder of the Lehigh Valley Braille Guild
in Allentown, Pennsylvania, died in November 1995 at the age of
seventy-six. 
     "Miriam contributed thousands of hours to braille
transcribing and to the Guild, and recipients of her work
appreciated her dedicated service," says Joanne Jaindl,
president of the Lehigh Valley Braille Guild.
     Mrs. Nelson brailled both literary and music materials and
contributed 24,000 volunteer hours. She was a life member of
National Braille Association (NBA) and would have received her
twenty-year award from NBA in 1996. 
     Mrs. Nelson earned her Library of Congress certification in
literary braille transcription in 1966. While studying braille,
she met Thelma Revelle, a braillist from California, and later
that same year, the two women founded the Lehigh Valley Braille
Guild to help blind children being mainstreamed into the public
schools.
     Mrs. Nelson also served as president of the Guild for eight
years. She received certification in braille music transcription
from the Library of Congress in 1976 and taught a weekly class
in braille transcription at the Association for the Blind and
Visually Impaired, where she was honored for her services in
1984.
     In 1987 she and her husband became the first couple to
receive the Service to Mankind award from the Sertoma Club of
Allentown. At that time she had volunteered more than 18,000
hours. 
                              ###

Braille student-instructor dialog

The Braille Development Section receives numerous questions
concerning a variety of problems in braille transcribing. This
article will address some of them. The question-and-answer
format is intended to give clarity.
Student: The book I am transcribing contains a lot of decimal
fractions. I have a few questions about how to transcribe them
into braille.
First, when a decimal fraction is joined to a whole number to
form a decimal mixed number, where is the number sign placed? 
Instructor: The number sign is placed only before the whole
number. (See Section 28F of the official code, _English Braille
American Edition 1994._)
Student: When two decimal fractions or a decimal fraction and a
whole number are connected by a dash, should the dash be changed
to a hyphen?
Instructor: No. Follow print.
Student: Should the number sign be repeated when two decimal
fractions, a decimal fraction and a whole number, or a decimal
fraction and a decimal mixed number are connected by a hyphen or
a dash?
Instructor: Yes. Regardless of sequence, the number sign must be
repeated in all instances cited above. Examples: #.125-#.625 
#.75--#1.00  #.75--#1.9
Student: When a whole number and a decimal mixed number are
connected by a hyphen or a dash, should the number sign also be
repeated? 
Instructor: Yes. Examples: #3-#4.5  #4.5--#3.
Student: Is it ever permissible to divide a decimal fraction?
Instructor: Regardless of length, a decimal fraction should
never be divided between braille lines.
Student: The book I am transcribing also contains a lot of
irregular paragraph indentions. How is this situation handled in
braille?
Instructor: Where print ignores normal paragraph indentation or
uses all capital letters for the first few words at the
beginning of a chapter or other division, this practice should
be disregarded in braille. Such paragraphs should be indented
into the third cell, and normal capitalization should be used.
(See Section 2.2 of the _Instruction Manual for Braille
Transcribing, 1984._)
Student: Sometimes blank lines are left between paragraphs
throughout the entire print text. Should these blank lines be
retained in braille?
Instructor: Never leave a blank line between paragraphs unless
the print indicates a break in thought or scene by means of
extra spacing.
                              ###

Volunteers master new skills

During the months of April, May, and June 1996, certificates in
braille transcribing were awarded to forty-six persons in
literary braille transcribing and one in mathematics braille
transcribing. 

LITERARY BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS

Alabama
Paige G. Finn, Talladega

California
Elaine L. Betschart, Sacramento
Hazel M. Biedermann, Lafayette
Dixie L. Heins, Irvine
Terry Jill Rickert, Byron

Florida
Carol L. Cowan, St. Augustine
Ailea M. Lins, Seminole
Sandra L. Marshall, St. Petersburg

Indiana
Angie D. Hill, South Bend

Iowa
Joe L. Hargrave, Anamosa
Ross Anthony Neyens, Anamosa
Steven A. Parham, Anamosa

Kansas
Randolph Cabral, Topeka

Michigan
Donald Lewis, Jackson
Vincent Rosales Jr., Jackson

Minnesota
Marshara P. King, Minneapolis
Edward L. Mahaffey, Duluth
Red E. Mayo, Duluth
Debbie Stirtz, Bloomington
Matthew J. Weiler, Duluth
Bette J. Williams, Brooklyn Park

Nebraska
James D. Nunnally, Lincoln

Nevada
Arturo Benitez, Indian Springs
Dwayne Dixon, Indian Springs
Randy Eric Fuller, Indian Springs
Jane A. Hollowood, Las Vegas
Rodney Stevenson, Indian Springs

New Jersey
Patricia A. Cash, Lavallette
Janet Harvey, Ho-Ho-Kus

New York
Kelly A. Brown, Webster
Virginia M. Knopp, Mendon
Joan M. Razzante, Rochester

Ohio
Robert Allen, London

Oregon
Muriel E. Donker, Hillsboro

Pennsylvania
Leona Cottom, Cambridge Springs

South Dakota
Raymond L. Allen, Yankton
James R. Chivell, Yankton
Daniel J. Feist, Yankton
Robert Lee Ridout, Yankton

Utah
Charlotte W. Ovard, Salt Lake City

Washington
Jeryl Lynn Brenner, Bremerton
Margot Schuetze, Bellingham

West Virginia
Sheila W. Simmons, Huttonsville
Ward A. Weaver, Huttonsville

Wisconsin
Frank A. Normington, Oshkosh
Patricia A. Popp, Madison

MATHEMATICS BRAILLE TRANSCRIBER

Steven M. Jacob, Lincoln, Nebraska
                              ###

Meetings

National Braille Association (NBA)
     Friday, October 25-Saturday, October 26, fall meetings and
workshops, Ramada Plaza, Minnetonka, Minnesota.
     Thursday, April 24-Saturday, April 26, 1997, twentieth
National Conference, Wyndham Hotel, Austin, Texas.
     For information on these meetings, contact National Braille
Association, Three Townline Circle, Rochester, NY 14623-2513;
(716) 427-8260.

California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually
Handicapped (CTEVH)
     Thursday, April 17-Saturday, April 19, 1997, CTEVH XXXVIII
Annual Conference, Cathedral Hill Hotel, San Francisco,
California.
     For information about this meeting, contact Mike Cole, 400
Adams Street, Albany, CA 94706, (510) 559-1101.
                              ###

Bar codes to identify NLS machines

Perhaps the most frequently recommended improvement to the
handling of NLS machines--bar-code labeling--was initiated this
summer with the bar-code labeling of new C-1 machines and their
cartons. The labels are expected to make it easier for NLS to
keep track of where each machine is and of its repair history. 
     The labels are durable and have high-quality adhesive and a
protective coating.
     The bar-code label shows the machine's unique identifier in
large print over the bar code. The unique identifier consists of
two fields separated by a dash, for example "C1-9999999." The
first field contains the model designator--for example,"C1"--and
the second field contains the serial number. The model
designator may contain up to four alphanumeric characters, none
of which can be a dash. The serial number contains seven numeric
characters. If necessary, leading zeros are used to fill all
seven places in the serial number field. A check digit is
embedded in the bar code at the end of the serial number field.
It is not printed.
     The label is placed on the front of the equipment. The
unique identifier is also embossed on the metal label that
contains the Underwriter's Laboratory information and contract
number. This metal label is placed on the bottom of the
equipment.
                              ###

Gerri Beeson, Oklahoma, retires

The Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
(OLBPH) hosted a reception for Gerri Beeson, retiring special
services supervisor, on April 22. Festivities began with a
lunchtime fish fry and continued with a reception including
personnel from other parts of the agency and the rehabilitation
department and friends and family. 
     Ms. Beeson came to OLBPH in April 1983 as head of the
Special Services Division, which included the volunteer and
textbook program. In 1990 she served for a short time as acting
library director. She started the library newsletter, _Bright
Future,_ and organized the Oklahomans for Special Library
Services. 
     Before joining the library staff, Ms. Beeson had served as
a Peace Corps volunteer, a recruiter covering seven states, and
the national coordinator for the Swaziland National Society for
the Handicapped. She also taught in the Upward Bound program,
trained Head Start teachers, and worked as a speech therapist
and a counselor. 
     Ms. Beeson is the founding president of Central Oklahoma
Volunteer Administrators, and in her spare time she serves as a
group instructor for the county Youth Services.
                              ###

_Update_ is published quarterly by: National Library Service for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20542
Correspondence should be addressed to Publications and Media
Section.

Coordinating editor: Freddie Peaco
Publication editor: Ruth Nieland
Braille student-instructor dialog: John Wilkinson
                              ###





*** 10/28/96 (gft) ***

Comments to:  lcmarvel@loc.gov