From: patt@squid.tram.com (Patt Bromberger)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: A Guide to Using the Services of Recording For The Blind
Summary: Electronic Books : Audio and Computerized Books
Keywords: Electronic Books
Date: 31 Aug 92 20:50:50 GMT
Reply-To: patt@squid.tram.com (Patt Bromberger)
Organization: Tramway Unix Systems
X-Fidonet: None

Index Number: 24088

Uploaded with the permission of
Mr. John Churchill,
Vice President-Production,
Recording for the Blind, Princeton, New Jersey, USA

A GUIDE TO USING RFB'S SERVICES
Recording for the Blind
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 452-0606
Fax (609) 987-8116
For Customer Service: (800) 221-4792

A GUIDE TO USING RFB'S SERVICES

CONTENTS

I.   GENERAL INFORMATION 1
          What Is Recording for the Blind?   1
          Eligibility and Registration  1
          Special Equipment Needed 3
          RFB Catalogs   4
          Copyright and Use Restrictions     4

II.  THE AUDIOCASSETTE LIBRARY     5
          Format of RFB Books 5
          How to Order Taped Books 6
          Alternate Methods of Ordering 7
          How Orders Are Processed 9
          Mailing of Recorded Books     9
          Length of Loan Period    10
          Return of Recorded Books 10

III. THE RECORDING SERVICE    12
          Recording Policies  12
          How to Have a Book Recorded   13
          How Recording Requests Are Processed    13
          Recording Time 14
          Vo-Tech Recording   15
          Private Basis Recording  15

IV.  THE E-TEXT COLLECTION    17
          What Is E-text?     17
          How to Order E-text 17

V.   RFB AWARD PROGRAMS  19
          The Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards    19
          The Learning Through Listening Awards   19

VI.  APPENDIX 1: LIST OF RFB RECORDING STUDIOS    20

This booklet is available in cassette form upon request.

PAGE 1

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
What Is Recording for the Blind?

Recording for the Blind, or just RFB, is a nonprofit service
organization that provides educational and professional books in
accessible media to people with print disabilities. RFB has an
extensive free library of books on audiocassette and a recording
service for new titles. An additional service is E-text  books on
computer disk, which are available for purchase.

On audiocassette, RFB records educational and professional books in
all subjects and at all academic levels from fourth grade through
postgraduate studies. These include textbooks, research materials,
and a variety of computer manuals, as well as fiction, drama, and
poetry in a number of languages. Our E-text collection presently
contains primarily computer titles, including software
documentation. Selected reference and law books are also available
in E-text.

To provide these resources, RFB relies on the support of many
generous donors individuals, corporations, foundations, and public
agencies and the dedication of volunteers nationwide.

Eligibility and Registration

Individuals

RFB's services are available to anyone with a documented print
disability. For our purposes, this term includes not only blindness
and visual impairments, but also learning disabilities and other
physical impairments that affect reading. Mobility limitations that
interfere with reading (turning pages or holding a book
comfortably, for example) are included under the heading, other
physical impairments. We serve students at all academic levels, as
well as people who use educational and professional materials to
pursue careers or personal interests.

To become a lifetime member of RFB, send us your application for
service and include a one-time registration fee of $25. An
application form is available from our Customer Services Department
at (800) 221-4792 or from any RFB studio. The registration fee may
be paid by check or money order, purchase order, MasterCard, or
VISA. Please make checks and money orders payable to RFB. If you
are paying by credit card or purchase order, you can save mailing
time by faxing us your application to (609) 987-8116. First-time
book orders may also be included with your application if you
choose.

Parts II and III of the four-page application form are a disability
verification, and a certification, respectively. These should be
completed by a professional in disability services, education,
medicine, psychology or a related field.

PAGE 2

The certifying professional may be any professional in these fields
who is familiar with your print disability  he or she does not need
to be the same person who administered medical or educational
testing. For example, a college coordinator of disability services
may complete the application for a visually impaired student using
information supplied by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Or, to
complete a learning disabled student's application, a high school
special education teacher may use the results of testing given by
the school psychologist.

As an alternative to having the certification (Part III) signed, if
you are receiving services from a cooperating network library for
the blind and physically handicapped, send us a copy of a mailing
label from any book, catalog, or magazine that you have received
from this service. We will accept it in place of the certification
section. For applicants in Canada or the United Kingdom: if you are
registered with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind
(CNIB), Crane Memorial Library of the University of British
Columbia, or the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), you
may send similar proof of registration with them as certification
of disability. If you choose one of these certification
alternatives, please complete the disability verification (Part II)
yourself; this information is helpful to us for statistical
purposes.

When we process your application, we will use your social
security number as your RFB identification number. If you do not
have a social security number (or prefer not to provide it), we
will assign another RFB identification number. Our order processing
system is entirely computerized and this number should be provided
in all your correspondence with us.

Institutions

Schools, agencies, and other institutions providing services to
individuals with print disabilities may apply for an RFB
institutional membership for purchase of electronic materials. This
entitles an authorized representative of the institution to
purchase E-text materials produced by RFB for use by print-disabled
students or clients of the institution and requires that this
representative take reasonable precautions to ensure that
copyrighted E-text materials are not duplicated.

At the present time, institutional membership is limited to the
purchase of E-text materials. RFB is currently developing a pilot
program to explore institutional membership for the audiocassette
library, which we anticipate will have several components and
eventually be administered as an annual membership.

To register for institutional membership, call our Customer
Services department at (800) 221-4792
and ask for an institutional registration form. Send the completed
form and a one-time registration fee of $25 to the attention of our
Registrar, in the Consumer Marketing department. As with individual
registrations, the institutional registration fee may be paid by
check or money order, purchase order, MasterCard, or VISA.

PAGE 3

Special Equipment Needed

For Audiocassette Books

RFB's recorded books require special equipment  a cassette machine
that will play 15/16 ips (inches per second), 4-track cassettes.
This is not the standard speed and format of cassette players sold
in retail stores. It is, however, the same speed and format used to
produce the Library of Congress talking books. Therefore, if you
receive services from a cooperating network library for the blind
and physically handicapped, you may already have a compatible
cassette machine on loan from your library. If not, or if you would
like to own a machine, you may purchase one from RFB.

The model we offer is called the Talkman IV.  Manufactured by
Panasonic, it has been adapted for both 4-track and 2-track use by
Technology for Independence (TFI), a well-known producer of
adaptive devices. The Talkman IV is small and portable, weighing
only 7.5 ounces, and has a built-in speaker and microphone,
variable speed control, and cue and review features for access to
specific sections. Headphones and an AC adaptor are included at no
extra charge.

The Talkman IV is available from RFB for $165. Shipping and
handling charges are $3 in the U.S., $8 for Canada, and $30 for all
other locations. An optional carrying case is available for $10 and
an optional extended warranty is an additional $15. For more
information or to order a Talkman, call Customer Services at (800)
221-4792.

For E- text Materials

RFB's E-text materials require a personal computer  IBM or
compatible, Apple, or MacIntosh  or a computer system that is
compatible with one of these formats. (For disk sizes available,
please see The E-text Collection on page 17.) You will also need
adaptive equipment for the reading output method of your choice
braille, synthetic speech, or enlarged print.

RFB does not sell computer hardware, software, or adaptive
equipment. For information on these products, you may wish to
contact any of the following:

National Technology Center of the American Foundation for the Blind
(212) 620-2080

National Braille and Technology Center for the Blind of the
National Federation of the Blind
(301) 659-9314

Apple Customer Assistance OR Apple Dealer Referral
(800) 776-2333 (800) 538-9696

IBM Special Needs
(800) 426-2133

Trace Center
(608) 262-6966

PAGE 4

RFB Catalogs

RFB's catalog is available for purchase in three formats: on
audiocassette, in print, and on computer disk.

On audiocassette, we offer the Quarterly Recorded Catalog (QRC),
which is available by subscription for $12 per year. The QRC is on
4-track cassette at 15/16 ips, the same speed and format as RFB's
taped books. Each quarterly issue contains listings of
approximately 350 titles recently added to RFB's audiocassette and
E-text collections. A brief description of each book is provided
and titles are arranged by subject. RFB shelf numbers are included
for easy ordering.

The print catalog is sold as a complete set ($20) or in two
separate editions, $14 and $6, respectively. The 1984/85 cumulative
edition ($14) contains listings of approximately 60,000 titles in
our audiocassette library as of May 1984. Its successor, the
1985-89 edition ($6), contains all titles recorded by RFB between
May 1984 and February 1990. Subject headings and RFB shelf numbers
are included in both.

A Quarterly Disk Catalog (QDC) will be available for annual
subscription in the spring of 1992. It, too, will include RFB shelf
numbers with listings of new RFB titles.

To subscribe to the QRC or QDC, to purchase the print catalog, or
for additional information on any of these, call Customer Services
at (800) 221-4792.

Copyright and Use Restrictions

All RFB's audiocassette and E-text titles are produced with
specific permission of the publisher or copyright holder. Our books
are only to be used by registered members of RFB and may not be
copied or reproduced as this would be in violation of these
copyright agreements.

For this reason, schools and agencies who correspond on behalf of
their students or clients are asked to ensure that all books
ordered are for the sole use of the RFB member in whose name the
order was submitted. We appreciate the cooperation of all our
consumers in adhering to these agreements.

PAGE 5

II. THE AUDIOCASSETTE LIBRARY

RFB's 79,000-volume master tape library is the largest resource of
its kind in the world. It contains textbooks and other educational
and professional titles in all subjects: the social sciences,
including economics, sociology, and history; the health sciences,
including medicine, nursing, health  technology, and physical and
occupational therapy; the pure sciences, including math, chemistry,
and biology; engineering; business and management; education; law;
psychology and philosophy; theology and religious studies; language
instruction, in English and other languages; music, art, and
architecture; and vocational and technical instruction. Our library
also includes such items as published reports; research and
secondary source materials; a variety of computer manuals; and
fiction, drama, and poetry in a number of languages.

Format of RFB Books

Track Arrangement

Cassettes from books in RFB's master tape library are duplicated in
a 4-track format and contain up to four hours of recording. To play
a 4-track cassette, place the track selector switch in the 1-2
position. After track 1, turn the cassette over for track 2. When
track 2 is finished, turn the cassette over again and move the
track selector switch to the 3-4 position, which provides access
to track 3. For track 4, turn the cassette over a final time.

Sequence of the Transcription

RFB's general practice is to record everything in a book. (An
exception to this is the index, which is only recorded in computer
manuals.) All graphics, that is, figures, diagrams, charts, graphs,
and illustrations, are described, unless otherwise noted on the
tape or unless the book is part of our Vo-Tech recording program
(see page 15). Descriptions are generally read at or near the point
where the item is mentioned in the text, most often at the end of
a paragraph.

Reading progresses sequentially throughout a book from
beginning to end. Exceptions to this  for example, a glossary or
appendix  are noted in the table of contents with a reader's
note. If these sections are short, they are generally recorded
either before or after the main text; if they are long (more than
one track), they are recorded on a separate tape.

Tone Indexing

RFB's books are recorded with tone indexing to aid you in locating
material on a tape. A single beep tone indicates a page number;
double beep tones generally signify major book divisions, such as
chapters, units, or sections.

PAGE 6

Beep tones are audible only at fast
forward and reverse on cassette machines that are adapted for this
system. In the play mode, a beep tone sounds like a low hum and
does not interfere with the sound of the reader's voice.

How to Order Taped Books

Taped books can be ordered from RFB's master tape library in two
ways: 1) by author and title, when you know specific books you
need; and 2) by subject, when you need material on a particular
topic but don't know of specific books.

Orders by author and title

RFB's Customer Services Department processes all book orders by
author and title. Orders are accepted through the mail, over the
telephone, and by fax machine.

Regardless of the method by which they are placed, orders must
include your RFB identification number and current mailing address.
Specific book information is also necessary: complete title and
subtitle, full name of author(s), copyright date, edition, and, if
applicable, grade level. The book's RFB shelf number is not
required, but should be provided if available, as it will expedite
order processing. (The shelf number is a two letter, three digit
combination, for example, DE703, found in RFB catalogs or subject
bibliographies.)

Telephone orders may be placed over the following numbers: (800)
221-4792 and (609) 452-0606. The toll-free (800) number is
available in all 50 United States, as well as Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands. It is also available in Canada. Telephone
hours for Customer Services are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9
p.m., Eastern time.

For mail or fax orders, the Request for Recorded Books form is
provided (see page 21) and can be photocopied as needed. Please be
sure to specify the postal method by which you would like your
books shipped (see Mailing of Recorded Books on page 9). Send mail
orders to the attention of RFB's Customer Services at the address
given on the front of this booklet, which is 20 Roszel Road,
Princeton, NJ 08540. You may fax your order 24 hours a day to (609)
987-8116.

When you submit an order by mail or by fax machine, you
are sent a letter informing you of any books in your order that are
not presently available from RFB. When you order by telephone, we
give you this information during the call, so a letter is not sent.

We experience the greatest volume of orders (often exceeding 1,000
per day) in January, July, August, and September. Please help us
anticipate these seasonal peak periods by placing orders in
advance, whenever possible.

PAGE 7

Orders by subject

Orders by subject are made possible by RFB's Subject Reference
System, which is administered by our Library Services Department.
Drawing on computerized cataloging information, reference
librarians compile bibliographies at your request on any topic of
your choice.

Library Services processes all book orders by subject,
as well as requests for the subject bibliography alone. Orders and
bibliography requests are accepted through the mail, over the
telephone, and by fax machine.

Each order by subject should specify the topic and provide any
related terms that may be useful. Please also indicate your
educational level and note briefly how you plan to use the books,
for example, a high school book report, a college paper,
professional research, or personal interests. This information is
helpful to us in selecting books best suited for your particular
needs. After completing the subject search, the reference librarian
prepares and sends a bibliography of titles and, if an order was
placed, also selects and sends several books from this list.

Telephone orders by subject may be placed by calling Library
Services at (609) 452-0606, extension 231. (We regret that we
cannot take orders by subject on the toll-free number.) Telephone
hours for Library Services are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to
4:45 p.m., Eastern time.

For mail and fax orders, no specific form is needed. Simply provide
the information specified above, along with a daytime telephone
number in the event the librarian needs additional information.

Alternate Methods of Ordering

RFB's After-Hours Ordering Service

For those of you who are not able to call RFB during business
hours, an After-Hours Ordering Service is available. It is provided
through answering machines that are connected to the RFB telephone
numbers, (800) 221-4792 and (609) 452-0606. The After-Hours Service
is in operation from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and
continuously on weekends.

Orders placed by this method should begin with your name and
identification number. List complete book information  title,
author, copyright date, edition, and grade level. If you have RFB
shelf numbers, these are helpful as well.

PAGE 8

Please spell proper names or unusual words and be sure to speak
slowly and clearly. Indicate the postal method by which you want
your books shipped (see Mailing of Recorded Books on page 9) and
if your address has changed, be sure to give the new one. The
machine is voice activated and will not cut you off as long as you
keep talking.

As with orders submitted by mail or fax machine,
after-hours orders that we cannot fill are acknowledged with a
letter noting books in your order that are not presently available
from RFB. If you subsequently call during business hours for
confirmation, please indicate that your order has already been
placed, so that we do not process a duplicate order.

Ordering through an RFB recording studio

Placing orders through an RFB recording studio can be a useful
option for RFB members in many parts of the United States. We have
31 studios in 16 states and the District of Columbia (see list on
page 20).

Most of these studios are now connected to RFB's computer
system and can process your book orders. They can also answer
author and title inquiries about books in our library and E-text
collections. Studios that are not on-line can also accept orders or
inquiries and will subsequently relay this information to RFB
headquarters.

RFB's Automated Response System

If you have a touch-tone telephone, you can communicate directly
with our computer by way of RFBUs Automated Response System, which
uses a DECtalk speech synthesizer. It is available toll free at
(800) 772-3248 and is in operation Monday through Friday from 7
a.m. to 9 p.m. and continuously on weekends beginning at 7 a.m. on
Saturday. To order books by this method, you must have RFB shelf
numbers. The system also allows you to inquire about overdue books
or postage due and listen to a brief bulletin about RFB's services.
Most of the information required to use the Automated Response
System is numeric and easy to convey by way of a touch-tone
telephone keypad. However, since RFB shelf numbers include two
letters, some letter-to-number conversions are necessary. A
braille-embossed large print index card listing these conversions
is available upon request from Customer Services at (800) 221-4792.

Ordering through SpecialNet

RFB subscribes to SpecialNet, an education-oriented
telecommunication network used by every state education agency as
well as by many local education agencies, school districts,
government offices, colleges, and universities. Book orders are
accepted over SpecialNet through a message sent to user name RRFB.S
SpecialNet subscribers may also wish to check pertinent bulletin
boards for regular notices from RFB.

PAGE 9

How Orders Are Processed

As of this printing, RFB's audiocassette library has approximately
79,000 titles. At any given time, another 1,300 books are in
progress, that is, presently being recorded in an RFB studio. You
may order books in progress as well as books in the library. Orders
for each are placed in the same way; they are simply processed
differently.

Books in the master tape library

Orders for books in the master tape library are filled at RFB
headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey. When an order is entered
into RFBUs computer system, book content cards and address labels
are produced. These are sent with the master tapes to our
production departments, where high-speed duplicating machines
transfer the recorded material to cassettes. After the duplicating
process, the cassettes are routed to quality control and spot-
checked for clarity and completeness. They are then packaged and
shipped. To expedite production during busy months, RFB has a
standby library of pre-duplicated cassette books containing
multiple copies of the four to five thousand titles most frequently
requested from the master tape library. RFB processes an average of
700 book orders daily. The usual turnaround time for orders is 48
hours, with orders filled from the standby library generally
shipped within 24 hours. However, during seasonal peak periods
(January, July, August, and September), order processing can take
longer.

Books in progress at an RFB studio

As soon as a new book is cataloged and assigned to a recording
studio, it is added to our library database. When you order a book
that is not in the master tape library but is currently in
progress, notification of your order is sent to the studio.
Cassette copies of the tapes recorded thus far are duplicated and
sent to you. The remainder of the book is sent in installment tapes
as the recording progresses. Note: if you are receiving tapes of a
book in progress and find that you no longer need the book, please
notify either the studio doing the recording or Customer Services
at RFB headquarters, so that the remaining tapes will not be sent
to you.

Mailing of Recorded Books

Books in the master tape library

Recorded books that are one to six cassettes in length are mailed
in blue, snap-fastened plastic containers. Books of seven to 36
cassettes are mailed in corrugated boxes. Books containing more
than 36 cassettes require either two corrugated boxes or one box
and one plastic container, which are banded together prior to
mailing.

PAGE 10

Unless otherwise specified, books are mailed Free Matter
for the Blind or Handicapped.  If you wish faster mail service,
please request this when you place your order. RFB presently offers
the following two alternate mailing options: United Parcel Service
(UPS), which is only available within the United States, and first
class mail. If either of these is used, RFB prepays the charges,
which are billed to you in a monthly statement. We must receive
your payment of these charges within three months to avoid any
delay in your future book orders. Note: if you live near Princeton,
NJ, and would like to pick up your books at our office, you are
welcome to do so. Tell us this when you place the order and instead
of mailing your books, we will leave them with our receptionist for
you to claim at your convenience.

Books in progress at an RFB studio

Installment tapes of books in progress at RFB recording studios are
mailed in padded shipping bags. They, too, are generally sent Free
Matter. If you need faster mail service from a studio, please call
the studio directly to make arrangements.

Length of Loan Period

RFB's taped books are provided on free loan for one year. To extend
the loan period for an additional year, call Customer Services at
(800) 221-4792. If a book has not been returned at the end of any
one-year loan period and you have not requested an extension, an
overdue notice is sent. When you receive the notice, you may still
call for an extension. If you no longer need the book, however,
please return it to us. Cassettes are recycled to fill other book
orders, and we appreciate the prompt return of books that you have
finished. For schools and agencies submitting orders: RFB also
allows books to be transferred from one RFB member to another.
Please write to Customer Services and provide the name and
identification number of both individuals, along with the shelf
number of each book.

Return of Recorded Books

Books in the master tape library

Please return all taped books to RFB in their original mailing
containers. Before mailing, please rewind all cassettes to the
beginning of track 1. Fasten the container securely, then prepare
the mailing label. RFB uses two types of mailing containers, each
with its own type of label.

PAGE 11

Books mailed in corrugated boxes have
perforated adhesive mailing labels. The top half contains RFB's
address in print and RFB in braille; the lower half, which is
adjacent to the flap, contains your name and address in print and
your last name in braille. For return mail, peel off the lower
half, leaving the upper half intact. Books mailed in blue plastic
containers have a reversible Free Matter return mail card. The
front of this card contains the original mailing label with a
braille overlay identical in format to that of the perforated
labels. The back of the card contains only RFB's address. For
return mail, just flip the card over. Books requiring two mailing
containers have one label per container in the event they become
separated in transit. Please return both containers at the same
time; it is not, however, necessary to band them together. You may
return your books to RFB from any post office or mailbox, and they
do not require postage.

Books in progress at an RFB studio

Installment cassettes of books in progress should be returned to
the studio that did the recording. Please be sure to rewind all
cassettes to the beginning of track 1. RFB studios use perforated
mailing labels similar to those used by headquarters on corrugated
boxes. The lower half with your address should be peeled off,
leaving the upper half with the studio address intact. Again,
postage is not necessary.

PAGE 12

III. THE RECORDING SERVICE

When RFB's audiocassette library does not have a book you need, you
have the option of requesting that we record it. There is no charge
for our recording service; you are simply asked to provide us with
two identical print copies of the book. To maintain uniformity in
the recording, we mark each copy lightly in pencil with reading
instructions. Both copies are returned to you when the recording is
complete. Each year our library of taped books grows with the
addition of approximately 3,000 new titles, produced by 4,800
volunteers working in 31 recording studios throughout the country.
Volunteers work in teams of two: a reader and a monitor. The reader
is auditioned for knowledge of the book's subject matter as well as
for acceptable voice quality and presentation. The monitor, who
also must demonstrate knowledge of the subject, operates the tape
recording equipment and proofs the recording as it is being made.
Because of recording capacity limitations, we are not presently
able to offer our recording service internationally. However, if
you are using RFB outside the U.S. and need an American publication
that is not presently in our library, we encourage you to contact
our Library Services staff to discuss your specific needs.

Recording Policies

RFB records complete, published, copyrighted books that are
educational or professional in nature. Books are produced in all
subject areas and at all academic levels from fourth grade through
postgraduate studies. We do not record manuscripts, articles,
pamphlets, or parts of books. At the present time, RFB does not
record reference books such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, or
atlases. We do, however, offer a number of reference works in
electronic format, that is, on computer diskette (see The E-text
Collection on page 17). In addition, we are now pilot-testing the
production of voice indexed reference books for future addition to
our audiotape library. RFB also does not presently record
periodicals such as magazines or journals. A number of magazines
are already produced in accessible formats by other agencies and
organizations, including the National Library Service for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped. This is, however, seldom the case for
professional journals, and RFB has targeted this area for future
production as well. Journals  titles of which are still being
determined as of this printing (2/92)  will be available by
subscription and may be produced on audiotape, computer disk, or
both. Each book we receive to record is evaluated for its academic
content. To do this, our librarians consider the holdings of other
libraries of RFB's size and scope.

PAGE 13

For textbooks, they also
consider the book's copyright date, as texts with dates more than
10 years old are generally not recorded when more recent editions
are in our library. In recognition of the fact that only one out of
every ten published books is transcribed into any accessible
medium, RFB intentionally avoids duplicating the recording services
of other organizations. If we determine, for example, that a book
has been recorded by the Library of Congress, we refer you to a
cooperating network location of the National Library Service for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Referrals like these enable
us to focus our volunteer efforts on books that are not available
elsewhere.

How to Have a Book Recorded

You may submit a book for recording to RFB headquarters or to a
local RFB studio. Regardless of which you choose, there is always
one important step to take before sending the two print copies:
call Customer Services at (800) 221-4792 to determine that we have
not recently received your book from someone else. Even if you
called previously and found that the book was not available, this
may have changed and we may now be recording it. If our Customer
Services representative tells you that the book is still not
available, he or she may also be able to estimate when it may be
assigned to a studio for recording, if you choose to send it to us.
Though we cannot determine how long the recording will take until
a book has actually been assigned, we can at least help you
determine if we can begin the book soon enough to meet your present
needs. Before sending a book to us, write your name, RFB
identification number, and mailing address inside each copy and
indicate the dates by which you need the first and last installment
tapes. If you are sending the two copies to RFB headquarters,
address your package to the attention of our Book Assignment
Specialist. If you are, instead, sending them to an RFB studio (see
list on page 20), the studio's address is sufficient. You may also
deliver your books in person to a studio, if one is nearby. Your
package may be sent by Free Matter mail if you write the words
Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped in the upper right hand
corner where postage would ordinarily be placed. However, if time
is an important factor, you may want to select a faster mailing
option.

How Recording Requests are Processed

Requests submitted to RFB headquarters

When RFB headquarters receives books to be recorded, the date of
their arrival is entered into our computer system. After we
determine that the title is not already in our master tape library
or in progress at a studio, the book is given to Library Services
for cataloging.

PAGE 14

In this next step, Library Services staff evaluate
the book's academic content and extract detailed bibliographic
information for RFB's database. If our librarians determine that a
book does not fit within the educational and professional scope of
RFBUs audiotape library, they will communicate this to you and,
when possible, supply a referral to another agency better able to
meet your recording needs. After cataloging, the book is returned
to the Book Assignment Specialist for recording studio assignment.
Several factors are considered in making this decision. First is
volunteer availability, as each book must be read by people who are
qualified in the subject matter of the text. Another factor is
location whenever possible, a book is assigned to a recording
studio in your part of the country so that installment tapes will
arrive as quickly as possible. Once the assignment is made, the two
copies are shipped by United Parcel Service (UPS) to the designated
studio. If we cannot assign your book right away, we send a letter
telling you this, noting when we expect to be able to make an
assignment. You are given two options: 1) to let us keep the book
until we can assign it to a studio, or 2) to have us return both
copies to you, so that you can pursue other recording
possibilities.

Requests submitted to an RFB studio

When a studio receives two copies of a book for recording, the
studio director contacts RFB headquarters. After determining that
the book is not already in the library or in progress at another
studio, the director sends copies of the book's title pages to
Library Services at headquarters. Our librarians use these for
cataloging and to determine academic content. If the book is
appropriate for our audiotape library, studio assignment is
decided. In most cases, the local studio will keep the book and
begin the recording. If that is not possible, that is, if no
qualified readers are presently available, the studio director
works with the Book Assignment Specialist to locate a studio that
can take the project.

Recording Time

Once your book is assigned to a studio, you are sent a letter
giving estimated dates for completion of the first and last
installment tapes. Dates are determined by a variety of factors
including book length, difficulty of the subject matter, and format
of the text. Books with many figures, graphs, tables, or
illustrations are generally more time consuming to record.

PAGE 15

If our projected dates do not meet your needs, please notify the
Book Assignment Specialist immediately. Once the recording has
begun, we must complete the book, as our volunteers have already
invested a significant amount of time in the recording process. In
addition, other RFB members may have ordered the book and now be
depending on regular installment tapes. As the recording
progresses, the studio makes every effort to meet installment
deadlines. If delays occur, the studio will notify you of revised
dates. When a book is completed, the master tapes are sent from the
studio to RFB headquarters, where they undergo a checking process
before being added to our library. If this process reveals the need
for any re-recording, the tapes are returned to the studio. To
allow for this possibility, the studio retains the print copies
until word is received from RFB headquarters that no corrections
are necessary  or, if needed, until they are completed. The print
copies are then returned to you by Free Matter mail, unless other
arrangements were previously made with the studio.

Vo-Tech Recording

RFB designates a limited number of books each year for an
alternative recording program in which the diagrams, illustrations,
charts, and other figures or graphics are not described. The text
is read in its entirety, and the captions of all visual items are
provided as well, along with the location where they appear in the
book. This program is primarily for books in vo-tech fields,
including agricultural, industrial, and service industries (travel,
hotel, and food service for example), as well as for vocational
training texts. By omitting the full descriptions of visuals in
selected vo-tech books, we are able to complete the recording more
quickly, which in turn, enables us to increase the number of vo-
tech titles we can add to our library each year. Please note that
not all vo-tech books are recorded under this program; RFB feels it
is essential that our library have some with complete descriptions.
But for many titles, this is a practical approach. If you are
submitting a book for recording and think it might be suitable for
our vo-tech program, please let us know this when you send the two
copies. We will give every consideration to your request.

Private Basis Recording

When studio capacity permits, RFB accepts a limited amount of
private basis recording, that is, educational material recorded
for an individual RFB member and not intended for future
circulation. Examples of private basis material are study guides or
other reading

PAGE 16

assignments needed for a particular course or books
that do not fit within the educational and professional scope of
RFB's library. Portions of copyrighted books that are considered
appropriate for the library are generally not accepted on a private
basis as we prefer to record the entire book. Private basis
material is accepted with the understanding that we cannot commit
to deadlines. Although we prefer to have two copies of the
material, only one is required, as the reading is not monitored.
RFB studios accept private basis assignments on an individual
basis, and their capacity to do so varies throughout the year. You
may inquire either at RFB headquarters or at a local studio about
the availability of private basis readers. Inquiries to RFB
headquarters should be directed to the Book Assignment Specialist,
at (609) 452-0606, ext. 227.

PAGE 17

IV. THE E-TEXT COLLECTION
In July of 1991, RFB joined forces with Computerized Books for the
Blind, a small organization that pioneered the development of books
and manuals for use with personal computers and adaptive software.
CBFB's staff is now RFB's Research and Development department,
operating from their location in Missoula, MT.

What Is E-text?

Electronic books, called E-text, are created either from
publishers' computer files or by optically scanning the print copy
of a book. RFB removes formatting codes used in the printing
process and saves the book as a standard ASCII file. We distribute
E-text books in the following disk sizes and formats:
1.   IBM or compatible 5.25 inch or 3.5 inch DSDD disks
2.   MacIntosh 3.5 inch DSDD disks
3.   Apple Pro-Dos 3.5 inch DSDD disks

Software that reads ASCII files should be suitable for RFB's E-text
books. Word processors are commonly used for reading electronic
books, but many other text reading programs can also be used,
including LIST, READ.COM, and Ralph the Reader. One of these,
READ.COM, which is in the public domain, is included as a separate
file in E-Kit, our information packet on computer diskette. Free
copies of E-Kit are available from Customer Services at (800)
221-4792. In addition to the READ.COM software, E-Kit contains all
the forms that presently make up the print information kit,
including this Guide to Using RFB's Services. E-Kit also has the
entire E-text catalog  approximately 300 titles as of this
printing (2/92). RFB's present E-text collection comprises a range
of computer manuals, as well as an assortment of reference works,
including dictionaries, law books, a thesaurus, and two versions of
the Bible. We plan to add several hundred books each year to the E-
text collection, including educational and professional titles that
extend beyond the reference area.

How to Order E-text

E-text books are sold, rather than loaned, so unlike the books in
RFBUs audiotape library, they are yours to keep. Prices range from
$10 to about $50 and cover the costs of production, distribution,
and customer service. E-text purchases can be paid for by check, by
VISA or MasterCard, or with a purchase order. The procedure for

PAGE 18

ordering E-text books is the same as for ordering books from RFB's
audiocassette library: by mail, fax or telephone. E-text materials
can be shipped by the Free Matter for the Blind postal
classification, by United Parcel Service (UPS), or by first class
mail. If you choose Free Matter, no postage is required. If you
select UPS or first class, a shipping and handling charge of $2.50
is added to your order.

Just as with our audiotape books, E-text
books may not be copied or reproduced for distribution, as this
would be in violation of copyright agreements with publishers and
copyright holders. E-text books are only to be used by registered
members of RFB and are not to be distributed to other individuals
or organizations.

For additional information about E-text, call our
Customer Services staff at (800) 221-4792, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
Eastern time. If you are calling from outside the United States or
Canada, you can reach Customer Services at (609) 452-0606. We also
offer technical support to new E-text users  through Customer
Services or from our E-text manager, depending upon the nature of
your question.

PAGE 19

V. RFB AWARD PROGRAMS

The Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards

Since 1959, Recording for the Blind has presented annual Scholastic
Achievement Awards (SAAs) to outstanding blind college seniors in
recognition of extraordinary leadership, scholarship, enterprise,
and service to others. The Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement
Awards are named for the founder of the awards, whose generosity
permanently underwrites the program. Presentation of the SAAs has
been made by every U.S. president since Dwight Eisenhower, as well
as by several vice presidents, first ladies, and nationally
prominent legislators, educators, business people, and journalists.
SAA application forms are mailed each fall to all RFB members who
are blind or visually impaired and are listed in our files as
undergraduate students. To be eligible for the awards, a student
must 1) be legally blind; 2) be registered with RFB; 3) have
received or be receiving a bachelorUs degree from a four-year
college or university in the U.S. or its territories during the
academic year in which the award is given; and 4) have an overall
academic average (undergraduate) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Award recipients are chosen by a selection committee in March of
each year. Special merit and honorable mention winners may also be
named. All those selected receive a monetary award and a
certificate of achievement. In addition, the top winners are
honored at a ceremony in May.

The Learning Through Listening Awards

In the spring of 1991, RFB began the Learning Through Listening
(LTL) award program. LTL awards are presented annually to
outstanding high school seniors with specific learning
disabilities. In addition to outstanding scholastic achievement,
the selection committee considers leadership, enterprise, and
service to others in determining the national LTL winners.
Application forms for the Learning Through Listening Awards are
mailed each fall to all RFB members who have a learning disability
and are listed in our files as high school students. To be eligible
for the awards, a student must 1) have a specific learning
disability that affects reading; 2) be registered with RFB; 3) be
graduating from a public or private high school in the U.S. or its
territories; 4) be planning to continue his or her formal education
beyond high school, and 5) have an overall grade average of B or
above for grades 10-12. Three LTL winners are chosen by a selection
committee in April of each year. Award winners receive a
certificate of achievement and a monetary award, which are
presented, if possible, at the students' graduation ceremonies.

PAGE 20

Arizona
3627 E. Indian School Road
Suite 108
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(602) 468-9144

9449 North 99th Avenue
Peoria, AZ 85345
(602) 977-6020

California
5022 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(213) 664-5525

1230 Rosecrans Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266-2416
(310) 536-5301

700 East Harrison Avenue
Suite C
Pomona, CA 91767
(714) 624-4156

488 West Charleston Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(415) 493-3717

3970 La Colina Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 687-6393

Colorado
2696 South Colorado Boulevard
Suite 330
Denver, CO 80222
(303) 757-0787

Connecticut
205-209 Orange Street
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 624-4334

District of Columbia
4000 Albemarle Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 244-8990

Florida
6704 S.W. 80th Street
Miami, FL 33143
(305) 666-0552

Georgia
120 Florida Avenue
Athens, GA 30605
(404) 549-1313

Illinois
18 South Michigan Avenue
Suite 806
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 236-8715

University of Chicago
Hinds Building, Room 59-B
5734 South Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
(312) 288-7077

708 Oak Street
Winnetka, IL 60093
(708) 446-3338

La Grange Road and 143rd Street
Orland Park, IL 60462
(708) 349-9356

University of Illinois
Rehabilitation Education Center
1207 South Oak Street
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-4610

30 North Brainard Street
Naperville, IL 60540
(708) 420-0722

Kentucky
240 Haldeman Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 895-9068

University of Louisville
218 Ekstrom Library
Louisville, KY 40292
(502) 588-5856

Massachusetts
43 Thorndike Street
Bulfinch Square
Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 577-1111

Lenox Library, Second Floor
Lenox, MA 01240
(413) 637-0889

Mt. Greylock Regional School
1781 Cold Spring Road
Williamstown, MA 01267
(413) 458-3641

Berkshire Community College Library
West Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-4829

Michigan
5600 Rochester Road
Troy, MI 48098
(313) 879-0101

New Jersey
36-A Hibben Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 921-6534

New York
545 Fifth Avenue, Suite 204
New York, NY 10017
(212 557-5720

Pennsylvania
3550 Market Street, Suite 201
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 382-1100

Tennessee
205 Badger Road
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(615) 482-3496

Texas
404 West 30th Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 477-9390

Virginia
1021 Millmont Street
Charlottesville, VA 22901
(804) 293-4797

RFB Research and Development Department
37 Corbin Hall
University of Montana
P.O. Box 7068
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 243-2899

--
Patricia Ann Bromberger                     -       patt@squid.tram.com
Tramway Unix Systems in Naturally Beautiful BrUtish Columbia   :-)  :-)
"Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty." (Anne Herbert)