Update ISSN 0160-9203 April-June 2000, Vol. 23, No. 2 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped The Library of Congress Cincinnati Elfun chapter celebrates a milestone Nearly one hundred volunteers and guests attended a buffet luncheon commemorating the tenth anniversary of the General Electric Senior Elfun--Cincinnati Chapter--Talking Book Repair Program last March. Attendees included Larry Trowell, chapter chairperson; Pat Crans, global president of the Elfun Society; Hank Baud, executive director, Cincinnati Association for the Blind (CAB); Anna McEachirn, talking-book coordinator, CAB; Michael Lucas, state librarian, Ohio; Judy Bow, head, State Library of Ohio Talking-Book Program; and Brad Kormann, chief, Materials Development Division. Richard Meyer, co-leader of the repair project, introduced the guests and used a slide presentation to illustrate the ten-year history. Bernie Burdick, also co-leader, described the group's activities and introduced its members. Other accolades and commendations were presented, including a plaque from Judy Bow and a presentation from Anna McEachirn. Brad Kormann also presented a commendation from NLS, outlining the group's accomplishments in the following words: "The General Electric Senior Elfun--Cincinnati Chapter--Talking Book Repair Program is commended for ten years of outstanding and faithful service to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress. GE Elfuns have repaired more than 25,890 talking-book machines. In addition, 14,000 amplifier boards were repaired during the same period. Total savings to NLS have been $1,356,149--a remarkable effort. GE Elfuns have provided an invaluable service to the nation's blind and physically handicapped individuals. On their tenth anniversary of repairing talking-book machines, the Library of Congress expresses appreciation to the GE Senior Elfun--Cincinnati Chapter. Well done!! --Frank Kurt Cylke, director, NLS Library of Congress" GE's repair program continues to grow. In 1999, it expanded its services to include California, Maryland, Washington, and Wisconsin. During the year, 3,556 machines were repaired and shipped, an increase of 21 percent over 1998. Volunteers worked 12,329 hours, a 16 percent increase. The group also developed a C-1 playback head tester and installed a "play-time" clock into nine C-1 machines in order to improve understanding of the life expectancy of a reconditioned machine. (photo caption: Elfun Society Cincinnati Chapter chairperson Larry Trowell (left) and NLS's Brad Kormann at the tenth anniversary celebration.) (photo caption: Awards and a buffet help celebrate Cincinnati GE Elfuns' ten years of service.) Fresno Pioneers named Very Inspirational People Nine Telephone Pioneers who regularly volunteer at the Fresno Talking Book Library in California were honored on a special visit by a local television station. "On Tuesday morning, February 8, the unsuspecting men were hard at work at the library as usual, when in walked a television crew from KJEO-TV (Channel 47) to surprise them with the Very Inspirational People award for February," explained subregional librarian Wendy Eisenberg. The repair group received an engraved VIP plaque and a trophy. They and other recipients of the monthly award will be honored at an end-of-the-year banquet. The station aired the story on the next day's news, highlighting the Pioneers' dedication and commitment. Two of the volunteers were interviewed, and a patron spoke about the importance of their work. Fresno County librarian John K. Kallenberg stopped by to congratulate the men and was also interviewed. The Pioneers were featured on promotional spots throughout the month, and the story was posted on Channel 47's web site. Many of Fresno's Telephone Pioneers have volunteered for more than ten years (and one has twenty-three years of service). In 1999 they contributed a total of 1,315 hours of their time, repairing 1,537 cassette players and 50 disc players. "The men are good friends and enjoy being together on Tuesday mornings, but they are also very dedicated to their jobs," said Eisenberg. "We couldn't function without their work, and we congratulate them on this well-deserved honor." Volunteers master new skills During the months of January, February, and March, certificates in braille transcribing were awarded to fifty-nine persons. Fifty-six were awarded in literary braille transcribing, one in mathematics braille proofreading, and two in mathematics braille transcribing. LITERARY BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS Alabama Janet K. Butler, Talladega Susan Parker Carlisle, Talladega Arizona R. Cody Allison, Douglas Robert Earl Brehaut, Florence Jeane Chancellor, Tucson Michael William Phillips, Douglas Arkansas Andy Childress, Wrightsville Ken L. Fletcher, Wrightsville California Charles H. Campbell, Sacramento Doris M. Craig, Pomona Derek Moran Foster, Los Angeles Bonnie L. Grimm, Fontana Kathleen Kaser, San Diego Ronald L Koehler, Represa Lynnelle A. McCray, Riverside Melita J. Waters, Santa Ana Haruko Zrucky, Chula Vista Colorado Joan A. Bush, Colorado Springs Dorothy Love, Colorado Springs Connecticut Michael Arthur Borino Sr., Cheshire Ronald Crespin, Cheshire Richard J. Duclos, Cheshire Gary M. Greco, Cheshire Leeroy J. Harris, Cheshire Florida Elsie Corrao, Orlando Judy H. Wright, Orlando Georgia Linda B. Wynn, Atlanta Illinois Linn Sorge, De Kalb Joan M. Thomas, De Kalb Iowa Barbara J. Cross, Fort Madison Lois E. Horgeshimer, Waterloo Thea Leslie, Cedar Rapids Kathleen Kay Wulf, Holstein Kansas Beverly J. Nichols, Shawnee Mission Kentucky Ezra Henry, Lexington Massachusetts Jon Ingall, Boston Michigan David Abdalla, Jackson Christina Oakes, Grand Rapids Minnesota Emily Gayle Carlson, Cokato Christopher A. Zagar, Duluth Nebraska Joe Nelson, Lincoln Michael L. Polfus Sr., Lincoln Nevada Mike L. Antonucci, Las Vegas Brenda Barran, Las Vegas Andrel L. Simmons, Las Vegas New Jersey Lynn A. Oliver, West Orange New York Hector Luis Ortiz, Napanoch Robert K. Wooley, Napanoch Ohio John Thomas Barnes, London Oregon Barbara Couch, Medford South Dakota Corey C.F. Schaefer, Sioux Falls Texas Ronald James Kasek Sr., Tyler Leticia G. McIver, Garland Wisconsin Randy D. Bandemer-Purifoy, Oshkosh M‚m‚‚ K. Chun, Madison Wyoming Tammy Dee Christiansen, Rock Springs MATHEMATICS BRAILLE PROOFREADER Dr. Abraham Nemeth, Southfield, Michigan MATHEMATICS BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS Milton Reese, Grafton, Ohio Susan W. Stokes, Lincoln, Nebraska New Telephone Pioneers head visits Colorado regional Jim Gadd, newly appointed chief operating officer of the Telephone Pioneers of America (TPA), and his wife, Cindy, visited the Colorado Talking Book Library in Denver on December 2. Bob Toye and Bob Orton, both from the TPA headquarters in Denver, joined the Gadds for the visit. Librarian Barbra Goral provided a tour of the facility. Bob Orton explained machine reconditioning processes--the Pioneers' part of the library's volunteer efforts. Braille Authority of North America (BANA) notes The Executive Board of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) met last October 29-31 in Annapolis, Maryland. BANA officers elected for the year 2000 were Phyllis H. Campana, chairperson; Eileen Curran, vice-chairperson; Frances Mary D'Andrea, secretary; and Susan Reilly, treasurer. The host organization for the conference was the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). The Braille Institute in Los Angeles was accepted as a new BANA member organization. Main points of discussion included the following: Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Translation, 1997 (Volume 1: Rules) is now available at , a web site maintained by the Shodor Foundation under BANA auspices. A link to the site is found on BANA's web site, . Through the generosity of the American Printing House for the Blind, permanent office space has been provided for BANA. BANA's new mailing address is P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206. The group renewed its commitment to the Unified Braille Code (UBC) Research Project and pledged to take a leadership role through financial support. One goal is to facilitate meetings of UBC project committees that have not yet completed their work. BANA also hosted the November 2-5, 1999, meeting of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) in Baltimore, Maryland. The following ICEB officers were elected: Betty Niceley, president (see In memoriam, below); Darleen Bogart (Canada), vice-president; Raeleen Smith (New Zealand), secretary; Kim Charlson (USA), treasurer; Reinette Popplestone (South Africa), public relations; William Poole (UK), member-at-large; Jean Obi (Nigeria), member-at-large; and Bruce Maguire (Australia), member-at-large. Manager of prison recording team recognized Richard Smith, manager of the Montana State Prison's Cassette Book Recording Team, received a special certificate of appreciation for his nine years on the team. Smith has narrated 35 books and monitored 13 narrations by others. He has also narrated or monitored several magazines, including Montana, the Magazine of Western History, Wild Outdoor World--WOW, and manuals such as the International Bow Hunters Manual. As team manager, he has been responsible for coordinating the recording of all books and magazines at the prison, recruiting new team members, maintaining recording equipment, and providing quality assurance of the tapes produced. Mike Schulz, chairperson of the Montana Library Commission, presented the award certificate and thanked Smith for his years of outstanding work. Schulz is not the only one with such sentiments. Many patrons have written to the library with commendations. One patron, after reading Michael Holzack's Forgotten People: A Year among the Hutterites, wrote "Compliments to Richard Smith, a great reader." (photo caption: Team manager Richard Smith (right) receives a special appreciation certificate from Michael Schulz, Montana Library Commission chairperson.) Insight for the Blind grant to increase volunteers Insight for the Blind (Insight), a talking-book production facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, received a grant from the Sun-Sentinel newspaper to help recruit new volunteer narrators, monitors, and reviewers. The Sun-Sentinel, published by Chicago Tribune Publications, is Fort Lauderdale's largest daily newspaper. The grant, known as a "People Plus Award," encourages individuals to contribute to the local community through volunteer service with nonprofit groups. Insight is also making plans to produce a newsletter designed to motivate and energize its current volunteer corps and to recruit new volunteers willing to be trained to read for those who are blind. The organization has an active volunteer roster of 150 individuals: the youngest is 12 (a summer intern); the oldest is 93. The group is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary this year and is supported entirely by private gifts, grants, and bequests. (photo caption: Davidson Taylor (left), Sun-Sentinel executive and volunteer narrator at Insight for the Blind, presents the People Plus Award to Insight's president, Judge George Richardson, and volunteer Victoria Garber.) Meetings National Braille Association (NBA) Fall Regional Meeting and Workshops, Omni New Haven Hotel, New Haven, Connecticut; Thursday, October 26-Saturday, October 28, 2000 Twenty-sixth National Conference and Workshops, Hilton Milwaukee City Center Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Thursday, April 26-Saturday, April 28, 2001 For more information about these meetings, contact National Braille Association, Three Townline Circle, Rochester, NY 14623-2513; (716) 427-8260; web site: . California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped (CTEVH) CTEVH XLII Annual Conference, San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel, Burlingame, California; Thursday, April 26-Saturday April 28, 2001 For more information about this meeting, contact CTEVH, 741 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029-3594; (323) 666-2211; web site: . Visual Aid Volunteers of Florida (VAVF) VAVF 2000 Conference of Volunteers (Hotel TBA), Jacksonville, Florida; May (dates TBA) 2001 For more information about this meeting, contact Rella Corris, VAVF president, 4295A Mango Tree Court, Boynton Beach, FL 33436; (561) 738-0737; e-mail: . New workroom presented by Pittsburgh library staff The staff of the regional library in Pittsburgh recently presented a refurbished workroom to the Telephone Pioneers who faithfully repair malfunctioning NLS equipment at the western Pennsylvania LBPH. The room is large and bright, with air conditioning and lots of windows for natural light. Individual work units designed especially for the Pioneers' needs were installed, complete with workbenches, electrical outlets, and shelving in each unit. Library project manager Kathleen Kappel hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception on December 15 to celebrate the completion of the workroom. She recognized the Pioneers' years of dedication and their kind resistance to having the library spend money on the project! "Thank you for giving us and our readers so many hours of repair work. We couldn't have maintained our high quality of service without you," she said. The group donated more than 2,500 hours and repaired more than 500 machines last year. The retired Bell Telephone employees who meet each week at the LBPH repair and adapt cassette and disc players and keep the parts inventory complete. "They arrive with little fanfare and greet our staff with smiles," says Mrs. Kappel. Pioneers spokesman Ed Carlin says, "We love the challenges. There's nothing like solving a problem and saving resources at the same time." Others echoing that sentiment were Bill Adams, Jack Goerl, Fred Dollin, Burt Kennedy, Bob Lewis, and Fritz Selden. LBPH staff member Don Ciccone also assisted in the workroom project. Although his job title is book selector, his contribution to the library as a whole is much greater than that--he narrates the cassette version of Three Rivers News and helps out in other areas. Carnegie Institute's Special Projects staff members Larry Armstrong and Ron Diulus also helped the project progress smoothly. Mrs. Kappel also recognized agency head Sue Murdock, who authorized the workroom project, and LBPH secretary Frieda Smith, who managed preparations for the reception. Braille group in New York celebrates 35 years of service Volunteer members of the First Baptist Church Braille Service of Rochester, New York, gathered to celebrate thirty-five years of service at a festive luncheon held last June. Three active members of the group were honored for their many hours of continuous service: Marguerite Robertson (Rochester) for thirty-three years of service, Helen Matthews (Rochester) for twenty-seven years of service, and Margaret Hiliger (Penfield) for twenty-five years of service. Some of their projects through the years included formatting, brailling, proofreading, and teaching classes. Four members of the braille classes of 1965 and 1966 were also present at the luncheon. (photo caption: Helen Matthews, Marguerite Robertson, and Margaret Hiliger (left to right) celebrate their years of service with Rochester's First Baptist Church Braille Service.) Texas volunteer receives mayor's commendation Tom Sweazea, a volunteer with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's Talking Book Program, received the Chairman's Commendation from the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities at the library's 19th annual awards ceremony on October 26. Sweazea was honored along with eleven other Austin individuals and companies that have made extraordinary contributions in the field. Since 1990 Sweazea has contributed some 1,029 hours toward the production of nearly 200 recorded books and magazines. He volunteers seventeen hours each month, on average, operating the reel-to-reel tape machine for the narrators. In 1999 he logged 205 hours of work, usually in three two-hour stints each week--in addition to his full-time job. "The Talking Book Program gives you the most for your volunteer buck," Sweazea says. His efforts serve a dual purpose, giving him the satisfaction of bringing the joy of reading to others and providing a break from his fast-paced, high-tech job. "Most of my personal reading time is devoted to technical things, so I enjoy the books we work on at the studio very much." Peggy D. Rudd, director and librarian of the state library, praised his effort, saying "We are very pleased to congratulate Mr. Sweazea for being recognized by the mayor's committee for his dedication and hard work on behalf of the Talking Book Program." "Tom Sweazea and our other studio volunteers help make many Texas literary works available that our library patrons would otherwise not have access to," said program director Jenifer J. Flaxbart. Texas volunteers record about 150 books (including roughly a dozen in Spanish) each year to supplement NLS's national collection. (photo caption: Texas state librarian Peggy Rudd congratulates volunteer narrator Tom Sweazea.) `Make a Difference Day' in Florida "During the past year, Florida's Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services has experienced substantial growth, both in the number of patrons served and in books circulated. Approximately 25,000 books are sent and returned each week, requiring many hours of work, primarily by volunteers," says Doug Hall, head of Consumer and Community Relations at the regional library in Daytona Beach. "Because of our dependence on volunteer work (almost 90,000 hours last year), the library is coordinating Saturday volunteer activities with other local organizations and individuals." One such event ocurred on October 23, when sixty volunteers arrived at the library. They were among the millions participating in the ninth annual nationwide "Make a Difference Day." As the day began, volunteers received a tour of the facility before being placed in one of four work areas--recording, providing clerical assistance (stapling, labeling, and mailing announcements), shelving (some fifteen tubs of books), or dealing with returned books. The largest group sorted some 7,000 returned books and rewound about 10,000 cassettes. This initiative was created by USA Weekend magazine in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation; it was sponsored in part by a local newspaper, the Daytona Beach News Journal, and local volunteers. Among the groups represented were the United Way Senior Aides, Rambling Retirees Travel Club, and the Beach House Alternative School. Many other volunteers were there as interested individuals, helping out with a worthy cause. In memoriam Betty J. Niceley Betty J. Niceley died February 13 at Norton Audubon Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. She was on the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) board of directors and was elected president of the International Council on English Braille at its November 1999 meeting. Niceley was also a recipient of the 1997 Bill Cox Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Louisville. She had retired from the Kentucky Department for the Blind after working there for twenty-eight years. Niceley was an active member of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), having served on the group's executive board and as president of the Kentucky chapter. She was also a founding member of the National Association to Promote the Use of Braille, an NFB affiliate. She is survived by her husband, Charles; a daughter, Sharon; a stepdaughter, Barbara Miller; brothers Bobby R. and Robert W. Gooden; and seven grandchildren. Louis Braille Award ceremony Cynthia Fastman, a volunteer braille transcriber at Associated Services for the Blind (ASB), received a Special Recognition Award at ASB's annual Louis Braille Award ceremony last October 13. Mrs. Fastman has been an advocate, fundraiser, volunteer, and staunch supporter of ASB for over two decades. During that time she has spent many hours transcribing and teaching braille. She is head of ASB's Volunteer Custom Braille Group, chairperson of the Volunteer Committee, and a participant on several other committees. As a certified braillist, she also works diligently transcribing textbooks for blind students. "I don't want glory. I want to help," says Mrs. Fastman. "As a child, I met a blind man and never forgot the experience. In a way, it led me to the work I do today." In 1978, after a brief career as a second-grade teacher, Mrs. Fastman turned to ASB to fulfill a desire to "spend my time productively and to make a direct connection to people's needs," she says. Mrs. Fastman has served as chairperson of ASB's Volunteer Braille Transcribers and on the board of directors of both ASB and the National Braille Association. One project that illustrates her dedication to the field began in 1997, when she decided to transcribe a Hebrew prayer book into braille for a congregation in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. "I got everybody into it--my rabbi, my family and friends, even the Jewish Braille Institute in New York City." The project was a huge success, but Mrs. Fastman simply viewed it as "another way to contribute to the community." The Louis Braille Award has been presented by ASB since 1959 to honor individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions on behalf of the blind and visually impaired. The award is also given to blind and visually impaired persons who have made outstanding achievements and have provided inspiration to others with a visual disability. The proceeds from the award ceremony are used to benefit ASB's clients. Dr. Francis A. Salerno was also honored with the Louis Braille Award at the October event. Dr. Salerno is a blind internist who graduated from Temple University's school of medicine and is now chief of geriatrics at Lehigh Valley Hospital. He was named clinician of the year by the American Geriatrics Society in 1993 and physician of the year by St. Joseph's University in 1992. He has also been recognized by the American Medical Association and by the Pennsylvania state senate. AT&T received a corporate award for its support for the inclusion and employment of people with disabilities. Emphasizing abilities rather than disabilities, AT&T has implemented a hiring and training program for blind and visually impaired individuals in its Relay Services effort. The company also has the Visual Impairments and Blindness Expert System (VIBES) program on its web site and is known for its support of disability-related organizations. Three hundred guests enjoyed the reception, dinner, and presentations at Philadelphia's Ritz Carlton Hotel. The event was hosted by Dr. Charles Lee, president of the College of Physicians. Dr. Lee is actively involved in numerous community and volunteer projects. (photo caption: Cynthia Fastman, recipient of the Louis Braille Special Recognition Award) Announcement Popular sheet music now available in braille from Opus Technologies Opus Technologies is pleased to announce that it has signed a braille music publishing agreement with Hal Leonard Corp. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the world's largest print music publishing company. The agreement grants Opus Technologies the rights to publish and sell braille editions of music titles from Hal Leonard's extensive catalog of print music. For its first offering, Opus Technologies is publishing braille editions of 25 individual sheet music pieces. These consist of the piano-vocal-guitar (pvg), easy piano (ep), or piano solo (ps) versions of the following ten best-selling popular songs: 1. Forrest Gump Main Title (Feather Theme): ep, ps 2. Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis): pvg 3. Heart and Soul: pvg, ep, ps 4. Imagine (John Lennon): pvg, ep, ps 5. Memory (from Cats): pvg, ep, ps 6. My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from Titanic): pvg, ep, ps 7. Tears in Heaven (Eric Clapton): pvg, ep, ps 8. Unchained Melody (the Righteous Brothers): pvg, ep 9. What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong): pvg, ep, ps 10. Yesterday (the Beatles): pvg, ep Each braille music piece is professionally transcribed and proofread according to the latest international standards for the music braille code, using uncontracted braille for all literary elements. The braille material is embossed double-sided on standard 11-inch by 11.5-inch braille paper, with twenty-five lines per page and forty cells per line. For the piano-vocal-guitar and easy piano versions of songs with lyrics, the braille music consists of three parts: (1) preliminary matter consisting of title page and transcriber notes; (2) a vocal-guitar part using the line-by-line method, with three lines for lyrics, chord symbols, and melody; and (3) a piano part using the bar-over-bar method, with three lines for melody, right hand, and left hand. Each part starts on a separate sheet, so that a blind vocalist/guitarist can use the vocal-guitar part while a blind pianist uses the piano part. For piano solo versions, the braille music consists of two parts: (1) preliminary matter and (2) a piano part using the bar-over-bar method, with two parallel lines for right hand and left hand. Opus Technologies is selling both the braille and the corresponding print sheet music at the following prices: $9.95 (braille), $3.95 (print), and $12.95 (braille and print). The braille music pieces can be bound individually or together with other pieces, using 19-hole comb binding with plastic front and back covers, for an additional $2 per binding. Shipping and handling is $5 per U.S. order ($10 for Canada, inquire for other countries). Based in San Diego, California, Opus Technologies has been developing and selling software, print, and braille materials for learning and using braille music since 1992. Opus Technologies has also published How to Read Braille Music, 2nd edition, by Bettye Krolick, and distributes the New International Manual of Braille Music Notation (available in print, braille, and multimedia CD-ROM). The address is 13333 Thunderhead Street, San Diego, CA 92129, USA, phone/fax: (858) 538-9401, e-mail: , web site: . Braille student-instructor dialog The Braille Development Section receives numerous questions concerning a variety of problems in braille transcribing. This article addresses some of them. The question-and-answer format is intended to give clarity. Student: I am currently transcribing a book that contains a lot of dialect. For example, the word "taken" is written "ta'en" in print. After reviewing Section 34E of the official code, English Braille, American Edition, 1994, I am still not sure whether it is permissible to use the "en" sign after the apostrophe in braille. Instructor: Good question. Section 34E of the official code says that part-word contractions should be used rather liberally in dialect. Since the use of the "en" sign after an apostrophe does not violate any of the lower-sign contraction rules presented in the official code, and because readability is not hindered in any way, the "en" contraction may be used in "ta'en." Student: I realize that according to Section 27E of the official code, the capital and double capital sign should be repeated after the oblique stroke. However, should the italic sign be repeated after the oblique stroke? Instructor: It is true that this point is not addressed specifically in the official code. However, since the capital and double capital sign are repeated after the oblique stroke, it is recommended that the italic sign should also be repeated after it. Student: I have another question about the oblique stroke. Is the oblique stroke still represented by dots 3-4? I was told that it had been changed. Instructor: At the present time, the oblique stroke still consists of dots 3-4 for materials produced in literary braille. Student: Similarly, I have been told that Section 4A of the official code has been changed. In plural abbreviations, numbers, or letters, the apostrophe is no longer being inserted before the letter "s" in braille. Is this true? Instructor: Absolutely not. For all materials produced in literary braille, the apostrophe is to be inserted before the letter "s" in plural abbreviations, numbers, or letters, even though it has been omitted in print. Student: I am transcribing a book that contains an italicized passage consisting of several paragraphs. I am aware that in such passages, the double italic sign should be placed at the beginning of each new paragraph, and the single italic sign should precede only the last word of the last paragraph. However, one of the paragraphs in the passage contains only one word. How should this be treated in braille? Instructor: It is recommended that even though a paragraph in an italicized passage consists of only one word, the double italic sign should be placed before that word. Placing the single italic sign before the word may give the braille reader the impression that the italics have been terminated. Student: I understand that a new heading need not always start on a new braille page. However, I am still a little confused about how many lines of text should accompany a heading before it becomes necessary to start it on a new braille page. Instructor: You are not alone. Section 18.4A of the Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribing, 1984, says that a new heading should be accompanied by at least two braille lines of text. Section 17 of the official code, however, says that at least one braille line of text should accompany a heading. Whenever there is a conflict between the instruction manual and the official code, follow the official code. Student: In dialect, when "th'" is used for the word "the" as in "Where should this music be? i' th' air or th' earth," should the "th" sign be used in braille? Instructor: Yes. When "th'" is used for "the," the "th" sign cannot be mistaken for the word "this." The whole-word contraction for "this" can never be used as part of a word. Therefore, the "th" sign should be used in braille. www.kanoworms@nls.com by Ray Hagen To date, there are no official guidelines for reading web site names and e-mail addresses out loud. These "klever" sobriquets are showing up in more and more books, so deal with them we must. But not to panic. It's not our job to explain to listeners the intricacies of the World Wide Web or electronic mail, just to communicate the information in the book. So assume that the listener will have at least as much familiarity with the terms as the average radio or TV listener, and consider these suggestions: Punctuation Codes:  = always said as "dot" @ = "at" / = "slash" \ = "backslash" ~ = "tilde" (til-duh) - = "dash" or "hyphen" (torvill-dean) _ = "underscore" (torvill_dean) Abbreviations:  net and com are said as words (the latter rhymes with "bomb").  http, edu, and aol are spelled out as initials.  org and gov can be either said as words or spelled, your call. Making them words is very common usage, and it's easier and quicker to say them that way. As for www--well, it comes up a lot. Just say "w w w." (Just our luck that the most frequently used three-letter combination features the only three-syllable letter in the alphabet.) User Addresses:  torvill-dean = say it as "torvill dash dean" or "torvill hyphen dean"  torvill_dean = say "torvill underscore dean"  torvill&dean = say "torvill and-sign dean, one word" or "torvill ampersand dean, one word"  torvillanddean@bellatlantic.com = say "torvill and dean one word, at bell atlantic, one word, dot com"  While we're at it, the title of this article is said as "w w w dot can uh worms, one word, spelled k a n o worms at n l s dot com" Spelling: General rule re spelling: don't unless you have to. But beware of traps. Uncommon words and names (or common ones with offbeat or multiple spellings) should be spelled out. For instance:  For our old pals above, add the note: "spelled t o r v i l l." No need to spell Dean.  For joeanderson, no spelling needed, but for joeandersen, say "spelled a n d e r s e n."  For lougrant, say his name and add "spelled l o u." No need to spell Grant.  For chloesevigny, say her whole name (look it up) and add the spelling.  For jm~83ent_whole, spell it all: "j m tilde-eight-three-e n t underscore w h o l e." Upper/Lower Case: A general note can be added before or after the web sites/e-mail addresses are read, saying that everything is in lowercase letters, or that all are lowercase unless otherwise specified. Generally they are, but occasionally there are some uppercase letters as well (although that may or may not make any difference). For claireTrevor or ClaireTrevor, specify "capital T" or "capital C, capital T." Lowercase needn't always be specified, but uppercase should be. There can never be one consistent set of rules to cover anything as exotic as web site names and e-mail addresses, so you need to use judgment and common sense. Try to keep it as clear and conversational as possible. Strike a balance between listeners who are unfamiliar with the web and the ever-growing number of listeners who use it all the time and will be bored to tears listening to all this stuff being over-explained. When in doubt, remember: the people who've never used the web won't know or care what you're talking about, and those who do use it understand the lingo. Just give 'em the facts. (photo caption: Ray Hagen, NLS narrator. Photo by Yusef El-Amin.) In memoriam NLS retiree Robert Kost Robert (Bob) Kost, 58, died suddenly after suffering a heart attack on March 24 at his home in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. Bob came to NLS in 1961, rising rapidly through the ranks to become head of the Production Control Section in 1975 and head of Quality Assurance in 1980. He retired from NLS in 1997. During his impressive career, Bob earned numerous awards and citations. He was recognized for developing an electronic speed-control device for recorded materials and for his single-handed construction of two 8-1/3 RPM record changers--the only such units in existence. His other initiatives helped increase braille output by volunteers, improve quality control of press-braille titles by commercial producers, and upgrade the review of recorded materials. Brad Kormann, chief of the Materials Development Division, and several other staff members represented NLS at the March 29 funeral service. In his remarks, Kormann remembered Bob Kost as a highly dedicated manager. "I remember Bob used to tell me that keeping the talking-book machines running was always a balancing act. Corrections or additions to the NLS book and playback-machine system always had an effect somewhere down the line. There are currently 22 million braille and recorded books circulating in the NLS network. In addition, NLS will soon build its one-millionth playback machine. Bob Kost left his thumbprint on nearly every one of those books and machines, and on the hearts of our patrons." Bob is survived by his wife, Carol, son Rob S., brother John J., one grandchild, and several nieces and nephews. 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: Rita Byrnes Braille student-instructor dialog: John Wilkinson