Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center

Non-fiction This and That

Nancy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:54:25 +0000

Remember as a child you drove the adults crazy when you repeatedly asked, “Why”. “Why is the sky blue?” “Why is snow cold?” “Why, Why, Why? As an adult have you ever wondered “why” different music provokes different emotions? When we grew up Pluto was a planet and “why” is it now something less? “Why” do women worry so much about fashion and how they look? Listed below are a few books that may answer the “why” for some of our adult questions.

Do you like to play Sudoku? This book explains the history of math in various cultures.

DB73150 by Alex Bellos Here’s Looking at Euclid: A Surprising Excursion through the Astonishing World of Math

Do your “why” questions center around Science. Explore the origins of science in ancient Greece, Egypt and other countries.

DB73166 by Stephen Bertman The Genesis of Science: The Story of Greek Imagination

Does Astronomy have a lot of “why” questions for you. Then the next book is for you.

DB73228 by Mike Brown How I killed Pluto and Why It Had it Coming

Ever wonder “why” there is so much sand in some parts of the world or why does sand influence nature and history?

DB69132 by Michael Welland Sand: The Never-Ending Story

Why does music make us sad or happy or agitated:

DB65202 by Oliver W. Sacks Musicophilia: Tales of Music and The Brain

Why are pianos shaped the way they are?

DB72585 by Madeline Goold Mr. Langshaw’s Square Piano: The Story of the First Pianos and How They Caused a Cultural Revolution

Ever wonder “why” the U.S Marine Corps was developed?

DB72202 by Alan Axelrod Miracle at Belleau Wood: The Birth of the Modern U.S. Marine Corps.

Why do women want to look fashionable?

DB69293 by Hadley Freeman The Meaning of Sunglasses: And a Guide to Almost All Things Fashionable.

Hopefully, these books will answer some “why” questions and provide some entertainment as well. Happy reading!

CLASSICS

plemoj — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:20:43 +0000

When I was remembering back to the old classic movies, I looked up some of the books that we had available that these movies were made from. Here is just a few suggested from the numerous ones available:

DB 57020 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (Jules Verne)

DB 64277 The Three Musketeers

DB 67136 War and Peace

DB 49497 Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)

DB 60250 National Velvet

DB 59303 The Prince and The Pauper, DB 57349 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, DB 53084 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain’s)

DB 55192 Three Complete Novels of Horror (Stephen King) Carrie, Salem’s Lot, The Shining

DB 33082 Gone With the Wind

DB 67981 Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)

DB 55472 Complete Novels of 5 classic mysteries published between 1929-1934 The Thin Man, Red Harvest, The Dain Curse, The Maltese Falcon, The Glass Key

These are just a few suggestions, we have many more classics available. Give us a call to find out if there is a favorite of yours you would like to request.

Ph: 800-426-0709 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00

Read Between the Lines

pwhipp — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:45:56 +0000

If you are interested in the background of some favorite books and authors, check out this list.

DB 71725 ”The Lineup: The World’s Greatest Crime Writers Tell the Inside Story of Their Greatest Detectives” (23 authors including Alexander McCall Smith, Robert B. Parker, and Lee Child)

DB 71478 “How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines. ” by Thomas C. Foster

DB 67556 ”Looking for Anne of Green Gables: The Story of L. M. Montgomery and her Literary Classic” by Irene Gammel

DB 65806 “Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature” by Linda J. Lear

DB 67371 “Books: A Memoir” by Larry McMurtry

DB 67443 “Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography” by David Michaelis

DB 73233 “Pearl Buck in China: Journey to the Good Earth” by Hilary Spurling

Do you have yours yet?

Rose Chenoweth — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:36:04 +0000

Although many of you have already signed up for and are using the digital talking book player, about 600 of our patrons still have not started using the machines. If you are one of those unlucky people, here is your chance! These machines are smaller, lighter, and easier to use than the cassette machines, all good reasons to switch now! Other reasons to switch:

The talking book itself is just one cartridge. You plug it into the front of the machine and listen to the end. You do not have to turn cassettes over or change cassettes; one cartridge has it all.
No new cassette books are being produced. New books are available only in digital format or download.
This smaller machine can be charged and then carried anywhere. It is much lighter.
The machine talks to you. You push a button and it tells you what the button is for and how to use it. Some people love this because it is much more sophisticated and allows you to do so much more than the cassette machine. BUT…if you don’t want all the fancy bells and whistles, you can turn on the power and push play and then push stop and not worry about everything else. It does only as much as you want it to do.
The cassette machines are no longer being made. This means the machines that you have are aging and when you send them in for needed repairs, we may not be able to fix them. The machine we send out to replace the one you sent us will also be older. The machine quality is decreasing.

A photograph of the digital talking book machine and book that can be played on the machine.

This new talking book machine is a wonderful new tool that will make enjoying talking books easier. To get yours today, call 1.800.426.0709 and ask a reader adviser to sign you up.

Conferences for Illinois Parents of Children with Vision Loss

Rose Chenoweth — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:41:50 +0000

Parents of children ages birth through twenty-one are encouraged to attend for in-depth
discussions of useful topics. Learn from experts in the field as well as from fellow parents.

We have just been informed that the southern conference has been cancelled due to lack of registration. You are still welcome to sign up for the conference in the northern part of the state. See below.
The Conference Program overview:

Kids Under Construction: Learn strategies to build up your child’s independence by encouraging age appropriate responsibilities and continuing school learning at home.
Got Friends? Learn how to support your child’s friendships and social growth by understanding the social challenges of vision impairment.
Camp: More than S’Mores! There’s more to camp than s’mores and campfire songs. Parents of children with vision loss share their children’s camp experiences.
 iPads for Eye Students: Learn how iPads can be used to benefit students with vision loss and test drive a few apps in this hands-on session.
Resource Swap Shop: Who’s the expert on resources available for families and children with vision loss? You are! In this small group discussion, we’ll share experiences and information about helpful national, state and local resources. What resources have been most helpful to your family?

There are two conferences, one in the north and the other in the southern part of the state.

Southern Illinois Vision Conference (Cancelled for lack of registration)

March 17, 2012

Mt. Vernon Primary Center

401 N 30th

Mt. Vernon, IL 62864

Northern Illinois Vision Conference (This conference is still accepting registration!)

April 21, 2012

Center for Sight and Hearing

8038 MacIntosh Lane

Rockford, IL 61107
Time: 8:45 Check-in, 9:15 – 3:45 Conference Program
Hosts: Center for Sight & Hearing; Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments; Hearing and
Vision Early Intervention Outreach; Franklin-Jefferson Special Education; Illinois School for the Visually Impaired;
Northwestern Illinois Association; Rockford Public Schools; Illinois Machine Sublending Agency (Illinois
Heartland Library

To register, fill in the registration form Vision Conference Flyer 2012 .

ADULT WINTER READING PROGRAM

Nancy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:08:01 +0000

Winter weather has finally arrived in Illinois. How do you spend your winter days? Do you just stare into space thinking of Spring? Do you take lots of long naps? Do you dream of sitting in the warm sun? Do you long for something to entertain you during these short, cold days? Why not register for the Adult Winter Reading Program? This year’s theme is “Tribute to the Decades: Celebrating the Twentieth Century.”

The WRP 2012 Reading Guide – Tribute to the Decades includes classics, adventure, romance, suspense, history and more, highlighting every decade including the Roaring Twenties, the Golden Fifties, and Decadent Eighties. All you have to read is 6 books from the reading guide by March 31st; record each title on your Reading Log; and return the log to the library to be entered into a multiple prize drawing! What better way to start the new year. Try some new authors and new books and maybe win a prize.

Please use the TBC WRP 2012 Registration Form to register and send it to the address given on the form. Nothing brightens a cold blustery day better than a good book. Happy reading!!!!

Funding for this grant project was awarded from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to
the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology
Act (LSTA).

SEA ADVENTURE

plemoj — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:01:57 +0000

There are many interesting facts about the sea. Most of the books suggested are about battleships and their experiences with war and survival in the sea;

DB70323 (Mutiny: the true events of the submarine Storozhevoy that inspired the Hunt for Red October.)

DB68493(Wreck of the Carl D): A true story of the sinking of the 638-foot limestone carrier.

DB68497(Battleship Oklahoma BB-37): History of the battleship and personal experiences of the men before its destruction at Pearl Harbor

DB68625(Danger’s Hour): The story of the USS Bunker Hill of the 1945 suicide attack by a Japanese pilot.

DB72681(Atlantic:Great Sea Battles): traces the history of battles, heroic discoveries, titanic storms of the Atlantic ocean

DB66099(Halsey’s Typhoon): account of a devastating Pacific storm (Typhoon Cobra) that struck Admiral Halsey’s fleet near the Philippines in 1944.

DB66711(Beyond Reach): the account of the 1981 search for the wreck of the Titanic.

DB68470(Intrepid): history of the warship USS Intrepid

DB71378(The World is Blue): how our fate and the Ocean’s are one.

Holiday

Rose Chenoweth — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:13:47 +0000

The Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center will be closed Monday, January 16 in honor of Martin Luther King Day. We will open again on January 17.

Welcome 2012!

pwhipp — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:37:53 +0000

If the thought of a new year brings lifestyle changes to mind, you may want to check out one of these titles.

DB 66193 “Stop Whining, Start Living” by Laura Schlessinger

DB 66601 ”The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch

DB 67660 “Real Life: Preparing for the Seven Most Challenging Days of Your Life” by Phillip McGraw (Dr Phil)

DB 67113 “Rightsizing Your Life: Simplifying Your Surroundings While Keeping What Matters Most” by Ciji Ware

DB 67507 “Practice Safe Stress: Healing and Laughing in the Face of Stress, Burnout and Depression” by Mark Gorkin

DB 67932 “Love Your Life: Living Happy, Healthy and Whole” by Victoria Osteen

DB 70895 “So Long Insecurity: You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Us” by Beth Moore

If you would like to read a family novel with a New Year’s Eve theme, check out DB 66840 “The New Year’s Eve Quilt” by Jennifer Chiaverini or DB 71655 ”Knit the Season” by Kate Jacobs.

Thank You

Rose Chenoweth — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:54:37 +0000

One of the wonderful things about the Christmas season here at Mid Illinois Talking Books is all of the wonderful notes we get from patrons thanking us for the service we provide. The stories they tell are priceless and will live on in our hearts forever. Most of us who work here love reading and books and people, not necessarily in that order, and connecting readers with books is a true pleasure. Doing what you love doing is a reward all by itself, but hearing that we have succeeded in what we try to do is the icing on the cake.

These caring notes remind me how important it is to remember to thank people. In these challenging times, it is even more important as so many people struggle just to get through the day. One of my New Year’s resolutions will be to remember to thank people for opening doors, sharing happy stories, doing small kindnesses, giving me the gift of their friendship, and making the world a better place. If my gratitude will brighten someone’s day, please help me remember to say thank you.

Thank you for signing up to receive our website news updates. Thank you for reading the books we send you and making our jobs worthwhile. You add much to our lives.

Now it is your turn to tell someone who has touched your life thank you. Pass it on!