Adaptive Technology, a division of Perkins Products of the Perkins School for the Blind, is now selling 1GB digital talking-book cartridges and compatible USB cables, designed to be used with NLS digital talking-book machines.
Blank 1GB cartridges are $14.95, while blank 1GB cartridges bundled with a compatible 36-inch USB cable are $17.95. The USB cable may also be purchased separately for $3.95.
Customers ordering by phone or online may use credit cards. Perkins also accepts e-mail or fax purchase orders. To place an order, contact Adaptive Technology, a division of Perkins Products, as follows:
E-mail: adaptivetech@perkins.org
Phone: (978) 462-3817
Fax: (978) 462-3928
To place an order online, go to the Talking Book Accessories section of https://secure2.convio.net/psb/site/Ecommerce?FOLDER=1084&store_id=1101.
To order by mail, send your request with a check to:
Perkins Products
P.O. Box 778
Amesbury, MA 01913
Marcel Carroll
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
NEW CASE FOR DIGITAL PLAYER NOW AVAILABLE
IT DID NOT TAKE LONG!NEW CASE FOR THE NLS LIBRARY DIGITAL PLAYER!
Executive Products has designed the new EXECUTIVE NLS/BPH CASE for the NLS/BPH Digital Talking Book Player.
https://www.executiveproductsinc.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=361&products_id=1841&osCsid=14ebd96fb23b48a3097aac1ba35292f3
Executive Products has designed the new EXECUTIVE NLS/BPH CASE for the NLS/BPH Digital Talking Book Player.
https://www.executiveproductsinc.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=361&products_id=1841&osCsid=14ebd96fb23b48a3097aac1ba35292f3
Have any questions please call them at 818-833-8822 or just e-mail them at customer_care@executiveproductsinc.com
The library does not express any opinion on the quality of this product, but we are happy to pass along news to you.
Marcel Carroll
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Playing RFB&D Books on NLS Digital Player
Recently several customer of the library have contacted me about how to download books from RFB&D to their new library digital player. Since this is a bit outside my "job description", I have been unable to assist. Today I got the instructions below on the subject, which I am passing on to the reader. I cannot vouch for accuracy, so please don't hold me personally responsible if your computer blows up as you attempt this exercise. Otherwise, I hope these instructions help.
Playing RFB&D Books on NLS Digital Player
1. Log into the RFB&D site with your login information.
2. Select "Authorize a Daisy Player".
3. Select the type of player: NLS standard (or simple) digital player or NLS advanced digital player.
4. Press Continue.
5. Enter the serial number (barcode number) from your NLS digital machine.
6. Press Continue.
7. Select the option to download the user authorization key. Save the key to your thumb drive.
8. Connect your thumb drive to your NLS digital machine. Your machine will save the authorization key internally.
9. When your NLS digital machine has saved the authorization key, delete the key from your thumb drive.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
Playing RFB&D Books on NLS Digital Player
1. Log into the RFB&D site with your login information.
2. Select "Authorize a Daisy Player".
3. Select the type of player: NLS standard (or simple) digital player or NLS advanced digital player.
4. Press Continue.
5. Enter the serial number (barcode number) from your NLS digital machine.
6. Press Continue.
7. Select the option to download the user authorization key. Save the key to your thumb drive.
8. Connect your thumb drive to your NLS digital machine. Your machine will save the authorization key internally.
9. When your NLS digital machine has saved the authorization key, delete the key from your thumb drive.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Digital Cartridges Now Available via APHB
The American Printing House for the Blind is now selling 2GB digital talking-book cartridges, designed to be used with the NLS digital-talking book machine, for $11.99.
To place an order, contact the American Printing House for the Blind at http://shop.aph.org/ or 1-800-223-1839. Customer service questions may be sent by e-mail to cs@aph.org.
For more information contact:
Alice O'Reilly
Assistant to the Chief, Materials Development Division
abak@loc.gov
(202) 707-0538
Marcel Carroll
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
To place an order, contact the American Printing House for the Blind at http://shop.aph.org/ or 1-800-223-1839. Customer service questions may be sent by e-mail to cs@aph.org.
For more information contact:
Alice O'Reilly
Assistant to the Chief, Materials Development Division
abak@loc.gov
(202) 707-0538
Marcel Carroll
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
Monday, February 1, 2010
Digital Player Carrying Case
Wouldn't it be great if someone would manufacture a snazy protective carrying case for the new digital player? Carrying cases for laptops are everywhere, and our digital player is nothing but a specialized computer. A protective case would accomplish several objectives, and would be welcomed by many digital player users. Well, I have it on reasonably reliable information that such a project is now in the works. I will not disclose any names at this time, but I can say that representatives are working with a company that has the expertise to carry through with any agreement it makes to create a digital player carrying case.
I will keep you informed as I obtain updated information.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
Monday, January 4, 2010
Download and Use the new Bookshelf Feature for your Digital Player
You can load onto your flash drive and choose among and play several books and magazines by upgrading your player for the "Bookshelf" feature. You can do this by going to the internet to this web site address:
http://www.loc.gov/nls/DTBM/
A link there allows you to upgrade at any time to the latest software version of the player. This upgrade should now include the bookshelf feature. You download the upgrade in the same manner that you download any book or magazine from BARD. first be certain that you use a clean flash drive without any books or magazines already stored on it. You must then download the upgrade files to the computer; then you must unzip the files to your flash drive; then insert the flash drive into your player; then turn on the player and hit the play button. The narrator will instruct at that point.
Once you have "played" the upgrade on your player, you will be able to use bookshelf to distinguish among and choose a particular downloaded book or magazine to listen to on your player. Insert the flash drive with several items on it. Power on your player. Hold down the Play/Stop button. You will here the narrator state that your player is in bookshelf mode. The narrator will recite the name of the item in first position. Hit the forward or the reverse button on your player. The narrator will announce the title of the next item, and so forth. Remove your finger from the Play/Stop button once you are at the item you desire to listen to next.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
http://www.loc.gov/nls/DTBM/
A link there allows you to upgrade at any time to the latest software version of the player. This upgrade should now include the bookshelf feature. You download the upgrade in the same manner that you download any book or magazine from BARD. first be certain that you use a clean flash drive without any books or magazines already stored on it. You must then download the upgrade files to the computer; then you must unzip the files to your flash drive; then insert the flash drive into your player; then turn on the player and hit the play button. The narrator will instruct at that point.
Once you have "played" the upgrade on your player, you will be able to use bookshelf to distinguish among and choose a particular downloaded book or magazine to listen to on your player. Insert the flash drive with several items on it. Power on your player. Hold down the Play/Stop button. You will here the narrator state that your player is in bookshelf mode. The narrator will recite the name of the item in first position. Hit the forward or the reverse button on your player. The narrator will announce the title of the next item, and so forth. Remove your finger from the Play/Stop button once you are at the item you desire to listen to next.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Digital Player Headphones
Some of our customers report problems with the headphones they use with the library digital players. We contacted NLS to learn what is the ideal headphone. They told us that the best headphone will feature 32 ohms of impedence. Look for this specification when shoping for a new set of headphones.
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL
(386) 239-6000
Friday, October 2, 2009
Browse our library online catalog for Descriptive DVDs and Videos
Obtaining a list of our DVDs or videos in our online catalog is easy, but not apparent at first. Go online to our catalog located at http://www.klas.com/flbtbl . I've found the best way to obtain a list of DVDs or videos is to perform an "Advanced Search", so click the Advanced Search link. In the "Criteria 1" box, place either "DV" for DVDs or "DW" for video movies. Then choose in the "Media" dropdown box either Descriptive DVD or Descriptive video. Check the "Change #" box if you wish to view a list of items longer than 25. Then hit "Submit Search" and you will get a browse list to go through and place your order.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Digital Cartridges Now Available for Library Digital Players
Independent Lving Aids now has available for purchase blank 1 gigabyte digital cartridges for the digital talking book player. A one gigabyte cartridge will hold about 92 hours of narration. Information on availability and pricing for the cartridge can be found at: http://www.independentliving.com/prodinfo.asp?number=307004 .
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Upgrading Digital Book Software
A recent version of the new digital player allows more than one book to be downloaded on a single flash drive. If several books and/or magazines are on a flash drive, the user can then toggle among the books to play a selected book. This benefit is now called the “bookshelf” mode. Other upgrades have also been implemented to improve overall player performance.
Libraries and patrons can upgrade digital players to the latest software in the following manner:
1. Obtain the latest software from the NLS web site:http://www.loc.gov/nls/DTBM/DTBMsoftware-latest.zip . At this time, the latest player firmware is version 2.1.1 (August 31st 2009), which you can get here: http://www.loc.gov/nls/DTBM/DTBMsoftware-2.1.1.zip
2. Extract (unzip) this file onto a cartridge or flash drive so that the directory “upgrade” appears in the “root” directory of the cartridge or drive.
3. Turn on the player.
4. Insert the flash cartridge or flash drive containing the software.
The player will announce “Upgrading your player’s software.”
5. Wait until the upgrade is complete and the player restarts (about 10 seconds), then remove the cartridge or flash drive.
6. The upgrade will only occur if the player’s version is older than the version of the software on the cartridge or flash drive; reinserting the cartridge or flash drive will not repeat the upgrade. To utilize the bookshelf mode, Press and hold "Play/Stop" to enter bookshelf and RW/FF to select book.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Libraries and patrons can upgrade digital players to the latest software in the following manner:
1. Obtain the latest software from the NLS web site:http://www.loc.gov/nls/DTBM/DTBMsoftware-latest.zip . At this time, the latest player firmware is version 2.1.1 (August 31st 2009), which you can get here: http://www.loc.gov/nls/DTBM/DTBMsoftware-2.1.1.zip
2. Extract (unzip) this file onto a cartridge or flash drive so that the directory “upgrade” appears in the “root” directory of the cartridge or drive.
3. Turn on the player.
4. Insert the flash cartridge or flash drive containing the software.
The player will announce “Upgrading your player’s software.”
5. Wait until the upgrade is complete and the player restarts (about 10 seconds), then remove the cartridge or flash drive.
6. The upgrade will only occur if the player’s version is older than the version of the software on the cartridge or flash drive; reinserting the cartridge or flash drive will not repeat the upgrade. To utilize the bookshelf mode, Press and hold "Play/Stop" to enter bookshelf and RW/FF to select book.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Monday, September 21, 2009
Locating Digital Books in our Online Catalog
If you are interested in browsing the digital books in the Florida talking book collection, here is one good way. You must first obtain a password from your library. Write to us at OPAC_LIBRARIAN@dbs.fldoe.org. You can also phone the library at 1-800-226-6075. If you phone, you might be unable to reach your adviser at the time, so leave a phone message that you need a password for the internet catalog, and leave your email address if you have one. The reader adviser will set up your account and email or phone you back with your password. Of course, you are free to search the catalog without checking out anything, and you can call your library to check out items that you locate in the catalog.
You will need your password and your nine digit customer number to order items through the catalog. Your customer number can be found on any mail card attached to any item sent to your home from the library.
To find digital books, first go to the internet catalog, located at http://www.klas.com/flbtbl . Bring up the “Advanced Search” screen, which can be found in the left panel. In the field box “Criteria 1”, select “Book Number”, and insert in the blank the expression “DB”. Then find the field box “Media”, and select “Digital Book”. Change the “# Records” field to a number acceptable to you for your search. If interested only in fiction or non-fiction, make an appropriate selection in that field box.
Then hit the “Submit Search” button. You will be switched to a list of appropriate Digital books. The title of each book on the list is also a link that you can click to find more information about the item. Other information includes the annotation telling you about the book. Switch back to the list and check the box to the left if you are interested in obtaining the digital book. Once you have checked the boxes for each book you want, check the “Add to Book Basket” button at the bottom of the page. At the book basket screen, you will have a second chance to review your selections. If you do not want the book, you can de-select it. If you want a particular book immediately, you can try rushing it by checking the Rush box. Once satisfied with your selections, click the “Proceed to Checkout” button at the bottom of this page. Only then will you be required to supply a customer number and then your password. Your items will be requested or reserved for you and sent to you by your library.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
You will need your password and your nine digit customer number to order items through the catalog. Your customer number can be found on any mail card attached to any item sent to your home from the library.
To find digital books, first go to the internet catalog, located at http://www.klas.com/flbtbl . Bring up the “Advanced Search” screen, which can be found in the left panel. In the field box “Criteria 1”, select “Book Number”, and insert in the blank the expression “DB”. Then find the field box “Media”, and select “Digital Book”. Change the “# Records” field to a number acceptable to you for your search. If interested only in fiction or non-fiction, make an appropriate selection in that field box.
Then hit the “Submit Search” button. You will be switched to a list of appropriate Digital books. The title of each book on the list is also a link that you can click to find more information about the item. Other information includes the annotation telling you about the book. Switch back to the list and check the box to the left if you are interested in obtaining the digital book. Once you have checked the boxes for each book you want, check the “Add to Book Basket” button at the bottom of the page. At the book basket screen, you will have a second chance to review your selections. If you do not want the book, you can de-select it. If you want a particular book immediately, you can try rushing it by checking the Rush box. Once satisfied with your selections, click the “Proceed to Checkout” button at the bottom of this page. Only then will you be required to supply a customer number and then your password. Your items will be requested or reserved for you and sent to you by your library.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Thursday, September 10, 2009
What Digital Books do we Have?
I am informed that the November-December edition of "Talking Book Topics" will be the first to list digital books for loan! Your Florida Braille and Talking Book library is also planning to mail a supplemental monthly catalog of our holdings to our customers who have digital players, with the first issue now planned for late September 2009. Subsequent mailings will follow in October and November. We will try to keep all of our Florida customers up to speed on the digital books we have available now that they are beginning to flow into the Florida talking book library system.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Bible is coming in Digital!
NLS is reissuing the entire King James Version of the Bible, as narrated by Alexander Scourby, on one flash cartridge. The new title, "The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments," (DB 68777) will be available through BARD in the near future, probably in time for Christmas. Florida will also order a limited number of digital cartridge copies of the Bible. When it will be available to our customers direct from the library is not clear yet, but I would guess it will be next year.
Marcel Carroll
Library services Supervisor
Marcel Carroll
Library services Supervisor
Most Popular BARD Downloads August 2009
As of August 31, 2009 we have 517 BARD eligible readers signed up throughout Florida. Here are the top ten books downloaded during the past month by our readers:
1. Debt of Honor: A Jack Ryan Novel
2. Extreme Measures: CIA Agent Mitch Rapp
3. Fire and Ice
4. The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel
4. Your Heart Belongs to Me
4. Mortal Danger: And Other True Cases; Ann Rule's Crime Files, Volume 13
7. A Perfectly Good Family
7. The Gate House
7. Cross Country: An Alex Cross Mystery
7. The Cook's Book of Indispensable Ideas: A Kitchen Sourcebook
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
1. Debt of Honor: A Jack Ryan Novel
2. Extreme Measures: CIA Agent Mitch Rapp
3. Fire and Ice
4. The Broken Window: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel
4. Your Heart Belongs to Me
4. Mortal Danger: And Other True Cases; Ann Rule's Crime Files, Volume 13
7. A Perfectly Good Family
7. The Gate House
7. Cross Country: An Alex Cross Mystery
7. The Cook's Book of Indispensable Ideas: A Kitchen Sourcebook
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Instructions to Join BARD
Many customers are calling us to learn how to download books from the National Libary Service database to their computers via the BARD service. Once downloaded, a book can then be transferred to a flash drive and played in the new digital players now going out to our library customers. If you are interested in BARD downloading of the 16,000 or so books on the NLS website, here is some useful information to get you started:
Read this information first: http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm09/bm0907/bm090710.htm
To apply for BARD, go here: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/FL1A/ApplicationInstructions.html
When applying, be sure that you enter your name and address as they appear on any mail card we have recently sent to you with a book or other item from the library.
Here is the sign in page for the BARD catalog: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/cgi-bin/nlsbardprod/index.cgi. You will download books directly from this site, by clicking on the link below the annotation.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Read this information first: http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm09/bm0907/bm090710.htm
To apply for BARD, go here: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/FL1A/ApplicationInstructions.html
When applying, be sure that you enter your name and address as they appear on any mail card we have recently sent to you with a book or other item from the library.
Here is the sign in page for the BARD catalog: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/cgi-bin/nlsbardprod/index.cgi. You will download books directly from this site, by clicking on the link below the annotation.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Commercial Digital Players for BARD
We know of four commercial players that will play digital download books from the NLS BARD website. Here are the players we know to be compatible to play BARD books:
Booksense ($314)-- https://www.gwmicro.com/Catalog/BookSense/
Levelstar Icon ($ 1395)-- http://www.levelstar.com/store/Icon/
Plextalk Pocket ($339)-- http://www.plextalk.com/in/index.html
Victor Stream ($339)-- http://www.icanseemypc.com/vist.html
Our library digital player will also play BARD downloaded books, and it is free! We will post another blog entry tomorrow on this subject.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Superviser
Booksense ($314)-- https://www.gwmicro.com/Catalog/BookSense/
Levelstar Icon ($ 1395)-- http://www.levelstar.com/store/Icon/
Plextalk Pocket ($339)-- http://www.plextalk.com/in/index.html
Victor Stream ($339)-- http://www.icanseemypc.com/vist.html
Our library digital player will also play BARD downloaded books, and it is free! We will post another blog entry tomorrow on this subject.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Superviser
Blank Cartridges for Digital Players are Coming!
Northstar Systems, Inc., of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is now producing blank USB flash-memory cartridges for recorded audio books to be distributed to customers of the talking-book program nationwide. A customer soon will be able to download books from the NLS server directly to the customer’s computer, then to the blank cartridge. The cartridge will slide right into the main port of the player, just like one of our pre-recorded digital books. This will be an improvement compared to using a flash drive and the USB port located on the right side of the digital player. We will keep you posted as to where you can get these cartridges and how much they will cost once they beocme available.
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Welcome to the Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
Our entire staff at the Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services is excited to introduce this new blog to our customers and the general public. Through this blog our customers will be able to keep up with what is going on here at the library. Status of the new digital program? Find it here first! What new Florida interest books are coming out in Braille or in cassette mediums? Look no further. In addition to news, we plan to provide other useful information, such as articles on techniques for using the online library catalog, book reviews, and bibliographies.
We have inserted into this blog an RSS feed link so that when we have updated our blog with current news or items that might be of interest to you, you can read it immediately if you have Google Reader or some comparable feed reader. At the bottom of this blog you will see a link entitled "Posts (Atom)". Place your browser over this link and left click to create an RSS feed. On the resulting page, click on the link "Subscribe to this Page".
We have inserted into this blog an RSS feed link so that when we have updated our blog with current news or items that might be of interest to you, you can read it immediately if you have Google Reader or some comparable feed reader. At the bottom of this blog you will see a link entitled "Posts (Atom)". Place your browser over this link and left click to create an RSS feed. On the resulting page, click on the link "Subscribe to this Page".
Marcel Carroll
Library Services Supervisor
Subscribe to:
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