Talking Times, Winter 2021 - Section 2

Foreign Language Materials

Thanks to the Marrakesh Treaty, NLS is now adding more foreign language books to the catalog than ever before. To help patrons locate these titles, NLS has announced a new online publication: Foreign Language Quarterly (FLQ). FLQ, which will be posted on the NLS website every three months, will feature a selection of the most popular foreign language titles recently added to the NLS collection. The FLQ page will also feature a print button that will generate a printer-friendly version for the convenience of users. Books in a variety of foreign languages produced by NLS or obtained from other countries via the Marrakesh Treaty and other means are available. Visit the Foreign Language Quarely website for more information and to search for available materials.

NLS Next Generation Players and Book Production

NLS is beginning to develop the next generation digital talking book player to take advantage of the latest technological changes that have occurred since the original digital talking book player was introduced over six years ago. NLS will design the new machine based on the current model but is exploring new features such as wireless delivery. Books and magazines could be delivered directly to the player, so you won't have to handle individual cartridges. This means the player will need to have some built in memory to store files. The new players will also have text-to-speech capability (TTS). NLS is looking into obtaining electronic text (eText) materials, that, coupled with TTS, would open the door for more content to be available for both audio and braille. The agreement with a number of commercial audio book producers over the past few years has already increased the amount of material available each year. NLS is now adding about 3,000 new books to the collection each year. We hope you all are enjoying all the new books that are available to you.

BARD Tutorials: See How Easy It Is

If you have been debating whether or not to sign up for BARD and believe it may be too difficult, you can view the YouTube videos provided by the National Library Service to see just how BARD downloading is done. Here's an introduction to download books from BARD with NLS eReader HumanWare and to Navigate an audiobook with BARD Mobile.

Holiday Reading Selections: Contemporary, Classic, Spanish

An Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber (DB 92504)

Before starting work at a hot Seattle restaurant, chef Josie Avery takes a summer job at a lodge in Alaska. She bonds with the locals, including swordsmith Palmer Saxon. Their relationship has an end date, as Josie can't imagine leaving her life in Seattle--even for love. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2018. Romance.

Classic Christmas Stories: 16 Timeless Yuletide Tales by Julia Livshin (DBC 17261)

A collection of sixteen heartwarming literary gems from some of the world's best-loved writers. Some celebrate traditional Yuletide sentiment while others present surprising twists on the Christmas theme. Some portray New York socialites, others robust country folk, others the poor and homeless. All offer something worthwhile to think about at this most festive time of year. With contributions from: O. Henry, Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Anton Chekhov, Arthur Conan Doyle, Edward Eggleston, Frank R. Stockton, Mary Agnes Tincker, Robert Grant, Bret Harte, and many others. 2003. Adult.

A High Sierra Christmas by William Johnstone (DB 93389)

1817. Kate Darby, a lady's maid, and Matt Harlow, a valet, become entangled in a yuletide counterfeiting scheme as they try to stave off their feelings for one another. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2018. Western, Romance.

La Chica de la Nieve by Javier Castillo (DB 100684)

Three-year-old Kiera Templeton disappears at the 1998 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Later, her parents receive an anonymous video that shows her alive and well. A journalism student, Miren Triggs, picks up the investigation, and spends years trying to track her down. Will she succeed? Some violence and some strong language. Spanish language. 2020. Mystery, Detective.

La vela de Navidad by Max Lucado (DBC 14313)

Every 25 years, an angel appears in the little English village of Gladstone, where he touches one special candle in the home of the Haddingtons, the local candle makers who in turn give that candle to someone in need. Whoever receives this gift experiences a miracle. Spanish language. 2006. Holidays and Celebrations. Family Story.

The 19th Christmas by James Patterson (DB 96863)

When a fearsome criminal known only as "Loman" seizes control of the headlines, December is upended for the Women's Murder Club. Loman is planning a deadly surprise for Christmas morning and has commissioned dozens of criminal colleagues to take actions that will mask his plans. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2019. Mystery

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (DB 52929)

Tax accountant Luther Krank calculates that a Caribbean cruise will cost less than what he and his wife, Nora, spent celebrating the holidays last year. Since daughter Blair is in the Peace Corps, they plan to skip Christmas. Luther, however, doesn't anticipate the town's reaction. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2001 Humor, Family Story.