That's the Latter Library on St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans
February is Love Your Library month, and I’m celebrating in style: I’m in New Orleans with Mike and Whitney, and tomorrow morning I’m the guest storyteller at the Milton H. Latter Memorial Branch of the New Orleans Public Library.
I am, and have always been, a huge fan of books and libraries. I am among millions of American kids who remember looking forward to trips to the library for a new stack of books to bring home every week. Flo flushes with embarrassment when she recalls dropping me off at the library one evening before heading to the grocery store, coming home and putting those groceries away, then realizing she’d forgotten to pick me up. “There you were, waiting all that time at the library door with your pile of books!” She says. “I felt terrible!” No reason for Flo to feel bad — I was in seventh heaven! I was so busy flipping through the pages and anticipating which new book I’d start first, I didn’t even realize she was late.
When surgeons told me in 1986 that the eye surgeries hadn’t worked and I’d never see again, one of my first concerns was how I would survive without being able to read. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) came to my rescue.
The Library of Congress administers NLS, a talking-book and Braille program available for free to those of us whose low vision, blindness, or physical handicap makes reading regular print difficult. A few years ago Woman’s Day Magazine published an essay I wrote about the talking Book Program, and that essay is still available on the American library Association’s “I Love Libraries” web site.
NLS mails books and magazines in audio and in Braille directly to enrollees at no cost. These days some materials are also available online for download, which means I can keep up with my book club — I’m the only one in the group who can’t see, and thanks to the new digital NLS program I don’t have to wait long to read new releases anymore.
When I was at the Seeing Eye training with Whitney I met a woman who loves — and uses — the talking book program even more than I do. If you watched that short one-minute Seeing Eye promotional video I linked to in a previous post, you saw Karen Keninger — she’s the graduate who gets a little teary-eyed in the video. On our last night of training, Karen and I sat down together over a glass of wine to talk about books and writing. She was heading home to Iowa the next morning (Karen is director of the Iowa Department for the Blind) but then getting on a plane again with her new Seeing Eye dog Jimi the very next day. “I have a job interview in Washington, DC.,” she said to me in a hushed tone, explaining that she was being considered for the position of Director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
The folks at the Library of Congress obviously liked what they saw. Karen got the job. People who can read print may not think much of this position, but to those of us who rely on NLS, this appointment is absolutely huge. I was sworn to secrecy about this new appointment until Karen passed security clearance, and she emailed over the weekend to tell me it’s official.
Karen Keninger was born and raised in Vinton, Iowa, the third of seven children in a happy and lively farming family. She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa as a child and was completely blind by the age of 20. She graduated from Drake University in 1973 with a B.A. in Journalism and went back to school and graduated in 1991 with a masters degree in English. She served as Rehabilitation Consultant with the Iowa Department for the Blind, Program Administrator for the Iowa Library for the Blind and Director of the Iowa Department for the Blind before accepting her new position. In addition to all of that, she raised six, count them, six children!
I could go on and on about Karen Keninger, but hey, this is my last night in New Orleans, and Mike, Whitney and I are heading out to meet friends for one last decadent meal, and we’ll toast to Karen then. What a comfort it is to know that my beloved National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped will be in such good hands.
Speaking of libraries, I started borrowing ebooks and audiobooks from the library (online) and it’s been great. Except for this last book…I had two chapters left before the book expired and now there’s about 100 people on the waiting list. So it looks like I will have to stop at the library to see if they have any copies of the book because I really want to finish it. It will be a good excuse to get Marshall out to the library too!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I bet Marshall loves going to the library — I plan on publishing a post soon about the way libraries are becoming more like “community centers” now that folks can download books at home — stay tuned. Oh, and yes: happy Valentine’s Day!
Congratulations to Karen Keninger on getting that plum position. Its nice to see that go to a fellow Iowan. I wish her success!
Ya’ gotta love that state of Iowa…
Yay for libraries, librarians, books, and writers. The local library with it’s free books allowed me to survive a rough childhood and gave me a lifetime love of reading. Congrats to Karen!
Beth, I just finished LONG TIME NO SEE. I enjoyed reading it and learned lots of interesting things. Hey, your writing has evolved, and matured since you wrote that. Perhaps it’s time for a new book about your continuing adventures? Big hint!
Ha, that’s the best backhanded compliment ever — the book was interesting, but my writing has evolved (translation: improved?!) since then. I have considered writing a second memoir but worry that perhaps a second memoir is a bit haughty? Toying with writing about the memoir-writing class I teach to seniors and playing with that idea — THANKS for the encouragement to come up with another book, Kim.
Sorry my compliment came across as “backhanded”. You weave stories the way others create tapestries. I meant that your writing is even more complex and lovely now. A second memoir would NOT be haughty at all. Your senior’s memoir writing class sounds like a fun topic. I’m stopping now as my giant foot is plunging deeper and deeper into my mouth.
Great video Beth. Good to hear your comments. You didn’t mention how fast you could walk with Hanna, Harper and Whitney. You obviously are a fast walker and they allowed you to continue to do this. Did you keep up with them or they you?
Audrey
Glad this post motivated you to link on that Seeing Eye video, the PR folks there did a great job with that. As for keeping up with my dogs, at first, while they are young, I definitely am keeping up with them. As they age, though, they start keeping up with me — will be interesting to see what speed Whitney and I are maintaining ten years from now.
Thanks for the toast, Beth! This kind of statement is what makes my job so great! I love to read and I love this wonderful program! It’s one of the few positive things in our government left anymore.
Word of mouth is one of the best ways to spread the word. And our new digital machine and the download program, don’t hurt either.
Keep up the good work, Beth. I love reading your blogs.
A note to other blog readers: Faye is a “reader advisor” in Illinois for those ofus using the talking book service. Sounds like she reads tarot cards or palms, and in a way she does — she helps talking book users find the book they are looking for or dreaming about for the future. THANKS, Faye.
I should sign up for NLS services. Right now I primarily use Learning Ally (formerly RFB&D) because they have most of my textbooks and other books I need for school in audio files. I am also a member of Bookshare, but honestly haven’t used them much. Whenever possible I prefer a human voice to a screen reader’s. Thanks for getting the word out there, Beth!
I’m with you, Kate. Whenever possible I prefer a human voice to a screen reader’s, and do I have it right that BookShare books all come in that computerized voice?.
And now, a belated response to Kim, above. I just reread her comments and have decided to rethinkg her words in a more positive way — maybe my writing style is a reflection of my self – I’ve evolved and matured since “Long Time, No see” , and now I’m more complex and lovely? Like a fine glass of wine, eh?
Kim, thank you! Do me a favor and take that foot out of your mouth and keep the complements coming –much appreciated. Cheers!
I’ve been told that I’m too honest sometimes (big sigh). Yes, you’re writing style is like classy, complex, sublime fine wine. Glad to have my foot back out of my mouth as walking one-footed was difficult. Keep writing. I can’t wait to read about New Orleans!
The Times-Picayune sent a reporter and a photographer to my library presentation on Tuesday. I’ve been delaying publishing a blog post here about our New Orleans trip until the story appears, figured I could link to the story in that blog post.
But it hasn’t been published yet!
I’m thinking that they may wait until after Mardi Gras (this Tuesday) to publish the library story in the Times-Picayune, so I may enlist guest blogger Mike to write a post here instead, he can summarize our time in NOLA –stay tuned!