Freedom Scientific Inc., a manufacturer of assistive technology, is launching a program to award $101,000 in technology scholarships annually to high school and college graduates in the United States and Canada who plan to continue their education.

This program will help fifty students obtain assistive technology to help them achieve success in their educational pursuits, future careers, and everyday lives. Applicants must be legally blind and planning to pursue a full-time course of study at college, university, or graduate school level.

Winners will be selected by six partnering organizations based on three areas of consideration: academic achievement, extra-curricular or community service leaderships, and demonstrated personal qualities. The partnering organizations may supplement these three considerations with their own specific criteria.

This program is being implemented through a partnership with the American Council of the Blind, American Foundation of the Blind, Braille Institute of America, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, National Federation of the Blind, and Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. Each partner will be responsible for screening applicants and selecting recipients for a portion of the funds.

Applicants should contact a partnering organization's scholarship coordinator for additional information.

Individuals in or near Kearney, Nebraska, can call the "Talking Hub Line" for telephone access to the Kearney Hub. Twelve dedicated volunteers, with more serving as back-ups, record their assigned sections of the Kearney newspaper six days a week.

From any touch-tone phone, listeners may call 308-234-4636, and then, when instructed, enter 6397. A list of options, all single-digit numbers, provide access to specific sections of the paper. There is no cost for this service, except for a long-distance phone charge for callers outside the Kearney calling area.

The newspaper recording is updated Monday through Friday by 7:00 p.m., and Saturday by noon.

She used her voice for forty years as a teacher. For thirty-three of those years, Frances Buell taught math at Lincoln High. Frances says she is still the happiest when she can help someone with algebra or geometry. Now, since February 1997, she has been using her voice to narrate books and magazines in our studios.

The books she has recorded so far include Of Myths and Chicken Feet (RC 687), Crane Music (RC 728), What Was It Like, Grandma? (RC 730), Nebraska Trivia (RC 794), This Old Farm (RC 828), and More Country Things (RC 836). Many borrowers recognize Frances' voice on such magazines as Nebraska Life, Nebraska History, Life Lines, and Diabetes Forecast.

Frances volunteers in our studios because reading is a good way to learn about many ideas. She is giving others who can't read the printed word an opportunity to learn and to be entertained. Her favorite author is Nebraska's own Bess Streeter Aldrich, who often wrote about pioneers. This author was quite well known by Frances' family. Her favorite movie of all time is A Christmas Carol, based on the book by Charles Dickens.

The latest book Frances read is Remembering Deir Yassin: The Future of Israel and Palestine, edited by Daniel McGowan and Marc H. Ellis. Her favorite web site is www.thehungersite.com, which she tries to check everyday in order to give a cup of food to a hungry person.

The April issue of Interchange featured a survey for borrowers to express their opinions about the types of books and magazines we record in our own studios. Borrower preferences help guide the selections we record. The 127 borrowers who responded told us:

• They read books on cassette much more frequently than cassette magazines. Among the respondents, the ratio was twenty to one.

• Borrowers strongly prefer Western and Pioneer Stories (86 responses). Other popular subjects for books were:
  
  • Fiction books about Nebraska (50 responses)
  • Non-fiction books about Nebraska (44 responses)
  • Religious and inspirational (38 responses)
  • Detective and mystery (31 responses)

• Borrowers prefer books about Nebraska, rather than books on other subjects written by Nebraskans. Forty-two responses preferred more non-fiction books about Nebraska, while 39 preferred more fiction books about Nebraska. Thirty-four wanted more non-fiction books by Nebraskans, and 30 wanted more fiction by Nebraskans. However, 39 responses indicated no preference among any of the above choices.

• Most respondents did not consider themselves frequent readers of magazines. Only 29 indicated they read magazines frequently, and 32 read magazines sometimes. Twenty-three rarely read magazines, while 23 never read them.

• Forty-four responses expressed a preference in magazines about human interest, while 37 responses indicated an interest in travel and events. Health and home life drew 21 responses; while aging drew 19. Eighteen responses showed an interest in news, 12 in sports, 10 in agriculture, and 5 in business and economics.

• Fifty-three respondents who rarely or never read cassette magazines did not know which magazines were available on their preferred topics. Only nine said they were not interested in magazines about Nebraskans or Nebraska.

A special thank-you to all who responded!

RC 815 The Western Story: A Chronological Treasury
by Jon Tuska, editor
5 cassettes

Examples of western short stories date from 1892 to 1994 and include a stable of notable western writers, including Owen Wister, Zane Grey, Max Brand, and Louis L'Amour. All feature cowboys, soldiers, Indians, outlaws, and pioneer women in abundance. Narrated by Kandra Hahn.

RC 824 Hearts of Gold
by James Magorian
1 cassette

In this zany novel, "Easy Street" McShane, a hustler, wheeler-dealer, con artist, turns to what he sees as his last chance to get rich-a crude, faded map describing the location of the legendary Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. Along with the strangest crew ever assembled-all members of the Omaha Flying Saucer Spotters Club-he sets out to find the mine. In hot pursuit are gun-toting monks, a family of intellectual hillbillies, and heavyweight loan-shark hoods. Events build to a riotous climax. Narrated by Helena Whitaker.

RC 832 The Mystery of Hunting's End
by Mignon G. Eberhart
2 cassettes

Smack in the middle of the Nebraska Sandhills is Hunting's End, a weekend lodge owned by the rich Kingery family. Socialite Matil Kingery invites a strange collection of guests-the same people who were at the lodge when her father died of "heart failure" exactly five years ago. She intends to find out which one of them murdered him. Narrated by Jane Knox.

RC 880 The Richlands
by Agnes Sligh Turnbull
3 cassettes

At the turn of the century in western Pennsylvania, Jim Ryall decides to farm the Richlands instead of going to law school. There are two women in Jim's life: his pretty bride Peggy and gentle Phoebe, who takes care of his two children after Peggy's death. Narrated by John Stratton for the National Library Service.

RC 881 The Day Must Dawn
by Agnes Sligh Turnbull
3 cassettes

A tale of revolutionary days in a small western Pennsylvania town captures the spirit of American pioneer life through the eyes of a Scotch-Irish family. Narrated by Suzanne Toren for the National Library Service.

RC 882 The Wedding Bargain
by Agnes Sligh Turnbull
2 cassettes

Old-fashioned story of a marriage of convenience between a coal-mining magnate and his secretary. The husband is unjustly accused of murder. A romantic tale set in the 1930s. Narrated by Janis Gray for the National Library Service.

RC 883 The Nightingale
by Agnes Sligh Turnbull
2 cassettes

Violet Carpenter is already considered a spinster at age twenty-five in her turn-of-the-century Pennsylvania village. Financial pressure forces her to take in lodgers and passion compels her to write poetry. To her astonishment, both paths lead to romantic crossroads. Narrated by Michael McCullough.

RC 884 The Two Bishops
by Agnes Sligh Turnbull
2 cassettes

Old-fashioned love story that focuses on the irrepressible beauty, Cissie, a talented pianist, who enters into the lives of recently retired Bishop Ware and his handsome successor, Bishop Armstrong. Cissie lays siege to the young bishop's heart and helps him resolve the anguish of a private vow of celibacy. Narrated by John Stratton for the National Library Service.

RC 885 Gown of Glory
by Agnes Sligh Turnbull
3 cassettes

Newly-wedded minister, David Lyall, and his wife, Mary, come to a small Pennsylvania town at the turn of the century expecting to stay only a year. Twenty-five years and three grown children later, and David is still the spiritual leader of the Calvinist congregation. Narrated by John Stratton for the National Library Service.

RC 893 Tycoon
by Louis Pelletier
1 cassette, 2 track, 1 7/8

In this radio comedy, a swindler figures out a way to beat the market and a few unsuspecting investors as well. Narrated by the Blue Ridge Radio Players.

RC 894 A Study in Scarlet
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
1 cassette 2 track 1 7/8

Dramatization of how Holmes and Watson meet for the first time and are plunged into a murder mystery with no murder weapon. Narrated by the Blue Ridge Radio Players.

RC 895 The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky
by Stephen Crane
1 cassette 2 track 1 7/8

Stephen Crane's raucous yarn of the marshal, his new bride, and a low down varmint bent on shootin' up the town. Narrated by the Blue Ridge Radio Players.

Non-Fiction

RC 834 In Search of Donna Reed
by Jay Fultz
2 cassettes

From her rural Iowa childhood to movie and television stardom, Donna Reed lived a rich and principled life. Her intelligence and force of character often put her at odds with the roles she portrayed both on and off the screen. Narrated by Alice Timm.

RC 835 Presentations . . . A Collection of Culinary Favorites
by the Friends of Lied
2 cassettes

This cookbook had its beginning as a fund raiser for the Friends of Lied to support the projects and programs of the Lied Center for the Performing Arts. It brings together the freshest flavors, textures, and ways to feast and to have fun. Included are appetizers and beverages, soups, breads, entrees, accompaniments, and desserts. Narrated by Bonnie Quinn.

RC 843 The Joy of Grandma's Cooking: A Treasury of Recipes and Stories From the Heart
by Clarice Carlson Orr
2 cassettes

From recipes rooted in hard times and pioneer days to fun stuff for kids, this book overflows with tradition and good food. The author shares memories from friends and family in a treasury of recipes and stories of yesterday and today. Narrated by Clarice Carlson Orr.

Many magazines are available through the Talking Book and Braille Service. If you would like to read cassette magazines about the people and places of the Great Plains, you might enjoy the following:

• Cappers, a beloved rural newspaper, includes reader contributions, recipes, poetry, nationally known columnists, and a continuing story.

• Country features stories and columns for those who live in or long for the country. Includes country diaries, travel, features, and recipes.

• Midwest Living covers places to visit, recipes, gardens, hobbies, restaurants, and editorials-all about the Midwest states from Michigan to Ohio, North Dakota to Kansas.

• National Geographic Traveler offers well-written travel articles, mostly about the United States. An additional section gives full data (e.g., cost, phone numbers, addresses, etc.) for the destinations discussion. Produced by the Florida Regional Library.

• Nebraska Life features events, travel, and community profiles from different regions of Nebraska.

• Nebraskaland, published by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, showcases Nebraska's outdoor recreational opportunities.

• Reminisce features fond remembrances from its readers about "the good ol' days" of their youth and young adulthood.

• Trail Tales, also published by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, is a magazine for younger readers who love Nebraska's outdoors and nature.

To sign up for any of these free magazines, please use the order form below or call your Readers Advisor.

You may place your order by mailing or e-mailing it to the Talking Book and Braille Service, or by calling your Readers Advisor.

For mailing, please mark the books and magazines you wish to order and enclose this page in an envelope. Instead of using a stamp, you may put "Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped" on the corner of your envelope. Send your request to the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service, 1200 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, NE 68508-2023. Be sure to include your name, address, city, state, zip code, and telephone number.

• RC 815
• RC 824
• RC 832
• RC 834
• RC 835
• RC 843
• RC 880
• RC 881
• RC 882
• RC 883
• RC 884
• RC 885
• RC 893
• RC 894
• RC 895
• Cappers
• Country
• Midwest Living
• National Geographic Traveler
• Nebraska Life
• Nebraskland
• Reminisce
• Trail Tales

You may reach a Readers Advisor toll free by calling 1-800-742-7691. Be prepared to give your name, address, city, state, zip code, and telephone number.

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