D

Department of Cultural Resources
State Library of North Carolina
Library Services Section
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Tar Heel Talk
Fall/Winter 2011
Number 139

North Carolina's Civil War

With the Sesquicentennial anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War, many are interested in this divisive chapter of our nation’s history. Perhaps you’ve wondered what happened in North Carolina during those tumultuous years, and how the war affected North Carolinians.

North Carolinian William Trotter has written a thoroughly researched trilogy of books about the bitter realities of partisan warfare in North Carolina during the Civil War. Each of the three books concentrates on a particular geographical area of the state: coastal, piedmont and mountains.

Ironclads and Columbiads recounts the exciting battles and events that shook the coast of North Carolina during America’s bloodiest war. Throughout the Civil War, North Carolina’s coast was of great strategic importance to the Confederacy. Its well-protected coastline offered a perfect refuge for privateers who sallied forth and captured so many Union merchant vessels in the early days of the war that maritime insurance companies in the North went into a panic, forcing the government to mount an expedition against Cape Hatteras. North Carolina’s coastal counties and the state’s coastal railroad system were vital to the feeding and resupply of Robert E. Lee’s army. And even after the tightening blockade and powerful Federal assaults closed off the ports of Charleston, New Orleans, and Mobile, Wilmington continued to provide a haven for blockade runners. That city eventually became the most strategically important location in the entire Confederacy. To subdue Fort Fisher, which stoutly defended Wilmington, the Union was forced to assemble what was then the largest naval and amphibious landing force in American history.

DBX01137 - Coming Soon

Bushwhackers tells the startling and little-known story of America’s bloodiest war as it was fought in the mountains of North Carolina. From the courageous exploits of soldiers and citizens to the atrocities committed by pro-Union and pro-Confederate factions, the mountain war in North Carolina represented both the best and worst of the South. In the mountains, where sentiments on both sides were strongly held, internecine warfare broke out. Bloody skirmishes were fought between Unionist and Confederate guerrillas. Family feuds erupted into ever-widening circles of violence and revenge. And countless numbers of men, women, and children were caught in the crossfire of conflicting loyalties.

DBX01160 - Available Now

Silk Flags and Cold Steel recalls the events that took place in the Piedmont region of North Carolina between late 1860 and mid-1865. Though the skirmishes in the Piedmont were more strategic than tactical, they were important to the health of the Southern cause. As long as the railways of North Carolina were operating freely and the state’s farms were producing to capacity, Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia could move, eat, fight, and replenish itself.

North Carolina’s relations with the Confederate government of Jefferson Davis were complex, touchy, and often antagonistic, for the state had been reluctant to secede and there was strong Unionist sentiment throughout the state. President Davis never particularly trusted North Carolina, a fact that blinded him to the state’s strategic value. Paradoxically, no state contributed more to the Confederate cause in terms of manpower and resources than did North Carolina.

Along with discussion of the political climate, the book presents accounts of the Salisbury prison, Sherman’s march through the Carolinas, confrontations at Bentonville, Raleigh, and Greensboro, and Joe Johnston’s surrender at Bennett’s Farm.

DBX01136 - Available Now

If you would like to order Bushwhackers, the story of the Civil War in the NC mountians, or Silk Flags and Cold Steel, which recounts events in the Piedmont, please call the library today to order a copy. These two books also are available for download on NOBLE. Ironclads and Columbiads will be available soon. These books were recorded at the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Cover of Bushwhackers

North Carolinian Awarded a 2011 NFB Bolotin Award

Jerry Munden, Director of Business Development at VoiceRx, Inc., a Charlotte, NC based medical products company, was a recipient of the 2011 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award at this year’s National Federation of the Blind (NFB) National Convention in Orlando, Florida. The NFB presented $50,000 in cash awards to four individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions toward achieving the full integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality.

Mr. Munden has worked in the medical products field for five years and spent much of his time working with Prodigy Diabetes Care, LLC. Jerry worked with Prodigy® when they won the NFB and AFB Access Plus Awards for the creation of “Blind Friendly” diabetes products.

Jerry now works for VoiceRx, Inc., a company that distributes Prodigy® products and he has a strong zeal to serve the blind. Jerry and his VoiceRx™ Team share the same passion as the NFB in promoting independence and opportunity for Blind Americans. During his speech in Orlando Jerry said, “I am privileged to have many friends in the Blinded Veterans Association who often times have given their eyesight fighting for our freedom. What a thrill it is for me to introduce accessible new products to help them, and others, achieve more independence.”

Jerry says that he and VoiceRx™ will continue to listen to and address the needs of the blind, with a strong effort to keep the work and mission moving that so motivated Dr. Jacob Bolotin. "At the NFB convention last year Dr. Maurer announced NFB Resolution 2010-21, asking manufacturing companies to make products more accessible. Prodigy listened, and we’re actively pursuing, not only what Jim talked about with the voice meter, but other new accessible products that we’re working on as well. One of these is the Voice Rx, which will enable distribution of a talking pill bottle at no extra cost to people who get their mail-order pharmacy products filled using Voice Rx."

Friends' Corner

President's Letter

Thank you for trusting me to serve you as president of the Friends organization. This is an incredible responsibility, which I take very seriously. The transition this first year was made smooth by our past president, Mr. Gary Ray. With his and the board’s support, our organization continues to grow and serve the patrons of the library at the very highest level.

Let's look at a few areas where our organization has invested funds this year. We continue to promote Braille literacy within the student population. The Braille Challenge has been a remarkable tool designed to create spirited competition among visually impaired students and to push others to make Braille literacy a key component in educational development.

The Friends also supported the North Carolina Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Department of Services for the Blind by providing funds to ensure that our Super Conference continues to take place. The Super Conference is traditionally held on the campus of the Governor Moorhead School and provides professional development for those engaged in and committed to serving persons who are blind or visually impaired in North Carolina

BELL, which stands for Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning, is an initiative of the National Federation of the Blind. The program was staged on the campus of Governor Moorhead School in July.

Students focused on daily living needs, independent skills, orientation, mobility and Braille reading and writing. The BELL program has to be considered one of the most successful ventures the Friends have engaged in. It is my sincere hope that our board will continue to fund this program, as the outcomes for the students were incredible.

Our volunteer board members’ efforts are richly appreciated as well. Friends are represented at all major gatherings of the blind and we participate in many state mini-centers. We must continue to focus on these activities in order to grow the organization. Our next board meeting will be on Tuesday, December 13 in the boardroom of the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. We hope that you’ll come and be a part of our gathering. We look forward to a very successful 2012. Thank you for reading and sharing.

James Benton, President.

Why Join?

We often take for granted the NCLBPH. Just like we may take for granted our church, family or neighborhood, it’s so easy to accept the benefits of a reliable source of inspiration and support without reservation.

But we as NCLBPH readers need to question our priorities. The Friends take our membership fees and spread the word to others who don’t know they can keep reading as they lose their sight. The Friends pay for communications like this newsletter and recordings of books by local authors. The Friends bring us together each year at the volunteer recognition dinner. It’s because of the Friends that we continue to benefit from the outstanding library service we have come to expect.

Support the Friends by becoming a member. By joining we affirm our gratitude for the library. Our gratitude shows when we participate and give freely to the source of our happiness.

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT
James Benton
1209 Somerset Road
Raleigh, NC 27610-1136
H (919) 833-0007
W (919) 715-0172
W james.Benton@ncmail.net
H silverbenton@bellsouth.net

VICE PRESIDENT
Dennis Thurman
923 Pamlico Drive
Cary, NC 27511
H (919) 467-7326
thurman60@gmail.com

SECRETARY
Ginger Rush
5908 Periwinkle Court
Raleigh, NC 27609
H (919) 789-9946
outlawtaxi@earthlink.net

TREASURER
Gill Pulley
1502 Township Circle
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 523-8286
gmpulleyjr@yahoo.com

PAST PRESIDENT
Gary H. Ray
18 Sandon Drive
Asheville, NC 28804
H (828) 505-0338
ghray@mindspring.com

MEMBERS AT LARGE
Mary Helen Pearsall
1212-B Manassas Court
Raleigh, NC 27609-4053
H (919) 790-9609
mhpear@bellsouth.net

Anne Arella
121 Glenmore Rd.
Cary, NC 27519
H (919) 363-2272
aarella@nc.rr.com

Lee King
447 East Woodlawn Road
Charlotte, NC 28209-2859
H (704) 527-4935
graceunited5052@bellsouth.net

Alfred Inglesby
406 Hargett Street
Greensboro, NC 27406
H (336) 638-4115
ajinglesby@triad.rr.com

Sean Lew
2151 Cherrywood Drive
Clemmons NC 27012
H (336) 413-9255
slew88@aol.com

Patricia Tessnear
202 Ridge Road
Wilson, NC 27896
H (252) 291-3405
ptessnear@nc.rr.com

Debbie Jackson
1857 Bellwood Drive
Raleigh, NC 27605
H (919) 821-3410
dcj1115@bellsouth.net

George Lee
3505 Carriage Drive
Raleigh, NC 27612
H (919) 787-9406
gnlee@hotmail.com

Charles Parker
105 Old Barn Lane
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
H (252) 977-1960
angusparker@suddenlink.net

JOIN TODAY

Membership Blank:

Name____________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________
City: ___________________ State: _____ Zip: ____________
Phone, with area code (___)______________________________

Do you receive materials from NCLBPH?
Yes _____       No_____
Please send information about donating to the FNCLBPH. _______
____ Individual $10   ____ Hundred Dollar Club 100
____ Family $15    ____Plus Club $300
____ Organization/Professional $50
____ Other   $____________         ____ Life Membership $500

Contributions in excess of these amounts are accepted and appreciated.

Make checks payable to FNCLBPH. Mail this form, with your check, to:
FNCLBPH
1841 Capital Boulevard
Raleigh, NC 27635

New Volunteer-Produced Books

To order any of the books listed here, put a check on the line next to the book you would like. Then fill in the information below. Cut the sheet out and fold in half, so that the library's address is showing. Tape the form closed, and mail it. No postage will be required. Also, you may call in up to 12 books by calling us toll free at 1-888-388-2460.

 
Name ____________________________________________________
 
Address ____________________________________________________
 
Address ____________________________________________________
 
Phone ____________________________________________________

Digital Books:

______ Tar Heel Traveler: Journeys across North Carolina, by Scott Mason. DBX01195

A blend of oral history and memoir with a good dose of quirky humor, The Tar Heel Traveler is a celebratory look at the people and places of North Carolina. Mason is the WRAL-TV reporter—the Tar Heel Traveler—who journeys across North Carolina profiling colorful characters and out-of-the-way places. Read by Jeff Ashburn. Reading time: 6 hours, 35 minutes. This book also may be downloaded from NOBLE.

______ Shell Game: A Professor Simon Shaw Mystery (SSM 5), by Sarah R. Shaber. DBX01161

The discovery of the fourteen-thousand-year-old corpse of Uwharrie Man on the shores of North Carolina’s Badin Lake leads to trouble for forensic historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Simon Shaw when his friend, archaeologist David Morgan, a man at the center of factions battling for control of the bones, is found murdered. Read by Drew Smith. Reading time: 6 hours, 30 minutes. This book also may be downloaded from NOBLE.

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES
STATE LIBRARY OF NORTH CAROLINA
LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND & PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED
1841 CAPITAL BLVD.
RALEIGH, NC 27635

Congratulations Summer Readers

This past summer, the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped held its third annual Summer Reading Program for our juvenile patrons. Thirty-eight kids participated in the program. Our theme this year was “One World, Many Stories.” The program ran from June 1 – August 31, 2011. The kids read over 230 books. Our top reader, Bonnie Bice, read 125 books. Bonnie says her goal was to read 100 books this summer,and she more than met that goal! Congratulations to Bonnie, and to all our summer readers.

The library also held a summer reading event at the Governor Morehead School School for the Blind in Raleigh on June 23rd. The 35 attendees played games from around the world, did craft activities and had refreshments.

Graphic: Girl reading a book while flying on the back of an exotic bird.

Descriptive Video Service

Our Descriptive Video Service (DVS) is made possible by the State Library of North Carolina and the Friends of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. DVS movies have a voice describing actions, characteristics, and dress of the actors as well as details of the scenery or setting. This descriptive voice speaks during the time when there is no dialogue. These videos and movie discs can be enjoyed by everyone, both sighted and visually impaired. Our videos and movie discs play on ordinary VCRs, DVD players, and televisions. The library does not loan or repair video equipment.

Currently, we have over 500 videos in our collection, including older and contemporary titles, as well as children’s titles.

You must be an active library patron to join the DVS club. There is a one time membership fee of $20; however, if you lose or damage a movie, you will need to join again by paying another $20. All movies go through the mail Free Matter for the Blind. Individuals may borrow one movie at a time; institutions may borrow up to three. The loan period is three weeks.

When we receive your membership form and fee, we will send you a catalog of DVS titles, which you may use to order movies. The library staff doesn't make movie selections for you; it is your responsibility to ensure that the library has a list of requests. You may send your requests by mail, or phone in up to 12 at a time on our toll-free line at 1-888-388-2460. You may send as many requests as you like, but we can't send the movies in any particular order or guarantee a specific time when they will be sent. Please order your movies by catalog number. As we receive a returned movie in the mail, we will send another. Please remember that we only send another movie if you have requests on file, and if your requests are available. As new titles are added to the collection, they will be listed in the library’s newsletter, Tar Heel Talk. We update the catalog every two years. If you have questions about the DVS program, call us at 1-888-388-2460. If you would like to subscribe to the program, complete the following form.

Descriptive Video Membership Form

Join Today! Complete the form, make your first DVS selections from the list below, and mail to Descriptive Video Service, NCLBPH, 1841 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27635.

Name____________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Phone_(___)______________________________________________

Return the form with check for $20, payable to FNCLBPH
Please send my catalog in the following format:
_____ Large Print   _____ Cassette Tape   _____ Braille

Descriptive Video Order Form

Listed below are recently added Movie Disc titles. To order, check the space beside your selection(s). If you already are a DVS member and don't need to include a check, remove this page and add your information. Fold in half so NCLBPH's address shows, tape it, and mail to us. No postage required.

Name____________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Phone_(___)______________________________________________

Library Closing Dates

Thanksgiving, Thursday-Friday, November 25-26, 2011

Christmas, Monday-Tuesday, December 26-27, 2011

New Year's, Monday, January 2, 2012

Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 16, 2012

Come Get Something NOBLE Today!

NOBLE (North Carolina BARD Local) is a service similar to BARD but for locally produced digital braille and digital talking books and magazines available for download. Digital talking books and digital braille volumes will be added quarterly as they become available. Please note that all digital talking books available from NOBLE are produced in an alternate format that can only be read only on an NLS approved player. Just like BARD, downloaded audio files are zipped and need to be unzipped onto a flash drive to play.

Digital Talking Books:

The following locally produced Digital Talking Books are available for download:

Silk Flags and Cold Steel: The Civil War in North Carolina, the Piedmont DBX01136

Examines North Carolina’s role in the Civil War in the Piedmont region between late 1860 and mid-1865. Along with discussion of the political climate, the book presents accounts of the Salisbury prison, Sherman’s march through the Carolinas, confrontations at Bentonville, Raleigh, and Greensboro, and Joe Johnston’s surrender at Bennett’s Farm. by William Trotter.

Read by John Stein. Reading Time approximately 14 hours 30 minutes.

Bushwhackers: The Civil War in North Carolina, the Mountains DBX01160

Chronicles the startling and little-known story of America’s bloodiest war as it was fought in the mountains of North Carolina. From the courageous exploits of soldiers and citizens to the atrocities committed by pro-Union and pro-Confederate factions, the mountain war in North Carolina represented both the best and worst of the South. by William Trotter. Read by Drew Smith. Reading Time approximately 15 hours.

Library Patrons Please Note: This newsletter is available in Braille and on cassette tape. If you would like to receive this publication in Braille or on tape, mark the appropriate box below and return the form to the library or call us toll-free at 1-888-388-2460.

Cassette ______          Braille ________

A total of 11,500 copies of this publication were printed at a cost not exceeding $1800 or approximately $0.14 per copy. Funding for the issue is being provided by the Friends of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

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Tar Heel Talk is a production of the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Last updated: January 3, 2012 (ceh)
URL:http://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/lbph/tht.html