Phone Phun

Another free conference call service: www.freeconferencecall.com will provide you with a free conference line that supports up to 96 simultaneous callers. First you have to create an account, with requires your name and e-mail address. Then you're assigned a phone number (I got one in the 605 area code — South Dakota) and access code. You can use the conference line as often as needed, with calls up to 6 hours each, but accounts only last 120 days, so you'll need to re-register every few months.

Visit www.freeconferencecall.com

Discovered a couple more dial-a-story numbers: the Flora-Monroe Township Public Library in Flora, West Virginia has a dial-a-story line at (574) 967-3814. And, the Granite City, IL public library offers one at (618) 876-6316.

A cache of these numbers stored in your mobile phone could be a good way to entertain a kid during long waits at restaurants, etc.