A Disproportionate Pandemic
By Alicia Waters | March 26, 2021
Library patrons with disabilities face compounded challenges
By Emily Udell
The full Article from the American Libraries Magazine
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Essence Magazine Now Available
By Alicia Waters | March 26, 2021
NLS has added Essence to its audio magazine lineup. Essence is a monthly lifestyle, beauty, and fashion magazine for African-American women.
Subscribers to Ebony, which ceased print publication in 2019, will automatically be switched over to an Essence magazine subscription.
Reader’s Digest is available now in braille and soon as ebraille on BARD.
Let the Talking Books Library staff know if you would like to receive a magazine by calling (401)574-9310.
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When You Can’t Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery
By Alicia Waters | March 10, 2021
New Book by Hannah Fairbairn, Winner of Outstanding Service Award 2020, Bay State Council of the Blind.
When You Can’t Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery (DBC 11619)
Hannah taught personal management at the Carroll Center for the Blind for 18 years and developed a course called “Interpersonal Skills” for adults, ”People Talk” for transition teens, working on ways to manage interactions without visual cues.
The book takes readers through the phases of recovery after vision loss and emphasizes the need for as much training as possible. Speaking up in a firm, positive and specific way – self-advocacy – is a major theme. This is an essential skill for all adults including young people leaving home and especially for older consumers.
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Reading Disability? Doctor Not Required
By Alicia Waters | March 3, 2021
The National Library Service, NLS has recently changed who can certify an application for talking books based on a reading disability. In the past, a doctor’s signature was required to certify reading disability.
Who can certify now?
Doctors of medicine, Doctors of Osteopathy, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Registered nurses, Therapists, Professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or private welfare agencies, such as an educator, social worker, case worker, counselor, rehabilitation teacher, certified reading specialist, school psychologist, superintendent, or professional librarian.
If you know of any individual who would be eligible and would benefit from being a member of the talking books program, please share this information and ask them to call (401)574-9310 or email to talking.books@olis.ri.gov.
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New Talking Books Discussion Group
By Alicia Waters | February 17, 2021
Join us by Zoom or phone line on…
April 27, 2021
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
All American Murder: The Rise and Fall of Aaron Hernandez: The Superstar Whose Life Ended on Murderers’ Row by James Patterson (DB 90220)
After Aaron Hernandez made his first Pro Bowl, he was linked to a series of violent incidents that culminated in the death of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player who dated the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée. Investigates Hernandez’s first-degree murder conviction and the mystery of his own shocking and untimely death. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2018.
**We have just watched the Super Bowl with former players from the New England Patriots playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers…and we remember Aaron Hernandez.
REGISTER: by emailing talking.books@olis.ri.gov or by calling (401)574-9310.
The Zoom link, meeting ID, passcode and phone numbers will be provided to you after you register..
**Deadline for email registration and to call for your name to be added for participation is April 26, 2021.
**Book discussions will take place quarterly. Next discussion on July 27 and October 27 at 2:00 pm. Check back for book titles.
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NLS 90th Anniversary Concert with Acclaimed Jazz Pianist
By Alicia Waters | February 17, 2021
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), in commemoration of its 90th anniversary, invites you to a virtual concert featuring stellar jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, on the Library’s YouTube page [youtube.com]. The concert will begin streaming at 8:00 p.m. EST and will be available on that platform for two years. Before the concert, you can watch an exciting interview with Whitaker and NLS Director Karen Keninger, which will begin streaming on March 3 at 8:00 a.m. EST.
Whitaker, who has been blind since birth, is an NLS patron who has used the Music Section’s accessible scores and reading materials – the largest collection of its kind in the world – on his rise to fame. Whitaker, who is only 19, has been featured on stages around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Lincoln Center. His original compositions have garnered him accolades across the jazz world, including ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards for 2019 and 2020.
We hope you will join us for this spectacular event that kicks off the 90th anniversary celebration of our rich history, extensive services, incredible patrons, and committed staff at NLS and our invaluable network libraries across the country.
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Issues with BARD Not Authorizing
By Alicia Waters | February 8, 2021
There is an issue that has developed since BARD was moved to the cloud. The result is that some devices and/or audio materials may not authorize properly. If your account has been affected, please email nlsdownload@loc.gov. This is the email address for the BARD support staff. They will work directly with each patron to fix the issue.
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NLS Aspiring Leaders Internship Program
By Alicia Waters | February 2, 2021
The National Library service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), supported by the National Library for the Blind Endowment, has launched a paid internship that offers legally blind individuals the opportunity to gain work career experience and explore career options working in the areas of collections building, program delivery, and business oversight and management. See Application details. The deadline for the summer 2021 session is March 1. All interns will work remotely.
For more information, please contact:
Erica Vaughns
Head, Administrative Services
NLSInternships@loc.gov
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NLS 90th Anniversary Concert With Acclaimed Jazz Pianist
By Alicia Waters | February 1, 2021
Stellar jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker will perform a virtual concert on March 3 to kick off a year-long commemoration of NLS’s 90th anniversary. Whitaker, who has been blind since birth, is an NLS patron who has used the Music Section’s accessible scores and reading materials on his rise to fame.
Photo of Whitaker
Whitaker began playing music at age three when his grandfather bought him a small Yamaha keyboard. At age nine, he began teaching himself to play the Hammond organ and became so proficient that the company endorsed him three years later. He was the youngest artist ever endorsed by Hammond at age 12, and then the youngest endorsed by Yamaha at age 15.
Whitaker’s original compositions have garnered him accolades across the jazz world, including ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards for 2019 and 2020.
In a report on the CBS newsmagazine 60 Minutes, neuroscientists discussed how Whitaker’s brain is stimulated by music—so much so that his visual cortex lights up when he plays. More on that study.
Like previous NLS concerts that featured José André in 2019 and Justin Kauflin in 2014, this event showcases the NLS Music Section’s work in providing patrons with direct access to the largest collection of braille, audio and large print music materials in the world. Whitaker’s performance, however, will be broadcast online and preceded by a live-streamed interview conducted by NLS Director Karen Keninger.
The concert will begin celebrations of the services provided by NLS since 1931, which will include monthly highlights of the program throughout the year.
For more information about the concert, follow NLS on Facebook, check out the NLS Music Notes blog or visit the Library of Congress Events page.
Gabrielle Barnes, NLS
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African Americans with Disabilities in Honor of Black History Month
By Alicia Waters | January 27, 2021
“As we celebrate Black History Month, which takes place every February, RespectAbility recognizes the contributions made and the important presence of African Americans to the United States. It is important to note this includes more than 5.6 million African Americans living with a disability in the U.S.”
Go to RespectAbility for Black History news and events.
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