History of Veterans’ Day – November 11, 2019
By Alicia Waters | November 1, 2019
The history of Veterans’ Day dates back to the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect, bringing an end to World War I. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was proclaimed by President Wilson and commemorated United States’ Veterans who served in World War I for the first time. In 1926, the United States Congress officially recognized November 11 as the end of World War I and declared that day as the anniversary of the armistice.
In the year 1954, Armistice Day officially became known as Veterans’ Day and from then on, became a holiday honoring American veterans of all wars.
The National Library Service and Talking Books Library also honor our Veterans who receive priority for the talking books service. Visit https://tinyurl.com/VetsRI for information about talking books for RI Veterans.
Topics: General | No Comments »
App Lets Visually Impaired Explore Wonders of Woonsocket Museum
By Alicia Waters | October 24, 2019
The Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket, RI has found a way to make the museum more accessible to people with blindness or limited vision.
The idea is simple: A user installs a smart-phone app, and when they need help seeing around them, they call the app and connect with an “agent,” a sighted person who describes the view on the phone’s camera.
For the full article go to https://tinyurl.com/yxqlf43x
Donita Naylor, Providence Journal Staff
Topics: General, News & Info | No Comments »
Dad Fired After Child Born with Severe Disability Can Sue Under the ADA
By Alicia Waters | October 16, 2019
An employer can be held liable under the Americans with Disability Act if the disability of a relative was a determining factor in an adverse employment decision. Read the full article from Forbes Media at https://tinyurl.com/ADALaw
Topics: General | No Comments »
Mattel Releases a Braille Version of UNO
By Alicia Waters | October 9, 2019
By Maddie Capron and Christina Zdanowicz, CNN
The number of people who can now shout “Uno!” with their friends just got bigger — and more inclusive. Mattel announced Tuesday that fans of the game can now buy UNO Braille. With more than 7 million blind and low-vision people in the US, Mattel worked with the National Federation of the Blind to make the game more inclusive.
“The fact that a blind person is now able to play a classic game of UNO straight out of the box with both blind and sighted friends or family members is a truly meaningful moment for our community,” Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said in a news release.
The deck will feature braille dots on the corner of each card, and all players call out the card as they play. The packaging of the deck also features braille on the front and back.
For the full article go to https://tinyurl.com/MattelUNO
Topics: General, News & Info | No Comments »
Librarian Appreciation Day at Atria Bay Spring Village
By Alicia Waters | October 1, 2019
On September 26, the Atria Bay Spring Village in Barrington, RI held a celebration for librarians who have positively impacted the lives of their residents. Alicia Waters, Regional Librarian, Talking Books Library as well as librarians from Barrington Public Library, Barrington schools and the East Providence Library were in attendance. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: General, News & Info | No Comments »
National Library Service Consultant Visit to Rhode Island
By Alicia Waters | September 19, 2019
On September 13th & 14th a consultant from the National Library Services, NLS visited the Talking Books Library and met with staff. NLS staff visit the library once every 2 years to assess the services the library is offering through circulating NLS materials and equipment; to learn of solutions found which might be helpful to other libraries and to offer practical suggestions for improving services.
The National Library Service and the RI Talking Books Library staff are continually looking to improve services to members and to reach every eligible member of our state.
If you know of anyone who would benefit from these services, please spread the word.
RI Talking Books Library
One Capitol Hill, 2nd fl.
Providence, RI 02908
(401)574-9310
www.olis.ri.gov/tbl
Topics: General | No Comments »
Assistive Technology Conference of New England-November 14 & 15
By Alicia Waters | September 16, 2019
The Assistive Technology Conference of New England (ATCNE), will take place on November 14th & 15th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, RI. For more information http://tinyurl.com/ATCNE2019.
Topics: General | No Comments »
Lego is Piloting Audio and Braille Building Instructions
By Alicia Waters | September 11, 2019
Lego has announced a new accessibility initiative that will make building instructions available for 4 kits (Classic Lego, Lego City, Lego Friends and Lego Movie 2) as braille or text for voice readers, in order to reach builders with blindness and vision impairment.
The service is currently available for free through the Lego Audio Instructions site at https://tinyurl.com/yxzfyh6c. The company is collecting feedback with plans to build out its offerings at some point in the first half of next year.
Topics: General | No Comments »
Important Reminder: National Library Service Suspends Inactive BARD Accounts
By Alicia Waters | September 6, 2019
Last month Talking Books Library staff posted a message about inactive BARD accounts and we want to make sure that all who have these accounts are aware that the BARD system to download books will identify accounts that are inactive for 180 days (6months) and will move those accounts to an Inactive/Suspended status.
If you have not downloaded any reading materials in a while and you want to keep your BARD account active, please be sure to download some reading materials.
If your account becomes “Inactive” and you wish to ‘Reactivate” it, please send email to talking.books@olis.ri.gov or you may call the library at 401-574-9310.
Topics: General | No Comments »
Auto Select, Request List Only or On Demand…Know the Difference?
By Alicia Waters | September 6, 2019
All TBL members have a choice of how they wish to receive materials.
Auto Select – If you have chosen “I wish to have books selected for me” you will receive books automatically on a weekly schedule.
Request List – There are many ways to place items in your list; visit the online WebOPAC catalog and add titles to your book basket, email TBL at talking.books@olis.ri.gov with your book numbers or titles, mail in your request sheet from the back of the Talking Books Topics catalog to Talking Books Library, 1 Capitol Hill 2nd Floor, Providence, RI 02908 or call the TBL Library at 401-574-9310 to add your items. If you’ve selected “Request List” as your choice of service and you do not have items in your list, the system cannot send any books out to you.
On Demand – You will only receive items when you email us at talking.books@olis.ri.gov or call us at (401)574-9310.
** Please be aware that after 1 year of inactivity, (no books borrowed) your general TBL account will be made “Inactive”.
Topics: General | No Comments »
« Previous Entries Next Entries »