Great News – “How Reading Helps You Live Longer”
By Alicia Waters | September 20, 2017
Listen to Innovation Hub’s Kara Miller interview with researcher Avni Bavishi while they discuss the longevity and cognitive benefits of reading books. Now that you listened to Kara and Avni, here are a few popular books in our collection to read and improve yourself.
DB85110 The Games by James Patterson – digital copies available and downloadable
DB83694 A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber – digital copies available and downloadable
DB85087 The King and Queen of Malibu by David Randall – digital copies available and downloadable
DB86234 Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly – digital copies available and downloadable
DB58364 Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow – digital copies available and downloadable
DB83643 When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi – digital copies available and downloadable
Topics: Books to Read, General, News & Info | No Comments »
How Nature Can Make You A Healthier Person
By Alicia Waters | September 13, 2017
On September 8th, Kara Miller’s program “Innovation Hub” interviewed Florence Williams, the author of “The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative”. Listen to their discussion by selecting Innovation Hub. We don’t have Florence Williams’ book at this time; however, we have several interesting titles about enjoying nature and people who challenged themselves. Call us at 401 – 574-9310 or email us at olis.tbplus@olis.ri.gov to order any of these digital books.
DB51505 Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man’s Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See, by Erik Weihenmayer – downloadable and digital cartridge production available
DB87291 No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Erik Weihenmayer -downloadable and digital cartridge production available
DB45920 The Appalachian Trail Reader by David Emblidge – downloadable and digital cartridge production available
DB74367 Following Atticus:Forty – Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and a Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan – downloadable and digital cartridge production available
DB56639 Adventuring Along the Lewis and Clark Trail by Elizabeth Grossman – downloadable and digital cartridge production available
If you want to try local hiking and walking, join the Rhode Island Hiking Club . It’s free.
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Hurricane Season 2017
By Alicia Waters | September 6, 2017
As New Englanders, we are aware of the potential destruction of property and loss of life hurricanes may bring to our communities. After Hurricane Harvey struck Houston, we wondered if Hurricane Irma might come our way? Fortunately, Rhode Islanders’ with disabilities may register with the Rhode Island Special Needs Emergency Registry to help protect themselves from harm if a storm comes our way. The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) have developed this registry as a service to Rhode Islanders with chronic conditions, disabilities, and other special healthcare needs. It is a system for the identification of Rhode Islanders who may require assistance during statewide emergencies such as a hurricane or a winter blizzard. There is an easy enrollment process by completing an online form or submitting a mail-in form. To complete the digital form select Online and click the “Enrolling” button. To receive a printed form mailed to you, call 401-222-5960/RI Relay 711. Don’t wait, do it now, and be prepared.
After you have registered, call us at 401-574-9310 or email us at olis.tbplus@olis.ri.gov to read some of the titles in our Talking Books Library collection.
DB60947 The Great Hurricane:1938 by Cherie Burns – downloadable and digital cartridge production available
DBC01877 Superstorm: Nine Days Inside Hurricane Sandy by Kathryn Miles -downloable and digital cartridge production available
DB62427 Holding Back the Sea: the Struggle on the Gulf Coast to Save America by Christopher Hallowwell – downloadable and digital cartridge production available
DB62506 The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Douglas Brinkley – downloadable and digital cartridge production available
DB66459 Storm World Hurricanes, Politics, and the Battle over Global Warming by Chris Mooney – downloadable and digital cartridge production available
Topics: General, News & Info, Programs | No Comments
Topics: Books to Read, General, News & Info | No Comments »
Is There an Autonomous or Self-Driving Car in Your Future?
By Alicia Waters | August 24, 2017
Next time your at the local technology store the “sales representative” might ask you this question. Would You Like an Autonomous Car to Go with Your iPhone or Android Phone? Well, maybe this might happen in the future. While your waiting, read the New York Times article on the future of self driving vehicles. Also, listen to Googles promotion of their self-driving car project Waymo.
The Talking Books Library also has some digital titles for your reading interests related to new technology and the changes it will bring to us. These digital books are available for you to read by calling us at 401-574-9310 or emailing us at olis.tbplus@olis.ri.gov .
DB84470 Inventology: How We Dream Up Things That Change the World by Pagan Kennedy, hardcopies available and downloadable
DB82660 From Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: Disruptive Innovation in the Age of the Internet by John Naughton, hardcopies available and downloadable
DBC02821 How the Internet Became Commercial: Innovation, Privatization, and the Birth of a New Network by Shane Greenstein, downloadable
DB85022 The Industries of the Future by Alec Ross, hardcopies available and downloadable
DB82434 Elon Musk: Tesla, Space X, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, hardcopies available and downloadable
Topics: Accessibility, Books to Read, General, News & Info | No Comments »
The Civil War and Current American Domestic Issues
By Alicia Waters | August 17, 2017
We always must know our past to understand our present. With the Charlottesville, Virginia disturbances on Saturday August 12th, we find our past American history collide with the present events and issues in our communities. To gain additional perspectives, from the New York Times read the following commentary by Thomas L. Friedman and Ross Douthat, and listen to Ken Burns’ National Endowment for the Humanities speech on these issues as well. Also, call your local public library to borrow “The Civil War” 6 part series by Ken Burns. Remember to check for audio described accessibility, so the visual background will be described on a separate audio track in The Civil War copies you receive. Finally, read some related digital books from the Talking Books Plus Collection. Call us at 401-574-9310 to order your books or email us at olis.tbplus@olis.ri.gov.
DB61162 “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” by Doris Kearns Goodwin – available in digital cartridge and downloadable
DB74156 “America’s War: Talking About the Civil War and Emancipation on Their 150th Anniversaries” by Edward L. Ayers – available in digital cartridge and downloadable
DB80035 “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” by Bryan Stevenson – available in digital cartridge and downloadable
DB74560 “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” -by Michelle Alexander – available in digital cartridge and downloadable
DB76329 “America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This Nation Great” by Ben Carson- available in digital cartridge and downloadable
Topics: Accessibility, Books to Read, DVDs, General, News & Info, Programs | No Comments »
Innovation in the 21st Century
By Alicia Waters | August 9, 2017
Recently, the National Governors Association Conference was held in Rhode Island. One of the guest speakers was Elon Musk. He spoke to the Governors and guests about some of his thoughts and ventures concerning technological Innovation. In addition to listening to Elon Musk, we have a number of digital books about technological innovation and our future. These digital books are available for you to read by calling us at 401-574-9310 or emailing us at olis.tbplus@olis.ri.gov .
DB85022 The Industries of the Future by Alec Ross – available in digital cartridge and downloadable
DB84470 Inventology: How We Dream Up Things that Change the World by Pagan Kennedy – available in digital cartridge and downloadable
DB80809 The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace by Ron Friedman – available in digital cartridge and downloadable
DB83696 Originals: How Non-Conformists Make the World by Adam Grant – available in digital cartridge and downloadable
DB86200 Messey: the Power of Disorder to Transform Our Lives by Nicholas Guy Smith – available in digital cartridge and downloadable
Topics: Books to Read, Digital Update, General, News & Info | No Comments »
Belated 198th Birthday Wish to Herman Melville
By Alicia Waters | August 2, 2017
If you missed it, Herman Melville’s 198th birthday celebration was yesterday on 8/1/17. To celebrate, first listen to WGBH’s commentary about Herman Melville by Mark Herz and Edgar B. Herwick III , then decide what you want to read by calling Talk Books Plus at 401 – 574-9310 or email us at olis.tbplus@olis.ri.gov. The following are some of his noted works as well a commentary about his life.
DB 34184 ” Moby Dick ” by Herman Melville – Classic sea tale of Captain Ahab seeking revenge against the white whale that took his leg with disastrous results for him and his crew. Available in digital cartridge or downloadable via BARD.
DB09738 ” Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life ” by Herman Melville – the novel portrays a civilized man held captive by Polynesians, who were then practicing cannibalism. Available in digital cartridge or downloadable via BARD.
DB12459 ” Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas ” by Herman Melville – ” a realistic novel published in 1847, recapitulates the end of ” Typee ” as a British whaler rescues Melville, an American sailor. He and the ship’s doctor become fast friend and share many adventures in the South Pacific: mutiny, imprisonment, and a beachcombing existence in Tahiti. Available in digital cartridge or downloadable via BARD.
DB18071 ” White -Jacket, or, the World in a Man-of-War ” by Herman Melville – ” Based on the author’s experience, the novel presents an intriguing documentary of Navy life in the 1840’s aboard the U. S. Frigate, the ‘Neversink’ “. Available in digital cartridge or downloadable via BARD.
DB63940 ” Melville: His World and Work ” by Andrew Delbanco – ” Columbia University Professor examines the autobiographical aspects of Herman Melville’s works. Describes the poverty that forced Melville (1819 – 1891) to leave school and seek employment at the age of thirteen, his time at sea during his twenties, his friendship with Nathaniel Hawthorne, and his posthumous fame “. Available in digital cartridge or downloadable via BARD.
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What College Students Read During the Summer
By Alicia Waters | July 26, 2017
During the summer, many colleges assign books to read for their incoming freshman and other interested students. Here are a few identified by Dana Golstein in her New York Times article on 7/1/17.
DB82201 Between the World and Me by TA-Nehisi Coates – “essayistic exploration of violence done to the black male body in America” (available as digital cartridge or downloadable)
DB81184 Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine – ” a book of poetry which recounts the slights and verbal aggression that make up the daily experiences of racism” (available as digital cartridge or downloadable)
DB83433 Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Amy Ellis Nutt – “[story] about a transgender teenager” (available as digital cartridge or downloadable)
DB85796 Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis – “explores issues of social breakdown among working-class [families]” (available as digital cartridge or downloadable)
DB77770 The Circle by Dave Eggers – ” a novel about a young woman drawn into the nefarious practices of the global tech company for which she works” (available as digital cartridge or downloadable)
DB85212 The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (my selection) – ” a third generation slave, flees the plantation where she lives” (available as digital cartridge or downloadable)
Topics: Books to Read, General, News & Info | No Comments »
Jane Austen, British Author Still Beloved by Americans
By Alicia Waters | July 19, 2017
On the 200th anniversary of her death (1817), we celebrate her life by reading about her writing on the BBC website. If you want to read some of her novels or a biography, we have them in our collection and available for you by calling us at 401- 574-9310 or emailing us at olis.tbplus@olis.ri.gov.
DB23490 Emma by Jane Austen
DB50549 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
DB37462 Presumption (Jane Austen’s sequel to Pride and Prejudice)
DB22282 Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
DB20403 Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
DB51057 Persuasion by Jane Austen
DB80828 Sandition (Jane Austen’s unfinished work completed)
DB46312 Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin (a biography available as a digital cartridge or by downloading)
For a quick review of her life, listen to her online biography or read a brief overview of her life.
Topics: Books to Read, General | No Comments »
Celebrate Henry David Thoreau’s 200th Birthday Today
By Alicia Waters | July 12, 2017
Henry David Thoreau was born on 7/12/1817 in Concord, Massachusetts. Today is his 200th birthday. Listen to the National Public Radio broadcast of his life and comments from his biographers. Then you can enjoy some of his books and writings by calling RI Talking Books Plus at 401-574-9310 or email us at olis.tbplus@olis.ri.gov . Some of his works include:
DB50835 Walden, or Life in the Woods: and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience – available via BARD download or request a digital cartridge recording from us.
DB47885 A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers by Henry David Thoreau -available via BARD download or request a digital cartridge recording from us
DB14189 The Maine Woods by Henry David Thoreau – available via BARD download or request a digital cartridge recording from us.
DBM00593 Walking by Henry David Thoreau – available via BARD download or request a digital cartridge recording from us.
DB50242 Wild Fruits: Thoreau’s Rediscovered Last Manuscript – available via BARD download or request a digital cartridge recording from us.
DB26259 Henry Thoreau: A life of the Mind by Robert Richardson – available via BARD download or request a digital cartridge recording from us.
Topics: Books to Read, General, News & Info | No Comments »
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