Talking Books Library

Book Discussion May 25

By Alicia Waters | May 2, 2022

May 25, 2022
2:00 – 3:00 pm

Deep, Down Dark: The Untold Stories of Thirty-three Men Buried in a Chilean Mine and the Miracle That Set Them Free by Helctor Tobar (DB 80548) Reading Time 13 hr.

Journalist and author of Translation Nation chronicles the experiences of the men trapped in a Chilean mine for sixty-nine days after it caved in on August 5, 2010. Describes their living conditions, interpersonal relations, coping with stress, and eventual rescue. Some strong language. Sociology. Latinx interest. Non-Fiction. Bestseller. 2014.

You may REGISTER here to receive the Zoom information and dial in number or call (401)574-9310, or you can email talking.books@olis.ri.gov.

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60 Choice Years

By Alicia Waters | May 2, 2022

From Choice Magazine Editor in Chief, Annie Schlegel-Kyrkostas

Dearest friends:

In September 1962, LuEsther T. Mertz founded Choice Magazine Listening (CML) because she believed that visually impaired people and those with disabilities that prevented them from reading standard print should have access to the same magazine writing as sighted people. Through the nonprofit Lucerna Fund, Ms. Mertz tasked a small editorial team to fulfill a mission to make this endeavor “exclusively charitable, literary, and educational.”

Today, nearly 60 years and 338 issues later, the CML archives are open.

We invite librarians, staff, patrons, and eligible friends of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) to hear the digitally remastered and easily downloadable, first-ever issues of our audio magazine anthology originally created on 10-inch, 16 ? rpm records. Each issue provides a fascinating time capsule of the literature and thought of the day.

You and your patrons may call us directly anytime, toll-free, at 1 (888) 724-6423 with any questions about CML or the archives project. Over the coming years we will release a full year of archived material alongside each issue we publish. Please visit choicemagazinelistening.org and come celebrate 60 “Choice” years with us!

Warmly,
Annie Schlegel-Kyrkostas
Editor in Chief

Topics: Magazines, News & Info | No Comments »

Emojication: Know your Emoji

By Alicia Waters | April 19, 2022

From: Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library in New York

Wednesday April 20, 6:00 – 7:30 PM Eastern

Join us for a lively discussion about emoji: what they mean, how they evolve over time, and how blind and low-vision people can understand and use them with confidence.

This event will take place online.

Register for this meeting:

https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsdOyopjIsGtOXChk-7BSlkahY1UOQM7Gl [nypl.zoom.us]

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Topics: Resources, Training | No Comments »

NLS BARD Support: BARD Mobile iOS

By Alicia Waters | April 15, 2022

NLS is pleased to announce the release of version 1.4.3 of the BARD Mobile iOS app, which supports iOS versions 11–15. BARD Mobile iOS 1.4.3 includes: support for iOS 15 and iPad OS15 ability to sort and search the app’s Wish list and Previous Downloads, additional ways to subscribe to books and magazines, ability to pinch and enlarge the Get Books Navigation screen, text improvements with error messaging. Version 1.4.3 also fixes bugs found in the current BARD Mobile app for iOS.

Topics: Digital Update, Resources | No Comments »

BARD Interface Available in Spanish and French

By Alicia Waters | April 4, 2022

Since fall 2019, the BARD user interface has been available in Spanish as well as the default English. NLS is pleased to announce that the BARD interface is now also available in French. Patrons who would prefer to use BARD in French or Spanish can do so by selecting their language of choice from the Language Interface Settings drop-down menu on the main Account Settings page.

The new French interface complements the 2021 BARD searching updates that allow patrons to set their preferred languages for books and to limit searches by language. There are now more than 3,300 Spanish and 760 French talking books on BARD, along with more than 1,300 additional titles in 42 other languages. 

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New Magazines to Read

By Alicia Waters | March 22, 2022

NLS has added Interweave Knits to its braille magazine lineup, replacing Knitscene, which is no longer being published. Interweave Knits is similar in scope to Knitscene, covering articles and patterns on knitting.

Another new braille magazine, Dogster, has been added to the NLS collection. It will also be available in ebraille via BARD. Dogster’s six issues a year will contain ideas for interacting with dogs, lifestyle stories, new products, and advice on caring for dogs.

NLS patrons can now download or subscribe to an audio edition of the magazine Popular Science. Published quarterly, Popular Science is the world’s largest science and technology magazine, reporting on the intersection of science and everyday life and delivering a look at the future now.

Popular Science is available for download from BARD and also for subscription through the Magazine on Cartridge program. It joins the following roster of network-originated magazines posted on BARD.

Topics: Magazines, News & Info | No Comments »

January/February Talking Book Topics

By Alicia Waters | February 25, 2022

The January-February 2022 Talking Book Topics (TBT) catalogue in print will not be printed due to worldwide paper shortages and supply chain issues. Unfortunately, we do not know when this issue will be resolved. You may make use of one of these other accessible TBT formats:

For those who use TBT in audio format, the January-February 2022 edition is already available on cartridge, and for download on BARD and through BARD Mobile as DB 106440. Additionally, TBT Abridged will be available through Braille Book Review in hardcopy braille, as well as in the BRF electronic format. If you would like to subscribe to TBT on cartridge or to Braille Book Review, please contact the Library at (401)574-9310 or talking.books@olis.ri.gov.

Patrons can also access TBT January-February 2022 online in HTML and PDF. TBT in HTML contains direct links to BARD for downloading or adding books to wish lists, and TBT in PDF includes printable order forms for mailing.

View January-February 2022 TBT Online

Topics: Accessibility, Books to Read, News & Info | No Comments »

New Version BARD Mobile Android App

By Alicia Waters | February 24, 2022

NLS is pleased to announce the release of version 1.4 of the BARD Mobile Android app, which allows patrons using Android devices running operating systems 7 through 11 to read contracted braille with supported refreshable braille displays via the BrailleBack app from the Google Play store. Supported displays are listed in the description of the BrailleBack app in the Google Play store at https://bit.ly/3r9T71g. NLS has started incrementally releasing the app to patrons.

The braille functionality of version 1.4 for Android is similar to the braille functionality on BARD Mobile for iOS (iPhone and iPad). The new Android version is like the iOS version in offering users adjustable settings:

·  Braille Reflow adjusts formatting for displays shorter than 40 cells

·  Braille Autoscroll allows users to move through braille text automatically based on adjustable time increments

Android users can now adjust their User Account Settings to show audio and/or braille content based on their reading preferences. They can also troubleshoot and reset their app to delete data, including downloaded content or all data, from their device.

Version 1.4 also fixes bugs found in the current BARD Mobile app for Android.

Users who have enabled auto-updates for the BARD Mobile app in the Play Store will get version 1.4 on their mobile device seamlessly. Others will need to manually update the app through the Play Store. BARD Mobile Android users can identify the version running on their devices by checking the bottom of the Settings screen.

Topics: Accessibility, Digital Update, Resources | No Comments »

Xavier Society for the Blind New Titles

By Alicia Waters | February 15, 2022

Xavier Society for the Blind would like to make you aware of some of the newest braille and audio additions to their library available free of charge to blind and visually impaired people throughout the United States.

Visit xaviersocietyfortheblind.org

• Call 800-637-9193 or 212-473-7800
• E-mail them at info@xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
• Follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @XavierSociet

Please help us spread the word!

Topics: General | No Comments »

Return of Extra Player Machines

By Alicia Waters | February 8, 2022

If you have more than 1 talking book player machine, please return the EXTRA machine(s) to:

Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02472-2790

The original box will have a card on the front that you can flip over to reveal the postage free return address. If you need a box, please call us at (401)574-9310 and we will gladly mail a box and packing materials out to you.

All members are allowed 1 player machine each to use while they are active members of the program. Player machines may need repair at times or may not work properly and members may request a replacement machine. Always remember to send the defective player machine back when you receive a replacement. Never throw any player machine away or give it away to anyone else.

All talking book player machines are property of the National Library Services, NLS in Washington, DC and should be returned to the Perkins Library address above if you have more than 1 player, or are no longer using the program.

We appreciate your cooperation, as this will ensure that there are player machines available for new members when they sign up.

Topics: General, News & Info | No Comments »


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