25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

NLS - That All May Read

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) has launched a new outreach campaign called "That All May Read". This campaign is intended to provide information about the NLS's free service to those with a visual or physically disability that prohibits them from reading standard or large print. For this campaign they seem to be highlighting the availability of electronic resources, specifically the BARD database and BARD Mobile app. Currently the BARD Mobile app is only available on Apple devices. An app for Android devices is currently in the testing phase and may be released very soon.

Here is a link to the website: www.loc.gov/ThatAllMayRead

Here is a link to the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/libraryofcongress/posts/10152764620538059


 

Step Up For Students Special Needs Scholarship

Step Up For Students is a state organization that seeks to alleviate educational challenges to students in Florida who live in or near poverty or have special needs. In order to assist the families/care givers of such students Step Up For Students offers scholarships.

For students with special needs they offer a Personal Learning Scholarship Account Program (PLSA) that can assist in the financing of specialized programs and approved providers; adaptive technology and, even, college savings accounts. With this money parents/caregivers of students with special needs can purchase things like tablet PCs, Braille displays, screen magnifiers, voice recognition programs, etc. The acquisition of such adaptive technology devices and programs can then allow the student to use apps like BARD Mobile, Learning Ally and other educational apps provided by the Jacksonville Public Library.

For more information visit their website: http://www.stepupforstudents.org/

Library links for 2015 Tools for Success Conference

Chris Eaton (Talking Books / Special Needs Librarian) and Susan Mankowski (Early Childhood Specialist) will be presenting a workshop session called "The Library: A User’s Guide" at the 2015 Tools for Success Conference on Thursday, February 26th. Below are links to the library resources that we will be featuring:

JPL Talking Books Library: http://www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/lib/talkingbooks.html
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Talking Books program: http://www.loc.gov/nls/

Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD): https://nlsbard.loc.gov/login//NLS
BARD Mobile app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bard-mobile/id705229586?mt=8

Jacksonville Public Library homepage: http://www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/ -or- http://www.jpl.coj.net/

Jacksonville Public Library online catalog: http://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default

Boopsie for Libraries app: http://www.boopsie.com/library-page/jacksonville-public-library/

Novelist: http://web.a.ebscohost.com/novp/search/novbasic?sid=5dbba0f7-90bc-4187-b933-872ecb1a1eb7%40sessionmgr4003&vid=0&hid=4101

Tumblebooks Library: http://asp.tumblebooks.com/home.aspx

Traveling Tales: http://www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/traveling/

Overdrive: http://jpl.lib.overdrive.com/35382342-6F02-4145-9608-3643232B111A/10/50/en/Default.htm

Gale Databases: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=ITOF&u=fjp_jvpl&authCount=1

Images from the 2015 North Florida Regional Braille Challenge

 

 

National Federation of the Blind of Florida, Greater Jacksonville Chapter Applebee's Flapjack Fundraiser

Talking Book review

The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

Hello Readers!

I hope that this month finds you reading many great reads and enjoying the wonderful weather that we are experiencing!

This month’s book is a debut book by Will Schawlbe called The End of Your Life Book Club. This is the inspiring true story of a son and his mother, who start a “book club” that brings them together as her life comes to a close. Over the next two years, Will and Mary Anne carry on conversations that are both wide-ranging and deeply personal, prompted by an eclectic array of books and a shared passion for reading. Their list jumps from classic to popular, from poetry to mysteries, from fantastic to spiritual. The issues they discuss include questions of faith and courage as well as everyday topics such as expressing gratitude and learning to listen. Throughout, they are constantly reminded of the power of books to comfort us, astonish us, teach us, and tell us what we need to do with our lives and in the world. Reading isn’t the opposite of doing; it’s the opposite of dying. 

I have to admit, as an avid reader I was in tears throughout various parts of this book. Along the way I found many good “reads” that I have added to my list of books that I want to read. As with all the other books that have been selected, I encourage you to read this book or at least add it to your list of books to read.

Until next time…happy reading!