Arlington Public Library

News to Use, February 2020

Talking Book Newsletter

Volume 1, no.2

Listen to the audio version of the newsletter with the embedded player below, and read the transcript, which includes additional resources.

Microphone with the words "News to Use" on magenta background

Welcome to the second edition of News to Use, the Arlington Public Library Talking Book Newsletter, produced by the Talking Book Staff at Arlington Public Library.

Meet the Staff

This month the newsletter is read by Jennifer Lewis, the team lead for the Accessibility and Collections Team which includes the Talking Book Service.

Jennifer Lewis, woman with shoulder length blond hair who is smiling.

I’ve been a reference and collections librarian with Arlington Public Library for fifteen years and have spent the last two years focusing on accessibility services. I’m a native of Virginia and outside of work I love spending time with my family, cooking new dishes and reading suspense and historical fiction novels.

Join Arlington Public Library’s Winter Reading Program.

How to Participate:

Census 2020: Be Counted!

In mid-March, letters will go out to households around the country inviting them to respond to the 2020 census (www.census.gov). Why should you respond? Well, census results play a large part in determining how governments at all levels allocate hundreds of billions of dollars for services that communities rely on. But some groups of people, including those who are blind or disabled, historically have been undercounted. We at Arlington Public Library want to make sure all our patrons are counted and don’t miss this chance to shape their future!

If you have questions about the census, we’re here to help: contact us at 703-228-6333 or talkingbooks@arlingtonva.us.

Blind and Low Vision Resource Group: Update.

The Blind and Low Vision Resource Group is off to a great start! In October, we welcomed Alex Castillo, a rehabilitation teacher from the Department with the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI). He shared information about the services DBVI offers. Alex will get paired with a blind or low vision customer and will visit them at home to evaluate their daily needs and goals. He will then develop practical lessons to help them gain or maintain independence.

Visit the Department of the Blind and Vision Impaired website or call them at (804) 371-3140.

In November, we welcomed Carol Froelich, a volunteer speaker from Metropolitan Washington Ear. Members have access to daily newspapers via phone or a special radio provided with membership. Another benefit to membership is access to their audio description services at select live theater performances. Attendees who have used the service say it’s absolutely wonderful. We were also impressed to hear about their lookup service. WashEar volunteers are on hand to read the grocery store circulars or look up other information for you. As an added bonus, they have a really great newsletter, packed with resources. As a qualified Talking Book patron, you will also qualify for membership to Washington Ear, but you will need to complete their application.

For more information about Washington Ear, visit their website or call them at (301) 681-6636.

In January, Davida Luehrs, Northern Virginia Chapter President of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, was on hand to talk about the foundation's activities and goals. Their primary mission is to support research to find cures for retinal diseases and they've made some great progress. Their website also has great content and guidance for people who are newly diagnosed. FFB hosts regular meetings and speaker series which are free and open to the public. They also host fund raising events including the NOVA VisionWalk that takes place on Sunday, May 3, at Cameron Run Regional Park. Davida was accompanied by her guide dog, Chubb, whom she found through the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Smithtown, NY. Davida also shared what she considered to be great resources: the American Council of the Blind, the Virginia Lions Club and Patrick Timony, Accessible Tech Librarian with DC Public Library’s Center for Accessibility.

Here is the full list of resources:

If you have questions about these or other services, feel free to call us. We'll do our best to get you the answers you're looking for.

Mark your calendar for upcoming meetings:

  • Friday, March 13 - Dr. Suleiman Alibhai, Doctor of Optometry with Low Vision Services.  Dr. Alibhai is an acclaimed resource in the local blind and low vision community. He will talk about the services he offers which emphasize education and counseling about the best way to cope with chronic vision loss.
  • Friday, April 10 - Library Accessibility Services Open House. Library staff will be on hand to share and talk with you about Books by Mail, Talking Books and BARD.

National Library Service Has a New Name and Logo.

The Library of Congress’s National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), which provides braille and audio materials to the Arlington Subregional Library, has changed its name.

It is now known as the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. The new name addresses some outdated language and more clearly communicates the population it serves. NLS sought input on this name change from stakeholder groups and gathered data through various public channels, including its users.

Reading Recommendations from Staff & Patrons.

We’re excited to tell you what we’re reading, and we’d love to hear what you’d recommend.

"The Flight Attendant" by Chris Bohjalian, DB 90518.

Follow Cassie Bowden’s travels as a flight attendant as she tries to piece together the missing memories of the night she woke up in a hotel room Dubai next to a murdered man. Filled with intrigue, danger, humor and suspense, this is one I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end.

Do you have a book you’d like to recommend? Please call or email us with a brief description of the book and why you liked it.

Getting Started with BARD

Our free book download system, BARD, puts our full collection of audio books at your fingertips. If you have a smart phone or a tablet and haven’t downloaded the BARD Mobile app, this is the perfect time!

BARD mobile "now reading" screenshot and gray large letters BARD with the gray Apple image and gray robot image.

Layout of the app:

  • Bookshelf- This contains the books you have downloaded.
  • Get books- Contains wish list, recently added to BARD, previous downloads, most popular books, browse magazines, and the BARD website.
  • Settings- Audio settings, display settings, and user account settings.
  • Now reading – This is where you can play the books that you’ve downloaded. The screen is set up like a mini version of the digital talking book player.

Tips and Tricks:

In the settings, under audio settings, turn the “Background Playback” on so your device does not have to stay open and run the battery down while you listen to a book. If a book doesn’t play all the way through or there’s an error message, there are two options that will usually get you back on track. One option is to completely shut down the app and bring it back up, or you can delete the book and re-download it from the “Previous Downloads” section of the “Get Books” heading.

Bestseller Lists.

Fiction:

  • A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci, DB 97355
  • The Night Fire by Michael Connelly, DB 97282
  • Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, DB 97315
  • The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, DB 97441
  • Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovitch, DB 97352

Nonfiction:

  • Dear Girls by Ali Wong, DB 97243
  • Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power, DB 97263
  • I Really Needed This Today by Hoda Kotb, DB 97500
  • Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness DB 97437
  • The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe, DB 97497

New Books available through Talking Books Topics, January--February 2020:

https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/talking-book-topics-bimonthly-magazine/talking-book-topics-january-february-2020/

Mark Your Calendar.

Here are some upcoming library programs you may be interested in:

Free Tax Preparation Assistance by AARP for people of low or moderate income.

Walk-in appointments at Central Library February 4 through April 15 (appointments also available by calling 703-829-6192):

    • Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
    • Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 

Walk-in appointments at Columbia Pike Branch Library, January 31 through April 14:

    • Tuesdays, 1:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
    • Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Aging Well: Advance Care Planning - Monday, March 2, 1:30 pm until 2:30 pm at Central

Laughter Yoga - Monday, March 2 from 6:30 pm until 7:30 pm at Central.

Aurora Hills Knits - Wednesday, March 4 from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm at Aurora Hills

Arlington Reads: Roxane Gay in Conversation with Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh - Tuesday, March 10 from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm at Central

Language Conversation Classes: Arabic Chinese, English, French, Italian, Spanish - Various days and times. Call 703-228-6333 or email TalkingBooks@arlingtonva.us for more information.

Blind and Low Vision Resource Group: Dr. Suleiman Alibhai from Low Vision Services - Friday, March 13 from 2:00 pm until 3:30 pm at Central

Technology Tutoring Sessions: 30 minute one on one appointments - Various days and times. Call 703-228-6333 or email TalkingBooks@arlingtonva.us for more information.

Contact Us

The Talking Book staff is here for you.  We can help you select or download books, register for library programs or connect you with other information you may be looking for.

Telephone:     703-228-6333

Email:             TalkingBooks@arlingtonva.us



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