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News to Use, September 2019

Talking Book Newsletter

Volume 1, no.1

Play the audio version of the News to Use Talking Book Newsletter

Welcome to the first 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!

The Accessibility and Collection Team is led by librarian Jennifer Lewis. Jennifer Odlum, who also manages the Books by Mail service for homebound patrons, supports the team. We apologize for the confusion of having two Jennifers on staff - it confuses our colleagues as well!

New to the team are Bridgette Wisdom and Brittany Ham. Bridgette also manages our periodical subscriptions at Central Library while Brittany is in charge of our Interlibrary Loan service. Meanwhile, Daniel Ramos, who has been helping us for over a decade, has just retired. We will greatly miss his experience, energy, patience and good cheer. Many of you will surely miss him as well. Look for staff and volunteer spotlights in future editions of the newsletter.

Blind and Low Vision Resource Group

We're happy to announce the new Blind and Low Vision Resource Group. This is our first recurring program for our Talking Book patrons and for the wider blind and low-vision community. This program will meet approximately one time per month and will feature an invited topic expert. We hope you will be able to attend on a regular basis, both to learn something new and also to connect with fellow patrons. The Talking Book staff plans to attend and we’re looking forward to meeting you in person. Light snacks will be provided.

Our first meeting will take place on Friday, October 11 at 2:00 p.m. until 3:30 pm., at Central Library.

The guest speaker will be Alex Castillo from the Department of the Blind and Visually Impaired in Fairfax. Mr. Castillo is a rehabilitation teacher and will be speaking about navigating life with a vision impairment. He will also share information on resources available both at DBVI and throughout this area.

This should be a very interesting and useful presentation and we really hope to see you there! Feel free to invite friends who are interested in learning more about this topic.

2019 Survey Results Are In

Thank you to everyone who completed and returned the survey. We had an approximately 24% return rate. We’d love to increase the participation rate next time. If you have suggestions for how we can encourage a more vigorous response, please let us know.

Results included the following:

  • On Service: 42% of respondents were satisfied with your ability to reach staff but there is room for improvement. Fortunately, you feel that we call you back in a reasonable amount of time. Some respondents thought that perhaps we did not have enough staff. Luckily, with Bridgette and Brittany joining the team, we should be well-covered. That being said, you will still likely get a voicemail upon first calling us. Our office was recently reconfigured, and we don’t have a staff member seated at the phone. But we will continue to do our best to return your call promptly.
  • On Mail Speed: There is some patron dissatisfaction with the US Postal Service. We feel your pain! It seems that mail service has improved in recent months, but please let us know if you are experiencing problems. We will continue to alert USPS when mail delivery slows, and we’ll also keep the National Library Service informed of any problems.
  • On Braille and Audio Reading Download (known more commonly as BARD): Many of you are not aware of BARD and we need to do a better job of informing you. Continue on for more information about BARD later in this newsletter.
  • On the Most Popular Genres: Not too surprisingly, the most popular genres, in descending order, are: Mysteries and Detectives, Best Sellers (Fiction), Historical Novels, Classics, Best Sellers (Nonfiction), and Biographies.
  • On Future Programs: The program most patrons indicated an interest in are presentations about low-vision products and services. Other programs you were potentially interested in included a Support Group about living with low vision, in-person technology assistance and a book club in that order.

We responded to this feedback and hope that you will be able to attend our new Blind and Low-Vision Resource Group.

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.

I recently read "Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah (DB 86608), narrated by Trevor Noah. The popular host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, Trevor Noah tells the story of his South African upbringing.

Under apartheid, interracial relationships were prohibited and with a black South African mother and a white German father, Trevor Noah was quite literally the product of a crime. He tells the story of how he was affected by his circumstances and overcame these challenges to become a highly successful comedian, social commentator and talk show host. His narration is authentic and engaging and his story is a unique and fascinating window into life under apartheid. Be aware that there is some profanity.

cover of "born a crime"

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.

Download the BARD Mobile App and Get Instant Reading Gratification

The Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) is a way to access Talking Books immediately online. BARD gives you digital access to the complete and vast Talking Book collection. You can use BARD Express to download books using your computer and a cartridge, or you can use the BARD Mobile app to download books directly to your digital device. Talking Book staff use BARD on our iPhones to read books in the car or while taking a walk.

The BARD Website can be found at nlsbard.loc.gov/FAQ.html

If you need help, you can also call our staff at 703-228-6333. We can try to walk you through the process by phone or email. If that doesn’t help, we’ll be happy to meet you one-on-one at the library.

Stay Informed by Getting a Library Card and the Library eNewsletter

Some of you may not have an Arlington Public Library card. If you don’t read printed material, you might wonder why you would want one. When you sign up for a library card and add your email address to your account, you automatically receive the Arlington Public Library’s monthly eNewsletter, which highlights special programs taking place that month. So, if you don’t have a regular library card, consider getting one! Also remember to check the online Arlington Public Library calendar which can be found at library.arlingtonva.us/calendar

Arlington Public Library offers programs this Fall on a wide range of topics that may be of interest to you including movement classes and Aging Well workshops. Health-related programs include presentations about hearing aids, how to use digital tools to improve your health, and highlights from the latest Alzheimer’s International Research Conference.

Upcoming financial programs include topics on retirement planning and reverse mortgages. The Library offers lots of arts and crafts and maker programs year-round. Knitting and sewing are just a couple of programs in this category.

We also offer day-time movies, garden talks, and a huge number of book clubs. If you miss being around small children, there’s a Seniors and Kids Together Storytime on Tuesday evenings.

Upcoming lectures include speakers such as author Tommy Orange and political commentator Chuck Rosenberg; we also have upcoming lectures on Voting and Elections.

From Microsoft Basics to Introductory coding, technology and computer classes are a mainstay of the library, but did you know that we also offer 30-minute, one-on-one tutorials by appointment?

Remember, everything we offer at the library is free.

Here are a few programs we want to highlight:

  • Sharpen Your Networking and Interviewing Skills, presented by AARP, Tuesday, September 17 from 1:30 pm until 3:00 pm at Shirlington Branch Library
  • Reverse Mortgages 101, Tuesday, September 24 from 2 pm until 3:30 pm at Central Library
  • All About Hearing Aids, Thursday, Sept 26, 11 am until noon at Westover Branch Library

In Our Aging Well Series

  • Falls Prevention, Monday Oct 7 from 1:30 pm until 2:30 pm at Central Library
  • Pain Management with Dr. Michael Byas-Smith of the Adler Center for Caring, Monday Nov 4 from 1:30 pm until 2:30 pm at Central Library
  • Our NEW Blind and Low Vision Resource Group, Friday, October 11 from 2:00 pm until 3:30 pm

We Want to Hear from You

We invite you to be participate in the production of this newsletter.

There are many ways you can contribute.

  1. Let us know what you think of this newsletter. We welcome constructive comments.
  2. Submit a reading recommendation for your fellow patrons to read. Please keep your submissions under 100 words.
  3. Think about contributing an article to one of our upcoming editions. Do you have tips or resources you’d like others to know about? Do you have a topic on low-vision you’d like to write about? We’d love to learn from your experiences.

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

You can reach us:

  • By Telephone at 703-228-6333
  • Or By Email at TalkingBooks@arlingtonva.us

And that concludes the September 2019 edition of the News to Use newsletter. We hope you found it enjoyable and useful.

Remembering September 11: Cards for Firefighters

Eighteen years ago, children from around the country showed their support for Arlington's first responders with homemade cards filled with drawings and words of encouragement.

Drawing of a red firetruck with heart on the side; child's card from the Center for Local History Community Archives.

On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked a west coast-bound plane taking off from nearby Dulles Airport and crashed it into the Pentagon. Within minutes of the attack, firefighters and first responders from Arlington County, Fort Myer, and Reagan National Airport arrived at the scene. Arlington County Fire Department took the lead, establishing an Incident Command System (ICS) across the Washington-metro region to respond to the emergency. Firefighters managed to get the fire under control on the first day, but it took three days to fully extinguish the fire, and reach, as Arlington County Fire Chief Edward Plaugher described it, “the heart of the crash site.”

In total, 189 people died in the attack on the Pentagon, including the 64 passengers and crew on Flight 77.

These attacks devastated our community, but support flowed in to Arlington from around the nation. Children from across the country—from as far as Washington state to as close as Arlington, VA—sent homemade thank you cards to the Arlington County Fire Department in appreciation of their efforts to fight the fire and rescue survivors.

Drawing of firefighter using a water-hose from firetruck to put out a fire from a burning building; child's card from the Center for Local History Community Archives.

The card pictured below, from a child not named, features an American flag and a firefighter putting out a fire. The child thanks the firefighters for saving lives and being there for the people at the Pentagon. This is a theme for almost all of the cards.

Child's card from the Center for Local History Community Archives.

Zack Barrett made a pop-up card thanking the firefighters for keeping our nation running.

5th grader Ryan drew a picture of a firefighter on top of a building, and thanked them for risking their lives.

Children's cards from the Center for Local History Community Archives.

These, and the hundreds of other unsolicited drawings and letters sent to the Arlington County Fire Department, are preserved in the Community Archive at the Center for Local History.

Some of the young artists and writers no doubt have children of their own today, but the emotions remain as fresh and powerful as the day they were put on paper and mailed from places like Renton, WA, Toledo, OH, Clarksdale, MS - and more locally Ashburn, VA and Washington DC.

Child's card with two yellow stars and an exclamation point that says "Stand tall America! Thank you for helping." From the Center for Local History Community Archives.

Read a detailed account of the Arlington County Fire Department emergency response to the attack on the Pentagon in the blog post, "Attack on the Pentagon - Sept. 11, 2001," published Friday, March 18, 2005 by Arlington Fire Journal & Metro D.C. Fire History.

Listen to oral history interviews with first responders and Arlingtonians about their experiences on Sept. 11, 2001, and the days that followed.

To see more of the Children's Cards, or to learn more about Arlington's history, visit the Center for Local History on the first floor of the Central Library.

Do you have a question about this story, or a personal experience to share? 

Use this form to send a message to the Center for Local History.

Center For Local History - Blog Post Message Form

Do you have a question about this story, or a personal experience to share? Use this form to send a message to the Center for Local History.

  • Share Your Story

Grab & Go Express Book Collection

Read More, Wait Less

If it's on the shelf, you can check it out!

Grab & Go books on a bookshelf at Central Library
logo_grabandgo_bw

The new Grab & Go express book collection contains bestselling adult fiction and nonfiction, ready to be checked out immediately.

New titles will be added to the Grab & Go collection on a regular basis.

Where to Find Grab & Go Books

Look for the Grab & Go express book collection on designated shelves at Central Library and the Branch Libraries. There is no Grab & Go collection at the Connection: Crystal City Pop-Up Library.

You will also find Grab & Go copies of your favorite eAudiobooks and eBook titles in our Overdrive collection.

Don't see any Grab & Go titles on the Library shelf or in Overdrive? That means they are all checked out at the moment. But check again soon, as someone could finish and return one at anytime!

How does Grab & Go work?

14 Day Loan Period - Borrow Grab & Go titles for up to two weeks.

No Holds, No Renewals - Books cannot be renewed or placed on hold. They do not display in the library catalog.

Late Fines - $.30 a day.

Digital Readers - Electronic titles will return automatically after 2 weeks. If you don't see any Grab & Go titles in Overdrive, that means they are all checked out.

Done Reading? - Return your Grab & Go title for the next reader to discover!

Check Out Our New Library Cards

Pick a Card - Any Card!

New Library cards

We've redesigned our library card to match our updated logo and tagline, "Everyone Has A Story."

Stop in at any Arlington Public Library location to view our new library cards. You can exchange your current library card for one of the new designs at anytime!

Please Note

Getting a new library card also means getting a new number barcode, or library card number. Therefore:

Automatic Renewals for Library Items Start July 1

As of July 1, 2019, the Library will automatically renew eligible materials checked out to library cardholders. 

Renewal limits for eligible items have also increased to three (3) renewals.

All patrons are automatically enrolled; there is no need to sign up for this new service.

How do Automatic Renewals work?

  • Any items on your account that are eligible for renewal will now auto-renew 3 days before their due date.
  • Auto-renewal sets the new due date from the original due date. For example, items due July 1 will be renewed on June 28, and the new due date will be July 22 (for books and other 21-day materials) or July 8 (for DVDs and other 7-day materials).
  • Courtesy notices will reflect which items in your account did or didn't auto-renew, and the corresponding due dates.
  • You can still renew eligible items at any time via the app or website.

Items may not Auto-Renew if:

  • The item does not allow renewals
  • The item is part of the eCollection
  • The item has a hold (another patron is waiting for it)
  • The item has reached its renewal limit (3 renewals)
  • Your card is expired
  • You have fees of $15 or more on your account
  • An overdue notice has been sent for one or more items currently checked out on your account

If items on your account cannot be renewed, you will receive a courtesy notice with due dates before those items are due.

The Shop: Arlington Public Library’s New Makerspace

The Shop is a space for beginning and advanced Makers, offering classes, one-on-one tutoring and open lab time.

The Shop is a collaborative, participatory and inclusive learning environment. We are devoted to fostering a supportive community where Library patrons can experiment, play and think outside the box. What will you create?

Shop Class Schedule

 

About Open Lab

Need help with a design, or want to learn to use a new tool?

Open Lab is a great time for working on personal or collaborative projects, getting feedback, or trying something new.

During Open Lab hours all of The Shop equipment is available for public use, and staff will be on hand to answer questions and to offer help. Requirements for participation in Open Lab are an active library card in good standing and a completed Maker User Agreement.

Please note: Shop equipment is free to use, but some materials fees may be applied for consumables used during Open Lab time.

 

Learn more about The Shop on the Library website.

Download the Library App