Monday, January 28, 2008
Have you seen this Superbowl TV ad yet??
Different blogs and online sources have been talking about Pepsi's Superbowl TV ad that is done entirely in sign language... have you read about it? Check it out on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffrq6cUoE5A
Article: Senate approves resolution honoring Louisville's American Printing House for the Blind
Have you seen the article Senate approves resolution honoring Louisville's American Printing House for the Blind? The American Printing House for the Blind (website at http://www.aph.org/) recently had its 150th anniversary. You can read more about it in this article. Check it out!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
2008 - it's the National Year of Reading!
Earlier this month, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown officially opened 2008 as the "National Year of Reading." You can see the official launch at http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page14194.asp
More information on the 2008 National Year of Reading can be found at http://www.yearofreading.org.uk. The mission is to increase reading across all age levels and especially to encourage all parents to read to their children. One of the cool features on the National Year of Reading website is the "Word of the Week" - this week's word is "slubberdegullion." Whoa.... if you're like me and wondering what this word means, you can go to http://www.yearofreading.org.uk/index.php?id=4
And you can even join the 2008 National Year of Reading Group in Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7108881530!
Hopefully other countries will launch their own National Reading Years!
More information on the 2008 National Year of Reading can be found at http://www.yearofreading.org.uk. The mission is to increase reading across all age levels and especially to encourage all parents to read to their children. One of the cool features on the National Year of Reading website is the "Word of the Week" - this week's word is "slubberdegullion." Whoa.... if you're like me and wondering what this word means, you can go to http://www.yearofreading.org.uk/index.php?id=4
And you can even join the 2008 National Year of Reading Group in Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7108881530!
Hopefully other countries will launch their own National Reading Years!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
2007 Blind Bargains Access Awards
Check out the winners of the Blind Bargains Access Awards at http://www.blindbargains.com/awardlist07.php
The Victor Reader Stream has won "Best New Product or Innovation" and "Best Hardware Product" categories. There are 10 categories total, including accessible games and websites. The official press release can be seen at http://www.blindbargains.com/about/pr080123awards.php
I guess I should have nominated myself for the Best Blindness related blog, but didn't! :)
Congrats to all the winners!
The Victor Reader Stream has won "Best New Product or Innovation" and "Best Hardware Product" categories. There are 10 categories total, including accessible games and websites. The official press release can be seen at http://www.blindbargains.com/about/pr080123awards.php
I guess I should have nominated myself for the Best Blindness related blog, but didn't! :)
Congrats to all the winners!
South Carolina's Public Library Appreciation Day (PLAD)!
Did you know South Carolina is going to be having a Public Library Appreciation Day (PLAD)? It's going to be on January 31, 2008. For more information, check out the blog at http://curtisrogers.blogspot.com/2008/01/public-library-appreciation-day-wiki.html or go straight to the PLAD wiki at http://plad.pbwiki.com/
I think this is a great idea.... hopefully more states will pick up on this idea and we will see more PLAD's across the country! If you live in a state that already has a PLAD, I would love to hear more information about it from you!
I think this is a great idea.... hopefully more states will pick up on this idea and we will see more PLAD's across the country! If you live in a state that already has a PLAD, I would love to hear more information about it from you!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Talk with an NLS Talking Book Narrator!
Want to chat with an NLS narrator? Now you have the chance... I recently received the following email from Accessible World:
Books and Beyond Guest, Madeline Buzzard, Discusses Life as an NLS Talking Book Narrator
Accessible World News Wire: January 17, 2008, Indianapolis, Indiana USA
For users of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS,) the voices of many narrators become such an integral part of their lives that the narrators themselves are thought of as close friends.. Yet, few NLS patrons have had the privilege of personally chatting with them. This week's live performance of the popular Internet talk show, however, will afford that opportunity. During this week's Books and Beyond, sponsored by the Accessible World, Hostess Bonnie Blose will interview Madeline Buzzard, a professional narrator from the American Printing House for the Blind Recording Studio in Louisville, Kentucky. This fascinating program will reveal just what is involved in the narration process, skills required to make the printed page become alive in audio format, whether NLS narrators can choose the books they read, and, as an added bonus, the activities outside the recording studio that fill this special narrator's daily life.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to talk personally with Ms Buzzard and get answers to questions you have always wanted to ask!
Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m. Eastern and elsewhere in the world Thursday 1:00 GMT.
Where: Books and Beyond Room at http://www.accessibleworld.org/ or use the following direct link: http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsf44894b5dc56
All online interactive programs are open to everyone worldwide. There is no direct cost, and no need to register. . NO PASSWORD IS REQUIRED. If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to downloadand then run. A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms. Archives of all events and sign up information for all Accessible World NewsWires and discussion lists are available at: http://www.accessibleworld.org./
Media Contacts: Bonnie Blose, Hostess
Books and Beyond
bonnie@accessibleworld.org
Pat Price, Events Coordinator
The Accessible World SymposiumsVision Worldwide, Inc.
317-254-1185
Skype: patprice1
Email: pat@patprice.orghttp://www.accessibleworld.org/
Bob Acosta, Chair - Planning Committee
818-998-0044
Email: boacosta@pacbell.net http://www.helpinghands4theblind.com/
Books and Beyond Guest, Madeline Buzzard, Discusses Life as an NLS Talking Book Narrator
Accessible World News Wire: January 17, 2008, Indianapolis, Indiana USA
For users of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS,) the voices of many narrators become such an integral part of their lives that the narrators themselves are thought of as close friends.. Yet, few NLS patrons have had the privilege of personally chatting with them. This week's live performance of the popular Internet talk show, however, will afford that opportunity. During this week's Books and Beyond, sponsored by the Accessible World, Hostess Bonnie Blose will interview Madeline Buzzard, a professional narrator from the American Printing House for the Blind Recording Studio in Louisville, Kentucky. This fascinating program will reveal just what is involved in the narration process, skills required to make the printed page become alive in audio format, whether NLS narrators can choose the books they read, and, as an added bonus, the activities outside the recording studio that fill this special narrator's daily life.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to talk personally with Ms Buzzard and get answers to questions you have always wanted to ask!
Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m. Eastern and elsewhere in the world Thursday 1:00 GMT.
Where: Books and Beyond Room at http://www.accessibleworld.org/ or use the following direct link: http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsf44894b5dc56
All online interactive programs are open to everyone worldwide. There is no direct cost, and no need to register. . NO PASSWORD IS REQUIRED. If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to downloadand then run. A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms. Archives of all events and sign up information for all Accessible World NewsWires and discussion lists are available at: http://www.accessibleworld.org./
Media Contacts: Bonnie Blose, Hostess
Books and Beyond
bonnie@accessibleworld.org
Pat Price, Events Coordinator
The Accessible World SymposiumsVision Worldwide, Inc.
317-254-1185
Skype: patprice1
Email: pat@patprice.orghttp://www.accessibleworld.org/
Bob Acosta, Chair - Planning Committee
818-998-0044
Email: boacosta@pacbell.net http://www.helpinghands4theblind.com/
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
January 2008 AccessWorld and Review of the Victor Reader Stream
Check out the January 2008 issue of AccessWorld online from AFB at http://www.afb.org/accessworld. Among other things, this issue includes a review of the Victor Reader Stream from HumanWare, so you won't want to miss it! You can go directly to the review at http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw090105
Monday, January 14, 2008
Free workshop for educators! Classroom 2.0 LIVE Meet-up
As a member of Library 2.0 on Ning, I recently received the following email from mail@library20.ning.com:
Steve Hargadon is the creator of a social network for educators called Classroom 2.0 (www.classroom20.com), winner of the 2008 Edublog awards for educational use of a social networking site, and home to nearly 5,000 educators interested in using Web 2.0 in the classroom.
Steve is passionately committed to a vision of "engaged education" that is emerging from the use of Web 2.0 and collaborative software--blogs, wikis, social networks, etc. He believes that it is very important for educators to have hands-on experience with Web 2.0 technologies themselves in order to understand how personal learning and education change when involved in the read/write web.
Steve is proposing to do a series of local workshops for educators exposing them to these tools--and also allowing those already using Web 2.0 in education to meet up and participate in the teaching. He wants these workshops to be free to educators, and is seeking vendor sponsorship fund them. The first of these workshops is in San Francisco, Feb 1 & 2, and he's asked us to help get the word out. The description of the workshop is here:http://www.classroom20wiki.com/Local+Workshops. You can attend either or both days, and the current agenda is athttp://www.classroom20wiki.com/SF+Live+2008+Agenda.
To sign up for the San Francisco workshop, please visit the wiki page at http://www.classroom20wiki.com/SF2008Attending. To indicate that you'd like a similar workshop in your area, please add your support at http://www.classroom20wiki.com/LIVE+Locations.
Please pass this along to anyone you think might be interested. Thank you!========================
--Steve Hargadon
www.stevehargadon.com
steve@hargadon.com
916-899-1400
Visit Library 2.0 at: http://library20.ning.com
Steve Hargadon is the creator of a social network for educators called Classroom 2.0 (www.classroom20.com), winner of the 2008 Edublog awards for educational use of a social networking site, and home to nearly 5,000 educators interested in using Web 2.0 in the classroom.
Steve is passionately committed to a vision of "engaged education" that is emerging from the use of Web 2.0 and collaborative software--blogs, wikis, social networks, etc. He believes that it is very important for educators to have hands-on experience with Web 2.0 technologies themselves in order to understand how personal learning and education change when involved in the read/write web.
Steve is proposing to do a series of local workshops for educators exposing them to these tools--and also allowing those already using Web 2.0 in education to meet up and participate in the teaching. He wants these workshops to be free to educators, and is seeking vendor sponsorship fund them. The first of these workshops is in San Francisco, Feb 1 & 2, and he's asked us to help get the word out. The description of the workshop is here:http://www.classroom20wiki.com/Local+Workshops. You can attend either or both days, and the current agenda is athttp://www.classroom20wiki.com/SF+Live+2008+Agenda.
To sign up for the San Francisco workshop, please visit the wiki page at http://www.classroom20wiki.com/SF2008Attending. To indicate that you'd like a similar workshop in your area, please add your support at http://www.classroom20wiki.com/LIVE+Locations.
Please pass this along to anyone you think might be interested. Thank you!========================
--Steve Hargadon
www.stevehargadon.com
steve@hargadon.com
916-899-1400
Visit Library 2.0 at: http://library20.ning.com
Charging for holds and allowing librarians to place holds on books
Awhile back, I read a blog post at http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/2007/12/a-treatise-on-t.html that talked about charging patrons for materials they place on hold. I must admit I had never heard of charging patrons for items on hold. For example, if you call your library and ask to request a specific item (such as a popular new bestseller), and they hold it for you, do they charge you for that? None of the libraries I've been to have ever done that, but apparently it happens in some places! Is this a common practice where any of you live?
This also got me to thinking about the fact that some libraries also allow librarians to place holds on books... this means that the librarians who are cataloguing and processing the books can place holds on the books before anyone else. Not all libraries allow librarians to place holds on books however - it depends on the policy of the library. Some libraries allow only patrons to place holds on materials, but other libraries argue that librarians are patrons too and therefore should be allowed to place holds too. An interesting discussion perhaps... just curious if anyone out there has any thoughts or comments on this too?
This also got me to thinking about the fact that some libraries also allow librarians to place holds on books... this means that the librarians who are cataloguing and processing the books can place holds on the books before anyone else. Not all libraries allow librarians to place holds on books however - it depends on the policy of the library. Some libraries allow only patrons to place holds on materials, but other libraries argue that librarians are patrons too and therefore should be allowed to place holds too. An interesting discussion perhaps... just curious if anyone out there has any thoughts or comments on this too?
Friday, January 11, 2008
Training on APH BraillePlus Mobile Manager, Personal Digital Assistant
If you're looking for some free training on how to use the APH BraillePlus Mobile Manager/Personal Digital Assistant, check out these videos on YouTube!
Go to http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BraillePlus for more information. You can see a list of all 7 videos available at http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=BraillePlus&p=r
The first video in the series is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjQSU88j1kg&feature=related
Topics range from installing the battery to explaining buttons and keys to setting the time.
Go to http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BraillePlus for more information. You can see a list of all 7 videos available at http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=BraillePlus&p=r
The first video in the series is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjQSU88j1kg&feature=related
Topics range from installing the battery to explaining buttons and keys to setting the time.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Victor Reader Stream Audio Tutorial
For those looking for a free audio tutorial on the Victor Reader Stream, go to http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/support/victor_reader_stream. Or, click the direct link at http://www.humanware.ca/web/en/media/stream_audio_tutorial.zip
In case you are not familiar with the Victor Reader Stream, this is the reader currently used with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) digital download talking book project - https://www.nlstalkingbooks.org/dtb/.
In case you are not familiar with the Victor Reader Stream, this is the reader currently used with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) digital download talking book project - https://www.nlstalkingbooks.org/dtb/.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Free Online Conference on Elder-Friendly Communities to Promote Aging in Place
Did you know there will be a free online conference on "Elder-Friendly Communities to Promote Aging in Place"? For more information or to sign up, please go to http://www.icohere.com/agingfriendly/. You can also see an announcement about the conference at http://www.asaging.org/asav2/asaconnection/enews/08jan/research.cfm
The conference will be held online each Wednesday from February 20 to March 5.
***Please note that when I attempted to sign up for the conference, I received a notice stating I was on the waiting list. So, you may be put on a waiting list, but it sounds like they are working on adding more capacity for additional participants, so please go ahead and register if you are interested in the free conference! Hope to "see" you there!
-Talking Books Librarian
The conference will be held online each Wednesday from February 20 to March 5.
***Please note that when I attempted to sign up for the conference, I received a notice stating I was on the waiting list. So, you may be put on a waiting list, but it sounds like they are working on adding more capacity for additional participants, so please go ahead and register if you are interested in the free conference! Hope to "see" you there!
-Talking Books Librarian
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Free audio books, textbooks, and eBooks
Check out this great link for free audio books, textbooks, and eBooks!
http://librarianchick.pbwiki.com/
You can search for free books on the site at http://librarianchick.pbwiki.com/BookSearch
ALSO - If you like FREE STUFF, be sure to check out all these FREEBIES
P.S. And if you can't find the textbook you're looking for free, you might check out the textbooks at Amazon for some good deals!
http://librarianchick.pbwiki.com/
You can search for free books on the site at http://librarianchick.pbwiki.com/BookSearch
ALSO - If you like FREE STUFF, be sure to check out all these FREEBIES
P.S. And if you can't find the textbook you're looking for free, you might check out the textbooks at Amazon for some good deals!
Have some used books or textbooks lying around? Sell them for money at Cash4Books
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Article: Leap Year Explained by Ann Marie Imbornoni
Have you seen this article by Ann Marie Imbornoni? It's titled Leap Year Explained: 2008 is no common year. You can view it at http://www.infoplease.com/spot/leapyear1.html. It explains how leap years evolved and what determines if a year will be a leap year. I previously thought leap years automatically occurred every 4 years, but if you read the article, you will find out this is not always the case!
Article: Dogs providing therapy to soldiers
The Blind News Mailing List brought an article to my attention titled Dogs providing therapy to soldiers. You can read the article text at http://geoffandwen.com/blind/newsarticle.asp?u_id=22112. The article talks about how therapy dogs are being used with soldiers in Iraq - what a great idea!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Fellowship for Leadership Development/National Industries for the Blind
Are you legally blind with an undergraduate degree? Are you interested in being a business leader or manager? If so, you may want to check out the Fellowship for Leadership Development through the National Industries for the Blind. You can get more information on the program at http://www.nib.org/index.php?p=s&s=fellowship-&sm=t&mid=business-leaders-program.
The website states, "The Fellowship for Leadership Development is a two-year track that combines on-the-job experience with formal management training. Legally blind individuals who have an undergraduate degree, work experience, desire to travel and passion to become a business leader are invited to apply."
There are links to Frequently Asked Questions at http://www.nib.org/Documents/Businessleaders/FAQ%202.doc.
The application form and guidelines are available at http://www.nib.org/Documents/Businessleaders/Form%202.doc
Please feel free to share this opportunity with anyone who might be interested!
The website states, "The Fellowship for Leadership Development is a two-year track that combines on-the-job experience with formal management training. Legally blind individuals who have an undergraduate degree, work experience, desire to travel and passion to become a business leader are invited to apply."
There are links to Frequently Asked Questions at http://www.nib.org/Documents/Businessleaders/FAQ%202.doc.
The application form and guidelines are available at http://www.nib.org/Documents/Businessleaders/Form%202.doc
Please feel free to share this opportunity with anyone who might be interested!
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