Web Braille & BARD To Merge

If you currently use Web Braille through the Talking Books program, you will soon need to sign up for the BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) program. This is because NLS plans to integrate Web Braille and BARD into one platform. You will still be able to access Web Braille links from the NLS catalog and the online version of Braille Book Review.

This integration does not change anything for Talking Books patrons who are currently subscribed to BARD.

If you have any questions, please call the Talking Book Center at 1-800-531-2063.

Mayors for Meals

Mayors For Meals is a national publicity event which is part of March for Meals. March for Meals is a month-long awareness drive which strives to end senior hunger. During Mayors for Meals, active and former mayors deliver meals to Meals on Wheels recipients. It's a great way to raise awareness of the fact that despite serving many clients (the Athens Meals on Wheels program currently serves over 300 people), there are always more on the waiting list.

http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2012-03-25/mayors-deliver-meals-wheels

Cafe au Libris

Cafe au Libris, an annual event sponsored by the Friends of the Athens-Clarke Co. Library, is scheduled for this Friday, March 30.

The event is designed to show appreciation to local authors and give readers a chance to meet the authors. Cafe au Libris is traditionally held at the library, but due to extensive renovations it will be held at and co-hosted by the Lyndon House this year.

This year authors Hugh Acheson, Philip Juras, Judith Ortiz Cofer and Terry Kay will read selections from their new books before offering book signings and answering questions from the public.

Books will also be availabe for purchase with cash or check.

http://onlineathens.com/features/2012-03-24/cafe-au-libris-celebrates-local-authors

http://www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/events/cafeaulibris2012.html

Athens Council of the Blind Fundraiser TONIGHT

A Benefit for the Athens Area Council of the Blind

Come enjoy the music and great company at

Little Kings



223 West Hancock Avenue

March 23, 2012 6:00pm – 9:00pm



Cover : A Donation to the Council

If you can’t make it to the show, donations can be sent to: Attention Athens Council of the Blind 850 Gaines School Rd. Athens, Georgia 30605

Call 706-227-6142 and ask to speak to Jerrie if you need more information.



Mike Blake “Originals with a Twist” acoustic guitar and vocals


Maraiya Latulippe “Originals and Covers with an International Flair” acoustic guitar and vocals


Jamaica Miller & Maraiya Latulippe “Feel Good Music”

Jamaica Miller - vocals Maraiya Latulippe - acoustic guitar and vocals


The Vinyl Strangers “The Everly Brothers meet The Byrds through Mutual Friends the Beatles”

Joe Guerzo - guitar and vocals Reid Howland - guitar and vocals Tim Adams - bass and vocals Ian Werden - drums


The Athens Women’s Singing Circle “Folky and Traditional”

Joy Nellans Redmond – guitar, ukulele, and vocals
Judi Spears - guitar and vocals
Jamaica Miller - vocals
Brittany Swords- vocals
Winston Stephens - vocals
Liz Weaver – vocals and percussion
Diane Miller - vocals
Pindi Arora – vocals and percussion
Gabrielle Mason – vocals
Terry Salguero- vocals
Gretchen Pettis- vocals
Leah Salguero- vocals

Service Dog Helps Carry Oxygen

The "Today" show did a piece this morning about 3-year-old Alida Knobloch, who suffers from a rare lung disease and needs to be on constant oxygen. Her parents attempted to let Alida be a normal toddler, but found the portable oxygen tank to be too large and heavy to allow her much movement.

The Knobloch's solution was to adopt Mr. Gibbs, a golden doodle trained as a service animal. Mr. Gibbs wears a special harness that carries Alida's oxygen tank and he stays beside the active toddler during the day - running, swinging, sliding, and wrestling. At night, Alida is hooked up to a stable tank and Mr. Gibbs gets a well-deserved break.

http://todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/21/10780622-girls-best-friend-is-dog-who-carries-her-oxygen.

NFB Scholarships for Blind Students

Here is some information from the National Federation of the Blind regarding their scholarship program:

30 SCHOLARSHIPS For Blind High School Seniors through Grad School Students in the United States or Puerto Rico.

The $12,000 Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship
1 Scholarship for $10,000
2 Scholarships for $7,000 each
4 Scholarships for $5,000 each
22 Scholarships for $3,000 each

PLUS a trip to the NFB Annual Convention and other gifts to scholarship winners!

ARE YOU A LEGALLY BLIND STUDENT?
Go to: www.nfb.org/scholarships

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
2012 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

To apply: Read the rules of eligibility, the timeline, the Submission Checklist, and the Scholarship FAQ, then fill in the online Scholarship Application Form. Supply the required documents and complete one telephone interview with our representative.

Deadline: March 31, 2012

All documentation and the interview request must be received by the deadline.

E-mail: Scholarships@nfb.org
NFB Scholarship Program: (410) 659 -9314, extension 2415 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET)
NFB at Jernigan Place, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

DB-Review Listserv

There is a listserv where BARD users discuss titles they have recently read. Although this listserv is not sponsored or endorsed by the Talking Books program, it may be a good source for finding new and interesting titles.

If you would like to joint the listserv, send an email to db-review-subscribe@emissives.com.

How a Blind Person....

Mental Floss recently ran an article called "I Wonder How a Blind Person..." featuring a series of video clips starring blind film critic Tommy Edison. In the clips, Mr. Edison shows how a blind person might cook, use an ATM, or use paper money. To watch the videos, please visit: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/119109.

American Action Fund Makes Free Braille Books Available Online

A press release from NFB:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen@nfb.org



American Action Fund Makes Free Braille Books Available Online




Baltimore, Maryland (February 28, 2012): The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults (AAF) is making its free Braille books for blind children available online as downloadable BRF files. Since 1997, the AAF has provided popular and award-winning children’s books, including titles from popular series, to blind children throughout the United States as well as to libraries and other organizations that serve blind children. The books have been and will continue to be distributed by mail, but now readers and libraries will also be able to download them from the American Action Fund Web site. The BRF files are ready to be used on Braille notetakers and other Braille-aware devices.



Barbara Loos, president of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, said: “The American Action Fund is pleased to make our free Braille books for blind children available on the Internet. Technology is making Braille more widely available than ever before, and we are proud to become part of this exciting trend.”



Dr. Marc Maurer, AAF executive director, said: “Braille literacy is one of the highest predictors of success in later life for blind students, so we want to do everything in our power to ensure that blind children have free and easy access to Braille books. This initiative will set blind children on a path to achievement and independence­not to mention giving them the simple joy of reading a good book.”

Talking Books Patrons to Receive Order Forms

If you are a Talking Books patron, you should receive an order form from NLS in the next few weeks. These large-print order forms are how you will order the year-end compilation editions of "Talking Book Topics" or "Braille Book Review" for 2011 and 2012.

Please complete and return the order form within three weeks, so NLS can enter your order and ship your catalogs. The catalogs will be yours to keep.

Books for Keeps Needs Help

Books for Keeps, an Athens group that gives books to local elementary students, is in need of donations. This group works to provide books to students who may not have any, in an effort to promote independent reading and prevent "summer slide", or a regression in reading ability over the summer vacation.

This year, Books for Keeps is attempting to provide 12 books each to 2,000 students. They are currently about 10,000 books short. If you would like to donate books or funding for books, please visit http://booksforkeeps.blogspot.com/2012/02/sos.html. The deadline for donations is April 1, 2012.

ACCL Teaches Class on Downloadable Books

The Athens-Clarke Co. Library offers its patrons a service called Georgia Download Destination, which provides both audiobooks and e-books for download. This service is free to all Athens library card-holders.

There will be an introductory class "Got GADD? Downloading eBooks and Audiobooks" presented on Tuesday, March 27 at 12:15pm at the Athens-Clarke Co. Library. This is a Brown Bag Lunch program, so feel free to bring your lunch to eat while you learn!

For more information, please call 706-613-3650.