Volume 1, Number 1 SUMMER 2009 WLBPD @ AADL NEWS Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled @ AADL (734) 327 - 4224 wlbpd@aadl.org MESSAGE FROM THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR Welcome from everyone at the Ann Arbor District Library! We consider it a privilege to serve as the resource in Washtenaw County for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. If you read on, you will learn about what has remained the same since the service began in February, and what has changed. Your experience with the service at the AADL should be outstanding. If it is not, we need to know. We hope to make access to reading straightforward and convenient for you, and we are dedicated to innovative uses of technology to enhance your access to materials. Josie Parker Director, Ann Arbor District Library josie@aadl.org CONTACT US Phone: (888) 460 - 0680 or (734) 327 - 4224 Email: wlbpd@aadl.org In Person: 343 S. Fifth Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled (WLBPD) In Washtenaw County, this free service is now administered by the AADL, which loans: -books, -magazines, and -videos in alternative formats (recorded cassette, Braille, descriptive video) to individuals of all ages who are certified as unable to read or use standard printed materials as a result of temporary or permanent visual or physical limitations. These materials are shipped free to your home and are mailed back free to AADL. Location & Hours The WLBPD collection is housed in the Downtown AADL at ?343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor, at the corner of Fifth Ave. and William St. ?The Library is open: Mon. 10:00 am - 9:00 pm Tues.-Fri. 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Sat. 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Sun. 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Your feedback is always welcomed and appreciated. Increased Options To Mail Material To YOU! WLBPD@AADL is now part of a state-wide catalog system, which allows you greater control over how you'd like materials sent to you. You may now choose: - Send/Return For each one item you return, a new one from your reserve, request, or preference list is automatically mailed to you. - On-Demand Service Items are only mailed when you call, email, or mail in a request. - Automatically Generated Service Material is automatically sent to you on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. Whether your account is set to Send/Return, On-Demand, or Automatically Generated, you're always welcome to call and request items at any time during our regular business hours or email at any time. We?re happy to accommodate, whatever your needs. New! AADL Cards For WLBPD Patrons Every WLBPD patron - as well as any family member living at the same address - is eligible for an Ann Arbor District Library card. This card can be used for checking out materials such as large-type books, CDs, books-on-tape/CD, and DVDs at any AADL location. An AADL card is also good for accessing many subscription online resources, such as Overdrive downloadable audiobooks, MEDLINE, Tumblebooks, and CultureGrams, from the comfort of your own home. Contact us if you or your family members are interested in receiving an application. LIBRARY LOCATIONS Downtown 343 S. 5th Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Malletts Creek Branch 3090 E. Eisenhower Parkway Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Pittsfield Branch 2359 Oak Valley Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Traverwood Branch 3333 Traverwood Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48105 West Branch 2503 Jackson Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Summer Reading Program For All Ages Register now for the 2009 AADL Summer Reading Program for adults, teens and youth! You may register online at www.aadl.org/summerreading for the reading game, or at any AADL location. The Summer Reading Program ends August 14. Youth who listen to or read at least 10 books and teens who complete 10 activities will receive a book - or, if desired, a duplicated book from the WLBPD collection - and other prizes. Adults who listen to or read five books will receive one duplicated book, if desired, and other prizes. We hope this adds to your summer fun! Summer Events Here are a few of the programs offered at the AADL this summer. For a complete list of events, call (734) 327-4200 (press option #3) or visit us online at aadl.org/events Tuesday, July 7, 6 - 9 pm Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) | Adults Purple Rose Theatre Company Presents A Concert Reading: Quiet City Boston - A New Dark Comedy by Michael Brian Ogden Listen to the reading, featuring a full cast of Purple Rose performers, and offer your opinions on this new work! The play is for mature audiences. Thursday, July 9, 7 - 8:30 pm Downtown 4th Floor Meeting Room | Teens & Adults Internationally-Known Professional Drag Racer Hillary Will Discusses Her Career In Racing Come and enjoy this special appearance by the fastest woman in the world and "one of the top 10 female racers in the world" according to Sports Illustrated. Tuesday, July 21, 6:30 - 7 pm Downtown MPR | Age 2-5 yrs Music And Motion Music and dancing with members of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra! Sunday, July 26, 2 - 3 pm Downtown MPR | Grades K-5 w/adult Palabras Luminosas: Latino Luminous Language, Laughter & Lore Magical Rain Theaterworks presents Latino stories of traps, tricksters, animals and the oddness of everyday life. Wednesday, August 12, 7 - 7:30 pm Pittsfield Branch | Age 0-5 years Dancing Babies Singing and dancing for the youngest of library users with musicians Betsy Beckerman and Sara Melton Keller. Monday, August 17, 7 - 8:30 pm Downtown MPR | Teens & Adults Disaster Survivor Pierette Domenica Simpson Discusses Her Experience On The Andrea Doria and Her Book Alive on the Andrea Doria!: The Greatest Sea Rescue in History Simpson is the only survivor in history to have written a complete shipwreck account of the Andrea Doria-Stockholm collision. Storytimes Join us for stories and songs for listeners age two to five years accompanied by an adult. Siblings are welcome. Storytimes will occur through August 7. Downtown Library Tuesdays 10 - 10:30 am Wednesdays 11 - 11:30 am Traverwood Branch Tuesdays 11 - 11:30 am Wednesdays 6 - 6:30 pm Thursdays 10 - 10:30 am Malletts Creek Branch Wednesdays 10 - 10:30 am Pittsfield Branch Thursdays 7 - 7:30 pm Fridays 10 - 10:30 am The Future: Digital Talking Books Many of you have inquired about the status of the new Digital Talking Book players. Eight libraries and 500 patrons across the country are currently taking part in testing the players and the digital cartridges. Their feedback will be used to provide the smoothest distribution possible to WLBPD patrons when the players become available. Not sure about this digital transition? Not to worry! The new digital players are far simpler to operate with instructions built right in, and they are nearly indestructible. Each book is contained on a single cartridge that can only be loaded one way into the machine. No more having to deal with multiple cassettes just to listen to one book. The Digital Talking Book player is small, weighs only 2.5 lbs, and is light weight enough to carry around with ease. All WLBPD patrons have already been added to the waitlist for a Digital Talking Book player. Distribution will begin with machines being sent to Veterans and centenarians.