Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled @ AADL (734) 327 - 4224 Ą WLBPD @ AADL.ORG VOLUME 1, NUMBER 8 FALL 2011 WLBPD @ AADL NEWS Descriptive Video DVDs at the Library WLBPD @ AADL will soon offer a collection of DVDs that feature descriptive audio tracks. Descriptive audio tracks (often referred to as DVS) allow those with low or no vision to enjoy movies by narrating what is taking place on screen without disrupting the dialogue or soundtrack. The descriptive track is an optional feature found in slightly different parts of the menu on each DVD. The new collection will have more than 50 titles, ranging from drama to comedy to children's films. These titles do differ from our descriptive video on VHS collection, and that will also remain available. DVDs may be requested in the same manner as the rest of the WLBPD collection, and will be mailed free of charge through the United States Postal Service. How To Request Large Print Books By Mail "You've opened up a whole new world for me!" This is a comment we recently received from a patron new to the WLBPD Large Print By Mail service. As a WLBPD patron (or if you are eligible for WLBP services), you are also eligible for the Large Print By Mail service that gives you the option of selecting titles from AADL's entire Large Print collection (over 3,000 youth, teen, and adult titles) to be mailed to you free of charge. You are required to have an Ann Arbor District Library card account since these books will be coming from the AADL collection, not the WLBPD collection. As a patron of the WLBPD @ AADL, you are eligible for an AADL card at no charge as long as you are a resident of Washtenaw County. Whether you already have a card or need one, call (734) 327-4224 or email wlbpd@aadl.org to set up the service. The system for Large Print books, unlike talking books, is not set up to automatically select titles for you. Instead, please call (734) 327-4224; email wlbpd@aadl.org; or place requests yourself by using your AADL online account: aadl.org/myaccount To request Large Print books, go to aadl.org and click on the My Account tab: Ą Log in to your account: aadl.org/myaccount Ą Click on the Catalog tab Ą Go to Browse the Catalog and look for Large Print under New Items, Hot Items or By Format Remember: Only Large Print books are eligible to be mailed free of charge. When you find a book you want: Ą Click on Request This and a copy will be mailed or a request will automatically be placed if a copy is not currently available. Ą When you click on Request This, you will be asked to select a pick-up location. You may select any location since the system automatically knows to mail the book. You may also use Advanced Search to more specifically limit your search. BARD Downloads Accessible Directly Through NLS Voyager Catalog BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) users may now initiate downloads directly from the NLS Voyager Catalog. Use the Voyager interface (rather than the text interface) to search. Enter your search terms, and then select the quick limits option NLS Digital Talking Books, which limits the results of your search to books available to download. Find the title you want, then click on the title to get the brief record, and click on the link Downloadable Talking Book. This will take you to the BARD page. Enter your username and password to initiate the download. This feature offers readers more control, greater flexibility in their searches, and more information about a book than the BARD search pages currently offer. Religious Materials Available for Download BARD has a wide range of religious-themed material available for download for listening to on your digital player. Titles such as "Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta" by Mother Teresa; "Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota" by Wallace Black Elk and William S. Lyon; the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, read by Alexander Scourby; as well as the Holy Koran and writings by the Dalai Lama, are just a few of the many titles available. Find these books on the BARD main page by browsing by subject and choosing Religion from the drop-down menu. Other resources for religious materials: Audio Bibles for the Blind, a division of Aurora Ministries: www.auroraministries.org, (941) 748-3031. Versions of the Old and New Testaments and Bibles in 64 languages are available at no charge on recorded cassette for you to keep; or, they will download a free copy to a USB flash drive or NLS cartridge, if one is provided. JBI Library (formerly the Jewish Braille Institute): www.jbilibrary.org, (800) 433-1531, provides individuals who are blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped, or reading disabled with books, magazines, and special publications of Jewish and general interest in audio, large print, and Braille formats. If you do not have access to a computer, computers equipped with assistive technology software and assistive technology training are available at the Downtown AADL. The Assistive Technology Lab is open for public use during all regular library hours and assistive technology training and/or assistance is available on most Tuesdays from 2-6 PM and by appointment by calling (734) 327-4224 or emailing wlbpd@aadl.org. 2GB NLS cartridges are available for $8 at the circulation desk at all AADL locations. Other Free Services Available to WLBPD @ AADL Patrons If you qualify for WLBPD service, you are also eligible for all of the following free services. See the descriptions for contact information: Ą Braille & Talking Books for Students: Get answers to frequently asked questions about obtaining Braille and talking books for students in the state of Michigan. Website: www.michigan.gov/lara0,1607,7-154-28077_54234-221779--,00.html Phone: (517) 373-1820. Ą Learning Ally: Provides audiobooks of textbooks and literature with description of images, tables, and graphs to qualified students with print disabilities. Website: www.learningally.org. Email: Custserv@LearningAlly.org. Phone: (800) 221-4792. Ą Bookshare(r): Provides downloads of approximately 90,000 teacher- recommended books and periodicals to qualified readers with print disabilities. Books not currently available may be recorded upon recommendation. Website: www.bookshare.org. Phone: (650) 352-0198. Ą NFB Newsline: Provides access to audio recordings of over 250 local and national newspapers and magazines. Subscribers can listen to recordings over the phone via a toll-free number. Website: www.nfb.org/nfb/newspapers_by_phone.asp. Email: pmaurer@nfb.org. Phone: (410) 659-9314. Ą Bibles from Aurora Ministries: Provides free Old and New Testament Bibles on recorded cassette in 64 languages to readers with print disabilities. Some languages are also available on CD or for digital download. Website: www.audiobiblesfortheblind.org. Email: Bibles@auroraministries.org. Phone: (941) 748-3031. Ą Radio Reading Service: Two radio reading services in southeast Michigan provide free news and information programming to print-disabled readers. Subscribers receive a special receiver for each service. WKAR Radio Reading Service: Website: wkar.org/radioreadingservice. Email: mail@wkar.org. Phone: (517) 432-9527. Detroit Reading Information Service: Website: www.dris.org. Phone: (313) 577-4207. UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday, October 27 Ą 7 - 8:30 PM Maximizing Your Ability Throughout Life By Staying Active | Traverwood Branch Friday, November 4 Ą 10 - 10:30 AM Puppy Storytime with Colby the Service Dog Age 2 - 5 Years Downtown Library Sunday, November 13 Ą 2 - 3 PM Tellebration with the Ann Arbor Storytellers' Guild Grades K - 5 | Malletts Creek Branch Monday, November 28 Ą 7 - 8 PM Detroit Tenors | Downtown Library Visit aadl.org/events for a list of all events. CONTACT US: Phone: (734) 327 - 4224 Email: wlbpd@aadl.org Website: wlbpd.aadl.org WLBPD LOCATION & HOURS The WLBPD collection is housed in the Downtown Ann Arbor District Library 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 SAVE THE DATE: VISIONS 2012 Wednesday, May 9, 2012 Washtenaw Community College LIBRARY LOCATIONS Downtown 343 S. Fifth 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