Collection Highlights: Foreign Language Materials

 

Collection Highlights: Foreign Language Materials

Contributed by Jordan Farinelli, Collection Development Librarian

BARD “Search by Language(s)” Option

Frequent BARD users may have recently noticed a change in the search options that are available from the main page. Users may now limit their search results to a specific language, or they may set “preferred” languages under their account settings. 

To limit your search results to a specific language, simply enter your search term into the text box, select a language from the drop-down menu that appears to the right, and then select “Go.”

To select your default search language(s), click the “language preference settings” link or the “Accounts Settings” link from the BARD main screen.

Marrakesh Treaty

NLS recently began implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. This treaty allows accessible-format materials to be exchanged between countries around the world. As of September 2021, there have been 1,118 titles in eight different languages added to BARD thanks to the Marrakesh Treaty. BARD’s “search by language” option will help users to find these new titles.

 Foreign Language Quarterly

NLS has also released a new publication called Foreign Language Quarterly, which lists popular foreign language titles that they have produced or that they have added through the Marrakesh Treaty. The titles listed in this publication can be downloaded on BARD or sent on a Books on Demand cartridge. To read the first issue of Foreign Language Quarterly, please click here:

• https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/latest-books-in-braille-and-audio/foreign-language-quarterly/

 Tech Tips: Adding Newsline to braille e-Reader

Contributed by Jerry Price, Assistive Technology Specialist

 How to add Newsline content to the braille e-reader:

• Turn on the braille e-reader and arrow down to online services
• Arrow down to NFB Newsline and press Enter.
• If you have not configured your account, do so now but otherwise arrow down to manage publications and press enter.

You will see the following categories:

• Breaking News Online
• National Newspapers
• Spanish
• Magazines
• Blindness Specific
• Fashion
• General Interest
• Health and Fitness
• Home and Family
• Kids' Reading Corner
• News and Commentary
• Non Sponsored
• Popular Culture
• Science and Technology
• National Meetings of interest to the print disabled
• International

All 50 states plus the District of Columbia are listed and there is a few other items.

Press enter on one of these categories.

Arrow down through your list of publications and press enter on the one you want to add to your e-

reader. You will notice that a line has been drawn under your selection which means it has been added.

When you are finished choosing publications, you can find the close option and press enter or spacebar

m to go back to the main menu. Now go back to NNFB Newsline and this time choose the sync content now option If you have Wi-Fi your selections will be added and you will be able to read them by going to your booklist under the book reader option.

Guest Post: MetroWashington Ear invites you to a play!

A post from our partners:

Dear MWE Listener,

Here is an opportunity to attend a play about baseball in a real ballpark. Arena Stage has arranged a unique showing of the play Toni Stone that is currently playing at their theater. As the play is presented live onstage at Arena, it will also be simulcast at the Nationals Park on the Jumbotron on Sunday evening, September 26th at 7:30 pm. The event at Nats Park is free. Our veteran audio describer Rita Tehan will be at Nats Park to provide live audio description for the simulcast for any blind individual who may wish to attend. Arena Stage expects 4,000 people to attend at Nats Park., including active military, veterans, and first responders. You can attend this very unique event free of charge! However, I must mention that parking is not free; the cost is $25.00. The event can also be reached by Metro. The event will go on rain or shine! The ballpark and food/drink vendors will open two hours prior to the event. 

Below is a summary of the play from the Arena Stage website:  

“Considered a trailblazer, Toni Stone is the first woman to play baseball in the Negro Leagues, also making her the first woman to play professionally in a men’s league. Against all odds, Stone shattered expectations and created her own set of rules in the male-dominated sports world. Award-winning playwright Lydia R. Diamond tells the dynamic story of Stone’s journey of perseverance and resilience to do what she loved the most — play baseball.

*Rated PG13. Contains coarse and mature language that may not be appropriate for younger audiences.”

Reservations are not needed. Walk-ups on the day of the event are welcome! There is no baseball game scheduled for that night, but it promises to be an enjoyable and entertaining evening in a truly unique setting for theater.

With all good wishes,

Neely

Neely Oplinger

Executive Director

Metropolitan Washington Ear Inc

12061 Tech Road

Silver Spring, MD 20904

301-681-6636

www.washingtonear.org

One of the best: Metropolitan Washington Ear 

was chosen by the Catalogue for Philanthropy as

"one of the best small charities in the Washington, DC, region.”

Marylandia Collection Update

 

Marylandia Collection Update

Contributed by Jordan Farinelli, Collection Development Librarian

September 2021

Shiver me timbers! Did you know that pirates roamed the Chesapeake Bay for hundreds of years? Maryland has a rich storied past, full of looting and treasure hunts. Check out this title, newly available on BARD, to learn more.

U.S. History

DBC 12542 – Pirates of Maryland : Plunder and High Adventure in the Chesapeake Bay, by Mark P. Donnelly and Daniel Diehl, narrated by Barbara Anderson

For nearly 200 years, pirates and privateers were major players in Chesapeake Bay history. Yet even though they victimized colonial ships, pirates were often tolerated by governors, merchants and citizens of the colonies in their growing desire to be independent from England. Most pirates, though, led hard lives and died early. Despite the brutal life onboard and the likelihood of injury or death, the slim possibility of financial reward was still a strong incentive. Full of high adventure, dastardly deeds, and newly uncovered lore, Pirates of Maryland features such famous characters as Joseph Wheland, Capt. William Kidd, Capt. Richard Ingle, and William Claiborne and recounts stories of the Patuxent and Potomac blockades, the Chesapeake Bay Flotilla, and the Battle of Bladensburg.

Technology User Group Meeting

Contributed by Jerry Price, Assistive Technology Specialist

On Saturday, October 2, the Technology User Group will take a close look at health resources, apps and gadgets.  There are thousands of health resources available, but if they lack accessibility, they will be of little use to you.  We will be looking at many aspects of health and showcasing some of the best resources.  Please note that for this event and the event in November, we are meeting on the first Saturday of the month.

All Technology User Group meetings are virtual and may be joined by calling 319-527-4994.  You do not need to RSVP for this event.  The presentation will begin at 10 AM and last about an hour.

We look forward to meeting with you virtually on Saturday, October 2, and hope that you will join us for other exciting events we have planned for 2021.

If you would like to listen to previous TUG recordings, please click here:

• https://www.marylandlibraries.org/Pages/Technology%20User%20Group.aspx

Upcoming TUG Programs:

• Saturday, November 6, 10 AM, Assistive Technology Gifts for the Holidays.
• Saturday, December 11, 10 AM, Changes Coming to Assistive Technology in 2022.

Follow the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD) on:

• Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MDLBPD/
• On Twitter at https://twitter.com/MDLBPD
• On our blog at https://mdlbpd.blogspot.com/
• And our website at www.lbph.maryland.gov

For more information about the Technology User Group, please contact Jerry Price at (410) 230-2446 or via email at assistive.technology@maryland.gov.

 

Collection Highlights: National Book Festival

Collection Highlights: National Book Festival

Contributed by Jordan Farinelli, Collection Development Librarian

September 2021

The 2021 National Book Festival, presented by the Library of Congress, will again be held virtually this year. This year’s festival will be held from September 17th-26th. Over 100 authors will participate, both during pre-recorded and live events. A schedule of author conversations can be found here: https://www.loc.gov/events/2021-national-book-festival/schedule/

Check out a sampling of the newest releases from this year’s live author conversations lineup:

• Michael J. Fox: DB 101333  – No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality

• Tana French: DB 100859  – The Searcher

• Kelli Jo Ford: DB 101551  – Crooked Hallelujah

• Elizabeth Hand: DB 101652  – Generation Loss

• Alex Michaelides: DB 103810  – The Maidens

• Maria Hinojosa: DB 102205  – Once I Was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a Torn America

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: DB 103668  – Notes on Grief

• Kristin Hannah: DB 102287  – The Four Winds

• Maggie Shipstead: DB 103266  – Great Circle

• Brit Bennett: DB 99791  – The Vanishing Half

• Peter Godfrey-Smith: DB 101356  – Metazoa: Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind

• Julia Sweig: DB 102825  – Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight

• Margot Livesey: DB 100990  – The Boy in the Field

• Sue Miller: DB 100599  – Monogamy

• Dan Gutman: DB 103111  – Houdini and Me

Please note that these books are available for download on BARD and can only be mailed on a Books on Demand (BOD) cartridge. To have these books sent to you, please contact the reference desk. BOD, our new circulation system, significantly decreases the wait time for new books. For more information about BOD, see here: https://mdlbpd.blogspot.com/2021/03/books-on-demand-update.html or, send an email to reference.desk@maryland.gov.