“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”

— Helen Keller A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE ALABAMA REGIONAL LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED Vol. 42 No. 2 SUMMER 2020 Ready to operate Gloves. Facemasks. Standing six feet apart. The Alabama Regional Library for the Blind (BPH) team is back at the agency and preparing audio cartridges for our library patrons. Mail operations resumed at BPH on May 4, and in many instances, it was not soon enough. Teleworking provided staff the opportunity to hear first-hand from Talking Book recipients throughout Alabama and the message Working together on the last group of returned items before leaving BPH to work at another state agency, Laquisha Thomas (far right) joins Jeff Finklea was clear—“I miss my and Amanda Trawick for one final operation. books!” Services at BPH came to a screeching halt in With new workplace are more focused than mid-March when Covid-19 guidelines in place (staff ever on staying healthy made its debut in the state. in the photo are spaced and ensuring items mailed Staff temporarily vacated six feet apart though the to patrons are sanitized the building and shut down angle makes it appear as before leaving our facility. mail service. if they are closer), staff Inside this issue ...

Regional librarian honored. . .page 2 Accessible product hotline . . .page 5 Advisor’s Corner...... page 3 BPH Donors...... page 6 Census needs to hear from you. .page 4 Virtual exhibits available . . . page 7 Alabama regional librarian honored Faculty at the School of Alabama (UA) College opportunities. I have been of Library and Information of Communications and able to, and continue to, Sciences (SLIS) recognized Information Sciences make an impact on the Alabama held a virtual Honors Day field; I’ve inspired others to Regional celebration and used social pursue careers in libraries; Librarian media to shine a spotlight and most importantly, I’ve Angela Fisher on its outstanding alumni. provided information and Hall as the When asked about her UA resources to the residents of Outstanding experience, Angela had our great state. With 37 years Alumna this to share, “making the in libraries, I can honestly for 2020. decision to go to graduate say that I am still enjoying While plans school was a big step and Fisher Hall my work. Each day that I am to attend the rewards have been many. able to serve, I give it my Honors Day in Tuscaloosa My degree and work in this very best and always look were cancelled due to arena have opened many forward to the possibilities Covid-19, the University doors filled with outstanding tomorrow can bring.” A new way to better serve you Since February, BPH team members have been hard at work updating our system for audio book delivery. With new software and hardware in place, staff are now able to automatically send items from your patron request list to a download cartridge. Whether you want one book on each cartridge or up to ten per cartridge, your book order can be on its way Book cartridges have a different appearance due to updated delivery system without having to wait on a blue container to come different. Chances are you to make this addition to the back. However, there is work could receive a white, peach, software in the future. Until involved on your part. In order or green cartridge with the then, just use your “bookshelf for the process to work at full same great books on either. feature” to know what titles speed, patrons must return A major difference with our are included. So, return your audio book cartridges as cartridges and Books on books and call us if you have soon as they finish reading. Demand is that book titles are questions. The number is Your cartridges also look not added. Our vendor hopes 334-213-3906. 2 THAT ALL MAY READ Alabama regional librarian honored Advisor’s Corner

Each quarter, BPH Reader Advisors Mike Coleman DB41149 and Tim Emmons, share NLS annotations from titles Narrated by Martha Harmon Pardee they think may be of interest to our readers. As you Cameron, Julia experience the summer months and the enjoyment this NF 8 hours and 27 minutes time of year brings, Mike and Tim have invited Amanda The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity Trawick, BPH librarian, to share a list of self-help titles Outlines twelve weeks of exercises and tasks to she thinks you will enjoy: free us from our own internalized perfectionist, or DB45257 censor. Cameron’s primary tool for creative recovery Narrated by Jack Fox is to fill three pages each morning with stream-of- Carlson, Richard consciousness writing in which nothing is too petty, NF 4 hours silly, stupid, or weird to include. 2013. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff — and It’s All Small Stuff DB80607 A guide for achieving personal serenity by altering Narrated by Gabriella Cavallero perspective and practicing a more relaxed lifestyle. Kondžo, Marie Offers startegies and exercises for “letting go” of NF 5 hours and 35 minutes problems and following the path of least resistance. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese 2007. Art of Decluttering and Organizing DB94474 A guide to decluttering the home from a cleaning and Narrated by Rachel Hollis organization consultant, using the author’s KonMari Hollis, Rachel Method, which focuses on categories of items rather NF 7 hours and 37 minutes than rooms. 2015. Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shane Free Plan for DB25856 Embracing and Achieving Your Goals Narrated by Charlotte Stanton The author believes women have been taught to define Stoddard, Alexandra themselves in relation to other people—wife, mother NF 5 hours and 12 minutes daughter, employee—instead of learning who they are Living a Beautiful Life: Five Hundred Ways to Add and what they want. She wants women to stop talking Elegance, Order, Beauty, and Joy to Every Day of Your Life themselves out of their own dreams. 2019. The renowned interior designer offers her prescription DB76888 for a life lived “vitally and beautifully.” Stoddard Narrated by Lauren Fortgang believes that “only by paying careful attention to the Brown, Brené simple details of daily tasks and to our immediate NF 4 hours and 45 minutes surroundings” can we achieve joy and serenity in The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think day-to-day existence. 2016. You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are Discusses ten guideposts and daily practices for embracing life, releasing stress, and resisting the If you are interested in receiving the titles listed above temptation to overdo. Some strong language. 2013. and need assistance, please call BPH at 334-213-3906

SUMMER 2020 3 The census needs to hear from you Have you filled out your census survey yet? Answers to census questions will determine how government entities allocate services and funds for the next ten years, and we want to make sure you are counted. As of June 18, 61.5 percent of households have responded to the census. The U.S. dropping off census materials In some areas of the Census Bureau urges at the front doors of roughly country, the operation is households to respond 6.8 million households complete, and in others, now by completing and nationwide. Census workers it will be completed soon. mailing back the paper began delivering materials If your household has not questionnaire, responding on March 15 but suspended received an invitation in online at 2020census.gov, delivery three days later due the mail or at your door, or by phone at 844-330-2020 to Covid-19. Census workers please respond online at using the provided Census resumed delivery on May 4 2020census.gov or by ID. as part of a phased restart of phone at 844-330-2020. Census workers are 2020 Census operations. NLS to pilot braille e-reader For the past four years, The e-reader will also NLS has worked steadily feature Bluetooth and Wi- toward providing braille Fi capabilities, a USB port, e-readers to its patrons. In and an SD card slot for file the past, the only options storage. Patrons will have the patrons wanting to read option to download books books in braille had was directly from BARD or order either receiving hardcopy BRF books on USB from materials through the mail their network library. Four or purchasing a third-party the pilot of the NLS braille libraries are participating braille display to read e-reader this summer. in the pilot. Program electronic BARD files — an The e-reader is a 20-cell participants will provide expense many could not braille display, which will be feedback on all aspects of afford. provided to participating these new devices. Stay There will soon be a NLS patrons to read Braille tuned for more on this third option. NLS will launch Ready Format (BRF) files. exciting development.

4 THAT ALL MAY READ The census needs to hear from you Accessible product advice hotline available

Patrons looking for advice on accessible technology products for personal and business use may find the Accessible Products Hotline operated by the William L. Hudson BVI Workforce Innovation Center helpful. Hotline professionals can answer questions on what products would be appropriate to purchase for specific needs and how to operate existing products. For more information, visit www.workforceforall.com/ AccessibleProducts-Hotline or call 316-252-2500.

Need Uber or Lyft but uncomfortable using the app? Go Go Grandparent is a service available for individuals uncomfortable with or unable to see or use a smartphone. Founded by Justin Boogaard—a millennial interested in helping his grandmother become more independent—Go Go Grandparent connects potential riders with Uber and Lyft drivers using a touch tone phone. The service is available 24/7 in any city using Uber and/or Lyft. To learn more or to sign up, visit their website at www.gogograndparent.com. SUMMER 2020 5 Donors to BPH

Donations made to BPH go a long way in providing promotional materials about library services, as well as new products for library patrons. Staff use the promotional products to share as take-away items at various outreach events. Thanks to the following who donated from Dec. 17 to June 15:

• Sabra Atkins in memory of George Atkins • Joan T. Foil • Andreas and Sheila Fortunis in memory of Bonnie Brown • Mary Beth Prude and • Roberta Sweetland in • William B. Gilbert Audrey Ann Wilson memory of George Atkins

• Antonia Giddy in memory of • Carole Schmitz For information about how BPH uses Bonnie Brown • Clarence L. Smith in honor donations, please contact the BPH regional librarian at 334-213-3906. • Phyllis H. Neff of Ms. Bonnie Brown

BPH Holiday Closing Dates The Alabama Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is opened Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and closed on weekends. Our holidays through New Year’s Day are as follows: Sept. 7 – Labor Day (Monday) Oct. 12 – Columbus Day (Monday) Nov. 11 – Veteran’s Day (Wednesday) Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving (Thursday) Dec. 25 – Christmas (Friday) Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day (Friday)

6 THAT ALL MAY READ Library of Congress and Smithsonian host online events and exhibits The Library of Congress buildings may be closed to visitors, but its cultural resources remain on full display online. Visit https://loc.gov/engage for regularly updated videos, blog posts, and webinars—from creative writing prompts for teens to highlights from previous National Book Festivals. This year’s Both Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution now offer an National Book Festival will array of virtual exhibits and events to help people cope with Covid-19 be held entirely online. library and museum closures Follow the National Book X. Kendi, Ann Patchett, EveryBody: An Artifact Festival blog at https:// and Colson Whitehead. History of Disability in blogs.loc.gov/national- Looking for more America available at book-festival for updates cultural resources? The http://everybody.si.edu. about the virtual festival Smithsonian is hosting a Visit www.si.edu for which will feature authors number of online exhibits more information about including Jared Diamond, and events, including their offerings. John Grisham, Ibram Savings plan for people with disabilities available

In November 2016, the State of Alabama contracted with the Nebraska State Treasurer to create the Enable Savings Plan Alabama. An ABLE plan provides individuals with disabilities a host of benefits to start saving for the future. For starters, you get to keep your public benefits! And earnings on the money in your account are free from federal and state tax. Visit www.enableal.com for more information. SUMMER 2020 7 Regional Library for the Blind and Free Matter for the Physically Handicapped Blind or 6030 Monticello Drive Handicapped Montgomery, AL 36130

That All May Read is published quarterly by the Alabama Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (BPH), a division of the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS), located at 6030 Monticello Drive, Montgomery, AL 36130.

APLS Executive Board Contact Information District 1 District 6 Regional Librarian Ronald A. Snider Virginia Doyle, Chair Angela Fisher Hall

District 2 District 7 Toll-free (in Alabama) Angelia Stokes Nancy G. Sewell 1-800-392-5671 District 3 APLS Director Local Adam Thompson Nancy C. Pack 334-213-3906 District 4 APLS Assistant Directors Email Bobbie Lou Leigh Jessica Everingham [email protected] District 5 Kelyn Ralya J. Elbert Peters Editor APLS website Ryan Godfrey www.statelibrary.alabama.gov

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This product was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, grant number LS-00-19-0001-20.