Fall 2022 NEWSLETTER
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THE FRIENDS OF THE NEW JERSEY LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND HANDICAPPED, INC. Fall 2022 NEWSLETTER |
Message from the President
Welcome to fall! Now that the hot sticky summer days are gone and we’re enjoying cool crisp evenings it’s time to grab a book, curl up and have a good read. The library is so important and vital to me and many others. It gives us entertainment and lets us dream of places we’d love to travel to without leaving our homes. Without the library services many of us would be completely lost, I know I would be! I want to express my gratitude for being given the privilege to serve as the Friends President. I’m looking forward to working alongside my talented board and the library administrators.
The Friends have in the past and are continuing to help support programs and projects of the library.
It’s not hard to become a member of the Friends, complete the membership form and send along with the $10 fee. The Friends have two meetings a year, one in June and one in December. Come join us you’ll be glad you did. We are waiting to hear from you.
If you have any ideas, questions or suggestions feel free to contact us at the following email address: Friendsnjlbh@yahoo.com.
All submissions will be responded to in a timely manner.
Thank you
Marie Sawyer
Friends president
Happy fall!
Happy reading!
Our next meeting will be by conference call on December 3rd, 2022, beginning at 10 AM dial 605-468-8005. Enter the access code 425 373#. You will be asked to press 1 after the access code is repeated correctly.
The 11th Annual TBBC Golf Classic was another successful fundraising charity event held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at the Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman, NJ. TBBC credits this success to our sponsors, golfers, staff, employees of Cherry Valley Country Club, and volunteers. The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind & Handicapped were the Presenting Sponsor of the day’s event for the third consecutive year. Thomas Edison State University was the Lunch Sponsor. Thirty-eight golfers enjoyed a fun-filled day starting with a Continental Breakfast, golf and networking, contests, BBQ Buffet Lunch, prizes, awards, and auctions. We look forward to next year’s 12th Annual TBBC Golf Classic. If you’re interested in joining our Golf Committee or would like more information about the event, please contact Linda Cerce at 1-800-792- 8322 ext. 835 or email lcerce@njstatelib.org
On Saturday October 15th 45 patrons and their guests attended the NJ State Library Talking Book & Braille Center’s Fall Festival held at the Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. We could not have asked for a better fall day! There was not a cloud in the sky and the air was a crisp 70 degrees. Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the NJ Library for the Blind & Handicapped, 30 patrons and their guests were able to attend for FREE.
The day began at 10 a.m. with an hour registration giving patrons ample time to get acquainted with the Grounds and their schedule for the day. At 11 a.m. patrons had the choice of choosing a Hands-on Art Workshop I, Abstract Fireworks Painting, using household items to create an abstract painting on black canvas or Art Workshop II, Texture field collage, discussing expressionist art and making texture field art pieces. Or for those who would rather explore the Grounds, patrons attended a Guided Walking Touch Tour discovering the wonders of the Grounds For Sculpture. Tours were led by a Grounds docent, highlighting tactile sculptures.
At noon patrons had the choice of eating at the Van Gogh Café or at the nearby infamous Rat’s Restaurant located on the property of the Grounds. After lunch, the morning schedule repeated itself. Fun was had by all ages, and everyone left with either an art piece or tired feet from their walking tour!
TBBC would like to thank the Friends of the NJ Library for the Blind & Handicapped for graciously providing the funds for patrons and their guest to attend the event and the materials needed to conduct the art workshops. We’d also like to thank TBBC staff, volunteers and the Grounds For Sculpture for making this another memorable TBBC Fall Festival.
Cozy up with some of these fan favorites on a chilly day this autumn!
Once Upon a River DB93704
By: Diane Setterfield. Reading time: 16 hours, 29 minutes.
Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery and Detective
England, 1887. At the Swan Inn along the River Thames, storytelling is the stock-in-trade. One night, an unknown man arrives with the lifeless body of a small girl. When she wakes, three families claim her. But before her identity is decided, secrets must be revealed. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2018.
To Kill a Mockingbird DB77672
By: Harper Lee. Reading time: 10 hours, 12 minutes.
Classics, Young Adult
Six-year-old Scout and her brother Jem are intrigued by their reclusive neighbor. Meanwhile, their father Atticus, an attorney, defends a black man charged with raping a white woman in their small Alabama town. Some violence and some strong language. Pulitzer Prize. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1960.
Jane Eyre DB47868
By: Charlotte Brontë. Reading time: 20 hours, 15 minutes.
Gothic Fiction
Nineteenth-century English novel about a plain and intelligent woman who becomes the governess at an estate, is caught up in the mysteries of the manor, and falls in love with the master of the house.
The Night Circus: A Novel DB73783
By: Erin Morgenstern. Reading time: 13 hours, 11 minutes.
Fantasy Fiction, Bestsellers
At the Circus of Dreams magicians Celia and Marco are pitted against each other in an epic magical battle. Their mentors plan for it to have only one survivor, not foreseeing that Celia and Marco will fall in love. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2011
The Cider House Rules DB21531
By: John Irving. Reading time: 24 hours, 26 minutes.
General, Bestsellers
Set in rural Maine at the turn of the century, this is the story of Dr. Wilbur Larch, saint, obstetrician, orphanage director, ether addict, and abortionist. His medical practices are hindered and abetted by his favorite orphan, Homer Wells. The novel is based on documents left by the author’s physician grandfather. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1985.
The Secret History DB35868
By: Donna Tartt. Reading time: 20 hours, 38 minutes.
Mystery and Detective Stories, Bestsellers
When Richard Papen is accepted at a small Vermont college, he gladly leaves his boring California identity behind. After he makes up an appropriate past, Richard is allowed to join an elite group of students who take all of their classes from one professor. Richard learns that the clique is hiding some odd secrets–and one deadly one. The members trust Richard, but they’re not so sure of one of their own. Strong language and violence. Bestseller.
This year, TBBC was able to return to our by-mail summer program after having to switch to an all-virtual program for two summers because of the Pandemic. This year’s theme was Oceans of Possibilities. We had 34 participants this summer. 14 participants requested braille with their packets. We sent 4 total packets to each participant with a variety of crafts, trivia, games, and prizes in each. Our prizes included reusable shopping bags, door hangers, color your own posters, painting sheets with an attached paint pallet, foam shark air gliders, and a stuffed hammer head shark! A huge thank you to the Friends for your continued support of TBBC’s summer program!
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
(from NLS September 29, 2022)
Last week, 100 volunteers began field testing our new app for Amazon Alexa- and Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers. It’s called My Talking Books, and it allows users, via voice commands, to connect with BARD, access their Wish List, search the collection, and stream books.
NLS staff members recruited volunteers for the field test at this past summer’s National Federation of the Blind and American Council of the Blind conventions.
The app uses voice-only authentication through NLS’s single sign-on system. When a user logs in, the app asks for the phone number they registered with and then calls that number with a code that the user repeats back to the speaker. “We think that’s key to the app’s usability—you won’t have to go to a computer or smart phone to log in from a browser,” says Program Delivery Division Chief John Brown.
NLS will survey the field testers three times, with the final one coming 90 to 105 days after they start using the app. “We’ve done extensive testing in-house, so we’re feeling pretty good about it,” Brown says. “A decision to move forward with a larger release will depend upon any obvious defects or usability issues discovered during the field test.” NLS will communicate its plans after field test results have been analyzed.
The Friends would like to thank Amnata Saffa, and The Family of Ellen Siegal for their very generous donations. As we support the library in any way we can, the contributions are most welcome. Thank you!
This is a friendly reminder that our annual dues for FY 2023 annual dues are past due. If you have not sent them in yet, please do so ASAP. Please send your dues and donations to the Friends mailing address and write your check out to the Friends of the Library for the Blind and Handicapped. The Friends appreciate your efforts and your participation in helping the NJSLTBBC meet its goals. A membership form is attached to this newsletter for those who wish to join the Friends or pay dues. Dues are $10.00 for an individual membership and $25.00 for a family membership. These dues cover the 12-month period from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.
The newsletter is available in Large Print, E-Mail, on our website friendsnjlibraryfortheblind.org and for those who do not have computers, by telephone on Newsline. You can access these Newsletters with a Newsline subscription and a touch-tone telephone. If you do not have a Newsline subscription, contact Reader Services at the New Jersey Talking Book and Braille Center at 1-800-792-8322 to get signed up for a Newsline subscription. If you have a Newsline subscription, but do not remember your login information, contact Christian Riehl at the above number extension 821. Once you have secured your login information, dial in to the service by calling 1-888-882-1629, or the local dial up number provided to you for accessing the service. Follow the prompts for logging in and reading the Newsletters. Choose option 2 off the main menu for your state’s information channel, followed by option for the blindness groups, then the option for the Friends Newsletters. Happy reading.
Please check out our website for information on community services as well as present and past copies of our newsletters at friendsnjlibraryfortheblind.org
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