Macomb Library for the Blind and Print Disabled

The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris are underway. Did you know that you can access over 22 Paralympic sports directly from your smart phone, computer, or television?

"NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will be accessible to more viewers of all abilities than ever before, delivering the excitement of the Paralympics with enhanced closed captioning, expanded audio description, and improved digital content accessibility." To easily find all events with audio description, visit here: https://www.nbcolympics.com/audio-description

This month's final inspirational recommendation is A Chance in the Word: an Orphan Boy, a Mysterious Past & How He Found a Place Called Home by Steve Pemberton. Google Books says, "Taken from his mother at age three, Steve Klakowicz lives a terrifying existence. Caught in the clutches of a cruel foster family and subjected to constant abuse, Steve finds his only refuge in a box of books given to him by a kind stranger. In these books, he discovers new worlds he can only imagine and begins to hope that one day he might have a different life--that one day he will find his true home. A fair-complexioned boy with blue eyes, a curly Afro, and a Polish last name, he is determined to unravel the mystery of his origins and find his birth family. Armed with just a single clue, Steve embarks on an extraordinary quest for his identity, only to learn that nothing is as it appears. A Chance in the World is the unbelievably true story of a wounded and broken boy destined to become a man of resilience, determination, and vision.

If this sounds like something you'd like to read, call (586) 286-1580 and request DB 120792.

Today's inspirational recommendation is The House of Love & Prayer: and Other Stories by Tova Reich. Google Books describes the book as follows: The eight stories collected in this volume are all populated by seekers—of holiness, illumination, liberation, meaning, love. Their journeys unfold in the U.S., Israel, Poland, China, often in the very heart of the Jewish world, and are rendered with an insider’s authority. The narrative voice bringing all this to life has been described as fearlessly satiric and subversive, with a moral but not moralizing edge, equally alive to the sacred and the profane, comically absurd to the point of tragedy.

If this sounds like something you'd like to read, call (586) 286-1580 and request DBC 12122.

NLS is pleased to announce the release of BARD Express, version 3.0.0.7. This release includes the long-awaited BARD Express Player which allows patrons to choose an audio book or magazine from their BARD Express bookshelf and listen to it directly on their PC. Much Like BARD Mobile, with the BARD Express Player, users can adjust the narration speed; jump to navigation points such as part, chapter, and article; create bookmarks; and much more. A BARD Express user guide and a complete list of the key commands is available upon request. Call us at (586) 286-1580 if you have any questions.

3.0.0.7

Today's inspirational recommendation is Buddhist Meditations: Classic Teachings from Tibet. Google Books describes this as "drawn from Tibet's rich contemplative literature, Buddhist Meditation offers classic exercises focused on the opportunities and challenges of life; cultivating inner calm; fostering a wider perspective on oneself in relationship to others; working with negative emotions, and the highest values of the Buddhist tradition, love and compassion. Several dozen meditation instructions are collected in twelve chapters. All major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism are represented. The book is structured on "foundation practices", practice manuals that immerse the reader in the search for meaningful and compassionate responses to the ubiquity of human suffering, and in the contemplative techniques that translate that search into consequential action.:

If this sounds good to you, call us at (586) 286-1580 and request DB120794.

The Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired is hosting its second annual health fair on Fri., Aug. 16 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Wayne Health Unit will offer General health screening for diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, and kidney function screening, COVID- 19 vaccinations, linkage to care and community resources, HIV Testing (13+ years old), Hepatitis C Testing (18+ years old), and STI and UTI Testing (18+ years old). The mobile Secretary of State Office will also be on hand for voter registration and driver's license renewal. This service requires pre-registration. Call (313) 272-3900 for more details or visit https://www.waynehealthcares.org/event/greater-detroit-agency-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired-community-health-fair/

NaturalReader is a free mobile app that enhances the reading experience of individuals who are unable to read or use standard print materials because of a reading disability. With text-to-speech technology, NaturalReader can read aloud a variety of texts like PDFs, online articles, cloud documents, even images taken by your camera and so many more. By presenting the text both audibly and visually, readers can focus less on the act of reading, and more on the content they are reading. NaturalReader also offer a dyslexia-friendly font for closed captions and within our text box. NaturalReader is available on both Android and iOS devices.

Text to Speech iOS Android App Download AI text to speech mobile app for android, ios, Listen on the go

This month we're recommending inspirational stories. Our first recommendation is Knowing You by Tracie Peterson. The CMPL catalog describes this book as: May Parker is captivated by the Japanese exhibits at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, longing to know more about her mother's heritage. When she's reunited with childhood friend Lee Munro, they become entangled in a dangerous heist involving samurai armor, and their love is threatened. Will they be able to overcome the odds against them?

If this sounds good, call us at (586) 286-1580 and request DB 120810.

The National Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) recently added classic detective and mystery radio programs to its audio book collection. Patrons can download Richard Diamond, Private Detective which starred Dick Powell or New Adventures of Nero Wolfe from BARD or they can request to have audio books mailed to their home.

Learn more about radio programs available through NLS:

Research Guides: The National Broadcasting Company at the Library of Congress: NBC Radio Broadcasts A guide to researching the radio and television broadcasts of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in the collections of the Library of Congress.

Disability Pride Month commemorates the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in July 1990, and on July 22, 2022, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared July Disability Pride Month in Michigan, which marks the first official recognition of Disability Pride Month by the State of Michigan, both are historic milestone in advancing the rights of all people with disabilities. Since then, Disability Pride Month has become a celebration of the unique experiences, strengths, and achievements of people with disabilities.

Learn more here:

Disability Pride Month 2024 Michigan's Women, Infants & Children program, providing supplemental nutrition, breastfeeding information, and other resources for healthy mothers & babies.

Toy giant Mattel is offering a Black Barbie with Down syndrome in addition to its first-ever blind Barbie starting this week. The dolls are part of the Barbie Fashionistas line, a collection aimed at promoting inclusivity that offers over 175 options featuring various skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities and fashions. Mattel said it worked with the American Foundation for the Blind and the National Down Syndrome Society to ensure accurate representation.

Learn more here:

Barbie Unveils Dolls With Down Syndrome, Blindness A year after introducing its first doll with Down syndrome, Barbie will add another doll with the chromosomal disorder and debut a blind Barbie.

Our final historical recommendation is War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of its Military Machine by Norman Soloman. The New Press describes this book as follows: "The journalist and political analyst Norman Solomon’s War Made Invisible is a “gripping and painful study” (Noam Chomsky) of the mechanisms behind our invisible, but perpetual, national state of war."

If this is something you'd like to read, call (586) 286-1580 and request DB 119941.

We are continuing our historical recommendations with I Never Did Like Politics: How Fiorello La Guardia Became Americas Mayor and Why He Still Matters by Terry Golway. Google Books says, "Fiorello LaGuardia was one of the twentieth century’s most colorful politicians—on the New York and national stage. He was also quintessentially American: the son of Italian immigrants, who rose in society through sheer will and chutzpah."

If you are interested in this title, call (586) 286-1580 and request DB 119942.

Explore the world of fiction and nonfiction genres by reading two books that share the same theme. Call the library to hear a selection of book pairings to choose from and we will send you the titles based on your preferred reading format: audio, large print, or braille print. When you have finished reading both books, call the library and you will be entered into our drawing for a $50-dollar Visa gift card before Friday, Aug 30. Two winners will be drawn the week of September 2nd and will be notified by phone.

Happy Monday! This week's historical recommendation is My Old Kentucky Home: The Astonishing Life & Reckoning of an Iconic American Song by Emily Bingham. Good Books says, "For almost two centuries, "My Old Kentucky Home" has never been just a song—it continues to be a resonant, changing emblem of America's original sin, whose blood-drenched shadow haunts us still. My Old Kentucky Home: The Astonishing Life and Reckoning of an Iconic American Song investigates the tune's hidden history, lodged in the nation's cultural DNA, and ends with a startling solution for what to do with this artifact of race and slavery."

If this sounds like a book you'd like to read, call (586) 286-1580 and request DB 119944.

Would you like a newspaper with your morning cup of coffee or tea? NFB-Newsline® is a service from the National Federation of the Blind that allows users access to well over 500 publications, including 12 Michigan newspapers and magazines for free. There are various ways to access the latest news such as touchstone telephone, computer, iOS devices, Amazon Alexa Smart Speaker, Victor Stream and an NLS braille eReader. Contact MLBPD to learn how to access free content from NFB-Newsline® at (586) 286-1580 or email us at [email protected].

Happy July! In honor of Independence Day, we're highlighting history recommendations this month. Today's book is The Washington Book: How to Read Politics & Politicians by Carlos Lozada. The catalog desciribes this book as The Washington Book is the perfect guide to the state of our politics, and then men and women who dominate the terrain. It explores the construction of personal identity, the delusions of leadership, and that mix of subservience and ambition that can define a life in politics. The more we read the stories of Washington, Lozada contends, the clearer our understanding of the competing visions of our country.

If this sounds good to you, call us at (586) 286-1580 and request DB 119946.

Introducing a new Alexa Skill from Hadley called Hadley Helps. Hadley is a non-profit organization that offers practical help, connection and support free of charge to anyone with a visual impairment, their families and professionals supporting them. With Hadley Helps, you can discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult due to vision loss. Simply say, 'Alexa, Open Hadley Helps' on your Alexa supported device to get started!

Do you, or someone you know, have difficulty reading standard print? Have you been interested in learning more about the Macomb Library for the Blind (MLBPD), but have hesitant to reach out? MLBPD is offering a free trial of the FREE audiobook reader for three weeks for those who want to see if this is right service for them.

Any patron who lives in Macomb County and has a valid library card is welcome to check-out a machine and sample audiobooks for a three week trial.

If you or someone you know is interested, call us at (586) 286-1580.

Our final True Crime recommendation is The Death of an Heir: Adolph Coors III and the Murder that Rocked an American Brewing Dynasty by Philip Jett. According to the book jacket, "The Coors family's gilded American dream turned into a nightmare when a meticulously plotted kidnapping went horribly wrong. In the 1950s and '60s, the Coors dynasty reigned over Golden, Colorado, seemingly invincible. On the morning of Tuesday, February 9, 1960, Adolph "Ad" Coors III, the 44-year-old CEO of the multimillion-dollar Colorado beer empire, stepped into his car and headed for the brewery twelve miles away. At a bridge he stopped to help a man in a yellow Mercury sedan. What happened next set off the largest manhunt in the United States since the Lindbergh kidnapping. State and local authorities, along with an FBI investigation personally spearheaded by its director, J. Edgar Hoover, burst into action attempting to locate Ad and his kidnapper. The dragnet spanned a continent. All the while, Ad's grief-stricken wife and children waited, tormented by the unrelenting silence. The Death of an Heir reveals the true story behind the tragic murder of Colorado's favorite son."

If this sounds interesting to you, call (586) 286-1580 and request DBC 25785.

Come on a summer adventure with NLS! The NLS Summer Reading Program, Adventure Begins at your Library, offers an array of virtual programs that celebrates reading, learning, and fun for all ages! Register to gain access to the following virtual events on the NLS Summer Reading Program webpage, https://www.loc.gov/nls/summerreading2024/

-Kickoff event (all ages): Monday, June 24, at 4 p.m. - Join patrons nationwide for an introduction to the summer reading program with NLS Director, Jason Broughton and the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden.
-Turtle Dance Music Party (children/families): Thursday, July 18 at 4 p.m.
-Author talk with New York Times bestselling author, Angeline Boulley (young adult / adult): Thursday, July 25, at 7 p.m. Author of Firekeeper's Daughter (DB 102762 / BR 24040) and Warrior Girl Unearthed (DB 114761).

Virtual Activities:
• Escape Room
• Choose Your Own Adventure
• Accessible Tour of the Library of Congress

For more information about the NLS Summer Reading Program, click the link above or contact the Macomb Library for the Blind and Print Disabled at (586) 286-1580 or [email protected].

Come on a summer adventure with Lansing's Braille and Talking Book Library! The Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library Summer Reading Program, Adventure Begins at Your Library, will take place from June 24 to August 2, 2024 and includes the following virtual events:

• Isle Royal National Park Ranger Led Virtual Experience (all ages): Wednesday, July 10th at 1 p.m.
• Birding by Ear (all ages): Monday, July 15th, at 1:00 pm with Donna Posont.
• Activity Board - return to be in grand prize drawing
• Weekly Schedules - including on-your-own activities, book recommendations, and reminders.
• Craft - DIY Postcards
• In-Process - Middle grade book club sponsored by LIO during the month of July. Finalizing weekly schedules and book recommendations.
• End of Summer Reading: Return Activity Card before Wednesday, July 31st to be entered in our Grand Prize drawing for 2 gift cards.

Please contact the Macomb Library for the Blind and Print Disabled at (586) 286-1580 or [email protected] for program or registration information.

Today's True Crime recommendation is The Sisterhood: the Secret History of Women at the CIA by Liza Mundy. "The New York Times bestselling author of Code Girls reveals the untold story of how women at the CIA ushered in the modern intelligence age, a sweeping story of a "sisterhood" of women spies spanning three generations who broke the glass ceiling, helped transform spycraft, and tracked down Osama Bin Laden. During the Cold War, women made critical contributions to U.S. intelligence, sometimes as officers, sometimes as unpaid spouses, working together as their numbers grew. With the same meticulous reporting and storytelling verve that she brought to her New York Times bestseller Code Girls, Liza Mundy has written an indispensable and sweeping history that reveals how women at the CIA ushered in the modern intelligence age."

If you'd like to read this book, call (586) 286-1580 and request DB 118281.

Bear Lake Camp offers a week long overnight camp from July 7-13 for youths ages 6-16 who are blind or have a visual impairment. Campers are introduced to outdoor recreation skills and developing self-concepts and social skills. The camp runs July 7-13, 2024. Get details at http://www.bearlakecamp.org

Today's true crime recommendation is A Death in Malta: an Assassination and a Family's Quest for Justice by Paul Carvana Galizia. Google Books says this book is a journalist’s spellbinding account of the shocking murder of his muckraking mother and a quest for justice that has reverberated far beyond their tiny homeland. An archipelago off the southern coast of Italy, Malta is a picturesque gem eroded by a climate of corruption, polarization, inequality, and a virtual absence of civic spirit. In this unpromising soil, a fearless journalist took root. Daphne Caruana Galizia fashioned herself into the country’s lonely voice of conscience, her muckraking and editorializing sending shock waves that threatened to topple those in power and made her at once the island’s best-known figure and its most reviled. In 2017, a campaign of intimidation against her culminated in a car bombing that took her life.

If you'd like to request this book, call (586) 286-1580 and request DB118275.

It's June and this month we're recommending True Crime! Today, we're recommending The Devil's Highway: a True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea. This book follows the brutal journey a group of men take to cross the Mexican border. The Atlantic says, "This important book from a Pulitzer Prize finalist "the single most compelling, lucid, and lyrical contemporary account of the absurdity of U.S. border policy." In May 2001, a group of men attempted to cross the Mexican border into the desert of southern Arizona, through the deadliest region of the continent, the "Devil's Highway." Three years later, Luis Alberto Urrea wrote about what happened to them.

If this books sounds like something you'd like to read, call (586) 286-1580 and request DB118602.

MLBPD is proud to be a vendor at the Sterling Heights Lions Club PAWS for Service event on Sat., June 2, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. This family-friendly community event will allow attendees to learn more about the working, therapy, and service dogs you see helping people every day. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children. The event will be held at 12828 Canal Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313. Learn more here: https://sterlingheightslionsclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Paws-for-Service-flyer.png.webp

Happy Memorial Day! We're closed today, but we have one last historical fiction recommendation for you this month. The Good Dream by Donna Van Liere is about 30-something Ivorie Walker, denounced by her 1950 Tennessee community as an old maid, Ivorie hides her loneliness and grief over her mother's death behind good-humored independence before advocating on behalf of a feral boy who has been stealing vegetables from her garden.

If this sounds good to you, call us tomorrow at (586) 286-1580 and request DB 118478. This is also available from CMPL in large print.

Starting Friday, May 31, 2024 at 12:00 pm, The Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS), a comprehensive service provided by WDET- Detroit’s NPR station, is launching a poetry reading series for the blind and print-impaired population. The Public Poetry Announcements will feature local poets reading poetry they admire as well as their own poems. You can stream the Public Poetry Announcements on the DRIS website: https://wdet.org/dris-2/

If you don't have internet access, you can apply to receive a free radio receiver by completing a Listener Receiver application: https://wdet.org/dris-listener-application/

Today's historical fiction recommendation is The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey. Four women. One family heirloom. A secret connection that will change their lives...and history as they know it. Follow the wedding veil told through history and four perspectives.

If this sounds good to you, call (586) 286-1580 and request DB 118480.