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Help shape 2026 events!
Help us plan meaningful, engaging programs for adults in 2026 by completing our short survey! Your feedback will shape future events, from life skills workshops to social gatherings and cultural outings. It only takes a few minutes and helps ensure we’re meeting your needs and interests. Please share your thoughts by Thursday, July 18 — your voice matters!
https://forms.gle/3CGU6K4r4wSaf6DdA
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Join the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled for the Dyslexia Summit on Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. This free, virtual event will explore dyslexia through expert speakers, advocacy resources, and assistive technology demonstrations. Keynote speakers include Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide of Dyslexic Advantage. Learn more at: https://msla.maryland.gov/Pages/Dyslexia-Summit.aspx.
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 Technology User Group - hands reading an electronic braille reader.
Technology User Group
The next three Technology User Group meetings will be held on:
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July 12: New Skills for Smart Speakers
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August 9: BARD 2.0 and the DA2
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September 13: What To Expect with iOS 26
All meetings begin at 10:00 a.m., and can be accessed by either calling in or via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 656 203 7293
Call in Number:
1-301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 656 203 7293#
One Tap Mobile:
+13017158592,,6562037293#
 Podcast - microphone on black background
Listen to the latest podcast!
Youth Highlights
Cindy Freland Collection
The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled is excited to celebrate the addition of the Cindy Freland collection -- captivating children’s books that bring Maryland’s wildlife and history to life! Freland’s engaging storytelling and vivid descriptions make her books a fantastic addition for young readers who love adventure and learning about the Chesapeake Bay. To mark this special occasion, all new patrons under 18 will receive a free, adorable crab plush when they sign up. Don’t miss this chance to explore these delightful stories and welcome a cuddly new friend! If you want to learn more, please contact the Youth Reference Desk at kidsdesk.lbpd@maryland.gov.
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 Introducing Remind!
Life is busy! Need a reminder?
Keep track of LBPD youth programs with Remind. Receive updates via text, app, or email notifications. Download the Remind app on your smartphone.
Kids: Use the link: rmd.at/db3hefg.
Teens: Use the link: rmd.at/7ebgc6.
OR
Kids: Text @db3hefg to number 81010.
Teens: Text @7ebgc6 to number 81010.
2025 Summer Reading, Summer Fun!
This summer, the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD) and the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) invite patrons of all ages to celebrate creativity, literacy, and imagination through their seasonal reading programs.
For youth under the age of 18, LBPD’s Summer Reading Challenge runs from June 21 through August 15 and is built around the vibrant theme, “Color Our World.” Upon registration, participants will receive a hands-on Art Starter Pack that includes Wikki Stix, tactile objects, and a canvas board. The challenge encourages young readers to explore the arts — drawing, painting, fiber crafts, storytelling, photography, 3D art, and more — while engaging with books and library programs throughout the summer. As they complete activities, participants can earn additional art materials, raffle entries, and prizes. Artworks may be featured at the library at the end of the summer, creating a sense of celebration and community for young artists and readers.
Adults are encouraged to take part in the NLS Summer Reading Program, which also runs from June 16 through August 15. This national program invites adult patrons to attend a wide range of accessible virtual events. Highlights include a live reading with bestselling author Mac Barnett, a storytelling hour with professional storyteller Donna Washington, and a hands-on gardening workshop led by a master gardener — each event designed to be engaging, inclusive, and inspiring. Participating adults can enjoy programs that support lifelong learning, spark creativity, and build community across the country.
Whether you’re a young artist discovering new textures and stories or an adult reader looking to connect and explore, this summer offers meaningful and enriching opportunities for everyone in the LBPD and NLS communities.
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Magazine Highlight
Please contact the library to subscribe to this or any other magazines.
Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine (available in 2025)
The magazine comes out bimonthly in both ebraille (BARD) and braille format. It is a literary magazine specializing in crime and detective fiction, includes original short works, reviews of lengthier mystery works, and mystery-themed contests and puzzles.
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Collections Connections
With hundreds of thousands of audio and braille books and magazines available from NLS, it’s hard to know where to start when searching. Collections Connections, a free email newsletter from the NLS Collection Development staff, can help. Each month it highlights fiction and nonfiction titles focused on a timely theme. To sign up, send your name and email address to the Collection Connections team at connections@loc.gov. You can unsubscribe yourself from the list at any time.
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Upcoming Events:
July 21, 6:00 p.m. EST (virtual)
Presented by members of Tau Beta Sigma at Towson University, this interactive session is designed for individuals who are blind or have visual impairments. Using carefully selected audio clips, participants will explore how different sounds can represent the feelings and moods often associated with colors. Learn how music and emotion bring color to life, and discover how color is used in design and storytelling to create atmosphere and meaning. This free program is open to all ages, and no prior knowledge of music or color theory is needed. Registration required.
LBPD Event: Intro to Ballet for Blind and Low Vision Participants
August 21, 11 a.m. EST (in person)
Join us for a joyful, movement-filled hour designed primarily for individuals who are blind or have low vision! Taught by experienced dance instructor Robyn Hughes, this introductory ballet class focuses on body awareness, graceful movement, and creative expression. No prior dance experience is needed, just the ability to move your arms and legs comfortably. Registration required. A minimum of four people are needed for the class to proceed. The class is capped at 10 people.
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The Maryland Accessible Textbook program helps students with print disabilities access their required textbooks in accessible formats. The program works with publishers and alternate format providers to convert textbooks into MP3, DAISY, PDF, or Word files so students can read and study more easily. To sign up, students must complete a student agreement form and provide proof of a qualifying disability. Applications should include detailed textbook information and proof of purchase. Materials are delivered through download or physical media, and technical support is available if needed. This program is open to Maryland students enrolled in a 2 or 4 year brick and mortar institution. Learn more here: https://msla.maryland.gov/Pages/Textbooks.aspx.
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 Collection Highlights
July/August 2025
July is Disability Pride Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of individuals with disabilities worldwide.
The Blind Woodsman: One Man’s Journey to Find His Purpose on the Other Side of Darkness, by Anni and John Furniss
BR 25567
DB 122631
The Blind Woodsman is an inspiring autobiography about a man who finds joy after struggling with depression, drug addiction, anxiety, and financial despair. Despite being blind, John is now a highly skilled woodworker creating incredible pieces of art in complete darkness. A story that will give hope and inspiration to those dealing with depression, addiction and the many anxiety driven stresses in our lives.
Sipping Dom Pérignon through a Straw: Reimagining Success as a Disabled Achiever, by Eddie Ndopu
DB 116797
Born with spinal muscular atrophy and told he wouldn't live past five, humanitarian Eddie Ndopu defied expectations. Despite thriving academically and becoming a sought-after speaker on disability justice, his full scholarship acceptance to Oxford University revealed further challenges. Ndopu's journey highlights the exclusion, discrimination, and neglect faced by people with disabilities, even as he soared professionally. Juggling demanding academics, a revolving door of care aides, and the loneliness of being the only one, Ndopu's story, written with one finger, is a powerful testament to resilience against ableism.
Braille Boy, by ZuZu Sampson
For grades preschool - 2
BR 25730
DBC 30394
Braille Boy is a captivating book written by a nine-year-old who was unable to find braille books with certain characters. Frustrated by the lack of options, exacerbated by his impairment, he decided to write and publish his books. Braille Boy is a fictional story featuring Braille Boy and Braille Alien. Braille Boy fights off Braille Alien, who seeks to confuse Braille readers. Braille Boy teaches valuable lessons to children while introducing the basic concept of braille.
More or less Maddy, by Lisa Genova
DB 127893
Overwhelmed NYU freshman Maddy Banks, after a breakup and feeling like an outcast, spirals into a terrifying mania culminating in a bipolar disorder diagnosis. As she struggles to find her way in this new reality, navigating the complex effects bipolar has on her identity, her relationships, and her life dreams, Maddy will have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.
 Marylandia Updates
July/August 2025
Suspense
Vital Spark: Chesapeake Tugboat Murders, Book 1, by Leah Devlin, narrated by Janet Sanford
DBC 12462
After eking out a living as an adjunct professor, fisheries ecologist Alex Allaway lands a job running a small marine station back in her hometown. Arriving in River Glen to surprise her grandfather with the good news, Alex is horrified to discover him dead, a bloody dagger in his heart. His clenched fist grasps a piece of pirate gold and a cryptic map with her name on it. While the police investigate the murder, Alex begins her own search for answers. Aboard the tugboat Vital Spark, she sails the Chesapeake in pursuit of treasure that belonged to a distant relative, the pirate Giles Blood-hand. But descendants of a rival pirate family are also looking for the bounty that's been hidden for over three centuries.
PBS documentary features NLS
Earlier this year, PBS visited the National Library Service (NLS) to film a short video highlighting how "talking books" for blind readers in the 1930s sparked the modern audiobook industry. The video, Audiobooks and the Accessibility Revolution, features NLS's Tamara Rorie discussing the history and evolution of NLS audiobooks and her personal experience as a patron. It also includes insights from the American Foundation for the Blind and Audible. The video is part of The Curb Cut Effect series by American Experience, which showcases how accessibility innovations benefit everyone.
The audio described video can be watched here: https://youtu.be/E4tifOhUJws?si=PcTP2BCv13HafbNw.
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The event “Baltimore, The City of Accessible Arts: Public Convening” is a free, in-person and virtual meeting hosted by the Enoch Pratt Free Library at its Central Branch on July 11, 2025. The incubator gathering brings together museums, public art spaces, disability justice activists, and artists with disabilities for screenings, panels, exhibitions, and community dialogue—and offers full accessibility including ASL interpreters, audio description, and sensory breaks. Learn more here: https://calendar.prattlibrary.org/event/baltimore-the-city-of-accessible-arts-public-convening.
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