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January 2025
News from the Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library
Looking Back, Looking Forward
According to our recent patron survey, over 81% of respondents rate the overall service provided by BTBL as ‘Excellent’ with another 15% rating it as ‘Good’. Collectively, that is a 96% overall approval of the job we are doing serving patrons state-wide!
Survey Results show that the majority of patrons use our service to read for pleasure. This is not surprising when you take into account that our collection has over 332,000 audio and braille books for our patrons to choose from. Other popular uses of our service include learning more about a personal interest and helping members stay connected to their communities.
When asked what patrons wished BTBL offered, the majority of patrons indicated they would like more books and magazines, while about an equal amount said they’d like to see more programs and events, more assistive technology training, or had other suggestions.
One take away from this is that BTBL needs to do a better job of promoting our books and programs so that patrons know what we have to offer. Individual comments, while overwhelmingly positive, did reveal that some patrons didn’t know how customizable our service can be to meet their needs. This issue of the InFocus will include information on all these points.
In summary, we want to extend our thanks to the patrons that participated in the survey. We are thankful for the kind words offered and look forward to using the constructive feedback from patrons to help make our service better in 2025 so ‘That All May Read’.
Pie chart showing results from survey question 'I wish BTBL offered: More programs/events, More assistive technology training, More books and/or magazines, Other
Discovering Books
There are many ways patrons can find and request books, and we highly recommend calling and speaking with a librarian to discuss the options. With so many great items in the collection, we want to ensure our patrons get books that will interest them. Here are a few ways patrons can discover books:
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Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review: Bi-monthly magazines featuring a selection of newly offered books by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) online or in audio / braille formats.
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The NLS Catalog: the full catalog of materials offered through the program, only available online at: https://nlscatalog.loc.gov/
- DB = audio format; BR = braille format
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NLS Collections Connections: A new subscription-based newsletter for patrons highlighting works of diverse interest emailed to subscribers monthly. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, please send your email address to connections@loc.gov.
- Note: titles featured in this newsletter can then be downloaded via BARD, or patrons can contact the library to place the items onto a cartridge through the mail.
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BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download): A free mobile App patrons can use to download books directly to a personal device. Within BARD, patrons can easily discover books by using the ‘Recently added to BARD’ and the ‘Most popular books’ tabs. Patrons can also search by title, author or keyword.
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International Language Quarterly (ILQ): An online publication featuring books available in languages other than English, only available online: www.loc.gov/nls/ilq
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Magazines: A list of magazines offered in audio and braille on cartridge or by download is available online at: https://www.loc.gov/nls/new-materials/magazines/. Patrons can request a list be mailed to them as well.
Books on Cartridge – Customizing Your Account
Auto-Select by subject and author: Many of our patrons receiving books on cartridge through the mail are set up for automatic book delivery based on subject and author preferences. Patrons not wanting to create a request list of specific books can still help determine which books are sent automatically by providing us with information on their likes and dislikes. For example, a patron liking ‘Mystery’ will get a much broader selection of novels than a patron that has more narrowly indicated that they prefer ‘Mystery – Suspense’ but dislike ‘Mystery – Historical’ and ‘Mystery – Cozy’. Please contact a librarian to discuss detailed subject preferences.
Cartridge maximums and delivery: Most patron accounts are set up with a three-cartridge maximum with 3 to 5 books per cartridge. Each time one of those cartridges is returned a new cartridge is automatically created and mailed out. The number of books sent on a cartridge is customizable. Some patrons request 20+ books while others prefer just 1 book per cartridge. Other patrons prefer to call each time they want a new cartridge sent, called On-Demand. Contact a librarian to discuss your preferences.
Bookshelf Mode
Patrons can skip books on the multi-book cartridges by using ‘Bookshelf Mode’. Here are the steps:
- Press and hold the green rectangular Play button for about 3 seconds until the player beeps and says “Bookshelf” and announces the number of books on the cartridge.
- Tap the Rewind or Fast Forward button, located on each side of the green, rectangular Play button, to select the next book. The book title will be announced. To advance to the next title, just press the Fast Forward button again, or tap the rewind again to go to the previous book. You will know you are at the last book on the cartridge when you hear a double beep.
- Once you get to the title you want to read, press the green, rectangular Play button. The player will exit Bookshelf Mode and start playing the selected title.
Note: The player will “remember” your current position in each book even if you move to other books. You can read part of one book, then read part of another book, then come back and continue with the first book, if you like.
Patron Programs
There are many programs available to patrons both at a state and a national level. Most of these are offered via Zoom, with the option to dial-in by phone, so that patrons can join from the comfort of their own homes.
BTBL Offered Programs: Zoom links and dial in information can be found on the BTBL website at www.michigan.gov/btbl on the News and Events page. Interested persons can also subscribe to our email list to get program information sent directly to their inbox by emailing the request to btbl@michigan.gov.
- Book Club
- Technology Club
- Craft & Chat
- Tech Tidbits
- Tech Drop-In
- Summer Reading
NLS Offered Programs: Zoom links and dial in information can be found on the NLS website at https://www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/patron-services-and-events/. Patrons can also subscribe to the NLS Patron Announce list to get program information sent directly to their inbox by emailing their name and email address to NLSPES@loc.gov.
- Many Faces of BARD
- Quarterly Patron Corner
- That All May eRead
- Smart Speaking to The Smart Speaker
- Braille On-Demand
Advisory and Outreach Centers (AOC): These libraries may offer local programming to patrons within their service area, including additional book clubs, low vision groups, etc. See the full list of locations and contact information on the ‘Michigan Talking Book Libraries’ page of this newsletter.
Service Award for BTBL Volunteer
Our machine repair volunteer, Gerry Garvelink, was recently nominated for the Daily Points of Light Award – and won! As a volunteer out of the Grand Rapids area for 21 years, Gerry has been key in the repair and maintenance of Talking Book Players for our Michigan patrons. The ninety-year-old has a Master’s degree in Engineering and says this opportunity is a good fit because he enjoys taking things apart to fix them.
Gerry was highlighted with a detailed article on the Daily Points of Light website: https://www.pointsoflight.org/awards/volunteer-dedicates-decades-to-ensuring-vision-and-physically-impaired-can-read/.
BTBL extends the warmest thanks to Gerry for his years of service. He is a wonderful volunteer who selflessly gives of his time to repair for our program. Congratulations, Gerry, on a well-earned honor!
Photo Caption: Machine Repair Tech, Bob Blakes (left), works with volunteer Gerry (right) on a Digital Talking Book Player in 2015.
BTBL Staff Picks
The mad girls of New York by Maya Rodale (DB 113843) - A gripping and compelling novel based on the true story of fearless reporter Nellie Bly. In 1887 New York City, Nellie Bly has ambitions beyond writing for the lady’s pages. But then the New York World challenges her to an assignment she'd be mad to accept and mad to refuse: go undercover as a patient at Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum for women.
“I love the way the author brought in some fictional characters to round out the story and bring out some subplots that are just as compelling as the main story. Highly recommend this novel to historical fiction readers.” – Betsie, BTBL Librarian
We are legion (We Are Bob): Bobiverse, Book 1 by Dennis E. Taylor (DB 94129) - A century after his death, Bob Johansson wakes up to find that his consciousness has been uploaded into computer hardware on an interstellar probe. His job is now to seek habitable planets for humanity, but he will face foreign probes with the same goal.
“As a self-replicating AI (formerly a human), the protagonist keeps making copies of himself to help explore the universe and assist with the huge task of helping humanity get off Earth before it’s too late. Those copies make copies of themselves, too (and so on), and it’s interesting to see what similarities there are between all the Bobs, and what differences. As with all books that deal with AI like that, it delves a bit into the nature of consciousness and what it means to be a human—in between all the space adventures!” – Caitlin, BTBL Librarian
A day of fallen night by Samantha Shannon (DB 114967 / Spanish DB 117194) - Set in the same universe as the feminist epic, steeped in dragonriders and intricate mythology, this book follows four women and the ways in which their choices shape the narrative forever. When the Dreadmount erupts, bringing with it an age of terror and violence, these women must find the strength to protect humankind from a devastating threat. Prequel to Priory of the Orange Tree, DB 94540.
“I really like that we get to see the story unfold through the point of view of so many characters. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen to a particular character next. If you like a unique fantasy world and lots of plot twists and turns and surprising outcomes, I recommend this book.” – Meagan, BTBL Librarian
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (DB 116555 / BR 25129) - In the spring of 2020, Lara's three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.
“This book lived up to the hype. I loved the Michigan connection and references. The time jumps from past to present were well done. This isn't a page turning thriller, but rather a lazy journey –and one I enjoyed more than I expected!” –Stephanie, BTBL Librarian
Popular BARD Books
Note: Non-BARD users can still call or mail in requests to receive these titles on cartridge.
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