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January 2026
News from the Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library
Celebrating Louis Braille during Braille Literacy Month
The month of January is celebrated as Braille Literacy Month with January 4th specifically being labeled ‘World Braille Day’ in honor of the founder, Louis Braille’s birthday.
At BTBL, we celebrate this month with a braille literacy table set out in the rotunda of the Michigan Library and Historical Center. Hundreds of students go through the rotunda daily and can try their hand at writing their names in braille, along with take-a-ways like decoding worksheets and braille alphabet cards. We also partner with public libraries throughout the state to host similar events at their locations to raise general awareness of braille.
For a more detailed history of braille and the Library of Congress’ role in distributing braille materials to patrons throughout the U.S., read the January- March 2025 issue of the NLS newsletter available online: https://www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/quarterly-newsletter-news/news-january-march-2025/
Here is a short excerpt from that article:
Louis Braille was born in the village of Coupvray near Paris on January 4, 1809. One day, when he was three, he was playing with a sharp tool belonging to his father, a harness maker. He accidentally injured one eye with the tool, then developed an infection that later caused total blindness.
In 1821, when he was 12, Braille learned of a code developed for “night writing” and recognized in it a basis for written communication for people who were blind. While enrolled at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, Braille spent several years developing the system of raised dots that has come to be known by his name.
When Louis Braille developed his six-dot system 200 years ago, he had no idea that it would become the standard for tactile writing around the globe. He only knew that existing systems—developed by sighted people—were inefficient to read by touch and often impossible to write by hand. His system survived and thrived because Louis Braille understood the needs of its users.
Interested and want to learn more? Check out these biographies:
Out of darkness : the story of Louis Braille by Russell Freedman (BR011319 / DB044992)
Louis Braille : a touch of genius by C. Michael Mellor (BR016790 / DB063350)
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There’s a New Player in Town – getting to know the DA2
The new DA2 Talking Book Machine allows Wi-Fi connectivity for downloading books directly to the player from the BARD server. It also has Bluetooth connectivity for headphones.
Not every patron will need the DA2 player. Please note the standard DA1 and DS1 machines are still appropriate for patrons that do not wish to connect to Wi-Fi and download from BARD. If you get cartridges through the mail, the original machines are the right fit for you. If you would like to try downloading, call the library to order DA2 player today (pictured above)!
Do you already have your DA2 player and need resources to help learn all the functionality it offers? NLS has produced 12 videos as part of the Digital Advanced Player 2 (DA2) How-To Video Series. The topics covered in these videos range from power management to how to log into BARD. The How-To Video Series is available on the Library of Congress channel on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3Lbr14a
You can also order the DA2 user guide on cartridge to listen to on your original DS1 machine while working with the new DA2 player. Call your network library and request book number: DBC11832. Also available in braille: BR026189.
Note: If you choose to return your DA2 player back to us for any reason, please be sure to notify us of the reason for return. These players are under warranty and any technical issues with them need to be extensively documented.
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Maintaining a “Flow” of Items
Returning each book cartridge as soon as you finish it will help ensure that you have a consistent flow of books. Stockpiling cartridges and returning them all at once can result in longer periods without reading material. In most cases, when you return a cartridge to us, a new cartridge will be sent to you (called turnaround service). However, it may take a week or more for the items to reach you through the mail.
You can control the number of books sent to you and how frequently they are sent. Work with a Reader Advisor to adjust these options until you find what works for you. Please contact us to adjust your account.
Bookshelf Mode on Multi-Book Cartridges
Most of our patrons are on automatic “turnaround” service. These accounts are set up to receive multiple books per cartridge. If you are receiving audio books through the mail on cartridge, chances are you could benefit from using Bookshelf Mode on your player. As a refresher, here are the steps to access the Bookshelf:
- 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 scroll to 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.
Using the Bookshelf allows patrons to choose which order to listen to the titles on the cartridge. It also allows patrons to completely skip books that may not be of interest to them after all.
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.
Ordering Books in a Series
Many patrons receive books automatically with our ‘turnaround’ service. When a cartridge is checked in, the computer knows the patron needs a new cartridge and automatically selects titles to send based on favorite subjects and authors provided to us by the patron. The computer does not look at series order when selecting titles to send. This means that books in series often go out to our patrons out of order. For some, this isn’t an issue as many series can be enjoyed in any order. However, if you receive a book from a series that you’d like to read in order, please contact the library. Librarians can manually send books in series order. Depending on your preference, we can send an entire series out in order on a single cartridge for you to enjoy. Or we can also subscribe you to that series so that you get the books in order but sprinkled into your regular mix of subjects and authors.
My Talking Books on Smart Speaker
My Talking Books is an Amazon Alexa skill that NLS patrons can use to access and stream English language audiobooks from BARD. Using the skill’s voice-only interface, you can search the BARD catalog, manage your wish lists, book lists, bookshelves, bookmarks, preference settings, sleep timer, reading speed, jumping in time, and book-specific volume setting, as well as find book descriptions and review your streaming history.
Please note this is a bring-your-own device service, so patrons must have an Alexa of their own to utilize the My Talking Books skill. Verified Smart Speaker devices include: the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show 5 (all 2nd Generation and above), as well as the Echo Flex, Alexa App on Android and Alexa App on Apple iOS.
Contact the library to register for the skill.
Patron Programming – Join us virtually!
BTBL offers programs such as a monthly Technology Club, Book Club, Craft & Chat, and Tech Tidbits. Log-in information to these offerings can be found on the News & Events page of our website at www.michigan.gov/btbl, or contact the library for a direct zoom link or dial-in information for any of these offerings.
NLS also offers multiple virtual events. You can sign up to get direct emails from NLS on their program offerings by emailing NLSPES@loc.gov. Or you can view their list of offerings online at: https://www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/patron-services-and-events/. Events include:
- The Many Faces of BARD
- Quarterly Patron Corner
- That All May eRead
- Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker
- BARD 2.0 Office Hours
Staff Picks
Poppy fields by Nikki Erlick (DB130437) - Welcome to the Poppy Fields, where in a remote stretch of the California desert lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain… [Fantasy Fiction]
“This is a road trip story with four unlikely characters journeying together across the country to get to the Poppy Fields, each for their own reasons. I like the characters and how they all interact with each other. The concept of sleeping off one’s grief is unique and clever and poses a lot of introspective questions.” – Betsie, BTBL Librarian
That time I got drunk and saved a demon by Kimberly Lemming (DB123264) - All she wanted to do was live her life in peace-maybe get a cat, expand the family spice farm. Really, anything that didn't involve going on an adventure where an orc might rip her face off… [Humor Fiction, Paranormal Romance]
“The first in the Mead Mishaps series, this book keeps you laughing. From the hilarious names to the oddball situations, it is really a fun book. It has a little bit of everything, romance, adventure, humor, mythology and of course spices. I love how the characters interact and the main character who always has something to save the day hidden in the pockets of her skirt.” – Bridgid, BTBL Librarian
Chocolate: a bittersweet saga of dark and light by Mort Rosenblum (DB060895) - Food writer exploring the world of chocolate production travels the globe to interview growers, manufacturers, and consumers… [History, Cooking]
“I loved reading this book. I learned so much about Chocolate. This book took me on a true journey from it’s earliest beginnings to current day. The author did a good job of describing the taste, ingredients, and mouth feel of each chocolate he tasted.” – Meagan, BTBL Librarian
Making it so by Sir Patrick Stewart (DB116785) - This long-awaited memoir is a revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life-from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England, to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim-proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself… [Autobiography]
“I grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, and I have always loved Sir Patrick Stewart. All I knew about his personal life before reading this book was that he was very outspoken about the harm that domestic violence can do, which endeared him to me more. Reading his book, I was surprised over and over—by the living conditions in his childhood, how young he started acting, and how he became a science fiction icon almost accidentally, to name a few. Because he narrates the book himself (and his voice is amazing), it’s almost like conversing with him as he reminisces—a very “intimate” experience! (Read the book and you’ll understand that reference!).” – Caitlin, BTBL Librarian
When the day comes by Gabrielle Meyer (DB125107) - Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other without any time passing – with one conscious mind but two very different lives and bodies… [Religious Fiction, Historical Fiction]
“I found the time-travel aspect of this book to be a very interesting spin on the normal Christian fiction romance message which reminded readers of God’s divine plan even when life feels uncertain. I also liked the descriptions and comparisons of each time-period the main character lived in and felt it added depth to the topics at hand. The characters in both timelines were well developed and there was a driving plot that came together in a satisfying ending.” – Stephanie, BTBL Librarian
Popular BARD Books
Note: Non-BARD users can still call or mail-in requests to receive these titles on cartridge. BR = braille, DB(C) = audio book
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