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May 2026
News from the Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library
A Fond Farewell: Scott Norris Retires
After 29 years of dedicated service, we announce the retirement of our current library Manager, Scott Norris, with deep gratitude and admiration.
Scott began his journey at the library in 1997 as the Materials Handling Coordinator and became Adaptive Technology Librarian in 1998, a role he held until 2020. In this role, Scott presented at state and national conferences including the Michigan Rural Libraries Conference, the Michigan Library Association Annual Conference, the Midlands Conference, and the National Library Service Conference. He provided expertise to eMichigan on web accessibility across Michigan State departments from 2003 to 2019 and served as ADA coordinator for the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries. In December 2020, he became manager of BTBL, a position he currently holds.
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During his time, he spearheaded 12 Libraries Without Walls conferences to expand access and understanding of technology for low vision and blind users. He was also presented with the Good Government Leadership award in 2016. Scott founded the Adaptive Technology Club, established in 2008, providing monthly speakers on topics relevant to the blind community. He also founded the BTBL book club, launched in 2010, which also remains active.
Beyond the library, Scott chairs the Department of Natural Resources Accessibility Advisory Council, served 15 years on the Michigan Department of Education Low Incidence Outreach Tech Team, is the Vice-Chair of the Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund, and continues to bring his commitment to service to the Bretton Woods Lions Club.
Library staff will remember Scott as approachable and knowledgeable—a steady presence who consistently put patrons’ needs and requests first. Echoing these sentiments, current Bureau of Services for Blind Persons Director, Mike Pemble, expressed deep gratitude and warm wishes for Scott as he begins this exciting new chapter, saying:
“Best wishes to you, Scott, on a well-deserved retirement! Thank you for your steady leadership, deep expertise in accessibility technology, and for being an inspiring trailblazer for the Braille and Talking Book Library as its first blind manager. We hope this next chapter gives you plenty of time to enjoy the woods and some successful deer hunting. Your legacy with the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons will be felt for years to come.”
Scott’s retirement begins June 5th. He looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Sonya - they met while working together in the library and have been happily married for 24 years. He is also looking forward to several home projects, traveling, and more time to bow hunt with his good friend Joe Hamlin.
*Photo caption: Scott stands in front of the Marpha Community Library during his trek to Annapurna in Nepal—one of many adventures that define his life outside the library. In 1999, he became the first blind person from America to complete the Paris-Brest-Paris ultra marathon cycling event. He has also biked across the country from Washington state to Connecticut.
VISIONS
Mark your calendars for the VISIONS Vendor Fair, taking place June 3, 2026, from 11 AM to 4 PM!
The VISIONS Vendor Fair is presented by the Ann Arbor District Library (which also serves as the Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Print Disabled) and is co-sponsored by the State of Michigan's Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, and is funded in part by the Friends of the AADL and local Lions Clubs.
The 2026 VISIONS Vendor Fair features a variety of exhibitors who will demonstrate the latest products and services for the blind, low vision, and physically disabled. Electronic readers, magnifiers, support services for the blind, Braille devices, library services, CCTVs, leader dogs, and transportation services are just a few of the many outstanding services and products that will be on display. Presentations will also be offered on topics related to vision health, services, and assistive technology, such as Technology Based Scam Prevention.
A highlight of the program this year will be a Fireside Chat with Christine Ha, season 3 winner of the cooking television show MasterChef. Christine will be joined by Zach Damon, award winning documentary filmmaker, for a conversation about her inspiring story and insights into her life with a visual disability. A Meet and Greet with Christine Ha will be available to attendees after the chat.
For more information, visit aadl.org/visions or contact wlbpd@aadl.org.
Summer Reading Registration OPEN!
Don’t miss the chance to ‘Unearth a Story’ with this year’s summer reading program, offered June 15 – August 15. The National Library Service has a packed schedule of virtual events like author talks and National Park Soundscapes for patrons nationwide to participate in, all from the comfort of home.
BTBL is also offering Michigan patrons an exciting opportunity to attend accessible Touch Tours at the Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum in Portage, MI. Patrons can register for FREE admission on Saturday July 18 or Sunday July 19 for an in-person group tour – registration is required and limited to 30 persons per tour (first come- first served, registration opens June 15). Each registered patron will be allowed 1 guest to accompany them on the tour. After each tour, participants are welcome to explore the museum on their own.
BTBL will provide a full schedule of events along with dates, times, and zoom link information in June. Please register for the summer reading program so that we can send you additional information when it becomes available.
Registration Form: https://forms.gle/e48KehpzuKVGbMja7
Email: wambaughs@michigan.gov | Phone: 1-800-992-9012
Talking Book Topics in Audio Format – A Change in Service
BTBL has started mailing the audio version of the Talking Book Topics catalog directly from Lansing. As you may recall, the old version was mailed to patrons from an NLS contractor out of state and a recent change in production meant those orders were going unfulfilled. With our new local method, patrons can count on getting the audio version of the Talking Book Topic catalog on cartridge as it becomes available every other month. This audio magazine lists a selection by genre of the most recent books that have been added to our collection as a way for patrons to easily browse for new books of interest. If you are interested in receiving this cartridge, contact your library to sign up for it!
Please note that the paper Talking Book Topic ordering form that previously accompanied the audio cartridge will no longer be included. You can call, e-mail, or mail a list of your book requests - just be sure to include your name and the titles and/or DB numbers of the books you would like to order.
If you prefer to access the Talking Book Topics in text, it is available online and updated every other month: https://www.loc.gov/nls/new-materials/talking-book-topics/
Equipment Updates
It’s important that you keep machines, especially the DA2 and Humanware braille eReaders, up to date with the most current software versions. For patrons downloading from BARD, those updates happen automatically as you download books. For patrons receiving books through the mail, the updates come on your cartridges. The machine will prompt you to update your software if an update is required – simply follow those steps.
Library Notes of Appreciation
We frequently receive kind words from patrons and their families about how much the BTBL service means to them. We want to share some of these messages on social media to demonstrate how BTBL has positively impacted patrons’ lives. If you have a testimonial to share, please send it to btbl@michigan.gov. Here is a kind note we received recently:
Dear Library, My 95-yr old father died this month at his Senior Living Community… For the past 3 years he enjoyed his Talking Books immensely, as his vision was severely compromised by macular degeneration. He was a history buff and loved books about the Civil and World Wars and the leaders of those times. Thank you for making his final years so meaningful.
Sincerely, The Clark Family
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
How to age disgracefully by Clare Pooley (DB122051) - Lydia takes a part-time job running a seniors’ social club, expecting quiet afternoons of tea and cards, but the eccentric members quickly prove otherwise. When the city council plans to sell their community center, the group teams up with the daycare next door to fight back. Using unconventional tactics, they set out to save their shared space—if the police don’t catch up with them first.… [Human Relations, Humorous Fiction]
“This novel lives up to its humorous title and provides a lighter look at aging. The various characters are interesting and show growth throughout the story.” – Betsie, BTBL Librarian
The Correspondent: a novel by Virginia Evans (BR026655 / DB129105)- This is a literary work in the form of letters. Throughout her life, Sybil Van Antwerp has written letters to her friends, brother, newspaper publishers, as well as authors like Joan Didion, Larry McMurtry, and C.S. Lewis, among many others. Sybil's caring and intuitive nature leads her to develop a range of relationships, including a couple of romantic interests that bloom in this novel... [Epistolary Fiction]
“Sybil held a distinguished position as a lawyer and law clerk with plenty of opinions that she shares in her correspondence. It’s a fascinating story of a strong woman reflecting a life well-lived while examining the struggles and painful periods that she endured.” – Beth A. Manuel, Library Technician, WLBPD
All Systems Red : Murderbot Diaries, Book 1 by Martha Wells (BR023232 / DB092425) - In a corporate-dominated, spacefaring future, security androids accompany exploratory teams. One team's self-aware droid has hacked itself and now refers to itself as "Murderbot." After a neighboring mission goes dark, Murderbot and its team must investigate… [Science Fiction]
“If you like sarcastic and slightly misanthropic robots as much as I do, you will probably enjoy this book! It’s just under three and a half hours, but in that short time it feels like you really get to know Murderbot (who seems like a good being despite its chosen nickname) and the dystopian universe it ‘lives’ in. Luckily, there are sequels!” – Caitlin, BTBL Librarian
The Amalfi curse by Sarah Penner (BR026286 / DB129356) - Haven Ambrose, a pioneering nautical archaeologist, arrives in Positano to study mysterious shipwrecks—while secretly searching for the gemstone trove her late father discovered. Her quest uncovers an ancient story of sorcery, where a woman used the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean, to save her village, raising the question: could this power be behind Positano’s recent disasters?... [Magical Realism]
“This book weaves an amazing story from the past with the present. This combined with great descriptions of the scenery, make you ready to hop on a plane for the Amalfi coast. Amalfi curse gives a historical perspective that is not often shown. I love all the history and it has plenty of twists and turns to keep you coming back and listening to the book every chance you get.” – Bridgid, BTBL Librarian
The dungeon anarchist's cookbook by Matt Dinniman (DB128509) - The third book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series about a man and a cat surviving a deadly, game-show-like dungeon. This installment focuses on the "Iron Tangle", a puzzle-filled subway system where the protagonists, Carl and Princess Donut, must navigate monsters, traps, and bounties on their heads, with a secret to the puzzle potentially hidden in a seemingly useless book … [Fantasy, Humorous Fiction]
“I must admit when I started this series, I didn’t like it. But 3 books in, I’m hooked. I like the unique world the author has built. The plot has me constantly on the edge of my seat, and Carl’s ex-girlfriend’s cat is hilarious. So, if you like fantasy world building mixed with unexpected plot twists and on the edge of your seat action, this book is for you.” – Meagan, 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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