This Week: April’s The Many Faces of BARD Virtual Program

On Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 6:00pm (central), the Patron Engagement Section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) will hold its monthly virtual program called The Many Faces of BARD on Zoom.  The event is free to attend.

Join NLS for an hour-long session that will begin with a discussion of BARD: Open Access. For this session, the NLS Download Tech Support team will be available to answer your questions in this all Q&A event. This will be an opportunity to respond to questions that have not been asked or answered in previous sessions due to time constraints.

To learn more and join the conversation, visit The Many Faces of BARD page from NLS.

March Makerspace Recap and What’s Next in April

Makerspace Monday @ The PlaygroundImagine this, just a few days ago parts of Iowa, not only had measurable snow fall, but 35 mile an hour winds. Mother nature must have received our blog post that we were making Soundful Memory Wire Wind Chimes! It was an absolute great time together, listening to the sound of wind chimes while putting together, colorful beads and jingling jangling bells. Did you know that when you hang a wind chime in your space it promotes calmness, and healing. This would be called the Feng Schui way, Chinese culture believes that wind and water promote good health and positivity!

In the month of April, we are inviting nature to be our guest! Makerspace is all about molding a ball of beautifully colored clay into an uniquely designed pinch pot. The scents of mixed potpourri will be sprinkled on top to embrace nature as an added touch! April showers bring in May flowers! By the way, have you ever enjoyed the taste of a flower, if not, stop by and enjoy a delicious edible flower sugar cookie as a tasty scrumptious spring treat!

Coming up next month in April
Date: April 10th
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Activity: Nature Made Pinch Pot!
Where: 524 4th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Online Registration

If you are unable to join in person, no problem, just complete the online registration form and choose “mail activity kit and video link” directly to your preferred address. 

Join us at the Des Moines Book Festival!

Image of DSM Book Festival logoJoin the Library at the Des Moines Book Festival this Saturday, March 25th at Capital Square in Downtown Des Moines from 9:00am – 6:00pm.  For more information about the DSM Book Festival: https://www.dsmpartnership.com/dsmbookfestival/

Stop by the library’s tables for fun braille activities and explore the other great festival programs, hear from national and local authors and more!

The DSM Book Festival connects people who love books with the people who create them.

February Makerspace Monday Recap and What’s Next in March

Makerspace Monday @ The PlaygroundWhew! The braille chocolate molds were delivered to our library just in time for the yummy chocolatey braille bar activity. Guest were able to choose between the uncontracted message “thank you” or have a nice day” in braille.

After the chocolate bars were cooled down in the freezer, we began to mix up a colorful batter of paint, water, glue, and flour and made our very own recipe of plaster that covered a canvas board that turned into a collage of art that included copper wire. Hey, by the way, did you know the Statue of Liberty is made from copper? Yes, this is true!  We topped off our canvas collage with wooden hearts, glitter, and copper wrapped into a shape.

In the month of March, spring is going to be sprung on us soon enough. March winds can only mean one thing, time to make wind chimes! Did you know that when you hang a wind chime outside of your home it promotes calmness, and healing. This would be called the Feng Schui way, Feng means wind and Shui means water. Chinese culture believes that wind and water promote good health and positivity!  

Coming up next month in March

Date: March 13th
Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Activity: Soundful Memory Wire Wind Chimes!
Where: 524 4th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Online Registration

If you are unable to join in person, no problem, just complete the online registration form and choose “mail activity kit and video link” directly to your preferred address. 

Please contact Denise Bean at denise.bean@blind.state.ia.us or 515-452-1338 

 

Tomorrow: March’s The Many Faces of BARD Virtual Program

On Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 6:00pm (central), the Patron Engagement Section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) will hold its monthly virtual program called The Many Faces of BARD on Zoom.  Join NLS for an hour-long session that will begin with a discussion of BARD on both models of Braille eReader distributed by NLS. The remainder of the time will be spent answering questions about the presentation or other questions related to BARD usage on any of our devices.  The event is free to attend.

To learn more and join the conversation, visit The Many Faces of BARD page from NLS.

Image of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled Logo

What is the Story Box Program?

Image of Story Box Program logo of a delivery truck with a bunny reading a book on the side.  Below the delivery truck with the words "Stories and fund delivered to your door!"The Story Box Program offers young patrons, ages 0 through 18 years old, a program to receive a monthly box of books and themed selected gifts that highlights the Youth Library’s 9 Book Neighborhoods: Favorites, Our World, Stories, Fairy and Folk Tales, Concepts, Transportation, Rhymes and Songs, Nature, and Celebrations

Thank you to the families who have signed up for the Story Box Program, it has been a hit! The first 2 neighborhood themed boxes: Celebrations and Transportation have been sent and Nature is underway to go out soon!

Each month young patrons in the program will receive a special box filled with books – audio or braille or large print – and goodies centered around a neighborhood theme. 

Young Patrons and families who opt for audiobooks will receive a cartridge with 10-20 books dedicated to the neighborhood of the month. Young patrons who choose to get braille or large print will receive 1-3 books.  Braille and large print books will be mailed separately, apart from the Story Box. Young patrons should return the cartridges and books when finished with them and keep the goodies for themselves. Books to borrow and bonus gifts to keep!

By subscribing to the Story Box Program, you are subscribing to 12 months of Story Box Program deliveries, but you can cancel your subscription at any time by contacting the library.

If you are interested in subscribing to Story Box Programplease complete this registration form or contact Denise Bean, Youth Services Librarian, at 515.452.1338 or email denise.bean@blind.state.ia.us to subscribed.