Get in Your Element this September – Celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month!

Image of characters from the movie Elemental on a motorcycle.  One is holding a library card.September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when the Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled joins the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind everyone about the valuable resources available with a library card.

From borrowing braille and large print books, ebooks, and audiobooks and players to learning new skills, or attending a book club or story time, a library card helps everyone do more of what they enjoy. All without stretching their budget.

There’s something for everyone at the Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled and signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning for students. It’s elemental, really—everyone should have one!

The Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, along with libraries everywhere, continues to adapt and expand services to meet the evolving needs of our community. To sign up for a library card or to learn more about the library’s resources and programs, please visit iowalibrary.blog

Since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month has been held each September to mark the beginning of the school year. During the month, the American Library Association and libraries work together in a national effort to ensure every child signs up for their own library card.

Get in your element!

August 2023 Peek-A-Box!

Animal AugustPeek-A-Box Logo, blue polka dot with a stack of books.

It’s the dog days of summer and we are celebrating with Animal August in this month’s Peek-A- Box!

In this month’s box you will find a dog chip/bag clip, a farm animal mini notepad, a mini hummingbird feeder, a silicone animal paw print ice cube tray, and snacks – animal crackers and Swedish fish.  And the books for Animal August all have an animal in the title.

Thanks for reading with the Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled!

Booklist for August Peek-A-Box

All the birds in the sky by Charlie Anders DB83924

The antelope wife by Louise Erdrich DB46741

The bear and the nightingale by Katherine Arden DB87310

Cat’s eye by Margaret Atwood DB29001

The good good pig: the extraordinary life of Christopher Hogwood by Sy Montgomery DB63822

H is for hawk by Helen Macdonald DB81386

Half-broke horses: a true-life novel by Jeannette Walls DB69651

In the time of butterflies by Julia Alvarez DB40316

Lamb: the Gospel according to Biff, Christ’s childhood pal by Christopher Moore DB86280

Little and lion by Brandy Colbert DB90069

Monkey beach by Eden Robinson DB63141

Rabbit cake by Annie Hartnett DB87913

The silence of the lambs by Thomas Harris DB27020

Six of crows by Leigh Bardugo DB82683

The sparrow by Mary D. Russell DB43892

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman DB90256

Tell the wolves I’m home by Carol Rifka Brunt DBC00242

The whale rider by Witi Ihimaera DB102089

The white tiger by Aravind Adiga DB68163

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel DB70074

Peek-a-Box offers patrons who subscribe a monthly box of books and goodies just for them.  Each month patrons in the program will receive a special box filled with books – audio or braille or large print – and goodies centered around a theme. 

Books to borrow and goodies to keep!

If you are interested in subscribing to Peek-a-Box, please complete this online form or contact the library at 515.281.1323 and we can help get you subscribed. 

Sign up today!

August’s The Many Faces of BARD Virtual Program (Thursday, August 10th at 6:00pm)

On Thursday, August 10, 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.

The topic for the August’s Many Faces of BARD program will be Using BARD on the BlindShell Phone. For this session, Cory Kadlik, Assistive Technology Manager at Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library, will demonstrate how you can make the most of the features of BARD on the BlindShell phone. After the demonstration, Cory and the NLS staff will take questions about the demonstration or anything else relating to BARD. This program will be recorded.

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

Book Reviews from Deena

Check out these book reviews from Deena.  Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team who recently retired.  She has generously continued to share book reviews with us.  Thank you, Deena! 

Let us know if you would like any titles added to your booklist or head over to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) to download the titles now.  Need more information about BARD?  See our BARD Page

The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin  DB101802

Gerda and Raina are sisters, both are teachers.  Gerda is in South Dakota and Raina is in Nebraska.  The date is Jan 12, 1888 and one of the biggest blizzards hits the plains. This is a fictional account of what happened that day.  If you are interested in a historical account read The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin DB60440. Both girls make different choices on this day. Gerda chooses to dismiss her students early.  Raina takes her students and ties them together in a group and they try to make it to the nearest farm.
This blizzard was known as The Children’s Blizzard, as so many children were unable to find their way home in the blinding snow, ice and wind and as a result many perished.

Missing You by Harlan Coben  DB78398

Kat Donovan is a policewoman. As a young woman Kat was engaged to Jeff.  At that time, Kat’s father, who was also a policeman was murdered on the job. Kat has a hard time dealing with his death which was unsolved.  Jeff walks away and years later Kat is still single, and realizes Jeff was the love of her life. A friend believes Kat needs to get out more and signs her up for a dating site. Kat logs on to the site and finds Jeff’s picture.  She instant messages him and he seems not to remember her.
At work a young college man, Brandon wants Kat to help investigate the man his mother, Dana is dating.  Brandon is concerned because his mother is out of the country with her new love and a large amount of money has been transferred from his mother’s account. Kat learns Dana is dating Jeff.  As Kat tries to find out where Jeff lives, it appears he is off the grid. Kat needs to find Jeff and figure out what is going on with Dana. This book has many twists and turns and will keep you guessing until you turn the last page.

In Broad Daylight by Harry N. MacLean  DB30076

Skidmore Missouri:  After years of putting up with Ken McElroy, the bully of the town of Skidmore who was stealing livestock and various other illegal acts, the men of the town took matters into their own hands.  In 1981, Ken McElroy was gunned down on the streets of Skidmore in front of almost fifty people.  MacLean recounts the events that led up to McElroy’s murder and explains why the townspeople may have protected the killer.  To this day the crime remains unsolved.