Join the Library and the Iowa Department for the Blind at the Des Moines Book Festival on Saturday, March 25th at Capital Square in Downtown Des Moines. For more information about the DSM Book Festival: https://www.dsmpartnership.com/dsmbookfestival/
The DSM Book Festival connects people who love books with the people who create them.
Eight Fundamentals of Braille Reading:
With daily reading and maintaining the above techniques, building strong braille reading skills is possible. Braille doesn’t have to be difficult as long as you believe your able to improve.
There are different ways to practice braille and they work whether you are reading on a braille display or physical book. Reading silently, following along, and reading aloud are three ways you can practice your braille and all develop additional skills beyond braille.
Staff member, Leland Smith, will be providing us with a few topics a month stemming from questions he has received from patrons mainly around tech and apps. His goal is to take the topic and bounce down different avenues of information about it.
February’s Library Chat Podcast is all about Braille, the Braille Challenge and our accessible STEM Fest. Library staff discuss the Iowa Regional Braille Challenge and the IDB STEM Fest that was hosted by the Library at the Iowa Department for the Blind on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Jodi, Angie and Leland had a chance to talk with the students participating in the Braille Challenge, their parents and IDB staff about braille. The podcast also features a song created and performed by Frank Strong especially for the Braille Challenge and a rap that staff member, Jodi Aldini wrote and performed highlighting the Braille Challenge participants.
Iowa Braille Challenge T-Shirts are still available until Friday, March 3rd!
Link to Online Store
To help us celebrate the 2023 Iowa Regional Braille Challenge and Braille literacy, we are pleased to work with local, small business The Side Garage this year for the Braille Challenge t-shirt. The theme for 2023 is Braille! Let the Sunshine In.
All shirts are crew neck and short sleeved. Shirts are heather yellow with black lettering. The front of the t-shirt says in print: BRAILLE let the sunshine in., with a graphic of a sun with a smiling face surrounded by sunbeams, hidden in some of the sunbeams is the word braille in braille. The back of the t-shirt says, BRAILLE let the sunshine in, in braille. All sizing is unisex and all shirts are $20.00. Participants of the Braille Challenge will be provided with a t-shirt that have been generously donated by the Friends of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
With NLS eReaders available for patrons, many people are learning to use a braille display for the first time. Below are some helpful tips to use an eReader.
Enjoy having access to more braille at your fingertips and more things to try with your eReader in future Roundabout Topics.
Staff member, Leland Smith, will be providing us with a few topics a month stemming from questions he has received from patrons mainly around tech and apps. His goal is to take the topic and bounce down different avenues of information about it.
To help us celebrate the 2023 Iowa Regional Braille Challenge and Braille literacy, we are pleased to work with local, small business The Side Garage this year for the Braille Challenge t-shirt. This year’s theme, chosen by the students, is Braille! Let the Sunshine In.
All shirts are crew neck and short sleeved. Shirts are heather yellow with black lettering. The front of the t-shirt says in print: BRAILLE let the sunshine in., with a graphic of a sun with a smiling face surrounded by sunbeams, hidden in some of the sunbeams is the word braille in braille. The back of the t-shirt says, BRAILLE let the sunshine in, in braille.
All sizing is unisex and all shirts are $20.00. Participants of the Braille Challenge will be provided with a t-shirt that have been generously donated by the Friends of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
All proceeds from the t-shirt sales will benefit the Friends of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and future Braille Challenges.
We are taking orders through Friday, February 10, 2023. You can choose to have your t-shirt shipped directly to you or pick up at Braille Challenge on Saturday, February 25th at the Iowa Department for the Blind. If you will not be at the event, please have the shirt shipped directly to you.
Let the sunshine in and order a t-shirt today!
Staff member, Leland Smith, will be providing us with a few topics each month stemming from questions he has received from patrons mainly around tech and apps. His goal is to take the topic and bounce down different avenues of information about it.
Thank you to Leland for sharing his expertise! And now for his first Roundabout:
As more and more people enjoy access to electronic braille some may wonder ways to quickly navigate to the start of books. One of the quickest ways we have found is by using the find command, space+”f”, and typing the title of the book. Following Braille Format 1.8 the title and subtitle should be included on the title page and on the first braille page where the text begins.
This will allow you to quickly move to the start of your new book or volume so you may spend more time reading!
Check out more information about our Braille eReader program.