Tag: Braille

Join the Adult Winter Reading Challenge

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January 11, 2021

5:38 pm

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Adult Programming, Library Events

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The Adult Winter Reading Challenge has begun! 

It’s not too late to sign up.  Go to iowablindreads.readsquared.com to register. Registration is easy!  You just need to create an account with your name and address and then choose the Adult Winter Reading Challenge to get started. If you read 7,500 minutes between January 4 – February 28, 2021, you will be entered to win a Winter Reading Themed Gift Basket.  You can log your minutes right from that website! Please call Leslie at 515.452.1329 with any questions.

These D-Lists (Digital List Including Special Titles) might help get you started on your path to 7,500 minutes.  Call the library (515-281-1323) to get signed up for one!

Reading Across America – comprised of books about or set in all fifty states

Books to Movies – includes books that have been made into movies

Plants in Name Only – includes books with a kind of plant or flower in the title.

TGAR (The Great American Read) – features the 100 books chosen during the PBS 2018 eight part series. Each cartridge will have ten of the 100 books from the Great American Read list.

VOICE (Voices Of Iowa Connecting Everyone) – features our local narrators and the great audio books they have recorded for our collection.

The Bookmark Series – 50 titles that we think would make a great movie for the Hallmark Channel.

Staff Picks  – filled with our staffs’ all-time favorite books.  As with our staff, there is a wide variety of books included, from true crime stories to romance to mystery to historical fiction.  With a little horror and fantasy thrown in there!

2021 Iowa Regional Braille Challenge

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January 6, 2021

2:23 pm

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library, Library Events

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Braille Challenge LogoThe Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind in North America for students who are blind or visually impaired. Braille Institute developed the Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success.

We are offering Regional Braille Challenge testing for students during a remote testing window of February 1, 2021 – February 28, 2021. Contest proctoring can be done individually or as a group in school, home, or other agreed upon setting with a proctor. Online training is available for anyone who will be proctoring.

Any blind or low vision student in grades 1 – 12 who can read and write braille is eligible to participate in the Braille Challenge. All Contestants are divided into five categories and tested on fundamental braille skills such as reading comprehension, spelling, speed and accuracy, proofreading, and charts and graphs.

Let’s make 2021 a record year for students participating in the Iowa Regional Braille Challenge!

Registration is open until January 15, 2021. More information about the Braille Challenge and registration can be found on the Library’s Instructional Materials Center Blog

Braille Challenge T-Shirts

To help us celebrate the Braille Challenge and Braille literacy, we are pleased to work with Raygun this year for the Braille Challenge t-shirt. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and future Braille Challenges.

All shirts are crew neck and short-sleeved. The shirts are heather red with white lettering. The front of the t-shirt says in print: #brailleiowa. The back of the t-shirt says the same thing in Braille. All adult sizing is unisex and all shirts are $15.00. T-shirts will be mailed to the address you provide on the order form. Participants of the Braille Challenge will be provided with a t-shirt.

Orders can be placed until February 10, 2021

Shirts are heather red with white lettering. The front of the t-shirt says in print: #brailleiowa. The back of the t-shirt says the same thing in Braille

On Twitter?  Use #brailleiowa

Adult Winter Reading Program Starting January 4, 2021!

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December 28, 2020

3:15 pm

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Adult Programming, Library Events

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Start the New Year with a fun challenge!  The Adult Winter Reading Challenge will begin on January 4, 2021.  Go to iowablindreads.readsquared.com to register.  If you read 7500 minutes between January 4 – February 28, 2021, you will be entered to win a Winter Reading Themed Gift Basket.  You can log your minutes right from that website! Please call Leslie at 515.452.1329 with any questions.

Here are the top fiction books downloaded from BARD this month that might help get you started.

The return by Nicholas Sparks DB100846

Thick as thieves by Sandra Brown DB100485

Hush by James Patterson and Candice Fox DB99916

The coast-to-coast murders by James Patterson and J.D. Barker DB100857

Choppy Water by Stuart Woods DB100390

The silent wife by Karen Slaughter DB100185

Half Moon Bay by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman DB100241

Cajun justice by James Patterson and Tucker Axum DB100128

Fair warning by Michael Connelly and Peter Giles DB99807

The book of two ways by Jodi Picoult DB100856

The midwife murders by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo DB100127

New Youth Program Starting This January – Braille Babies

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December 18, 2020

3:32 pm

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Youth Programming

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Time to celebrate, we are introduciBunny with a bookng a brand new program created by your youth library, Braille Babies!  Your child will gain incredible learning opportunities designed just for them. Simply by signing up your child, they will receive, a free braille book, access to monthly resources filled with helping tools designed to stretch and explore new experiences at the turn and touch of each page.

 

Braille Babies

For Ages: 0-4 years’ old

Design of the Program

  • Teaching children the importance of exploring touch, textures and tactiles
  • Elaborate on a multi-sensory approach to reading readiness
  • Time to play!
  • Beginning Braille Skills Are Explored
  • Monthly Braille Activities Provided
  • Parent Resources
  • Monthly Parent Sessions
  • Personalized Activity Box received at sign up!

Please join us, for our VERY FIRST Braille Babies Virtual Event  on January 16th at 11:00am

Register for Braille Babies

If you have any questions please contact Denise Bean, Youth Services Librarian at denise.bean@blind.state.ia.us, (515)452-1338

Braille Learning Resources and Podcast

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October 16, 2020

4:08 pm

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Check out the great braille learning resources the library offers and our Braille Bits podcast!

Code Master

The Code Master Adult Braille Learning System is designed to help teens and adults who are blind or have low vision to learn braille and use it in their daily lives. Code Master breaks the learning of the braille code down into two parts: learning the code and developing the sense of touch needed to read braille tactilely.  Contact the library for more information about Code Master.

Braille Bits Online Course

We will be offering an online Braille Bits course starting on October 30, 2020 at 4:00pm. Braille Bits is designed to teach braille to sighted people who have connections with braille readers. Participants are taught through a combination of visual representation of braille and vocalization of dot positions to instill a better understanding of the braille code. This is an experience geared towards understanding the mechanics of braille without developing the skill to read braille code tactilely and instead focusing on reading visually.  Not only does this course offer a bite size sampling of Braille but you will partner up with a Certified Braillist who will mentor you through, bit by bit. If you are interesting in attending this virtual class, please contact Denise Bean to sign up.

  • Start Date: 10/30/2020
  • Time: 4:00pm – 4:30pm
  • Course Goal: Certificate of the Braille Bits Course Completion, 25 Hours of Training

Denise Bean Certified Braille Transcriber
Denise.bean@blind.state.ia.us
(515)452-1338

Braille Bits Podcast

The Braille Bits Podcast corresponds with each Braille Bits lesson.  It features each Braille Bits Lesson and an interview with a special guest to discuss all things braille.  Check out the Braille Bits Lessons and Braille Bits Podcast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Braille Bits Podcast

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August 28, 2020

9:24 am

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IDB, library

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Join us for a great conversation as Denise talks to a very special guest, Leland Smith, Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher for the Iowa Department for the Blind.  They will also review Braille Bits Lesson 15.

What is Braille Bits did you ask? Braille Bits is an introductory class that is flexible and convenient, supportive and structured in providing a fun, tiny size sampling of braille. You may want to call this dot learning experience, an appetizer of braille.

This online program is designed to teach braille to sighted people who have connections with braille readers. For example, teachers and parents are taught through a combination of visual representation of braille dot positions, through lessons, homework and a podcast. Did we mention a Podcast? Prepare to be both entertained and delighted by listening to others share their love for braille.

For more Braille Bits information:
Braille Bits Introduction
Braille Bits Lessons
Braille Bits Podcast