Library Chat Podcast: February 2023 Featuring the Iowa Regional Braille Challenge and IDB STEM Fest

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
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.
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.The back of the t-shirt says, BRAILLE let the sunshine in, in braille.

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.

Library Chat Podcast: January 2023

January’s Library Chat begins a new chapter for the podcast.  Library staff members, Sarah Willeford, Leslie Heinzler and Denise Bean introduce staff members, Angie Houk, Jodi Aldini, and Leland Smith who will be taking over the Library Chat Podcast starting in February.  Sarah, Leslie and Denise had so much fun creating each episode and would like to thank everyone for listening.  They can’t wait to hear what Angie, Jodi and Leland have instore for Library Chat.

Library Chat Podcast: December 2022

December’s Library Chat Podcast, celebrates one of our library staff members.  Join us as we celebrate staff member, Karen Eis, on her 39th year with the Iowa Department for the Blind and the Library and on her upcoming retirement.  Karen shares with us stories about the library, her role as a reader’s advisor, her work with the library collection and audio production, her favorite books and more.

Library Chat Podcast: November 2022

November’s Library Chat Podcast, is all about friends.  With Thanksgiving and the holiday season upon us we thought it would be a great time to talk about Friendsgiving.  Learn about our Friends of the Library group, books about friends and friendships and podcasts hosted by friends about friends.

Books from the November Library Chat Podcast (all titles can be found on BARD):

Library Chat Podcast: October 2022

October’s Library Chat Podcast, is a special “Live” episode in the spirit of October, Halloween and the spooky season.  We decided to do a ghost hunt in our Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) building.  The IDB’s building has long and rich history and there has been a lot of unexplained occurrences, sightings and feelings throughout, so we thought we should investigate.  Joining us for the podcast is a special guest Dave Coulson, former IDB Facilities Engineer, to do an investigation and tour of the building.

October Book List

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson  DB26427  BR11092  LT4028

Dracula by Bram Stoker  DB31689  BR8277

Frankenstein by Mary W. Shelley  DB25835  BR12173  LT5603

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman  DB68027  BR18241

Hallowe’en Party:  a Hercule Poirot mystery by Agatha Christie  DB97649

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury  DB44005  BR10971

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson  DB26179  LT11759

Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving  DB16731  BR08876

Salem’s Lot by Stephen King  DB62402  BR22530  LT4278

Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark by Alvin Schwartz  DB19713

The Shining by Stephen King  DB51373  BR13271  LT4276

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury DB50233  BR12583