<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">Hi everyone, </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-variant:normal;background-color:transparent;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD) invites the public to view </span><span style="font-variant:normal;background-color:transparent;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Brailled It!</span><span style="font-variant:normal;background-color:transparent;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, an award-winning documentary highlighting the skill and achievements of young Braille readers and writers. A free national discussion will follow on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-679bbdf0-7fff-9f24-7ba9-0c74262300cd"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Through community partnerships with the Friends of the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, Artifact Studios, Hadley, the Braille Institute, and the Library of Congress' National Library Services for the Blind and the Print Disabled (NLS), this event brings together readers, educators, network library staff, families, and advocates nationwide to explore the importance of Braille literacy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Brailled It</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> follows leading blind and low-vision Braille readers and writers under 18 as they compete in the Braille Challenge. The Braille Challenge, hosted by the Braille Institute, is the only international academic competition for students who are blind or visually impaired. It brings together the top 50 finalists selected from more than 2,000 competitors across Australia, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">By placing cameras in the competitors' hands, the documentary provides an authentic perspective on their experiences and celebrates confidence, community, and the transformative impact of Braille.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">To ensure nationwide participation, the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled and Artifact Studios will offer free, on-demand public screenings of </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Brailled It</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> from October 7, 2026 through the discussion on October 13, 2026. Registration is required for film access.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">After watching the film, NLS patrons are invited to join the live national discussion to reflect on the film, celebrate Braille literacy, and discuss the ongoing impact of accessible reading. Both the on-demand screenings and the October 13 discussion are free, but advance registration is required.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">For registration information, visit</span><a href="https://bit.ly/BrailledIt" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://bit.ly/BrailledIt</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly. I can be contacted at this email or via 410-230-2430.</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Best regards,</span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ashley</span></p></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;border-collapse:collapse">
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<p style="line-height:normal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Ashley M. Biggs</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br>
<i>Marketing & Outreach Librarian</i><br>Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled<br>Maryland State Library Agency<br>415 Park Avenue<br>Baltimore, Maryland 21201-3603<br>
<br>410-230-2430 (office) | 667-209-1563 (cell) | 410-333-2095 (fax)<br>
</span><a href="mailto:ashley.biggs1@maryland.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204)">ashley.biggs1@maryland.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"></p></td></tr></tbody></table><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><br></span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://msla.maryland.gov/Pages/LBPD.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">Click here</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"> to visit the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled website and sign up for weekly updates.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline">Follow us on Social Media!</span></p><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MDLBPD/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">Facebook</span></a></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://twitter.com/MDLBPD/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">X</span></a></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/marylandstatelibrary" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">LinkedIn</span></a></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/maryland_state_library/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">Instagram</span></a></p></li></ul></span></div><div><br></div><div><div><ul></ul></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>