[New-York-News] Fwd: Newslion Winter 2022: The newsletter of the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library

Fri Jan 7 18:30:18 UTC 2022

NEWSLION WINTER 2022NEWS:All NYPL locations have cancelled in-person
programs for January, but you can stay connected with virtual community
life! Our wonderful new programs for 2022 are below. And check back about
in-person events for February and March
ADULT CALENDAR:Book Discussion Group

*Our book club hosts engaging and thought-provoking discussions about books
selected by our members. Meets on the second Saturday of every other month.
Please call or register in advance to receive a meeting link or dial in
number. Book discussions will be held virtually. Saturday, February 12th,
10:30 - 11:30AM (virtual)The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (DB 95925)*Open
Book Hour

*Reading something amazing you can’t wait to tell people about? Join us for
our virtual Open Book Hour, where we talk about the books we’ve been
reading and get recommendations from fellow book lovers! Please register in
advance on our website under upcoming events to receive a meeting link or
dial in number. Or call us if you need help. Meets every other
Tuesday.Tuesday, January 11th, 3:30 - 4:30PMTuesday, January 25th, 3:30 -
4:30PMTuesday, February 8th, 3:30 - 4:30PMTuesday, February 22nd, 3:30 -
4:30PMTuesday, March 8th, 3:30 - 4:30PMTuesday, March 22nd, 3:30 -
4:30PM*Crossword
Club

*Are you a crossword puzzle enthusiast? Join staff from the Andrew Heiskell
Library for our virtual Crossword Club and help solve a puzzle as a group!
Please call or register in advance to receive a meeting link or dial in
number. Meets virtually every Wednesday morning at 10am. Wednesday, January
5th, 12th, 19th, & 26th, 10 - 11AMWednesday, February 2nd, 9th, 16th, &
23rd, 10 - 11AMWednesday, March 2nd, 9th, 16th, & 23rd, 10 - 11AM*Start
your month with Ditch the Dull Talk

* Feel like the modern world is more disconnecting than connecting? Bored
with small talk? Start your month with interesting conversations! Meets
virtually the first Monday of each month. Monday, February 7th, 11AM -
12PMMonday, March 7th, 11AM - 12PM*Braille Study Group – Remote

*Saturdays, 10:3011:30 AM - 12:30 PM on ZoomWe welcome learners at all
levels! Bring your questions, get support for your learninggoals and find
out how to learn Braille for free from home. To register, please email
ChanceyFleet at nypl.org <ChanceyFleet at nypl.org> or call (212) 206-5400,
extension 3. *TECH CALENDAR:One-to-One Coaching

*We are here to help you achieve your tech goal! Are you learning the
iPhone, improving yourtyping, or exploring the web with a screen reader? We
will be happy to match you with a tech coach to work on achieving that
goal. *Read Wherever You Are

*Our BARD collection offers instant access to all of our Braille and
talking books using a computer, smartphone, tablet or accessible device.
Our members also have free access to Bookshare, a library of over a million
titles which you can read on the web or your smartphone or tablet using
magnification, text-to-speech or Braille. Need the daily paper?
NFB-Newsline is also free and brings you accessto local and national
publications from your computer, smartphone, tablet or even a land-line
phone. To get started, just call or email our tech team. *TECH AND CULTURE
WORKSHOPS

*Join our vibrant community for free, interactive remote workshops every
week covering tech topics for beginners and seasoned users, book
discussions, a Braille study group and more. Below, you’ll find our
offerings for August: just use the link within each listing to register. To
receive a reminder about each upcomingworkshop or find out about additional
pop-up offerings, email heiskelltech+subscribe at googlegroups.com
<heiskelltech%2Bsubscribe at googlegroups.com> or contact our tech team to
join our announcement list. Email chanceyfleet at nypl.org
<chanceyfleet at nypl.org> or call (212) 206-5400 and ask for zoom links for
tech workshops, where available.*Intro to NVDA: a 12-week Workshop `

*Thursdays beginning January 13, 6:00 – 7:30 PM EasternThere are several
Windows screen readers to choose from. Come discover how this free-
open-source option compares. If you know how to type, understand Windows
basics, can commit to attending twelve sessions, and would like to become
more confident and proficient with the NVDA screen reader, this workshop is
for you! Please plan to join us each week for a hands-on lesson and
discussion. This workshop also includes a group mailing list where you can
post your questions and discoveries for other members of your cohort to
read and respond. We’ll cover the basics of customizing NVDA settings,
getting around in Windows 10, working with text, managing files and folders
and exploring the web.This workshop will be limited to 25 participants, so
please apply to participate soon!This event will take place
online.  Exploring NVDA, Winter 2022 (google.com)
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYKIXMmWmBwpCcqAMper8IJhPbk0bJidqJBOZNn-IvJgov1A/viewform>*Transitioning
to JAWS - a Twelve-Week Workshop

*Thursdays beginning January 13, 3:00 – 4:30 PM EasternIf you know how to
type, understand Windows basics, can commit to attending twelve sessions,
and would like to become more confident and proficient with the JAWS screen
reader, this workshop is for you! Please plan to join us each week for a
hands-on lesson and discussion. This workshop also includes a group mailing
list where you can post your questions and discoveries for other members of
your cohort to read and respond. We’ll cover the basics of customizing JAWS
settings, getting around in Windows 10, working with text, managing files
and folders and exploring the web.This workshop will be limited to 25
participants, so please apply to participate soon! This event will take
place online.  Sign up using the link below:Exploring JAWS, Winter 2022
(google.com)
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSIMNlPdlpFKLpZFCGaMS_M3YMMfTJaVM2swPcJefQaLe8qA/viewform>
*Intro
to Google Docs with Screen Readers: a 3-Week Workshop Tuesdays beginning
January 11, 3:00 – 4:30 PMGoogle Docs is more accessible than you might
think! Come discover the tips and tricks that can help you get the most out
of this modern web app for reading, writing and collaborating. All screen
reader users are welcome, regardless of what operating system you use.
We’ll cover both desktop and mobile approaches. This event will take place
online.  Intro to Google Docs with Screen Readers, Winter 2022
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegUtGKyD3w0cAFr9SWhPk8TDrJbl4nKipy5FqqJyMnVYg8iw/viewform>Intro
to Twitter

*Tuesday January 11, 6:00 – 7:30 PM EasternLearn to use this social network
to network, follow your interests, get the word out about your project or
cause, and more. We’ll cover everything you need to know to get started,
with accessibility in mind. This event will take place
online.  https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsceisrzMtH913BWoVWeDgF8c_a6EthgHS
<https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsceisrzMtH913BWoVWeDgF8c_a6EthgHS>*iPhone
Chat for Voiceover Beginners

*Saturday January 15, 1:00 – 2:30 PM EasternIf you’re new to using
Voiceover on the iPhone or if you’re still working toward confidence, this
discussion group is for you. We’ll spend some time going over the theory of
how screen readers work, gestures everyone needs to know, and some
strategies for getting help. Then, we’ll open it up for questions and
networking. This event will take place
online.  https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vcuiqqjwtHdzr8bnEn6y-ypuxRhgkdvwz
<https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vcuiqqjwtHdzr8bnEn6y-ypuxRhgkdvwz>
 *Intro
to BARD and Bookshare

*Thursday January 20, 3:00 – 4:30 PM EasternBARD is a free service that
lets you download books and magazines in audio and Braille formats using
your computer, smartphone or tablet. Experience recent bestsellers,
classics and popular magazines with professional narration, or dive into
our music education and foreign-language collections! Looking for something
different? Bookshare.org membership is an online library of over a million
titles that you can read with text-to-speech audio, magnification and
Braille. It’s free for students and members of the New York Public Library.
This information session will show you how to sign up, what’s in the
collections, how to download books and the wide array of choices you have
for reading them. This event will take place
online.  https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkcumvrzsiE9PTU1l8i3m0d3CgmuwbgyPo
<https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkcumvrzsiE9PTU1l8i3m0d3CgmuwbgyPo>
*Newly
Blind and Short on Time: Tech Chat

*Saturday January 22, 3:00 – 4:30 PMAre you learning to use a screen reader
in the context of the high-level tech skills you already have? Are you
taking a fast-paced, firehose approach to learning everything about being
blind in tech? Come exchange tips and network with other patrons who want
to develop nonvisual tech skills quickly. This event will take place
online.
 https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpceqtpjssH9ynhPd_0zdUfHiq_DnyibT6
<https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpceqtpjssH9ynhPd_0zdUfHiq_DnyibT6>
*Tea
for Tech Trainers: Networking and Resource-sharing

*Wednesday January 27, 1:00 – 2:30 PM EasternCalling assistive tech
educators, and anyone interested in the field, from New York City and
beyond. Let’s grab some lunch or a cup of tea and share some knowledge.
Bring your favorite teaching strategies, resources and ideas; and bring
your tough questions, too! This event will take place
online.   https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsduCsrD0oEt2xdV33D0Ws43SrrJkpK7pD
<https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsduCsrD0oEt2xdV33D0Ws43SrrJkpK7pD>
*Where
in the World: Accessible Wayfinding and Mapping for iOS

*Tuesday February 7, 3:00 – 4:30 PM EasternWe’ll explore accessible
mainstream apps like Apple and Google Maps, which can give you walking or
transit directions and help you discover points of interest in your city.
Plus, we’ll explore Microsoft Soundscape and Goodmaps, two apps built to
give you precise, accessible guidance that mainstream apps may not. This
event will take place
online.  https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErc-6grDwsEtaEvwUVIi0nIY3Rh0ehqqJO
<https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErc-6grDwsEtaEvwUVIi0nIY3Rh0ehqqJO>
 Intro
to Google CalendarWednesday February 15, 3:00 – 4:30 PMWe’ll explore both
web and mobile versions of this free productivity tool. Learn how to make
one-time and recurring appointments, invite people, add virtual meetings
and more.This event will take place
online.  https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqdO-gqDotGdUEx3d9G0MEFXG_yyNtAYzp
<https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqdO-gqDotGdUEx3d9G0MEFXG_yyNtAYzp>*Customizing
your iOS Device

*Saturday February 26, 1:30 – 3:00 PM EasternTemperatures are falling and
so are your battery level, your available data and your remaining storage.
Your ringtone is getting stale and you have more notifications than you
know what to do with. Learn how to change your settings so your phone or
tablet works for you rather than the other way around! This event will take
place
online.   https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vduCopjkvHNNZYnTR98l_iHRknSDQwZty
<https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vduCopjkvHNNZYnTR98l_iHRknSDQwZty>
*Which
Braille Display is Right for You?

*Tuesday March 8, 6:00 – 7:30 PMFrom small, affordable displays to
full-featured note-takers with touchscreens, there are more Braille
displays and note-takers to choose from than ever before. We’ll explore
what factors to consider when you’re choosing Braille technology, including
operating system, key features, compatibility, ergonomics, and more. This
event will take place
online.  https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqdO-hrzouHt0xCS9GKRg85F90HoLKW77n
<https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqdO-hrzouHt0xCS9GKRg85F90HoLKW77n>
*Intro
to Windows Narrator

*Tuesday March 16, 3:00 – 4:30 PMThis screen reader is built right into
Windows: no download is required. Learn how to get up and running,
understand important keyboard commands, get help and get started using the
web and other programs.This event will take place
online.  https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoceihqT0rG9wfzFMYoIfHY5yIzK2tmNTS
<https://nypl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoceihqT0rG9wfzFMYoIfHY5yIzK2tmNTS>*YOUTH
CALENDAR:
Storytimes

*Mondays at 2:30 and 3:00 pm and Fridays at 11:00 and 11:30 am in February
and March. Call or email us to register and reserve your place. *PARTING
INTERVIEW WITH TECHNOLOGY COACH NEFERTITI:

*We are grateful for the 5+ years that tech coach Nefertiti spent with us,
and wish her well on her next chapter. Here are some of her thoughts on her
time with us. How did you first get involved with the library?I became
blind at a very young age, so audiobooks and books in braille have been a
part of my life for as long as I can remember. However, it wasn’t till
adulthood that I started to pay attention to an urge which demanded that I
do more for the blind and low vision community. I learned about a group of
advocates working hard to make the AndrewHeiskell Library into a space
where blind people could come together to take advantage of a beautiful
braille collection, advance theirtech skills, and commune with one another.
I joined the effort as a volunteer, and just over a year later, had the
privilege of becoming amember of the staff. It was one of the most
rewarding choices I have made to date.What's one thing that surprised
you/something unexpected you learned from working at the library?I always
suspected that the education I received at the blind schools I attended was
lacking, but I was unprepared for just how much of a deficit there was in
my mathematics knowledge. When the Dimensions Lab opened to the public, and
we began offering 3D printing courses, I found myself in a mad dash to
learn a tremendous amount of information, only to turn around and teach it
straight away. That was a very stressful time for me, but I learned so much
about pushing limitations, and teaching through example. It felt good to
know that we were all in something together, breaking barriers and actively
doing our part to demolish the “image poverty” that prevails in the blind
and low vision community.Can you share one or two of your favorite memories
from your years of working here?I can recall feeling rather triumphant when
a patron told me that he would be helping a friend learn Voiceover on the
iPhone because it hadchanged his life. To think that this was the same
person who I literally had to stop from throwing his iPhone against a wall
mere months before… I am particularly proud of the work I’ve done with
patrons who speak Spanish. By improving their tech prowess, a great number
of them have gone on to independently apply for citizenship, enroll in
English-language courses, communicate with family members living in other
countries, and even find love!You're leaving the library as a staff member,
but you're still a patron. As a patron, what are your hopes for the library
in the future?My hope is that NYPL continues to place an emphasis on all
that all may access. Blind folks are some of the most highly-educated and
well-read people, and I believe this is something that needs to be
acknowledged, encouraged, celebrated, and amplified.Tell us about your next
chapter. How did you start to explore the world of video description, and
what do you want to accomplish in yournew role?As an avid consumer of audio
description, I became aware of what felt to me as a growing trend. Though
this art form was thought up by blind people to benefit blind people, I was
hearing very little about actual blind people being involved in its
creation. That did not sit well with me at all, and it definitely piqued
the interest of my more artsy side. I enrolled in a voice-over academy, and
began making inroadsinto audio description specifically with an emphasis on
Spanish-language materials. The opportunity to be Partnerships Development
Coordinator for Dicapta, a provider of high-quality caption and description
services, really feels like it came at the perfect time given my current
interests. My hope is to continueraising awareness of how impactful audio
description can be for all segments of the population, and to help
Spanish-language audiodescription evolve. *HOLIDAYS AND CLOSINGS:

   -

   Saturday Jan. 1st - Closed for New Year’s Day
   -

   Monday January 17th- closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
   -

   Monday Feb 21 - Closed for Presidents’ Day

-- 

Jill Rothstein

Chief Librarian

Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library

The New York Public Library

40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011

jillrothstein at nypl.org

talkingbooks.nypl.org

-- 
Chancey S. Fleet
Assistive Technology Coordinator
Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library
(212) 621-0627
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/new-york-news_nfbnet.org/attachments/20220107/fe95e758/attachment.html>