<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Greetings everyone,<div dir="ltr"></div><div><br></div><div>I wanted to share the announcement that was just released from the national library service for the blind and print disabled. Announcement is being posted below.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="WordSection1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; page: WordSection1;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">All:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The My Talking Books skill on Amazon Alexa enabled smart speakers will be available for use by NLS patrons <span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">beginning Wednesday, September 25.</span> Patrons will need to register in order to access the service. The registration form is available now and can be found at:<b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mtb-open-beta__;!!EDx7F7x-0XSOB8YS_BQ!f1CVFmJ5uwQrYaTOPT0DB-N0gvZQ6bRY6Glfw9ghIZirrRIpmGzk3TXLgA_lfF6mG0c9RpwZkGtiFj7hMtKUJ3Lzm7FV$" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">www.surveymonkey.com/r/mtb-open-beta</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For patrons who are minors, a parent or legal guardian must sign a parental acknowledgement form using the link below:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mtb-parental-acknowledgment__;!!EDx7F7x-0XSOB8YS_BQ!f1CVFmJ5uwQrYaTOPT0DB-N0gvZQ6bRY6Glfw9ghIZirrRIpmGzk3TXLgA_lfF6mG0c9RpwZkGtiFj7hMtKUJ2mWGo6Z$" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mtb-parental-acknowledgment</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is an open beta, where our goal is to identify and resolve any final issues with the My Talking Books skill before it <a name="_Hlk176767809">goes live. </a>Patrons participating in the open beta will be asked to report any issues they encounter so these can be promptly addressed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Patrons who register for the open beta will be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis until our license limit of 5,000 users is reached. Patrons who register after the license limit is reached will be placed on a wait list for future access. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Patrons will be notified by email that they may access the service. <b>Please note that you must respond by accessing the service within 48 hours of receiving the email.</b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> If you do not respond, the license will be moved to the next eligible patron. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Please read the acceptance email in its entirety when you receive it. It contains the instructions for accessing the My Talking Books Alexa skill. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For more information, please contact:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="mailto:NLSPES@loc.gov" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">NLSPES@loc.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><hr style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">To unsubscribe from the NLS-PATRONANNOUNCE list, click the following link:<br><a href="http://listserv.loc.gov/cgi-bin/wa?TICKET=NzM5MTcwIEthdC5ib3R0bmVyQEdNQUlMLkNPTSBOTFMtUEFUUk9OQU5OT1VOQ0UgIF8RdEXLqHZX&c=SIGNOFF" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">http://listserv.loc.gov/cgi-bin/wa?TICKET=NzM5MTcwIEthdC5ib3R0bmVyQEdNQUlMLkNPTSBOTFMtUEFUUk9OQU5OT1VOQ0UgIF8RdEXLqHZX&c=SIGNOFF</a></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I have been testing this since it came out and it's pretty fantastic. So if anyone has questions I would be happy to help. Happy reading!</p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Best regards,</p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Kat</p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p></div></body></html>