| Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped |
| Free Library of Philadelphia |
The Philadelphia Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped participated in a planning
project from May 2008 through April 2009. One of the activities of the project was to hold a focus group for
users of the LBPH service. On August 8, 2008, eight patrons participated in the session and gave us important
feedback.
They told us, among other things, that they appreciated our service and particularly valued access to
Newsline, the telephone news service from the National Federation of the Blind that is available to our
registered patrons.
These avid users also told us that many of them would like to receive messages, announcements, and even
this distinguished newsletter, 919 News, in electronic format, that is, through email. We are therefore
developing a process for sending email communications to those who desire them. First, we will need to survey
all of you, our readers, to tell us your preference. Note please that the 919 News is available on our web site,
http://lbph.freelibrary.org and select the 919 News from the menu.
One thing that is lacking, the members of the groups told us, is more large print for children and teens, as
well as more print-Braille books. We are taking these comments seriously and are developing our plans to
accommodate more of you in more ways.
We thank the focus group participants for their time and ideas and we encourage all of you to let us know
what you like about us in particular and what needs to be done to improve our services. You don’t need to wait
for a formal survey.
Please send your comments to:
Nancy Laskowski
Interim Director
Philadelphia Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
919 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
or call at 215-683-3213 or email laskowskin@freelibrary.org
Although the Philadelphia Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is funded primarily
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is a department of the Free Library of Philadelphia. As such, its
operations have been affected by the recent budget problems of the City of Philadelphia resulting in some
shifting of staff and positions.
However, there is no threat to the services we provide. We will continue to send out books—large print,
cassette, and Braille—as usual. We are preparing for the new players and book cartridges as soon as the
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the Library of Congress, delivers them later
this year.
If you are interested in ensuring stable funding for the Philadelphia Library for the Blind, you can contact
Governor Rendell, and your local state legislators. Please call us at 215-683-3213 if you need names and
contact information.
In these tough budget times, there are many interests clamoring for public dollars. We can add our voices.
In the meantime, be assured that we plan on working smarter on your behalf so that your library needs are met
in the best possible way.
The Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) of the Pennsylvania libraries for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped (LBPH) is available on our web site. A link to this catalog can be found at
http://lbph.freelibrary.org
The catalog lists recorded cassettes, Braille and large print books in our collection. You may search this catalog
by author, title, book number, word in title, subject or narrator.
Anyone can search the OPAC, but you must be a registered patron of the Philadelphia LBPH to borrow
books through the OPAC. If you are a registered patron and you want to sign up for the OPAC, please call the
Library at 800-222-1754 or 215-683-3213. You need to call to receive your User ID and select a Password to
borrow books through the OPAC.
InfoEyes is a free online national reference service provided by a consortium of libraries that serve people
with visual, physical and reading disabilities. InfoEyes allows computer users to ask reference questions via
email or through real-time voice or text chat.
You can email questions to librarians at any time. If you would like immediate help, try logging onto the
site to chat over a microphone or via text chat with a librarian to receive reference service.
The next time you need help with homework, information about a product or an answer to almost any
question, remember to try InfoEyes. To find out more about the service and hours of availability, check out
www.infoeyes.org.
Web Braille is a web-based service provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped (NLS). This service provides the opportunity to eligible readers to download materials to your
computer or to use online with a Braille output device. Web Braille offers all of the books and magazines listed
in Braille Book Review, in addition to the thousands of books that can be located through the online catalog at
the NLS web site, www.loc.gov/nls.
Copyright laws require that access to Web Braille be limited to NLS patrons and eligible institutions such as
schools for the blind, public and private schools serving blind children and non-profit organizations, whose
primary purpose is the production of Braille books. To register for Web Braille, please call the Library at 800-
222-1754 or 215-683-3213.
NFB-Newsline is a free national service that provides automated access to “talking newspapers” and some magazines over your telephone. Easy to use Newsline is ready with each day’s latest edition, usually by 8 a.m. You can use this service to read your favorite newspapers 24-hours a day 7 days a week. Tired of channel surfing aimlessly? Local TV listings are now available on Newsline. By simply entering your zip code, your cable or satellite provider and time zone, you will have quick and easy access to your local TV listings. The listings are interactive, allowing you to navigate and choose between date, time and/or channel listings. To register for this free telephone reading service sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind in partnership with the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, call us at 800-222-1754 or 215-683-3213.
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) recently shared the report with the nation, “The Braille Literacy
Crisis in America: Facing the Truth, Reversing the Trend, Empowering the Blind”.
NFB celebrates the release of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar. A portion of the money
from sales of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar, will be used to support the NFB “Braille
Readers are Leaders” campaign.
The campaign is a national initiative created to double the number of blind children learning Braille by 2015.
For more information about the campaign please visit www.braille.org.
Those interested in ordering a coin should visit www.usmint.gov or call 800-872-6468.
This NLS acronym stands for Braille and Audio Reading Download. One must be an active NLS patron through your local LBPH to be eligible for this service and own or have access to a digital player. To begin downloading digital audio or digital Braille books and magazines visit www.nlstalkingbooks.org/dtb to register for an account. After you have registered, you will be asked to identify the digital player you will be using to download. This is to secure access for blind and visually impaired readers because of copyright issues. There are currently three NLS compatible commercial players on the market. The three players are the Victor Reader Stream; the Icon from LevelStar; and the Braille+Mobile Manager from the American Printing House for the Blind.
BookShare books are still available through the Verizon grant for institutional membership, secured by the Free
Library of Philadelphia (FLP). It is not too late to participate. Include your name, address, phone number, email
address and birth date in an email to bookshare@freelibrary.org and we will add you to our subscriber list.
Once your registration is complete, go to http://bookshare.org, select the books you want and send your list to
us at bookshare@freelibrary.org. We will download the books and email them to you. It is free to you and
easy. Remember, if you are a student you are eligible for your own direct free membership.
Free basic access technology orientation and introduction to computers is available at LBPH or one of the nine FLP branches housing Access Technology Workstations (ATW). Mr. Dan Simpson, FLP/LBPH Access Technology Consultant is available by appointment for training sessions. Please call Susan Horvath at 215-683- 3213 or 800-222-1754 and be prepared to leave your name, telephone number or email address for Mr. Simpson. No-shows are inconsiderate.
The Jenny Beck Chapter of the Braille Revival League promotes the teaching, awareness and use of Braille. JBC has existed for more than twenty-five years. Some of the things that JBC has brailled for companies and individuals are theater programs, restaurant menus and recipes. JBC holds Braille awareness events in the community. If you would like to have more information about JBC or need some things put into Braille, please call 215-829-9997.
We would like to graciously acknowledge a grant from the Joseph B. Godwin and Bertha Wurts Godwin
Memorial Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation. We are deeply appreciative of the generous grant that financed
the instruction and paratransit transportation expenses for the ABE/GED Program’s Summer Session, 2008, at
the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped/FLP.
The Adult Basic Education Program at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is proud to
announce that we have a new graduate. Mr. Sean O’Hara has just passed his GED examinations with
exceptionally high scores. Sean has been accepted into the diploma program of The Philadelphia Art Institute.
We are very proud of Sean and wish him the best of luck with his endeavors.
If you would like to join the group of students who are working diligently to earn their high school
equivalency diploma, contact Ms. Jill Gross at 215-683-3213 or 800-222-1754. You may also receive
information by writing to literacy@tactitus.com or flpblind@freelibrary.org
During these challenging economic times, families are looking for things to do together with a minimal cost.
Volunteering is an excellent choice. Whether it is to solve a community problem or help a worthy cause,
volunteering can help your family:
- Make important networking contacts
- Learn about social issues
- Increase communication and problem solving abilities of family members
- Encourage children to continue to volunteer into adulthood
So, I am reaching out to families and offering them a unique way to spend quality time together. Consider
volunteering at the Philadelphia Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Please call Ms. Angel
Chambers-Gilliam at 800-222-1754.
Is it difficult to make a phone call? There is a program that gives free phones to eligible people who live in
Pennsylvania and need a phone with features to help with a disability. A variety of equipment is available
through Pennsylvania TDDP.
Some of the phones that are available have large buttons or Braille numbers on the keys that speak the
numbers as they are pushed. Amplified phones are also available.
The TDDP is implemented by Pennsylvania’s Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT), a program of the
Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation (OVR) and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). For more information, contact
the TDDP at 215-204-5966 (voice/TTY), toll free at 800-204-7428 (voice), 866-268-0579 (TTY),
tddp@temple.edu (email), or visit www.disabilities.temple.edu/programs/assistive/tddp.
Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (M.A.B.G.A.) is looking for blind or visually impaired children ages
5-21, living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, who are interested in learning to play golf.
A PGA teacher who will give lessons to each player at a golf course near his/her home will be provided.
M.A.B.G.A. will also provide golf clubs, golf balls and a golf bag. “We can teach you how to play golf!”
Transportation to the lessons is not included.
The M.A.B.G.A. has a golf clinic twice a year at the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia. “We
have prizes, pizza and soft drinks. You will have fun, we promise you.” Rain or shine, golf clinic on Saturday,
June 6, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Overbrook School for the Blind at 63rd and Malvern Ave. in
Philadelphia. Please call or email Gil Kayson at 215-884-6589, email sasgil@verizon.net. or Norman Kritz at
856-428-1420, email jerrynorman2@verizon.net, so there will be a coach for you.