Accessible World

GLOW stands for Guided Layout & Output Workflow — a guided, confidence-building accessibility experience built for real publishing workflows. The GLOW Accessibility Toolkit helps authors, publishers, and organizations produce documents that comply with the American Council of the Blind Large Print Guidelines and WCAG 2.2 Level AA. The toolkit audits, fixes, and templates Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Markdown, PDF, and ePub documents for accessibility. Presenter Contact Info Email: [email protected] GLOW website: https://glow.bits-acb.org/about/  

Please join us as Joanie Leonard hosts Banquet of Books Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 5pm Eastern. This informal discussion of whatever book you’re reading or have recently finished is most enjoyable and a great way to get new reading ideas. You can contribute your opinions and everyone is welcome.  

Presenter contact info: Venkatesh Chari, President of Orbit Research Email: [email protected] Phone: 888-606-7248 Website: www.orbitresearch.com  

Science Fiction Club Meeting.

Presenter contact info: None  

Science Fiction Club Meeting.

BARD annotation Fifty fifty DB130811 Series: Eddie Flynn Order in Series: 05 Author: Cavanagh, Steve Reading Time: 11 hours, 47 minutes Read by: Adam Sims Subjects: Suspense Fiction, Mystery and Detective Stories   “Alexandra Avellino has just found her father’s mutilated body, and needs the police right away. She believes her sister killed him, and that she is still in the house with a knife. Sofia Avellino has just found her father’s mutilated body and needs the police right away. She believes her sister, Alexandra did it, and that she is still in the house, locked in the bathroom. Both women are to go on trial at the same time. A joint trial in front of one jury. But one of these women is lying. One of them is a murderer. Sitting in a jail cell, about to go on trial with her sister for murder, you might think that this is the last place she expected to be. You’d be wrong.” — Goodreads. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.   New York : Simon & Schuster Audio, 2025. Bookshare This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6842067?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUZpZnR5JTJCZmlmdHk   Shelly Kane is the facilitator of the Mystery Book Discussion Group. Shelly can be contacted by email at [email protected].  

The 41st Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference took place on  March 9 – 13, 2026 at the Anaheim Marriott in California. Panelists will include John and Larry Gassman and any who attended and have comments on the technology experienced are welcome to contribute. Presenter contact info: None  

BARD annotation The deep, deep snow DB103386 Author: Freeman, Brian Reading Time: 10 hours, 8 minutes Read by: Laura Hatch Subjects: Mystery and Detective Stories, Suspense Fiction   When ten-year-old Jeremiah Sloan disappears, leaving behind his bicycle on a lonely road, Deputy Shelby Lake is assigned to the case. She discovers everyone around Jeremiah–including herself–is keeping secrets. Shelby worries as the case goes cold. But when a clue appears, the darkest lies come to light. Strong language and some violence. 2020.   Ashland : Blackstone Publishing, 2020. Bookshare This book is not available on Bookshare.  

BARD annotation   Take your breath away DB117930 Author: Barclay, Linwood Reading Time: 10 hours, 4 minutes Read by: Joe Knezevich, George Newbern, Karissa Vacker, (Michael Lockwood) Michael Crouch, Lauren Fortgang, Hillary Huber, Jim Meskimen, Pete Simonelli Subjects: Suspense Fiction, Mystery and Detective Stories, Psychological Fiction   “One weekend, while Andrew Mason was on a fishing trip, his wife, Brie, vanished without a trace. Most everyone assumed Andy had got away with murder—it’s always the husband, isn’t it?—but the police could never build a strong case against him. For a while, Andy hit rock bottom—he drank too much to numb the pain, was abandoned by all his friends save one, nearly lost his business, and became a pariah in the place he once called home. Now, six years later, Andy has finally put his life back together. He sold the house he once shared with Brie and moved away. To tell the truth, he wasn’t sad to hear that the old place was razed and a new house built on the site. He’s settled down with a new partner, Jayne, and life is good. But Andy’s peaceful world is about to shatter. One day, a woman shows up at his old address, screaming, “Where’s my house? What’s happened to my house?” And then, just as suddenly as she appeared, the woman—who bears a striking resemblance to Brie—is gone. The police are notified and old questions—and dark suspicions—resurface. Could Brie really be alive after all these years? If so, where has she been? It soon becomes clear that Andy’s future and the lives of those closest to him depend on discovering what the hell is going on. The trick will be whether he can stay alive long enough to unearth the answers.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.   Solon, Ohio : HarperAudio, [2022] Bookshare You can find this book on Bookshare at the following website:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/4550257?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVRha2UlMkJ5b3VyJTJCYnJlYXRoJTJCYXdheQ  

Presenter Contact Info Email: [email protected] Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/    

Please join us as Joanie Leonard hosts Banquet of Books Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 5pm Eastern. This informal discussion of whatever book you’re reading or have recently finished is most enjoyable and a great way to get new reading ideas. You can contribute your opinions and everyone is welcome.   We will meet on the Zoom platform and the Zoom meeting invitation for Banquet of Books is as follows:  

The facilitator for this meeting will be LeDon: [email protected].   My review Kristin Hannah is a master of emotional storytelling, creating vivid characters whose hope, grit, and resilience pull readers in and refuse to let go. Her novels center on strong women who endure loss, fight for meaning, and find the courage to prevail. With more than twenty-four bestselling novels, Hannah has earned her reputation, and The Things We Do for Love (DB116672) stands as one of her most powerful books. The story follows Angie Malone, newly divorced and emotionally adrift, who returns to her hometown searching for refuge and purpose. As she works to rescue her family’s failing restaurant, Angie carries a deeper, private grief: her lifelong dream of motherhood, which now seems forever out of reach. Lauren is seventeen and growing up far too fast in a hard scrabble life  shaped by neglect and instability. Her mother can’t, or won’t, provide the care she needs, so Lauren leans on grit and ambition instead. She plans to graduate at the top of her class, earn a full college scholarship, and build a secure future with her longtime boyfriend, David. Then everything begins to unravel. The rent hasn’t been paid, eviction looms, and just as Lauren turns to her job for help, she learns her position has been eliminated. Desperate for work, Lauren applies at the DeSaria family restaurant. Angie senses promise in her and offers her a job. Lauren quickly proves herself hardworking and dependable, and a quiet bond begins to form. Angie, who longs to be a mother, and Lauren, who craves guidance and affection, find in each other what they have both been missing. Angie takes quiet joy in the small ways she helps Lauren, realizing these are the very things she once imagined doing for a daughter of her own. For Lauren, Angie’s steady care feels like the maternal love she has always wanted. What begins as kindness deepens into a bond that becomes profoundly meaningful to them both. Then everything changes. Angie and Lauren are forced into a devastating Sophie’s Choice, one with no good outcomes, only lasting consequences. A single decision has the power to scar both of their lives forever. Through insight and deeply believable dialogue, Kristin Hannah breathes life into Angie and Lauren on every page. The result is a powerful, moving, and unforgettable novel. You will love Mama, I guarantee it. Bookshare The Things We Do for Love can be found on Bookshare at this link: https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/4571101?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPXRoZSUyQnRoaW5ncyUyQndlJTJCZG8lMkJmb3IlMkJsb3Zl  

There’s a lot of news from Blazie Technologies to tell you about on the next installment of Tek Talk. First, we want to let you know what’s happening with the BT Braille. BT Braille has a Braille keyboard, speech output along with either a 20 cell or 40 cell model with lots of apps and features. Customers who have pre-ordered the BT Braille have already received their devices and we continue to update and refine the software to make these devices even better. Not only that but March is a big anniversary month for us as it was two years ago that we began shipping the BT Speak. To celebrate BT Speak’s second anniversary, we have an exciting update to tell you about which will be free for all of our customers. Presenter contact info: David Goldfield , Director of Marketing Blazie Technologies, LLC Email: [email protected] Phone: 772-214-1616 Website: www.BlazieTech.com  

Jana Littrell facilitates A Journey through History book group to discuss Denial: Holocaust history on trial DB119278   BARD annotation Denial: Holocaust history on trial DB119278 Author: Lipstadt, Deborah E. Reading Time: 13 hours, 18 minutes Read by: Kate Udall Subjects: World History and Affairs, Legal Issues   “In her acclaimed 1993 book Denying the Holocaust, Deborah Lipstadt called David Irving, a prolific writer of books on World War II, “one of the most dangerous spokespersons for Holocaust denial.” The following year, after Lipstadt’s book was published in the United Kingdom, Irving led a libel suit against Lipstadt and her publisher. She prepared her defense with the help of a first-rate team of solicitors, historians, and experts, and a dramatic trial unfolded. Denial, previously published as History on Trial, is Lipstadt’s riveting, blow- by-blow account of this singular legal battle, which resulted in a formal denunciation of a Holocaust denier that crippled the movement for years to come. Lipstadt’s victory was proclaimed on the front page of major news- papers around the world, such as The Times (UK), which declared that ‘history has had its day in court and scored a crushing victory.'” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.   New York : HarperAudio, 2016. Bookshare This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5934409?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPURlbmlhbCUyNTNBJTJCSG9sb2NhdXN0JTJCaGlzdG9yeSUyQm9uJTJCdHJpYWwlMkI  

The presentation will cover recent developments across the Orbit product line, including braille displays, notetakers and the Orbit Player along with a look at what is coming next. Orbit Research focuses on making high-quality assistive technology accessible worldwide, with particular emphasis on education, literacy, and employment. Presenter contact info: Venkatesh Chari, President of Orbit Research Email: [email protected] Phone: 888-606-7248 Website: www.orbitresearch.com  

Open forum  

BARD annotation   Marti MacAlister DB84208 Series: Marti MacAlister mystery Order in Series: 01, 02, 03 Author: Bland, Eleanor Taylor Reading Time: 23 hours, 17 minutes Read by: Madelyn Buzzard Subject: Mystery and Detective Stories   The first three mysteries, written between 1992 and 1994, in the series featuring the only black female police detective in Lincoln Prairie, Illinois. Includes Dead Time, Slow Burn, and Gone Quiet, in which a colleague’s elderly stepfather is suffocated in his sleep. Some violence and some strong language. 1994.   New York, New York : St. Martin’s Press, 1992.New York, New York : St. Martin’s Press, 1994.New York, New York : St. Martin’s Press, 1993.   Bookshare This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/85126?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPURlYWQlMkJ0aW1l   Shelly Kane is the facilitator of the Mystery Book Discussion Group. Shelly can be contacted by email at [email protected].  

BARD annotation Hidden nature DB129760 Author: Roberts, Nora Reading Time: 14 hours, 57 minutes Read by: January LaVoy Subjects: Romantic Suspense, Mystery and Detective Stories   “Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store–and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world. After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance. She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young – the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening. Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case–and she’s willing to risk her life again if that’s what it takes to stop the horror.”– Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.   New York : Macmillan, 2025. Bookshare This book can be found on Bookshare at the below link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6572947?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUhpZGRlbiUyQm5hdHVyZQ  

BARD annotation   West with giraffes DB102687 Author: Rutledge, Lynda Reading Time: 10 hours, 0 minutes Read by: Jack Fox Subject: Historical Fiction   As the Great Depression lingers, Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. In a twelve-day road trip, Woodrow Wilson Nickel drives a custom truck to deliver the giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Some violence and some strong language. 2021.   Seattle : Lake Union Publishing, 2021.   Bookshare You can find this book on Bookshare at the following website:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6227042?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVdlc3QlMkJ3aXRoJTJCZ2lyYWZmZXM  

Hello Folks,   A good meeting to start out the new year.   We decided to read the first book in a popular series, Hospital Station by James White, book 1 in the Sector General series.   There’s an Excellent version on Bookshare at:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/1053784   The Bookshare synopsis reads:   Sector general is the home of many strange creatures, including humans! it is a vast sectionalized hospital, set up in space to care for all kinds of extra-terrestrials. Each section has a different atmosphere and habitat to cater for the many different species. all the problems of the staff and patients are in this book. how to design a spacesuit for a surgeon with eight legs?   NLS has Hospital Station as the first book in a three-book collection called Beginning Operations, DB63073, narrated by Jack Fox:   https://nlsbard.loc.gov/bard2-web/search/DB63073/?prevPage=search_books&from=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2F%3Ftype%3Dbook%26initialFormat%3Dall%26search%3Dbeginning%2Boperations%26initialLanguage%3Den    

This presentation will cover the history of Agiga and the inspiration behind the creation of EchoVision glasses, followed by a live demonstration showcasing what the glasses can do and how they seamlessly integrate into our busy daily lives. It will also explore the future of EchoVision, including the features and enhancements planned to be included by the time the glasses ship. To find out more or to get on our mailing list so you will be informed with news and anouncements, please visit the website or email [email protected]. Presenter Contact Info Amy Liu Email: [email protected] Website: https://echovision.agiga.ai/  

Please join us as Joanie Leonard hosts Banquet of Books Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 5pm Eastern. This informal discussion of whatever book you’re reading or have recently finished is most enjoyable and a great way to get new reading ideas. You can contribute your opinions and everyone is welcome.

Jana Littrell facilitates A Journey through History book group to discuss Royal audience: 70 years, 13 presidents–one queen’s special relationship with America DB120048 by David Charter.   BARD annotation Royal audience: 70 years, 13 presidents–one queen’s special relationship with America DB120048 Author: Charter, David Reading Time: 8 hours, 40 minutes Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress Read by: Mark Meadows Subjects: World History and Affairs, Government and Politics, Biography of Heads of State and Political Figures   “From the moment she first enchanted the world as a youthful princess, Queen Elizabeth II found a unique place in American hearts–and she also played an unprecedented role in forging transatlantic ties. Over her seventy-year reign, she developed extraordinary and varied personal bonds with thirteen U.S. presidents–Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, both Bush Sr. and Jr., Clinton, Obama, Trump, and Biden–that other diplomats and leaders could only dream of. A fascinating, in-depth look at international relations and interpersonal intrigue, Royal Audience peels back the curtain on the “special relationship” between the U.S. and the U.K. as embodied by the Queen herself–charting Elizabeth II’s distinctive brand of one-to-one diplomacy through the eyes of those who experienced it firsthand. From horse-riding with Ronald Reagan, to sharing her recipe for scones with Dwight D. Eisenhower, to striking up a kinship with the Bushes and the Obamas, the Queen’s interactions with her U.S. counterparts often acted as a restorative tonic for relations between two nations, even when political tensions ran high. Not all royal encounters with U.S. presidents went smoothly, though. Between Jackie Kennedy’s complaints about Elizabeth and the Queen Mother’s shock at being kissed on the lips by Jimmy Carter, there was never a dull moment. Throughout the years, Queen Elizabeth II’s sense of duty and service remained steadfast, and her iconic legacy is unlikely to be repeated”– Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.   New York : Penguin Random House Audio, [2024] Bookshare This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5915251?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVJveWFsJTJCYXVkaWVuY2U  

In this episode of TekTalk, we’re joined by InnoSearch AI, a platform built specifically for blind and low-vision users to navigate the digital world independently. We’ll explore how InnoSearch enables accessible online shopping, travel booking, and on-demand food and grocery delivery, all designed to work seamlessly with screen readers and voice-first interactions. We’ll also dive into 1-855-SHOP-GPT, a phone-based AI shopping assistant that lets users complete real tasks entirely by voice. Presenter Contact Info Patrick Long: Co-founder / CEO of Innosearch AI Email: [email protected] Website: www.innosearch.ai Phone: ‪(408) 256-1883 Cell: (510) 857-4401  

Come hear the new BrailleNote Evolve from HumanWare speak for itself. During this presentation, Joel Zimba and Rachel Ramos, (Product Specialists at HumanWare), will demonstrate the BrailleNote Evolve- a full-fledged Windows 11 Computer in the form factor of a convenient travel-sized note-taker. You’ll hear about why the Evolve was designed, a physical description of the device, a tour of the Main Menu, the enhancements to the full-featured Microsoft Office Suite, and how Windows is taking us into the future with Braille at the center. You won’t want to miss it, as this will be an info-packed session! Please register your interest and be the first to know new information about the BrailleNote Evolve when it becomes available here: https://forms.office.com/r/7FV7VAx1Zg Presenter Contact Info Joel Zimba Email: [email protected] Rachel Ramos Email: [email protected]  

The perfect marriage DB113854 Author: Rose, Jeneva Reading Time: 8 hours, 54 minutes Read by: Neil Hellegers, Teri Schnaubelt Subject: Suspense Fiction   “Sarah Morgan is a successful and powerful defense attorney in Washington D.C. At thirty-three years old, she is a named partner at her firm and life is going exactly how she planned. The same cannot be said for her husband, Adam. He is a struggling writer who has had little success in his career. He begins to tire of his and Sarah’s relationship as she is constantly working. Out in the secluded woods, at Adam and Sarah’s second home, Adam engages in a passionate affair with Kelly Summers. Then, one morning everything changes. Adam is arrested for Kelly’s murder. She had been found stabbed to death in Adam and Sarah’s second home. Sarah soon finds herself playing the defender for her own husband, a man accused of murdering his mistress. But is Adam guilty or is he innocent?” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.   [Holland] : Dreamscape Media, LLC, 2020. Bookshare This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6309347?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVRoZSUyQnBlcmZlY3QlMkJtYXJyaWFnZQ   Shelly Kane is the facilitator of the Mystery Book Discussion Group. Shelly can be contacted by email at [email protected].  

BARD annotation The dry DB86906 Series: Aaron Falk Order in Series: 1 Author: Harper, Jane (Jane Elizabeth) Reading Time: 9 hours, 45 minutes Read by: Steve Shanahan Subjects: Mystery and Detective Stories, Suspense Fiction Federal agent Aaron Falk returns to his Australian rural hometown for the funeral of an old friend who allegedly killed himself, his wife, and their young son. Facing a town still suspicious of his role in a long-ago death, Aaron reluctantly agrees to investigate. Violence and strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2016. [New York] : Macmillan Audio, [2017] Bookshare You can find this book on Bookshare at the following website: https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/2818771?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVRoZSUyQmRyeQ  

This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6904003?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPXdoZW4lMkJ0aGUlMkJzdGFycyUyQmdvJTJCZGFyaw   The annotation from BARD is below:   When the stars go dark DB102900 Author: McLain, Paula Reading Time: 11 hours, 31 minutes Read by: Marin Ireland Subjects: Mystery and Detective Stories, Suspense Fiction   When tragedy strikes seasoned missing persons detective Anna Hart’s personal life, she flees to the northern California village of Mendocino to grieve. But when she arrives, it’s to find out a local teenager is missing and the circumstances are reminiscent of a murder in Anna’s childhood. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.   New York : Random House Audio, 2021.   Host: Randi Shelton E-Mail: [email protected]  

Hello Folks,   Hope you all are having a good start to your new year.   It’s just about time for another meeting of the Science Fiction club, the first one of 2026.   It’s another Bring Your Own Book meeting. We decided to do that, rather than have a group read over the holidays. Besides, we’ll now have five weeks until the next meeting on February 12, so the length of the book will not be an issue.   So hope you guys will be thinking about what we might want to read as a group this month.  

Please join us as Joanie Leonard hosts Banquet of Books Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 5pm Eastern. This informal discussion of whatever book you’re reading or have recently finished is most enjoyable and a great way to get new reading ideas. You can contribute your opinions and everyone is welcome.  

BARD annotation Propaganda girls: the secret war of the women in the OSS DB129114 Author: Rogak, Lisa Reading Time: 6 hours, 4 minutes Read by: Naeymi, Samara Subjects: Women, World History and Affairs, War and the Military “Betty MacDonald was a 28-year-old reporter from Hawaii. Zuzka Lauwers grew up in a tiny Czechoslovakian village and knew five languages by the time she was 21. Jane Smith-Hutton was the wife of a naval attaché living in Tokyo. Marlene Dietrich, the German-American actress and singer, was of course one of the biggest stars of the 20th century. These four women, each fascinating in her own right, together contributed to one of the most covert and successful military campaigns in WWII. As members of the OSS, their task was to create a secret brand of propaganda produced with the sole aim to break the morale of Axis soldiers. Working in the European theater, across enemy lines in occupied China, and in Washington, D.C., Betty, Zuzka, Jane, and Marlene forged letters and “official” military orders, wrote and produced entire newspapers, scripted radio broadcasts and songs, and even developed rumors for undercover spies and double agents to spread to the enemy. And outside of a small group of spies, no one knew they existed. Until now.”– From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. New York : Macmillan, 2025. Bookshare This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link: https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6501598?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZ0aXRsZT1Qcm9wYWdhbmRhJTJCZ2lybHMlMjUzQSUyQnRoZSUyQnNlY3JldCUyQndhciUyQm9mJTJCdGhlJTJCd29tZW4lMkJpbiUyQnRoZSUyQk9TUyUyQiZib29rc1RvU2VhcmNoPUFMTCZxdWFsaXRpZXM9UFVCTElTSEVSJnF1YWxpdGllcz1FWENFTExFTlQmX2NvbnRhaW5zSW1hZ2VzPW9uJl9jb250YWluc0ltYWdlRGVzY3JpcHRpb25zPW9uJnNvcnRPcmRlcj1SRUxFVkFOQ0Umc2VhcmNoPUFkdmFuY2VkJTJCU2VhcmNoJl9jYXRlZ29yaWVzPW9u  

The Fiction Old and New Discussion Group meets the first Friday of each month. The facilitator for this meeting will be LeDon: [email protected].   My review:   The book, Culpability: a novel by Bruce W Holsinger DB131607 is written as though it was ripped from these headlines from tomorrow’s newspaper.   “Self-driving car has head on collision with oncoming vehicle, five injured, two killed!”   As the story opens, the family’s self-driving car is gliding smoothly down the highway. Seventeen-year-old Charlie, a high-school athlete on track for a full college scholarship, is behind the wheel, texting. His father, Noah Cassidy, a successful mergers-and-acquisitions attorney, sits in the front passenger seat composing an important email. Behind him, Noah’s wife, Lorelei—an award-winning AI expert and systems analyst—works intently on a thorny problem on her tablet. Thirteen-year-old Alice notices her brother texting but is busy chatting with her AI chatbot friend. And Izzy, the youngest, has just sent a message to Charlie. Moments before the crash, she lets out a piercing scream.   The accident shatters the family in an instant. Each member is thrown into their own storm of guilt—wondering what they were doing, what they missed, or what they might have done to prevent the tragedy.   With the family in turmoil, Noah becomes desperate to protect Charlie from police questioning until an attorney is present. He fears his son might say something that could lead to arrest, indictment, and ultimately a trial that could send Charlie to prison for years.   In time, Noah and Lorelei decide the family needs to get away to regain some sense of normalcy. Lorelei suggests a quiet vacation on Chesapeake Bay where they can swim, rest, take in the beautiful scenery, and perhaps begin to heal from the nightmare that has engulfed them.   But when they arrive, they discover their rental sits directly beside a newly built compound owned by billionaire Daniel Monet, a major force in AI development. Night after night, helicopters arrive carrying guests to the lavish events happening there. When the family receives an invitation to a dinner at the compound, they decide to go. Once there, tensions rise, misunderstandings flare, and the fragile threads holding the family together begin to fray.   During the party, Charlie and Eurydice Monet, Daniel Monet’s daughter, discover a romantic spark between them. By the end of the night, the two teens have vanished. A frantic search begins, and it is soon learned that they slipped away to go sailing in the bay during a midnight storm. As families and search crews scour the waters, both households are tormented by the fear that the worst has already happened.   In this novel Holsinger  has created a beautiful tapestry in many colors using the threads of family drama, Artificial Intelligence, and moral questions. Bookshare You can find this book on Bookshare at this link: https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6712974?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPWN1bHBhYmlsaXR5  

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere-and it’s transforming the way we live, work, and communicate. People around the world are using AI in countless ways, and the blindness community is no exception. More and more organizations are hosting webinars and seminars exploring what AI can do and how it can enhance accessibility.   But what does AI really mean for you? Which AI tools are the most helpful? How do you use them? Has AI made a noticeable difference in your life-and if so, how?   Join us on Tek Talk, August 4, as we turn the spotlight on you, our audience, for an open conversation all about AI and its impact on those who are blind or have low vision. We value your insights, experiences, and questions. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the discussion!  

The Christmas murder game DB124994 Author: Benedict, Alexandra Reading Time: 9 hours, 7 minutes Read by: Ana Clements Subjects: Mystery and Detective Stories, Holidays, Women   “The annual Christmas Game is afoot at Endgame House, the Armitages’ grand family home. This year’s prize is to die for–deeds to the house itself–but Lily Armitage has no intention of returning. She hasn’t been back to Endgame since her mother died twenty-one years ago, and she has no intention of claiming the house that haunts her dreams. Until, that is, she receives a letter from her aunt promising that the game’s riddles will give her the keys not only to Endgame but to its darkest secrets, including the identity of her mother’s murderer. Now, Lily must compete with her estranged cousins for the twelve days of Christmas. the snow is thick, the phone lines are down, and no one is getting in or out. Lily will have to keep her wits about her, because not everyone is playing fair, and there’s no telling how many will die before the winner is declared” — Page 4 of cover. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.   Naperville, Illinois : Dreamscape Media, [2022] Bookshare This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6322340?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVRoZSUyQkNocmlzdG1hcyUyQm11cmRlciUyQmdhbWUlMkI Shelly Kane is the facilitator of the Mystery Book Discussion Group. Shelly can be contacted by email at [email protected].  

This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/5068256?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUxldCUyQml0JTJCc25vdw   The annotation from BARD is below:   Let it snow: a novel DB121508 Author: Thayer, Nancy Reading Time: 6 hours, 3 minutes Read by: Allison, Kristin Subjects: Family, Holidays, Romance   “Christina Antonioni is preparing for the holidays at her Nantucket toy shop, unpacking last-minute shipments and decorating for her loyal Christmas shoppers. But when her Scrooge of a landlord, Oscar Bittlesman, raises her rent, it seems nearly impossible for Christina to continue business on the wharf. Even so, Christina hopes there is a warm heart underneath Oscar’s steely exterior. When she bonds with Wink, his sweet, young granddaughter who frequents the shop, it becomes clear that perhaps he isn’t so cold after all. And with the help of Wink’s uncle, who happens to be a charming and very handsome bachelor, this may be the best Christmas any of them could have ever imagined. Nancy Thayer’s enchanting Nantucket setting provides the perfect backdrop for this holiday love story.”– OCLC. Some strong language.   New York : Ballantine Books, [2019]   Host: Randi Shelton E-Mail: [email protected]  

Life, loss, and puffins: a novel DB125028 Author: Hyde, Catherine Ryan Reading Time: 7 hours, 40 minutes Read by: Mare Trevathan Subjects: Family, Friendship Fiction “Freakishly smart. That’s the unwelcome box Ru Evans is put into for life. After all, she taught herself euclidean geometry at age seven, has an eidetic memory, and is about to enter college at thirteen years old. Boarding at a house near campus 150 miles from home, Ru meets seventeen-year-old Gabriel, an outsider himself who, like Ru, has trouble making friends–until they form a fast sibling-like bond. Finding a relatable someone in the world to talk to is a first for both of them. But when Ru’s mother dies and the threat of living with her miserable aunt looms, Ru hatches an escape. It’s an impulsive road trip that takes Ru and Gabriel from California to Canada, where Ru can fulfill her ultimate dream: to see Atlantic puffins in the glorious wild. Mile by mile, Ru discovers the joy of friendship, found family, dark night skies, and the aurora borealis, and she basks in going from being a smart person to just a person. Though she knows they’ll be in trouble when they’re caught, for the short time they are navigating twist by twist of an unknown road, the freedom is liberating, and she is living for what feels like the first time.” — Provided by publisher. Some strong language. Seattle : Lake Union Publishing, [2024] Bookshare This title is not available on Bookshare.  

Join Jeff Bishop on Tech Talk where we take a deep dive in decluttering your Microsoft Edge web browser so that you can be very clean, efficient and privacy focused in your web browsing activities. We will provide a document, and if you are a member of BITS you already have it, and we will walk everyone through the steps necessary to accomplish this goal. See everyone on Tech Talk! Presenter Contact Info Email: [email protected]  

Join Jeff Bishop on Tech Talk where we take a deep dive in decluttering your Microsoft Edge web browser so that you can be very clean, efficient and privacy focused in your web browsing activities. We will provide a document, and if you are a member of BITS you already have it, and we will walk everyone through the steps necessary to accomplish this goal. See everyone on Tech Talk! Presenter Contact Info Email: [email protected]  

A. T. Guys Welcome to A. T. Guys – your source for innovative technology and tools that boost confidence and independence. Our accessible products are tailored for blind and low vision users but are great for everyone. Speak To Me Catalog Ready for some Christmas shopping? Well, don’t miss this opportunity to shop from the comfort of your own home and review some of the greatest talking items in the world!!! The Speak To Me Catalog is a family owned, home based mail order business that specializes in products that talk, sing, play music, or record your own special message. You can find a unique practical talking item or a fun and wacky gift idea that adds that personal touch. Choose from our variety of talking clocks, watches, key chains, teddy bears, greeting cards, calculators, stuffed animals, kitchen aids, novelties, bibles, radios, games, toys, talking thermometers, and digital recorders. Speak To Me has something for everyone, even those who are hard to shop for! Presenter Contact Info A. T. Guys Phone: 269-216-4798 Email: [email protected] Website: https://atguys.com/   Speak To Me Catalog Website: https://speaktomecatalog.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 800-248-9965  

Please join us as Joanie Leonard hosts Banquet of Books Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 5pm Eastern. This informal discussion of whatever book you’re reading or have recently finished is most enjoyable and a great way to get new reading ideas. You can contribute your opinions and everyone is welcome.  

Science Fiction Discussion Group. Bring Your Own Book Month.

The facilitator for this meeting will be LeDon: [email protected]. This book can be found on Bookshare at this link: https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/2911709?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUElMkJSZWRiaXJkJTJCQ2hyaXN0bWFz My review: My first introduction to Fannie Flagg was through her novel, Fried Green Tomatoes, so I  knew what a gift she has for making small towns and the ordinary people like you and me in them come alive with warmth, humor, and kindness. That is why I selected her Christmas book , A Redbird Christmas: a novel, DB58836. In this book she crafted a story that will lift your spirits and remind you of the magic of second chances.   Oswald Campbell is sitting across from his doctor when he hears the worst news of his life: his lungs are failing, and time is running out. The doctor suggests that while nothing can stop what is coming, Oswald might buy himself a little more time if he leaves Chicago for somewhere with cleaner air. But where could he possibly go? Chicago is all he has ever known until the doctor hands him a pamphlet for a lodge in a little place called Lost River, Alabama. The lodge turns out to be long closed, but a kind woman in town offers to rent Oswald a room in her house.   With nothing left to lose, he heads south. What he expects to be a short stay soon becomes something more, as the people of Lost River welcome him as one of their own. To his surprise, Oswald finds friendship, belonging, and even the beginning of love especially through their bond with a little crippled girl and the beloved redbird, Jak. With their help, Oswald uncovers a side of himself he never knew existed: one that still has room for joy, hope, and friends.   Only Fannie Flagg could bring a town like Lost River to life the way she does here. Her storytelling blends humor, tenderness, and everyday detail so flawlessly that by the end, you feel as if you have lived there.  

BARD annotation Star-spangled men: America’s ten worst presidents DB46576 Author: Miller, Nathan Reading Time: 9 hours, 48 minutes Read by: Gregory Gorton Subjects: Biography of Heads of State and Political Figures, U.S. History   Biographical profiles of American presidents the author judges to be the ten worst in the nation’s history. Candidates were evaluated on the basis of their personal qualities and the extent to which they damaged the nation. Includes Richard Nixon for his moral lapses and Jimmy Carter for lacking purpose and direction.   New York, NY : Scribner, c1998.   Bookshare This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6372261?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVN0YXItc3BhbmdsZWQlMkJtZW4lMjUzQSUyQkFtZXJpY2ElMjUyNiUyNTIzMzklMjUzQnMlMkJ0ZW4lMkJ3b3JzdCUyQnByZXNpZGVudHMlMkI  

Presenter Contact Info Don Olson and Zhi Huang from the Patron Engagement Section Email the Patron Engagement Section: [email protected]  

available from BARD. https://nlsbard.loc.gov/bard2-web/search/DB126013/?prevPage=search_books&from=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2F%3Ftype%3Dbook%26initialFormat%3Dall%26search%3Dthe%2Bobject%26initialLanguage%3Den The object DB126013 Author: Calvert, Joshua T. Reading Time: 15 hours, 4 minutes Read by: Shelton, Jessie Subject: Science Fiction “Deep space holds secrets… and one astronomer for NASA has found a big one. But it’s not what she thinks. Dr. Melody Adams, a physicist and the Gemini North Observatory, was studying Pluto in the telescope data and it struck her as odd. The numbers didn’t make sense. Could there be an extraterrestrial object in our solar system? She followed protocol. The scientific community didn’t believe her. And before she knew what happened, her career was over. The day that changed Melody’s life was like any other over the previous two years. She’d found she had a gift for writing and her career as an author had almost healed the pain of losing her job. When the Secret Service rang her bell, everything changed. Something was nearing Saturn… and it was slowing down. Had she been right about the object? You’ll love this hard science fiction novel because Melody is about to find out that everything she knew about space and time was wrong.”– From publisher. Strong language and some violence.

Bard Annotation Dial A for aunties DB103081 Author: Sutanto, Jesse Q. Reading Time: 10 hours, 24 minutes Read by: Risa Mei Subject: Human Relations   When Meddelin Chan ends up accidentally killing her blind date, her mother calls for her meddlesome aunties to help get rid of the body. Unfortunately, the dead body is inadvertently shipped in a cake cooler to a wedding being planned by Meddy and her family. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.   [New York] : Penguin Audio, 2021. Bookshare This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/4574299?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPURpYWwlMkJBJTJCZm9yJTJCYXVudGllcyUyQg   Shelly Kane is the facilitator of the Mystery Book Discussion Group. Shelly can be contacted by email at [email protected].  

BARD annotation   The lost for words bookshop DB91357 Author: Butland, Stephanie Reading Time: 9 hours, 0 minutes Read by: Imogen Church Subject: General Fiction   Loveday Cardew prefers books to people, and her refuge is the bookstore where she works. Into that safe haven come a poet, a lover, and three suspicious deliveries. Someone has found out about her mysterious past. Will Loveday survive her own heartbreaking secrets? Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2018.   New York : Macmillan Audio, 2018. Bookshare You can find this book on Bookshare at the following website:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/4679917?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPVRoZSUyQmxvc3QlMkJmb3IlMkJ3b3JkcyUyQmJvb2tzaG9wJTJC  

This book can be found on Bookshare at the following link:   https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/6414224?returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9tb2R1bGVOYW1lPXB1YmxpYyZrZXl3b3JkPUxhc3QlMkJUd2lsaWdodCUyQmluJTJCUGFyaXMlMkI   The annotation from BARD is below:   Last twilight in Paris DB127477 Author: Jenoff, Pam Reading Time: 10 hours, 35 minutes Read by: Maarleveld, Saskia, Plummer, Thérèse Subjects: Historical Fiction, General Fiction   “London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before, when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe–and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war. Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history. The necklace leads them to discover the dark history of Lévitan–a once-glamorous department store that served as a Nazi prison, and Helaine, a woman who was imprisoned there, torn apart from her husband when the Germans invaded France. Louise races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny’s death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, Last Twilight in Paris is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance and the power of love to transcend in even the darkest hours.”– From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.   New York : Harlequin Audio, 2025.   Host: Randi Shelton E-Mail: [email protected]  

Please join us as Joanie Leonard hosts Banquet of Books Sunday, September 14, at 5pm Eastern. This informal discussion of whatever book you’re reading or have recently finished is most enjoyable and a great way to get new reading ideas. You can contribute your opinions and everyone is welcome.