BULLETIN BOARD

A Newsletter of the Wisconsin Regional Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
Summer 2007
Volume 25, Number 1

Amazon.com and National Federation of the Blind Join Forces to Develop and Promote Web Accessibility

In a cooperative agreement, Amazon.com pledged its commitment to continue improving the accessibility of its Web site platform, while the NFB committed to contribute its expertise in Web accessibility technologies to help further Amazon.com's efforts. "Amazon has always looked for ways to provide the most convenient and easy-to-use shopping experience for all our customers, including those who use screen access software," said Patty Smith, director of corporate communications for Amazon.com. "By working directly with the NFB, which has a wealth of accessible technology experience, we'll be able to make more improvements for both our sighted customers and those customers who use screen access software to browse and shop the Internet."

Blind persons access Web sites by using keyboards in conjunction with screen access software, which vocalizes or translates into Braille the visual information displayed on a computer screen by Web browsers and other computer applications. If not designed properly, however, Web sites can present barriers that do not allow the information contained on them to be translated properly for blind users, and emerging Internet technologies are presenting new accessibility challenges.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The 2006 Cassette Books catalog from NLS is available for shipping. If you didn't receive a copy but would like one, please phone the Regional Library at 1-800-242-8822 and we will ship you one.

The 250 newspapers available on Newsline now may be received via email in DAISY format. Users may not send these emails to anyone else--even another blind person. Interested Newsline subscribers may request the contract for the new service from the Regional Library by phoning 1-800-242-8822.

Please call the Regional Library at 1-800-242-8822 if your player malfunctions. If we can't solve the problem over the phone, we can get a replacement in the mail immediately.

Are you confused by magazines that come in green boxes versus paper envelopes? Magazines are yours to keep, just send back the green boxes.

Please help move books to the next person waiting. Books are loaned for two months. If you're unsure how old a book is, the date it was sent is printed below your address.

Thank you for rewinding! We process over a thousand returns a day, and it's a big help to LBPH staff.

Do you know someone who has difficulty reading, and who would like our service? We'd be happy to send them information about the library. Just phone us at 1-800-242-8822 with the recipient's name and address.

RESOURCES

The Apostolic Faith Church is an international organization whose mission is to provide Gospel literature to people around the world, free of charge. Their main publication is a quarterly magazine called "Higher Way," specifically designed to encourage and strengthen Christians in their walk with God. Each edition contains articles, sermon excerpts, and true accounts of people telling how God has worked in their lives. This magazine, as well as a number of short Gospel tracts, are available in Braille. For more information, visit their website, http://www.apostolicfaith.org/.

The Large-Print Ministry is offering Computer Diskettes that can help the blind and visually-impaired in their devotions and to be able to more fully participate in worship. The Large-Print Book of Common Prayer disk includes the entire 1979 Book of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church, USA. It is mainly in 18-point Times New Roman font. It is laid out for 8.5 x 11-inch pages and can be used to help prepare Large-Print worship materials. Prayers & Psalms for Today, the second Large-Print Ministry disk, can help those hurting in body, mind and/or spirit. The Prayers disk includes excerpts from Prayers and Thanksgivings, Prayers for the Sick, and Prayers for Use by a Sick Person, as well as the complete Psalter from the 1979 BCP. While the prayers are from an Episcopal book, they may be of help to people of any denomination. To order a CD, please send a self-addressed, stamped 6x9-inch envelope with three 41-cent stamps attached (four on a padded envelope) to Ann Dahlen, 1900 6th Ave., Apt. 513, Rock Island, IL 61201. Please indicate which CD you want. For more information, please email anndahlen3@aol.com or largeprinthelp@aol.com.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Summer Books for Summer Reading

Anderson, Catherine. Summer Breeze. Colorado, 1880s. Rachel Hollister isolates herself after her parents and siblings are murdered during a picnic. Five years later terror returns when her foreman, Darby, is shot near the same area. Explicit descriptions of sex. RC 62240

Angell, Roger. The Summer Game. Recaptures some of the funniest and finest moments of baseball in the 1960s. RC 06196

Binchy, Maeve. Firefly Summer. Portrays life and culture in a small Irish town in the 1960s. A wealthy American returns to convert his ancestral home into a luxury hotel. RC 28023

Blume, Judy. Summer Sisters: a novel. Santa Fe sixth-grader Vix is asked by classmate Caitlin to Martha's Vineyard for the summer. The summers go on for six years. Years later, Caitlin calls to say she is marrying Bru, an island resident and Caitlin's ex-lover. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. RC 46337

DeVoto, Pat C. The Summer We Got Saved. 1960s. Teenagers Tina and Tab Rutland are taken by their liberal aunt to Tennessee's Highlander Folk School, an interracial camp promoting social advocacy. RC 62287

Dickinson, Peter. A Summer in the Twenties. In 1926 Great Britain, Oxford undergrad Tom Hankey volunteers to run a train delayed by strikers. RC 17526

Fromkin, David. Europe's Last Summer: Who Started the Great War in 1914? Asserts that a local conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia and another between Germany and Russia offered an opportunity for Prussian military leaders to instigate war. RC 62485

Garcia-Aguilera, Carolina. One Hot Summer. On maternity leave, successful Cuban American lawyer Margarita Santos Silva struggles to choose between returning to work and staying home to raise her child. Strong language. RC 59266

Hart, Carolyn G. Dead Days of Summer: a Death on Demand Mystery. South Carolina bookstore owner Annie Darling is worried because her PI husband, Max, failed to return home after beginning a new case. When the body of a pretty woman is discovered near Max's abandoned car, Annie pursues the truth. RC 62144

Johnston, Velda. That Fateful Summer. A Gothic suspense novel narrated by Emma, who recalls the tragic love affair of her beautiful friend Amanda and the violence that touched all their lives. RC 17243

Maron, Margaret. Last Lessons of Summer. Amy Steadman, heiress to a children's book empire, visits the North Carolina farmhouse of her late grandmother, Frances Barbour, to put the valuable estate, and her own life, in order. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. RC 57898

Muir, John. Nature Writings: My First Summer in the Sierra. Included in a selection of books and essays by Scottish-born naturalist John Muir (1838-1914), a key figure in the creation of the American national parks system. RC 58485

Nathan, Robert. The Summer Meadows. The mystery of life and love is explored in a day. RC 07588

Patterson, James. Beach House. Jack Mullen, a Columbia University law student from Montauk, Long Island, investigates the death of his younger brother, Peter, who supposedly drowned. Violence and strong language. RC 54158

Rice, Luanne. Firefly Beach. Sisters Caroline, Clea, and Skye return to their family homestead to visit when Joe Connor, the son of the man who committed suicide in front of the family three decades ago, arrives. Some strong language. RC 53025

Ripley, Ann. Summer Garden Murder: a Gardening Mystery. Gardening television host Louise Eldridge helped convict her neighbor Peter Hoffman of murder. When Peter shows up at a party, threatens Louise, then disappears, the police suspect Louise of foul play. Some strong language. RC 62263

Wiggs, Susan. Summer at Willow Lake. Olivia "Lolly" Bellamy returns after ten years to restore her grandparents' camp in the Catskills for their golden anniversary. Some strong language. RC 63766

Wolf, Joan. That Summer. Veterinarian Anne Foster, home for her father's funeral, reunites with her childhood crush, Liam, a thoroughbred farm manager. RC 59017

BULLETIN BOARD is published four times a year by the Wisconsin Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. It is available in large print, Braille, and audiocassette editions. The Wisconsin Regional Library makes no recommendations or endorsements concerning any products or services which may appear in this publication.

Wisconsin Regional Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
813 West Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233-1436
1-414-286-3045 (in Milwaukee)
1-800-242-8822 (in Wisconsin)
1-414-286-3102 (FAX)
lbph@milwaukee.gov (e-mail)
http://dpi.wi.gov/rll/lbphinfo.html (website)
http://wmbph.mpl.org/opac (on-line public access catalog)

For questions about this information, contact Shiela A. Pollock (608) 224-5395

Last updated on 4/18/2008 8:00:19 AM