ACB Focus: Literacy

20250709 1600 Yes Braille Can be Fun Originally Broadcasted July 9, 2025, on ACB Media   Participants joined their Braille Revival League friends at an in-person convention session to test your trivia knowledge about braille, its history, and the Braille Revival League, as well as see what other fun things we have in store. And by the way, there were prizes!!       Find out more at https://acb-foc...

20250708 1430 LUA Presents a Q and A with the NLS Director Originally Broadcasted July 8, 2025, on ACB Media 2   NLS Director Jason Broughton brought us up to speed with happenings at NLS and answered our questions about this most important service.   Presenter: Jason Broughton, Director, NLS, Washington, DC   Facilitator: Paul Edwards, Jacksonville, FL     Find out more at https://acb-focus-liter...

20250708 1300 LUA Presents Up Close and Personal with Talking Book Narrator Gary Tipton Originally Broadcasted July 8, 2025, on ACB Media 2   Gary Tipton is a long-time narrator at the American Printing House for the Blind, and has read an amazing 789 books in all genres from cookbooks to fantasy.   Presenter: Gary Tipton, Louisville, KY   Facilitator: Ralph Smitherman, LUA Secretary, Brandon, MS...

20250627 1300 Author Talk by a Survivor of the World War II Nazi Atrocities Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2025, on ACB Media 4   Simone Arnold-Liebster has been a lifelong advocate to ensure that future generations never forget past religious atrocities. She actively promotes an environment where peace, tolerance and human dignity can flourish. The condensed version of Simone's book, "Facin...

20250626 1430 LUA Presents the Journey from Print Book to Talking Book Originally Broadcasted June 26, 2025 on ACB Media 3   Presenters from NLS detailed the process a book goes through in its journey to becoming available as an audiobook on BARD.   Presenter: Alice Baker O'Reilly, NLS, Washington, DC.   Facilitator: Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA.   Find out more at https://acb-focus-literacy.pine...

20250626 1300 LUA Presents the New DA2 Player and the NLS My Talking Books Smart Speaker Skill Originally Broadcasted June 26, 2025 on ACB Media 3   Don Olson, customer service specialist and Zhe Huang, Patron Education and Training Specialist familiarized attendees with the new DA2 talking book player which will shortly be available and will allow an NLS patron to download books directly from BAR...

20250626 1130 Making Braille Music Accessible By Touch Originally Broadcasted June 26, 2025 on ACB Media 2   While blind musicians naturally hear music, reading it is also possible - and empowering - through Music Braille. This session offered an introduction to the Music Braille system, including its history, how it differs from literary braille, and the ways modern technology is transforming acc...

20240709 1430 Update from NLS Director Originally Broadcasted July 9, 2024, on ACB Media 2   Attendees spoke with the Director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Jason Broughton. He updated us on changes at the National Library Service and answered our questions on what we can expect in the years to come.   Edited By: Regina Marie Brink   Find out more at https://acb...

20240709 1300 Meet the Talking Book Narrator Originally Broadcasted July 9, 2024, on ACB Media 2   As in years past, we once again get to listen to and ask questions of a wonderful talking book narrator, Mare Trevathan, who records at both Books to Life and Talking Book Publishers Inc. She is a perennial favorite and is likely to read a bit from a couple of her long list of NLS titles. Come early...

20240709 0730 BRL Breakfast Speaker Originally Broadcasted July 9, 2024, on ACB Media 2   Edited By: Mary Ann Grignon Find out more at https://acb-focus-literacy.pinecast.co

20240629 1530 Writers Workshop - Book Banning-The Threat and Some Solution Originally Broadcasted June 29, 2024, on ACB Media 2   This discussion highlighted the current instances and dangers of banning books and how it relates to the past. Panelists shared stories focusing on the detrimental effect upon blind and low vision children and adults, as well as people with disabilities and other minori...

20240628 1400 You Get What You Pay For Originally Broadcasted June 86, 2024, on ACB Media 3   If you find yourself unwilling to wait for the next book in a series or needing access to a niche title, you will find this session on where to go if you are willing to pay for the privilege to be a game changer. Whether you pay by the title, by the month or through an annual membership fee, there are com...

20240627 1530 Why You Should Get a Public Library Card Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2024, on ACB Media 3   Some Talking Book library users are also proud card-carrying public library users. Attendees learned how they might take advantage of their local public library to access services that could reduce their reliance on pay to play services to access books, music, videos and more. This session...

20240627 1400 Writing Image Description for Graphic Novels and Other Highly Visual Content Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2024, on ACB Media 4   Staff of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) Media Lab team discussed the evolution of their approach to writing image descriptions of graphic novels and picture books, presenting challenges they have faced and best practi...

20240627 1400 What Can be Accomplished When We Work Together Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2024, on ACB Media 3   Talking Book libraries can do much more than send out books and magazines. Attendees heard how Floridians can access locally produced books and periodicals, videos, and how to work in collaboration with their local talking book library to enhance services. Participants also heard how...

20240627 1230 What is the Braille Challenge Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2024, on ACB Media 2   Attendees learned how it works and the nuts and bolts of starting one locally.   Edited By: Darcy Burnard   Find out more at https://acb-focus-literacy.pinecast.co

20230705 0700 BRL Breakfast Originally Broadcasted July 5, 2023, on ACB Media 3   Special guest, Martine Abel-Williamson, President, World Blind Union, Auckland, New Zealand.   Edited By:  Doug Hunsinger   Find out more at https://acb-focus-literacy.pinecast.co

20230704 1430 Library Users of America meet with NLS Deputy Director Jason Yasner ** Originally Broadcasted July 4, 2023, on ACB Media 3** Participants met with NLS Deputy Director Jason Yasner Edited By: Tim Cumings Find out more at https://acb-focus-literacy.pinecast.co

20230703 1300 Learn About all the Ways that Hadley Can Help Originally Broadcasted July 3, 2023, on ACB Media 3   After reinventing ourselves back in 2020, Hadley has quite a few things that we can offer to help those managing vision loss. Participants learned about the ways we can help people discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult with vision loss, including figuring out n...

20230703 1300 Up Close and Personal with Jake Williams Originally Broadcasted July 3, 2023, on ACB Media 4   Library Users of America and Braille Revival League once again joined to sponsor our visit with ACB narrator.  This year, it was Jacob Williams.   Edited By:  John Gassman Find out more at https://acb-focus-literacy.pinecast.co

20230624 1600 Writers Workshop-Writing Fiction for Young People Originally Broadcasted June 24, 2023, on ACB Media 4   Children's author Feather Chelle took us through her creative process and what motivates her to write for children, followed by a question-and-answer period.   Edited By:  Darcy Burnard   Find out more at https://acb-focus-literacy.pinecast.co

20230622 1130 Updates on NLS's Foreign Language Offerings Originally Broadcasted June 22, 2023, on ACB Media 5   Attendees learned what's new and exciting with the Foreign Language Collection of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.  Participants were also able to get their questions answered. Presenter: Kelsey Corlett-Rivera, Foreign Language Collections Librarian, Nation...

20220706 New uses for Braille in Periodicals Originally Aired July 6, 2022, on ACB Media   ·        Brian Charlson Watertown, MA, and Judy Dixon, Arlington, VA: Using UEB for cooking in magazines and books. ·        Judy Wilkinson, San Leandro, CA and Tamara Rorie, Arlington, VA: New knitting magazines and how to use knitting charts. ·        Ralph Smitherman, Brandon, MS and Jane Carona, Silver S...

20220706 Understanding where our writing system Braille has been Originally Aired July 6, 2022, on ACB Media   Speakers: ·        Philippa Campsey, Ontario Canada - added information about the early history of braille ·        Tamara Rorie, Arlington Virginia - new braille archives ·        Judy Dixon, Arlington Virginia - who discussed methods of doing research about braille and where people can...

One Bookone ACB Originally Aired July 5, 2022, on ACB Media Their Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural History of Blindness by M. Leona Godin. Co-Sponsored by: AABT, BRL, FIA, LUA, BPI and MCAC Edited By: Brian McCallen Find out more at https://acb-focus-literacy.pinecast.co