Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Isabel!  Cut loose have fun and make lots of wishes!!!

Adaptive Technologies Denver Public

The Denver Public Library has a multitude of adaptive technologies for patrons. They have visual access workstation equipment such as

Chroma CCD Magnifier

This equipment allows the user to enlarge everyday printed reading materials. Simply place the book, newspaper or any printed material on a platform and the image appears enlarged on a screen above. It magnifies up to 60 times, minimizes glare and eliminates hot spots. The monitor is placed directly in front of the user for comfortable reading. (Only available at the Central Library, Community Technology Center, Level Four and Western History Department, Level Five.)

ZoomText Extra Level 1

This software enlarges items on the computer screen for individuals with low vision. Using ZoomText, an individual can increase the size of the icons, text and other graphics on the screen. It can magnify up to 16 times, although most people typically magnify from 2 to 8 times.

Jaws for Windows Screen Reader

This screen-reading software works in conjunction with a speech synthesizer to assist the person who is blind by speaking what is on the computer screen. Jaws for Windows can also be used to browse the Internet.

IBM Home Page Reader (HPR)

HPR is a World Wide Web browser for persons who are blind or visually impaired. It accesses web pages and reads them using computer speech. You use the numeric keypad on your computer's keyboard to move around Web pages.

Open Book Ruby

Designed for individuals who are blind, this scanner/reader converts typewritten or typeset material into clearly spoken computer speech. Text can be read immediately by the computer, stored on computer disk, or prepared for Braille production.

Braille Printer

This product prints text documents in Braille format so that persons who are able to read Braille can read them. (Only available at the Central Library, Community Technology Center, Level Four).

Braille Display

This device attaches to the computer and converts the text on the computer's screen into Braille. (Only available at the Central Library, Community Technology Center, Level Four).

As you can see some of these are only available at the central location of Denver Public. They also have physical access workstation equipment like Keyguards which allow patron with physical restrictions to rest their hands on the keynoard without making extra keystrokes, and Dragon Dictate Voice Recognition Software. As well as equipment for the hearing impaired. The Denver Public Library is very weel equipped to help all patrons access their library.

I decided to post some information regarding one of my favorite authors, Cassandra Clare, as she has a new novel coming out in May. The Mortal Instrument Series (yes, my blogger name is based on it, ha ha) are one of my favorite young adult series to follow. The Mortal Instrument Series consists of (in order of appearance): City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls (to be released in May, 2012), and City of Heavenly Fire (to be released in 2014). I definitely recommend checking them out if you haven't done so already. Here's a quick synopsis:

“Set in New York, the Mortal Instrument series follows the adventures of the Shadowhunters - half angel, half-human hybrids, sworn to protect the lives of humans from the supernatural forces they cannot see. Follow the journeys of the Nephilim as they battle against demons, vampires, werewolves, fairies and and other supernatural beings.”

Cassandra Clare has written tons of other short stories and novels (including The Infernal Devices Series-prequel to the Mortal Instrument Series) which I also recommend checking out. Here’s a link to her website: http://www.cassandraclare.com/

Adaptive Technology

I think it’s amazing that there are all kinds of adaptive technologies in libraries today. It’s definitely encouraging to know that now a days, most libraries strive to incorporate technology to fit the needs of all their patrons. In regards to this assignment, I decided to post the adaptive technologies that are available at the Indiana University Southeast Library. All the information is listed on their website. Here is the link, if you want to check it out: http://www.ius.edu/library/adaptech.cfm

The Indiana University Southeast library has the following adaptive technologies available for use:

Kurzweil 1000: Makes printed or electronic text readily available and enhances the reading, writing and learning experience.

Kurzweil 3000 Pro Color: Provides for the creation and delivery of electronic documents. It uses one-button scanning, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), the editing of underlying text, and Zone Editing (ZE) for ease of use.

JAWS for Windows Pro: For those who are blind or visually impaired, JAWS works with a speech synthesizer to read the information on the computer screen and also outputs to refreshable Braille displays.

Co:Writer 4000: Meets a range of learning needs, for example the 'Flexible Spelling' tool can help learners who have phonetic difficulties with spelling.

Texthelp Read & Write Gold: Provides a range of tools to help access, compose and read written and on-screen material.

Dragon 8 Preferred: Allows you to talk to your computer and your words instantly and accurately appear in Microsoft® Word and Excel®, Corel®, WordPerfect®, and virtually all Windows®-based applications. Listen to incoming e-mail and documents read aloud; search the Web by speaking URLs enable you to insert blocks of texts or bitmaps, such as your name, title, and signature with a single voice command.

ZoomText 8.1: Enlarges, enhances and reads aloud everything on the computer screen.

adaptive technology and atmospheres for special needs individuals

After our assignment last week, I decided to look a little more into New York Public Library since that is where I am going to be studying and using resources in the next year. I did find it comforting that the website has easy access to information for special needs patrons. I liked that under the list of libraries in the district they have a picture of a wheelchair and accessible or partially accessible listed..none of them say "no access". I am happy that a city I am going to live in for at least a year, offers so much to all types of people.Here are just some of the adaptive technologies available, taken from the New York Public Library website: Many Library locations offer access to a variety of devices that provide patrons with disablilties easier access to Library resources. Assistive Amplification Systems An infrared system which relays sound to hearing impaired attendees of library programs, such as lectures, book discussions, readings, and training programs. Available at: Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library: Program Room Bronx Library Center: Auditorium Muhlenberg Library: Program Room Stephen A. Schwarzman Building: Bartos Forum, Berger Forum, South Court Auditorium, South Court Classrooms A & B Library for the Performing Arts: Bruno Walter Auditorium Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture: Langston Hughes Auditorium Personal Reading Machines A device that scans printed text and reads aloud in synthetic speech. Available at: Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library Baychester Library Bronx Library Center Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Library for the Performing Arts Mid-Manhattan Library, Accessibility Services Science, Industry and Business Library St. George Library Center Closed-Circuit Television Enlargers (CCTVs) A monitor that enlarges printed material 45-60 times. Available at: Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library Baychester Library Countee Cullen Library Bronx Library Center Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Jefferson Market Library Kingsbridge Library Mid-Manhattan Library, Accessibility Services 96th Street Library Science, Industry and Business Library St. George Library Center Soundview Library Braille Writers Available at: Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library Mid-Manhattan Library, Accessibility Services Video Relay Service for the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Community Bronx Library Center Mid-Manhattan Library, Accessibility Services St. George Library Center

One last post on this topic! Check out this website for more useful information on assistive technology. It is not only about providing the technology but also about how we interact with special needs patrons.

This library training has been developed to help front-line library workers better serve patrons with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities. The training was created using input from focus groups consisting of public library staff members, mental health consumers and mental health professionals. The content of the program reflects many hours of collaboration and interaction between Department of Mental Health (DMH) librarians and the “in-the-trenches” front-line workers of many Missouri libraries.

We hope visitors to this site will realize the vital role public libraries play in the lives of persons with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities. Click on the video section to experience the training. Also, visit our links and handout sections to learn more.

Librarian411.0rg

April is Autisim awareness month.

If you were working in a library, and a disabled person needed help with JAWS what are some of the key factors you would do differently in assisting this person?  

This video helps give some simple examples of communication, and assistance approaches.

How does a library fulfill the needs of providing assistive technology?

This book may hold the key to helping library facilities make purchasing, training, and organization choices for managing assistive technology approaches.  I have included the table of contents, and the abstract about the author and the book taken from the Amazon book pages. This book also includes resources for purchasing and compliance guideline issues!  After browsing the pages of the book, I can see where this can be a huge challenge to any library.  Making the right choices requires much research and input. The three areas highlighted in green cover some very important topics.

Assistive Technologies in the Library

Barbara T. Mates with contributions by William R. Reed IV

Item Number: 978-0-8389-1070-2

Table of Contents

1.    The Library’s Mission: To Serve All Patrons

2.    Creating Accessible Electronic Information

3.    Seeing the Bigger Picture: Large-Print-Access Technology Solutions

4.    When Computers Talk: Listening to the Web and Printed Materials

5.    Touching the Internet: Braille Access to the Internet

6.    Seeing the Sounds: Technologies for Persons with Hearing Impairments

7.    Surfing the Internet with a “Different” Board

8.    Accessible Collections, Resources, and Discussion Forums

9.    Staff Make It All Work

10.    Finding the Funding

11.    We Got It—Come and Get It; or, Marketing

12.    Creating Avenues for Accessible Electronic Communication

There are plenty of products out there for making information accessible to all users, but how can administrators and managers determine which are the most practical and economical for their particular library? Mates, former director of the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled, strips away the technical jargon and introduces dozens of the latest options, including hardware, software, and peripherals. This guide will help readers: (1) Choose the products that are best for their organization, with the help of the evaluative commentary, lists of suppliers, and additional resources included; (2) Set up work stations and train staff on how to use assistive-technology such as screen readers, Braille displays, keyboard options, listening devices, and more; and (3) Meet compliance with regulatory agencies while benefiting every member of the community. This sensitively written and practical guidebook will be an indispensable resource for ensuring that a library's offerings are accessible to everyone.

Adaptive Technologies at CSUSM

A little information about adaptive technology at Cal State San Marcos, in cases you ever need it. It is good to know that the Kellogg library provides a variety of technology support for disabled students. On the 3rd floor their is one walk up catalog computer with wheelchair access and a 34" counter. On the same floor there are 3 roll up research carrels with 30" counters. All non computer tables and service areas have 34" counter access. On the 3rd and 4th floors are OCTV viewers to enlarge print, research computers all contain Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard, and Narrator software for enlarging print, providing onscreen navigation of the computer, and read-a-loud software to assist disabled persons. The library contains a separate adaptive technology lab which contain all of the above mentioned features. Braille keyboards and printers are also available in the adaptive technology lab.

These technologies are designed to make the library at Cal State San Marcos both accessible and usable by those with special needs. Breaking down these barriers makes it possible for each and every person who attends classes at Cal State to use the library and be successful in their studies. It is always good to know that these products and services are out there, you just never know who will need them.

Need a break from the goth books of cliche vampires,  hideous witches, and animated corpse-zombies? 

In case your tired of dark themes, and want something more real that you can relate to, your new read has just arrived. This book sounds like a breath of fresh air just in time for Spring.  Trade in your black hornet's nest outfit, for a fresh pair of cutoffs, a favorite tee, and head over to the cafe with a friend and enjoy!

It has some stellar reviews too! Readers let us know what you think!!!

confessions of a library junkie

http://hellogiggles.com/confessions-of-a-library-junkie

Really cool video

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturevideo/booksvideo/9067569/Birth-of-a-Book-a-tour-of-Smith-Settles-handmade-bookbinding-process.html

Awesome Book of the Week

Check out this awesome article on great books for kids

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/03/67-books-for-kids/?pid=1185&viewall=true

Another little book to check out!

Ripper book trailer!

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz is a reimagining of the Hansel and Gretel story and it takes them through many different fairytales, often with disastrous if not character strengthening results. The Grimm fairytales are brought back into the bloody, not particularly happy side with this book. This book comes full circle in its tale and the reader is left with some musings over fate and a sense of tenuous happiness. Aged for grades 5 and up, I would cautiously recommend this one, there are some violent scenes as well as a trip to hell contained within this book, so definitely know your reader.

Awesome Book of the Week: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Mara Dyer, has woken up from a coma with no knowledge of the accident that put her in the hospital and killed her 3 friends. With memories to painful to remember, Mara and her family move to another state to begin a new life. Slowly through dreams and frightening images Mara begins to remember what happened on the that fateful night, and she isn't sure she likes what she sees. Her life is changed upon meeting Noah the handsome british student at her stuffy private school, and soon learns that Noah hides a terrifying secret of his own. Spooky, mysterious, romantic, I really enjoyed this book, it is the first in a series and I can't wait until the next one comes out. I was obsessed with this book to the point where I read it in one day. Recommended 

A Wind in the Door

 The Second book in the time quintet A Wind in the Door grapples with universes great and small, and the idea that time, size are irrelevant to the task we are given in the universe. There is a lot of talk of Mitochondria, and the ever present spirituality of the text is apparent. I am really enjoying this saga of sorts, it just feels right to be reading these novels at this time in my life, I appreciate it in a way I wasn't ready for when I was young.

Awesome Book(s) of the week

This week I am using a review on Hellogiggles.com for my awesome books of the week. I like the books chosen, and the reviews. Enjoy!!
http://hellogiggles.com/my-recipe-for-post-apocalyptic-affection

The Library Man is Tan in Oceanside

  My name is Cecil the Library Man.. I live in Oceanside. I am the husband of one wife, the owner of one house, one dog, one cat, and two cars. I am a graduate of Mira Costa College and California State University at San Marcos. I have been interested in Library Science and working in a library since my days as a student at Mira Costa College. 

I am taking this course to develop my skills around media and technology in the library setting. It does help though that is fills the requirement for certificate in Library Technology from this college. I like to travel so here a two websites that I use when conducting personal research about traveling. www.gksoft.com/govt is a resource guide that contains links to official government sites. These sites are arranged by continent and country. The benefit here is that you can find out so much about a country before you travel. Another fun an useful website is http://www.lonelyplanet.com . This site is a down-to-earth online guide to world travel and can help you plan and book a trip like many other popular websites.

A Wrinkle in Time

     A Wrinkle in Time is the first novel in what's commonly known at The Time Quintet, a series of novels written by Madeleine L'Engle. the style is young adult Science Fiction/ Fantasy, although you don't have to be young to enjoy the novel. I read this when I was younger and after reading it again, I can say that I didn't pick up on the religous, or spiritual intonation when I was younger. The message that love not hate overcomes "the darkness" was honestly completely lost on the younger me. Back then, I liked the writing, but the idea of a five book series to read gave me hives, so I stopped at this one. But I am excited to continue with my blog experiment, and look forward to reading the second novel A Wind in the Door.
     This novel centers on the Murray Family, a family rife with intelligent eccentrics, and atheletes alike. There are four children the eldest Meg is the most awkward in school, and is having a rough time finding her niche. Sandy and Dennys are twins and the middle children, they are atheletes and seem to be the two chilldren that are most content in school. Charles Wallace is the baby and the town at large thinks he's daft, but he is really brilliant. The Childrens parents are both scientists and their father has been working on a top secret mission and hasn't written  for over a year, and hasn't returned... this is the atmosphere we are plunged into at the beginning of the novel, and the ending leaves the story open for more novels. Which I like because if there were no more, with that ending, I'd feel a little gyped. This book is very good, complex, and worth a read.

The Time Quintet

The Time Quintet refers to Madeleine L'Engle's five young adult novels created over roughly two decades. They are in order A Wrinkle In Time(1962), A Wind in the Door(1973), A Swiftly Tilting Planet(1978), Many Waters(1986), and An Acceptable Time(1989). I will be reading the time quintet and posting my reviews, musings etc. This is a classic Science Fiction/Fantasy epic for young adults and I suggest that since L'Engle is such a prolific writer, and has influenced countless new writers of this genre, that she is worth some study. I myself read A Wrinkle in Time when I was much younger, and am excited to re-read this book, and see if I catch anything new.

Awesome book of the week: Anna Dressed In Blood

(Overview, taken from barnesandnoble.com)

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Anna Dressed in Blood is a 2011 Kirkus Best Teen Books of the Year title.

One of NPR's Top 5 Young Adult Novels of 2011.

Check out this awesome review at Kirkus Reviews for Anna Dressed In Blood....

http://www.kirkusreviews.com/blog/young-adult/double-swoon-worthy-anna-dressed-blood/

The Doors Cover Reading Rainbow On Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

The Doors Cover Reading Rainbow On Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Good News fellow Non Librarians! I can hear ALL our radio stations! excellent!

Maria Poppins here just 'poppin in for a chatter !

Need some help with SAT preparation ?
How about tools for becoming a better student ?

Check out the 'teen web' page at the Los Angeles Public Library for some ideas, and some fun too !

http://www.lapl.org/ya/events/index.html

Who We Are

I thought I should take some time to let people who happen upon this blog site know who we are and why this blog is here. We are a collective of 5 Library Technology students, and this blog is about exporing the wide world of young adult literature, and all that encompasses. We will also discuss the young adult in the library through the lens of media and technology. So join us, we are very amiable and dedicated.

Awesome book of the week: The Night Circus

Amazon Best Book of the Month, September 2011.
The Night Circus begins with a mystery. We meet two children bound together through magic, but not meeting, who must participate in a series of competitions similar to a game of chess but played with magic. Both are illusionists, trained since childhood and both possessing real magical abilities. The contest will be played throughout their lives, they have no rules, and neither have any idea how one wins. The sponsors of the illusionists, one the father of the girl, the other who took the orphan boy in, create through great lengths a circus as the arena for which the competition will take place.  The circus arrives at various locations without announcement, and disappears without warning. It opens at midnight, and has a magical decor of only black and white. Much of the book is told through several intertwined characters who are also involved with the circus and who individually mold the atmosphere. The two young rivals play out their magical contest at The Night Circus, soon intertwining love, magic, joy and heartbreak. 

Maria Poppins changed the font and colors of the font on 2/2/2012 !

Reading choices made easy !

Cheat Sheet for some good reads, check it out!

So, are you looking for something to read, something that has pizzazz and will definitely hold your attention?  Why not check out this website for some insight? Teens and adults alike will be delighted to find resources and suggestions for young adult readers, at this website.  Just below is the Alex Awards list for 2011.  You can find other lists and suggestions, enjoy.

www.ala.org/yalsa

Alex Awards / List

The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To by DC Pierson, published by Vintage Books, a division of Random House, Inc. (ISBN 9780307474612)

Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray, published by Hyperion (ISBN 9780786868919)

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, published by Riverhead Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. (ISBN 9781594487569)

The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni, published by Amy Einhorn Books, an imprint of G.P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of the Penguin Group (ISBN 9780399156090)

The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton, published by Thomas Dunne Books for Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press (ISBN 9780312380427)

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: A Novel by Aimee Bender, published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. (ISBN 9780385501125)

The Radleys by Matt Haig, published by Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. (ISBN 9781439194010)

The Reapers Are the Angels: A Novel by Alden Bell, published by Holt Paperbacks, a division of Henry Holt and Company, LLC (ISBN 9780805092431)

Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue, published by Little, Brown and Company a division of Hatchette Book Group, Inc. (ISBN 9780316098335)

The Vanishing of Katharina Linden: A Novel by Helen Grant, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group,  division of Random House, Inc. (ISBN 9780385344173)

Tell me more about Alex

The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. The Alex Awards were first given annually beginning in 1998 and became an official ALA award in 2002.

The award is sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust. Edwards pioneered young adult library services and worked for many years at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore. Her work is described in her book Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts, and over the years she has served as an inspiration to many librarians who serve young adults. The Alex Awards are named after Edwards, who was called “Alex” by her friends.