Episode Transcript
[00:00:18] Speaker A: Greetings readers. Welcome to the second episode of our May 2025 Library News.
We're booked solid with great updates for our D List Spotlight. This month we're excited to present a gem of a theme, the Emerald Chronicles.
We'll also take a moment to check out the success of the recent Elizabeth Porowski Volunteer Workshop and luncheon, give you the inside story on the upcoming library events you won't want to miss, and introduce you to the new DA2 talking book player. It's sure to be a novel addition to your listening options.
Lets turn the page and get started.
Exciting news for patrons of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled. We are one of four states that is a part of the NLS pilot program that is offering patrons the new digital talking book machine DA2. The DA2 boasts significant upgrades including built in WI Fi and Bluetooth connectivity along with a substantial 28 GB of internal storage.
This means users can now directly connect to Bard, nls, Braille and audio reading, download to easily download audiobooks and magazines, store them on the device and enjoy listening through Bluetooth enabled speakers or headphones, offering an even more convenient and seamless reading experience.
Give the library a call at 515-281-1323 if you would like to be a.
[00:01:48] Speaker B: Part of this pilot program for this month's Dela Spotlight. The Emerald Chronicles Cat with an Emerald Eye by Carol N. Douglas, DB47 845 Temple Barr, public relations expert for the Crystal Phoenix in Las Vegas, attends a Halloween night seance intended to resurrect the spirit of Harry Houdini before the event is over. One of the psychics is dead. With the help of her cat, Midnight Louie, Temple finds herself investigating a murder that may involve her ex boyfriend, Max Kinsella.
The Emerald Horizon the History of Nature in Iowa by Cornelia F. Mutl, DBC 01676 Botanist Thomas MacBride described Iowa in 1895 as an emerald prairie that gleamed and shone to the horizon. That landscape has vanished. Muttel portrays the history of the Iowa landscape and offers hope and sound suggestions for restoring the damaged landscape to the entire Corn Belt.
The Emerald Valley By Janet Tanner, DB24944Amy Hall, a spirited and independent woman, takes over her husband's trucking business after he is tragically killed. Struggling to make ends meet, she becomes romantically involved with the handsome Ralph Porter, the richest man in the English coal mining village of Hillsbridge.
The Emerald Sea By Michelle Mead, DB 91541Ambitious Tamsin the glittering quartz emerald is a fierce competitor. But when the ship she boards for the New World is lost at sea, she is quite literally thrown off course.
[00:03:42] Speaker C: The Attonbury Emeralds by Jill Peyton Walsh, DB10002919 the year was 1921 when Lord Whimsy encountered the famed Attenbury Emeralds that launched his detective career. Thirty years later, the current Lord Attenbury has more questions about his grandfather's emeralds, and only Lord Whimsy can answer them.
The Emerald Atlas By John Stephens, DB73905 after their parents disappeared 10 years ago, Kate has protected her brother Michael and sister Emma as they have moved from orphanage to orphanage. At Cambridge Falls, the siblings discover a green book that transports them through time, and they become aware of a fearsome enemy.
The Emerald Heart of Courtenay By Anita Stansfield, DBC 20457 the moment her father takes his final breath, Sarah becomes the sole heir of her family's castle.
And something far more unexpected. On his deathbed, Lord Courtenay left his daughter a cryptic A dark curse will fall upon the house should Sarah fail to obtain and protect a priceless treasure. Not only was her father poisoned, but Sarah now possesses something worth killing for.
[00:05:31] Speaker A: Emerald by phyllis A. Whitney, DB19213 fleeing from her mob connected ex husband Carol, a young writer, seeks refuge with her aunt, a reclusive former movie star whose fortress like mansion overlooks the opulence of Palm Springs. As Carol begins research for a biography of her famous aunt, she is drawn into an old Hollywood scandal that menaces many lives.
Evil and Emerald by a.m. stewart, DB 110392 between working at her brother's school and typing up Inspector Robert Curran's police reports, Harriet Gordon has little time for personal pursuits, and she has been enjoying the rehearsals for her role in the Singapore Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society's latest production, Pirates of Pensance. But Harriet quickly discovers tensions run deep within the theater company, and when the leading man is found murdered, suspicions abound, exposing scandalous behavior as well as some insidious crimes. Inspector Curran once again turns to Harriet for help with this difficult case, but his own life begins to unravel as a mysterious man turns up on his doorstep. Claiming to know more about Curran's painful past than he himself does. And after the one person he has always counted on delivers him some devastating news, the line between his personal and professional life begins to blur. Now more than ever, Curran needs Harriet's steadfast assistance. And when another cast member meets a violent end, Karen and Harriet will have to close in on a killer determined to make this case their final curtain call.
Emerald Rain by Linda F. Lee DB46553 Nicholas Drake has won his case in court and has almost won the revenge he has wanted for years. But Ellie Sinclair refuses to sell him the piece of New York City property he needs to complete his victory, and he won't let the matter drop. As they fight, their battle of wills and attraction grows between them.
[00:07:43] Speaker B: For May, our magazine of the Month is Fur Fish Game.
Fur Fish Game is an American outdoors magazine. This magazine features how to articles and tips, descriptions of outdoor sporting products, and first person stories of outdoor adventure and survival.
It is published monthly and is available in audio format on cartridge or download through Bard.
[00:08:09] Speaker C: Hello and welcome to this month's Tech Tip. I'm Leland and today we are going to talk about zipped folders.
What are they and how do we unzip them? Let's get started.
In the world of computers we commonly see files and folders.
Files are placed in two folders to group them together.
An example of this would be the Braille and audiobooks you download from NLS Bard.
Each book contains many files and is kept together by a folder.
A zipped folder is made by compressing a folder to make it smaller.
This is helpful when sending or downloading folders because smaller folders are quicker to move around.
But once you have downloaded a zipped folder, it has to be unzipped in order for the files inside to be usable.
This is why for patrons who download books from the NLS Bard website, there's that extra step before the books can be played on a talking book player. In order to unzip a folder, there are just a few steps. Locate the zip folder that you want to unzip, hover your mouse over the folder and and right click. For keyboard users, the command shift F10 will do the same. In the window that comes up, find the option Extract all, click the Extract button and the unzipped folder will appear next to the zipped folder. Bonus Tip the process to zip a folder is very similar.
Instead of selecting Extract all, you use the option Compress to and there you go. That is your Tech tip for May. Stay tuned for future tech tips and happy reading.
[00:10:13] Speaker D: Hello Leslie here with this month's staff pick. This time I chose a book that I've read recently called the Life Impossible by Matt Haig DB123847 the Life Impossible is about retired math teacher Grace Winters. When she is left a run down house on a Mediterranean island by a long lost friend, Curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one way ticket, no guidebook and no plan. Among the rugged hills and golden beaches of the island, Grace searches for answers about her friend's life and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. But to dive into this impossible truth, Grace must first come to terms with her past.
Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life changing power of a new beginning.
Magic realism as a genre isn't usually my thing, but this novel captivated me from the beginning. It really reminds readers that you need to live life to the fullest while you have the chance. I think if you're willing to open your heart and mind, you will find this story to be one you will think about often. Matt Haig is also the author of the Midnight Library, another book I would.
[00:11:21] Speaker A: Highly recommend the Sign up for the Youth Summer Reading Program is here. The theme for the summer is Power Up Game on for Summer Reading and will run from June 9th through July 25th. Each week participants will travel to a new part of the country, from the mystical forests of the Pacific Northwest to the sunny shores of New England. Participants will play interactive games like a Bigfoot Mystery Hunt, a Buffalo Stampede Adventure, and a Firefly Glow Challenge. They also create awesome crafts including paracord bracelets, petroglyph rock art, beaded dream catchers, and much more, all designed to be loads of fun at every border.
Programs will be conducted virtually on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Joined in East Bean, our youth librarian for these great programs. Ages 0 through 18 are welcome. If you have any questions about any of our youth programs, reach out to Denise Bean Youth Services Librarian Denise Beanline, State IA US or 515-452-1338.
[00:12:33] Speaker B: Smart Speaking to the smart speaker a new limited series program from the National Library Service will be held Thursday, May 15th at 6pm A brief presentation will begin this session. Presenters will spend the remainder of the time answering questions about the presentation.
The all may Eread the monthly NLS program that focuses on the NLS Braille Ereader will be held at Tuesday, May 27 at 6pm via Zoom.
Contact the library if you need assistance getting registered for any of the NLS events.
[00:13:12] Speaker C: Save the date. The library will be part of the Downtown Des Moines Farmers market on Saturday, May 31 from 7am to 12pm we will have a booth offering a Hands on Braille activity while spreading awareness about Braille literacy, the library and the department. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello.
The library will be closed Monday, May 26, in absorbance of Memorial Day.
Please don't hesitate to contact the library with any questions or comments at 515-281-1323 or by email at.
Library at Blind State IA US.
The library is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm Happy reading.
