April 2011 - Bookshare Blog

Published April 25, 2011

Let Bookshare Relieve Your Stress

April is Stress Awareness month. For nearly 20 years, “The Health Resource Network” has set aside this month to educate people about ways to prevent and manage stress. Many agree that reading can be a form of stress relief because it helps individuals relax and let themselves be transported to a different time or place. Since stress affects so many people from all walks of life, we at Bookshare wanted to help enrich the lives of our members by recommending some helpful books. Whether you’re worrying over taxes, struggling with spring cleaning, balancing YOUR budget, or cramming for finals, we…

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Published April 21, 2011

A College Student Leaves a Legacy in Bookshare

Melanie Sorenson was the definition of a power Bookshare Member. A voracious reader and a student of 19th century history, she sometimes downloaded over 100 books a month. Melanie, the student member of the Bookshare Advisory Board, sadly died last month at age 20 from complications stemming from the H1N1 virus. When Melanie was a freshman, and the only student who was blind at Whittier College, she suggested that the office of Disability Services turn to Bookshare to produce the books in the format she needed to be able to access them for her classes. About seven weeks before every quarter,…

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Published April 15, 2011

Welcome Taylor & Francis to the Bookshare Family of Publishers

Taylor & Francis Group, headquartered in London and one of the world’s leading international academic publishers, has signed an agreement with Bookshare. They will grant world rights to all books added to the collection. Initially they will give us titles that have specifically been requested by our Members. *Members, if you would like to see Taylor & Francis titles added to the collection, please send your requests via our Contact Us form. Select the Requesting a Book title from the drop down. Taylor & Francis (T&F) is a two-hundred-year-old company, founded in the UK in 1798, with 20 offices worldwide,…

Norman Coombs, Ph.D., Pioneer of Accessibility Teachings for Equal Access

All will agree that some folks just think more brilliantly than others and accomplish things that many of us can only accomplish in our dreams. These visionaries come up with terrific ideas and take them to unimaginable places. And when it comes to doing good works with a brilliant passion, Dr. Norman Coombs take the prize. Dr. Coombs is one of our first Bookshare members to download and read digital books. You may not recognize him, but know of his strong advocacy and teachings to educators and faculties on the importance of accessibility issues. Dr. Coombs has created many accessible…

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Published April 1, 2011

Thank You to Bookshare

A guest post by Davis Graham, Executive Director CFO of the Manatee Diagnostic Center, in Bradenton, FL. Today the successes which have taken place in my life have been from a compassionate ear, a foundation of a solid family, Jesus Christ’s presence in my life and technology. Bookshare has for the first time in my 50 years of life, put me on the edge of a reading chair which was never in my life before. This chair is at work, at home, on vacation, and in my conversations with many. Today the written word is not a hurdle to me…