Our quarterly newsletter, the Bookshare Bulletin was just released! This Winter 2014 edition is a wonderful recap of a tremendous year and an exciting preview of 2015. Thank you for this amazing year and enjoy reading the bulletin!
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Giving Thanks and Looking Ahead
A message from Betsy Beaumon, VP and General Manager, Benetech Global Literacy Program
From our family to yours, we wish you the very best holiday season.
Thanks to your support, Bookshare is serving more members than ever with a collection of hundreds of thousands of accessible ebooks and with tools that offer a “read now” experience on multiple browsers for anytime reading. We also launched a major update to the Bookshare website, making improvements to better support our members.
We believe that our technology and services offer a new world of opportunity for millions of readers around the world. And we are setting our sights on further revolutionizing the fields of accessibility and education. These goals are embodied in the mission of Benetech, the nonprofit parent company that operates Bookshare and that advances the use of technology as a force for social good across the Benetech Global Literacy Program.
Looking ahead, our team is taking on multiple cool new projects. We’re working to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for students who have visual disabilities or learning differences. We just launched a new project to explore ways in which 3D printing technology in libraries and museums can improve learning and accessibility in a range of educational contexts, especially in STEM classes. We also began developing a cloud-based app to help publishers and educators deliver accessible math.
As these projects illustrate, we’re extending what we’ve learned from our extensive work with Bookshare to help publishers and other content creators realize the promise of the digital age and ensure that all content that’s born digital is also born accessible.
We invite you to learn more about our work and please consider supporting our efforts. Your gift will have a more far-reaching impact than you can ever imagine.
P.S. Did you know that many employers match contributions to Bookshare? See if your company will match your gift!
Fun Reads for the Holidays
Our Collection Development team sure likes to have fun!
This holiday book blog will give you an early start to titles that will undoubtedly tickle your funny bone. You can also check out our winter holiday reading Pinterest board.
There are so many more great books in our collection! Why not peruse our special collection of 2014 National Book Award titles and add them to your reading list? And what better way to read than on your own! Learn how you can sign up your students for Individual Memberships.
Product Updates
Data security is always a priority at Benetech. We’ve recently updated the Bookshare website to maintain security of our member information. This update will affect how users of the free Read:OutLoud Bookshare Edition find and read new books. Please read this important update.
Students Break through Reading Barriers
Confidence, independence, possibility, and achievement—these are the benefits that students with learning disabilities highlight about assistive technology and Bookshare books. Hear it in their own words by viewing this great video of Texas students.
Please share this video!
Parenting Tips from Understood.org
The holidays are a time for family and fun. Excitement runs high, and kids navigate unfamiliar situations. This can spell trouble for the one in five children with learning and attention issues.
If you or a parent you know could benefit from some tips to manage these behaviors, try Understood’s Parenting Coach today!
Teachers, Get Ready for Next Semester!
It’s not too early to make sure your students have the books they need. Get ahead with these easy steps!
- See if Bookshare has the books by searching the collection.
- If the book is not available, request it!
You can also sign up for the following two great learning opportunities!
Inspire Lifelong Learning with Bookshare (January 20, 2015)—Join AbleNet University and Bookshare for a webinar on how to inspire lifelong learning with your students using Bookshare and assistive technology. Attendees will get a certificate of attendance and a 10% discount on AbleNet products. Register today!
Bookshare Train the Trainer (January 26, 2015)—Learn how you can train other educators and schools to use Bookshare in this convenient five-week online course from Perkins eLearning. Attendees will earn 25 continuing education credits, and you can get a discount by signing up before December 31. Register today!
Bookshare Mentor Teachers can contact training@bookshare.org to learn about scholarship opportunities.
Have a safe and fun holiday and thank you!
With warm regards from the Benetech and Bookshare team.
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