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ATIA 2014 Conference & Bookshare Roundup!

This year’s conference was a resounding success, and we thank the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) for the great work they do to organize the conference and other events throughout the year. Conferences, like ATIA, are very important for learning new knowledge and for special opportunities to meet with new and long-standing Bookshare members in person. Bringing together such a diverse community of educators, parents, researchers, and developers helps us all to grow and share new and better ways to support children and adults with disabilities.   To that end, here’s a quick roundup of our presentations, trainings and lively…

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Oh the Places We Go When We Read! Celebrating Dr. Seuss and Award-Winning Children’s Literature

You may not know Theodor Geisel by name, but when you hear the titles of his famous children’s literature, like One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and the Cat in the Hat, you’ll know that he is Dr. Seuss. For more than 75 years, his books have charmed children and families around the world, and you can find many of his titles in the Bookshare library. Dr. Seuss wanted children to laugh and to be challenged, entertained, and delighted by the joy of reading. His brilliantly written and playful books, such as Oh, the Places You Will Go!,…

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Honoring Women in History—March

March is Women’s History Month. Do you know the name of a woman astronomer who discovered a comet in 1847? Who was the first woman Indian Chief to lead the Cherokee Nation? Who fought for a woman’s right to vote? We’ve pulled together some interesting titles about women activists, leaders, poets, and individuals who conquered remarkable odds to improve society. First, to answer our question about a woman astronomer.  Maria Mitchell (1818–1889) was an astronomer who discovered a comet, which was named after her, on October 1, 1847. She was the first woman elected to the American Association for the…

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2014 Schneider Family Book Awards

The American Library Association (ALA) just announced the winners of the 2014 Schneider Family Book Awards. The ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world, and the Schneider Family Book Awards honor the artistic achievements of authors or illustrators who portray the disability experience. Awards are in three categories: 1) for child and adolescent audiences: birth through grade school (ages 0–8) 2) middle school (ages 9–13), and 3) teens (ages 14–18). Learn about this year’s winners and download their books from the Bookshare library! Award for Young Children A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of…

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Ode to February…The Month of Hearts and Romance Novels!

February is a grand time to bundle up with a good romance novel. According to the Romance Writers of America, two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally satisfying ending. What better way to celebrate the month of love than to browse Bookshare’s collection of romance titles, or review this reference book of the 100 best selling romance novels! Who are some of your favorite romance authors? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter * * * Nora Roberts was born into a family of readers and had never known a time that she wasn’t…

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Winter Olympics 2014—Let the Games Begin!

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, start on February 6! To help inaugurate this amazing international competition, the Bookshare Collections Development team has put together a wonderful list of books for all ages. Do you want to know how and when the first games started? Do you want to learn more about specific events like hockey or skiing? Do you want to read about Winter Olympic athletes, like speed skater Apolo Ohno? Get ready for the winter games with these great books, add them to your Reading List, and share with others! Books for Children and Adolescents Tacky and…

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The Sharjah International Book Fair: Towards Accessibility without Borders

Have you ever wondered how Bookshare builds such a rich and varied collection of titles so quickly in the library? Each month, we add more than 3000 titles to engage the hearts and minds of members of all ages. We currently have 223,000+ (and counting) titles in the collection. Educational and general interest trade titles in English comprise the majority of our collection, but our goal is to bring Bookshare services to many more people with print disabilities in more geographies and languages. To that end, we’re working hard to expand partnerships with the international publishing community. That’s where Robin Seaman,…

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Teacher-Recommended Titles for Black History Month

Earlier, we wrote about Black History Month. In this blog, we want to share some great reading recommendations from one of our amazing sponsor members, Donna Schneider.  Donna is an Assistive Technology Specialist and Bookshare Mentor Teacher.  She gave us her list of teacher-recommended books to read and learn about  black history.  Some titles meet Common Core Standards, so please share them with other teachers and students. Here’s a tip! Use Reading Lists to save, organize, and share these books with students who have Individual Memberships.  View this tutorial for educators or this tutorial for Individual Members. * * *…

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Two FREE “Bookshare for Educators” Workshops during ATIA 2014 Conference in Orlando

Educators near or close to Orlando, Florida, and those who will attend the ATIA 2014 conference, reserve your seat now for FREE Bookshare training workshops on Friday, January 31. This is your chance to get hands-on training and answers to questions directly from our Bookshare trainers. You do not have to register for ATIA to participate.  The events will take place at the Caribe Royal Hotel in conjunction with ATIA 2014. Once we reserve your spot, we’ll send you details in a confirmation email.  Space is limited, so please sign up on the waiting list for these in-depth training sessions:…

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Praise for Accessible Books and Reading Technologies by Bookshare Mentor Teacher

As 2013 comes to an end, we want to send our heartfelt thanks to all educators, sponsors and Bookshare Mentor Teachers who continue to partner with us to provide accessible educational opportunities to their students.  With that sentiment, we’d like to share this letter from  Theresa Brousseau, a teacher of the visually impaired, who wrote us this letter. “Thanks to Bookshare, I feel good that I’m able to help more students with print disabilities achieve their goals, make progress and be successful!  As a VI teacher, the students I work with require reading assignments in accessible formats to access the…

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