SPRING 2025 NEWSLETTER
Home > Newsletters > Spring, 2025
|
THE FRIENDS OF THE NEW JERSEY LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND HANDICAPPED, INC. SPRING 2025 NEWSLETTER |
The mission of The Friends shall be to support and promote the services and programs of the NJ State Library Talking Book and Braille Center.
President’s Message
Spring! Imagine that the seasons are going by so quickly we’re back to spring. Spring is a time of renewal and of new beginnings.
What a great idea for those who are members of The Friends of The New Jersey Library for The Blind and Handicapped to think of the renewal part and please send in your dues after May 1 for the next year.
For those who are not members think of beginning something new and how good it will make you feel. Fill out our application and send in your $10 check. Remember there are only two meetings a year, one in June and one in December. That is not taking up much of your time.
The Friends support programs and projects of the Talking Book and Braille Center.
If you are a member of the Talking Book and Braille Center, wouldn’t it be great to become part of The Friends? You would then be helping to support projects and programs that benefit all of us.
Come join us, it’ll make you feel good.
Now is a great time to grab a book and go sit out on the patio and enjoy the good weather reading a good book. Please join me at our next meeting and learn what is new at TBBC!
I want to wish everyone a happy spring and a wonderful summer to come.
President
Marie Sawyer
Meeting Information
Our next meeting will be by conference call on June 7, 2025, beginning at 10 AM dial 605-468-8005. Enter the access code 425 373#. You will be asked to press 1 after the access code is repeated correctly.
Annual Dues are due
This is a friendly reminder that our annual dues for FY 2025-2026 are due. Please send your dues and donations to The Friends mailing address and write your check out to The Friends of the Library for the Blind and Handicapped. The mailing address is P.O. Box 434, Woodbridge, NJ 07095. The Friends appreciate your support and your participation in helping the NJSLTBBC meet its goals. A membership form is attached to this newsletter for those who wish to join The Friends or pay dues. Dues are $10.00 for individual membership and $25.00 for family membership. These dues cover the 12-month period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Summer Reading 2025 by Jen Apgar
With the warm weather starting to reemerge, it’s time to start thinking about summer! The New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center is excited to once again offer our Youth Summer Reading Program for any TBBC patron 18 and under interested in participating in the program.
Throughout the summer, participants will receive packets in the mail which may include things like book lists, activities, crafts, reading incentives provided by The Friends of the Library for the Blind and Handicapped, and more.
This year’s Summer Reading Program theme is Color Our World and we’re so excited to share our vibrant plans with all our participants this year.
Once again, we thank The Friends of the Library for the Blind and Handicapped for their continued support to help us provide the fun incentives we send out.
We can’t wait for a colorful summer!
2025 Chilly Chapters Winter Reading Challenge Recap by Liz Kelly
TBBC is excited to share that the 2025 Chilly Chapters Winter Reading Challenge, graciously sponsored by The Friends of the Library for the Blind and Handicapped, has come to a successful close! This year, over 40 participants took part, reading a total of 955 books, an increase from last year’s 800 books.
When participants signed up, they received a package with the challenge guidelines, TBBC logo gloves, and a reading log. Over the eight-week challenge, TBBC sent regular updates, reminder letters, and eight staff-curated book lists.
We’re pleased to announce that Erica Edelman won the prize drawing of a $100 Visa gift card. Laurie Neidhart and Tom Blume were our top readers and were awarded chess sets. Congratulations to all winners and thank you to everyone who participated.
Stay tuned for more reading events and challenges, and don’t forget - registration for next year’s Winter Reading Challenge begins in December!
If you are interested in any of the book lists that were sent to participants, please contact Liz Kelly at lkelly@njstatelib.org.
2025 Spanish Summer Reading by Luisa Martucci
Discover a vibrant world of color during our 2025 Spanish Summer Reading program at the Talking Book and Braille Center!
From June through August, participants will have the opportunity to explore a variety of Latin American authors, with titles available in both Spanish and English.
Join our virtual meetings to discuss book recommendations and more!
This year, thanks to the continued support of The Friends of the Library for the Blind and Handicapped, we are also hosting a Virtual Tactile Craft Workshop, where participants can create unique pieces of art.
Embrace a summer filled with color by diving into our extensive collection of Spanish language titles and authors at TBBC.
Remember, knowledge of Spanish is not required, so don’t let the summer pass without reading and learning something new about different cultures.
For more information, please contact Luisa Martucci at 800-792-8322 ext. 822 or email lmartucci@njstatelib.org.
Options for Reading The Friends’ Newsletter
The newsletter is available in Large Print, E-Mail, on our website www.friendsnjlibraryfortheblind.org and for those who do not have computers, by telephone on Newsline. You can access these Newsletters with a Newsline subscription and a touch-tone telephone. If you do not have a Newsline subscription, contact Reader Services at the New Jersey Talking Book and Braille Center at 1-800-792-8322 to get signed up for a Newsline subscription. If you have a Newsline subscription, but do not remember your login information, contact Christian Riehl at the above number extension 821. Once you have secured your login information, dial in to the service by calling 1-888-882-1629, or the local dial up number provided to you for accessing the service. Follow the prompts for logging in and reading the Newsletters. Choose option 2 off the main menu for your state’s information channel, followed by the option for the blindness groups, then the option for The Friends Newsletters. Happy reading.
Please check out our website for information on community services as well as present and past copies of our newsletters at www.friendsnjlibraryfortheblind.org
Name: ___________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: ____________________________________________
Telephone (with area code): __________________________________
E-mail address: ____________________________________________
Preferred Media Format:
LP____ E-mail_____ or None I will read online_____
I am eligible for TBBC Services: Yes ___ No ___
Individual Member $10.00 ___ Family Membership $25.00 ___
Donation $ _________
Donation in Memory or Honor of Name: __________________________
Send acknowledgment for memorial gift to:
Name: ____________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________
I have made a bequest in my will _____
Please return this form together with your check payable to:
The Friends of the NJLBH
PO Box 434, Woodbridge, NJ 07095