Spring 2026 NEWSLETTER
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THE FRIENDS OF THE NEW JERSEY LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND HANDICAPPED, INC. Spring 2026 NEWSLETTER |
Hooray, it’s finally spring!
I think every one of us is looking forward to blue skies and sunshine after the snowy cold winter, we’ve just experienced.
I’m sure everyone is looking forward to resuming their outdoors activities in more pleasant sunshine and blue skies.
Spring is also a time of renewal so for those members who need to renew their membership, this is the time to do it.
For those who are not members of the Friends, this is a good time to become a member. The Friends of the Library support programs of the Talking Book and Braille Center. Last year was a little different for all of us. Events had to be done differently due to circumstances and many of the programs that the Talking Book and Braille Center had in the past were suspended. Thank goodness things are looking up this year.
This summer starting in mid-June, there will be a reading program, which will include all ages so hopefully everyone registers. They’ll be an incentive to start and an incentive to finish. The program will end in the middle of August. More information will be coming from TBBC soon so stay tuned.
Please think about becoming a member. It really isn’t very hard. All you need to do is fill out a simple application and send a $10 check. The Friends only have two general meetings a year one in June and one in December. A strong membership makes a strong organization. That’s exactly what the Friends want to do have a stronger membership. So come join our June meeting and help support our organization. Thank you to all of those who have supported us in the past and hope you’ll continue supporting us in the future.
I have a very strong dedicated board and they work hard to make things move forward, but we still need you.
Come join us we’d love to meet you.
Wishing everyone a wonderful spring and a beautiful summer.
May you enjoy all the sunshine and blue skies and family and friends!
Whatever you decide for the summer, always remember to read a book.
Books can take you any place in the world and even outer space if you’d like. Enjoy every day this summer.
Our next meeting will be by conference call on June 6, 2026, 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.
This is a friendly reminder that our annual dues for FY 2026-2027 are due. Please send your dues and donations to The Friends mailing address at PO Box 434 Woodbridge, NJ 07095. Make check payable to Friends of NJLBH. 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, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Greetings from Liz Burns!
Hello from Liz Burns, the new Director at TBBC. While I’m new as the director, I’m not new to TBBC. I started here in 2007 as a Youth Services Librarian, back in the days when we still loaned out cassette players! I’ve enjoyed all the new technology that we have now, from mobile apps to an Alexa Talking Skill, but one thing remains the same – TBBC patrons love reading and are always asking for new books!
New Technology from NLS Available to NJ Patrons
The DA2 is the newest talking book player from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), and it is now available to eligible TBBC patrons. Highlights of the new player include built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and 28 GB of storage. With the new player, patrons can connect to the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled to browse, download, and manage books directly on the player. If you are interested in a new player, please contact TBBC.
You can hold onto your old player as you test the DA2. Once you decide which player you prefer, please send back the one you aren’t using to TBBC.
60th Anniversary
For nearly six decades, TBBC has been honored to serve the residents of New Jersey. Since opening our doors in 1967, we've come a long way, and our 60th Anniversary is just around the corner. We hope you'll celebrate this milestone with us, so stay tuned for more!
Summer Reading Program
TBBC is pleased to announce that our Summer Reading program is returning! This year’s program is something entirely new, designed for patrons of all ages. More details are on the way, so make sure we have your current email address on file to stay in the loop on this and all TBBC updates.
TBBC’s Own Rising Star
Luisa Martucci, Hispanic Outreach Coordinator at TBBC, received the New Jersey Library Association’s Rising Star Award at the NJLA/NJASL Joint Conference, “A New Chapter: Imagine the Possibilities,” held February 19 at the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City. The award recognizes innovative contributions made in a New Jersey library during the past year.
Since joining TBBC in July 2022, Luisa has led the center’s Hispanic Outreach program, building strong partnerships with organizations including the Newark Hispanic Commission, the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development, the Consulate of Colombia in Newark, and the Hispanic Association of Atlantic City. Through bilingual outreach and community events, she has expanded awareness of TBBC services among Spanish-speaking communities across New Jersey. We are so pleased to see Luisa’s accomplishments and contributions recognized.
At our June 6th meeting, the Friends will be electing the slate of officers who will be holding positions for the next 2 years. As the Nominating Committee Chair appointed by President Marie Sawyer, I am proposing the following slate of officers: President – Marie Sawyer; Vice President - Jack Truehaft; Secretary – Mary Jo Partyka; and Treasurer – Joyce Sowa.
Other members may be nominated from the floor at the time of elections, but as the Nominating Committee Chair, I must be made aware of it in advance. Also, we do ask that anyone being nominated from the floor be approached in advance of the meeting, have already agreed to run for the office in question, and must be present at the June meeting. All members please make every attempt to attend this very important meeting.
If you would like to be considered for an office, please contact the Friends at Friendsnjlbh@yahoo.com or call me at (732)589-5619 and leave a message on the voice mail.
Below are descriptions of each open position.
Please be sure to review them carefully to determine your eligibility.
SECTION 1. The officers shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. These officers shall perform the duties set forth in these By-Laws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Friends. The president must be eligible for services from the (NJSLTBBC).
The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint two (2) Executive Board members-at-Large with Board approval, appoint committees and serve as an ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall be a current member and in good standing of the Friends.
The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President. The vice-President must be eligible for services from the (NJSLTBBC).
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings, coordinate correspondence and maintain custody of all non-financial corporate records.
The Treasurer shall keep the financial records, maintain responsibility over all receipts and disbursements and prepare periodic financial reports.
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 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
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