Fall 2026 NEWSLETTER
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THE FRIENDS OF THE NEW JERSEY LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND HANDICAPPED, INC. Fall 2026 NEWSLETTER |
Attention Potential New Members! We have an offer you can’t resist
It’s hard to believe that on October 2 it feels like summer. The weather is predicted to be 82° today. We’ve had quite a roller coaster ride with the weather lately. It’s been hot, humid, cool, and rainy just about any condition you could think of.
I have an offer you can’t resist.
If you become one of the members of the Friends and you are among the first 20 people who fill out the application, you will receive one-year free membership. This offer is only for new members. Former members whose memberships have lapsed are not included. This free membership lasts until June 30, 2028.
If you’re not quite sure about becoming a member, join us on December 5 at 10:00 AM for the general meeting. The meeting is done by conference call. The call in number is 605-468-8005 Access code 425373#. This will bring you into the meeting and then you can decide for yourself. Maybe you’ll be enticed to join us.
I have a very strong board. They are dedicated and we work well together. However, we need new members.
The Friends support projects and programs for the Talking Book and Braille Center.
This past summer, there was a wonderful reading program for all ages. Everyone was included. The Friends were sponsors of this successful program. We had a very nice incentive when you signed up to participate. At the conclusion of the program and you fulfilled the 10 topics that were part of the program, you also received a really nice gift.
We’re hoping that the program will return next summer. I think all participants enjoyed it.
We’re also hoping that they’ll be more programs and projects for us to support that will be beneficial to everyone.
I hope we have many new members along with our current members at the December 5th meeting.
I want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season full of joy and happiness
All of us here at the Friends want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year
Marie Sawyer, President
Meeting Information
Our next meeting will be by conference call on December 5, 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.
TBBC’s Summer Reading Program has wrapped up for another year! This summer, the program was completely redesigned to welcome readers of all ages and speakers of both English and Spanish, making it easier for everyone to join in the fun. A total of 80 patrons participated in this year’s program. All registered participants received a TBBC microfiber beach towel to enjoy during the summer months. All participants were also sent a welcome packet with 20 different reading-related activities to complete. Participants who completed at least 10 activities were also eligible to receive a TBBC picnic blanket. Funding for the Summer Reading Program was generously provided by the Friends, whose support helped make this year’s program possible.
The program encouraged readers to enjoy books in whatever format worked best for them. All reading formats counted, including audiobooks and magazines, braille books and magazines, and large print books. Participants could borrow materials from TBBC or obtain reading material from any other source.
In addition to reading, participants were invited to complete a variety of activities designed to encourage them to try something new and engage with the wider reading community. Activities included asking a friend or family member for a book recommendation, exploring a new genre, and attending an NLS event.
As always at TBBC, accessibility and inclusion were important parts of this year’s redesigned program. All program materials were offered in English and Spanish, and braille materials were available upon request, helping ensure that readers could take part in the format that best met their needs.
Thank you to all 80 participants who made this year’s Summer Reading Program a success, and a special thank you to the Friends for providing the funding that supported the program.
Below please find some selections from the 2026 NLS Summer Reading Book List that was themed “Unearth a Story”.
Gods of Jade and Shadow DB96115
Silvia Moreno-Garcia, 11 hours, 6 minutes. Read by Yetta Gottesman.
In 1920s Mexico, Casiopea Tun is cleaning her wealthy grandfather's house when she finds a curious wooden box. She opens it, accidentally freeing the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother.
The Imperial Alchemist DB135504
A.H. Wang, 11 hours, 0 minutes. Read by Luke Welland.
"210 BCE, China. The most powerful emperor China has ever known is on the brink of death. In desperation, he sends his trusted alchemist on a quest for the mythical elixir of life. In the present day, renowned archaeologist Professor Georgia Lee is determined to unlock the secret to the greatest discovery in human history. But she's not the only one seeking the precious elixir of life." — Provided by publisher.
The Stolen Queen: A Novel DB126389
Fiona Davis, 10 hours, 21 minutes. Read by Linda Jones.
"Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. But after an unbearable tragedy strikes, Charlotte knows her future will never be the same. New York City, 1978: Eighteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for an iconic former Vogue fashion editor who is organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the 'party of the year.' Meanwhile, Charlotte, now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met's celebrated Department of Egyptian Art, wants little to do with the upcoming gala. That is, until the night of the gala, when one of the Egyptian art collection's most valuable artifacts goes missing." —Provided by publisher. BR26315 1 volume.
Companion Planting for Beginners: Pair Your Plants for a Bountiful, Chemical-Free Vegetable Garden DB134125
Brian Lowell, 6 hours, 57 minutes. Read by Vaan Solis.
"Is it possible to have a healthy, thriving vegetable garden without using dangerous chemicals? It can be, if you know how to pair up the right plants. Organic gardeners have known for years that planting the right plants together is the key to minimizing pests, improving soil quality and increasing the yield of their gardens, and almost any vegetable you can grow likely has a beneficial companion. Companion planting is the ideal way to avoid using chemicals, while still increasing the efficiency of your garden." — Google Books.
The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction and the Beginning of Our World DB131584
Riley Black, 8 hours, 57 minutes. Read by Christina Delaine.
"An asteroid some seven miles across slammed into the Earth, leaving a geologic wound over 50 miles in diameter. In the terrible mass extinction that followed, more than half of known species vanished seemingly overnight. But this worst single day in the history of life on Earth was as critical for us as it was for the dinosaurs, as it allowed for evolutionary opportunities that were closed for the previous 100 million years." — Goodreads.
Parable of the Sower DB39777
Octavia E. Butler, 9 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Mary Kane.
In 2024, most well-to-do families live in walled enclaves to protect themselves from the roaming drug addicts who live in squalor and are prone to stealing, rape and murder. Lauren Olamina, 18, suffers from hyperempathy syndrome, which means that she feels not only her own pain but that of others. When the addicts overrun Lauren's community, she and others are forced to seek refuge outside the walls. BR21257 4 volumes.
The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History DB115217
Ned Blackhawk, 20 hours, 1 minute. Read by Mark Ashby.
"Interweaves five centuries of Native and non-Native histories, from Spanish colonial exploration to the rise of Native American self-determination in the late 20th century. Explores how European colonization in the 1600s was never a predetermined success; how Native nations helped shape England’s crisis of empire; how the first shots of the American Revolution were prompted by Indian affairs in the interior; and how 20th-century reservation activists refashioned American law and policy.” — Provided by publisher. BR25341 11 volumes.
Conquistadora: A Novel DB74729
Esmerelda Santiago, 15 hours, 31 minutes. Read by Annie Wauters.
1844. Ana Larragoity Cubillas arrives in Puerto Rico with her husband Ramón, his twin brother Inocente and sister-in-law Elena. In their countryside hacienda their relationships and fortunes rise and fall amid the harsh realities of plantation life.
Quotes from TBBC Patrons:
Sharing what you love about TBBC was one of the favorite challenge activities for TBBC patrons during the Summer Reading 2026. Here are some words of gratitude from our TBBC readers:
“First of all, the customer service is amazing. Secondly, the amazing options of endless books to pick from.”
“I tell everyone I know with low vision issues about this wonderful service. THANK YOU.”
“I can’t imagine ife without TBBC. The availability of books, magazines, music, etc., and the great staff. I just love learning and listening.”
“I love being able to listen to books anywhere I go.”
“Thank you for organizing this program and providing some new thoughts and ideas for your library members.”
“You are fabulous and I always enjoy speaking with you. I've been a patron for over 50 years!”
“I love the friendly staff, the opportunity to read books and magazines and the joy these things bring into my life.”
“I appreciate how easy it is to get somebody on the phone at my state library. I really appreciate the E reader and how simple it is to download a braille book in seconds instead of having to lug the book around the house.”
“I enjoy all the different varieties of books magazines that I'm able to listen to feel connected with reading again.”
DA2 Software Update Available!
A new software update is available for the DA2 player! If you haven’t updated your device yet, now is a great time to do so.
What’s New?
The latest update includes:
Update Your DA2
If an update is available, your DA2 will prompt you to install it when you turn it on. If you do not receive a prompt, press and hold the info button to go to Settings > Software Update > Check for Update. Make sure your device is connected to the internet.
Organize Your Bookshelf
Bookshelf View can be set to List (the default) or Folder. Folder View organizes your books by source, including NLS BARD, NFB Newsline, Books, Cartridge, and US/B.
To change the view, go to Settings > User Settings > Bookshelf View and select Folder.
You can also sort your books by:
To sort your books, open your Bookshelf and hold the down arrow until you hear “Sort By.” Use the arrow buttons to select an option, then press Info to confirm.
Access Your Online Services
You can also access NLS BARD, NFB Newsline, and Bookshare directly from your DA2. You will need an account with each service you wish to use.
To login, hold Info to open the Menu, select the service by using the arrow buttons, and press Info. You will then be prompted to enter your username and password.
Update your DA2 today and enjoy a more organized and convenient listening experience!
Stay Up to Date with Talking Book Topics
Looking fo/r the latest books available from NLS? Talking Book Topics is still available in audio through BARD and on cartridge. You can also browse current and previous issues online at:
www.loc.gov/nls/new-materials/talking-book-topics
There have been some changes to Talking Book Topics cartridge delivery over the past year. If you previously received Talking Book Topics on cartridge but haven’t received it lately, or if you would like to subscribe, please contact TBBC.
60 Years of TBBC
TBBC first opened its doors in 1967! In sixty years, we've gone from record players to cassettes to digital cartridges and downloading audiobooks. It's been a great sixty years. Please stay tuned for the different ways TBBC will be celebrating its past.
This is a friendly reminder that our annual dues for FY 2027 are due. Please send your dues and donations to the Friends of The New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped 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 of The New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped 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 of The New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped or pay dues. Dues are $10.00 for an individual membership and $25.00 for a family membership. These dues cover the 12-month period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
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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