Category Archives: Summer Reading

That All May Make Music

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Do you want to learn to play an instrument? NLS has your back. All you need to do is find an instrument. We have instructions on how to learn to play many instruments as well as music scores for all levels of proficiency. We have music-oriented magazines and the NLS Music Section has a blog! We have almost anything a music enthusiast could want.

This is intended for those patrons wanting to learn an instrument. So, if you’ve been playing for years, check out the NLS Music Section (detailed below) for more information.

Finding Instructional Music Materials on BARD

BARD website

1. BARD Main Page – Find Music Books and Scores
2. Select “Music Collection.”
a. Instrument Instruction Materials
i. Scroll down to “Browse by subject.”
ii. In the dropdown menu to the right, scroll down and select “Instructional”, then select
the “Go” button to the right.
iii. Results will come up for the instructional materials for all instruments. This will be a
mix of instrument instruction as well as songs for beginners.
b. Instructions for playing music by ear
i. Type in the keyword search for “Flute by ear” and tap “Go.”
ii. Results will come up for the “Flute by ear materials.” This will be a mix of instrument
instruction as well as songs for flute to be learned “by ear.” Just substitute one of the
instruments listed below to find the specific one you want.

BARD Express

1. Go to “Browse by Subject.”
a. Instrument Instruction Materials
i. In the dropdown menu of subjects below, scroll down and select “Instructional.” 
ii. Results will come up for the instructional materials for all instruments. This will be a
mix of instrument instruction as well as songs for beginners.
iii. Type Ctrl+F and a screen will pop up. Enter the instrument you want and hit enter.
This will pull up all the musical instructional materials for that instrument.
b. Instructions for playing music by ear
i. Select “Browse by subject.”
ii. In the dropdown menu of subjects below, scroll down and select “instructional.” 
iii. Results will come up for the instructional materials for all instruments. This will be a
mix of instrument instruction as well as songs for beginners.
iv. Type Ctrl+F and a screen will pop up. Type “By ear” into the filter field and select
the “Ok” button.
c. Song Instructions for playing a specific instrument by ear
i. Select “Browse by Series.”
ii. In the filter field type “Flute.” The series title “Flute by ear” should appear below in
the results field. Select it.
iii. Results will include individual songs in the flute by ear series.

BARD app for iOS and Android

1. Go to “Get Books” tab.
2. Select “Search Music.”
a. Browse Instrument Instruction Materials
i. Type in the keyword search “For the visually impaired” and tap “Go.”
ii. Results will come up for all the “Introduction to” materials for various different
instruments by Bill Brown.
b. Instructions for a specific instrument
i. Type in a title search for “Intro to the flute” or “Flute for the visually impaired” and
select the “Go” button.
ii. Results will come up with the instructions for the flute. Just substitute
one of the instruments listed below to find the specific one you want.
c. Instructions for playing music by ear
i. Type in the keyword search for “By ear” and tap “Go.”
ii. Results will come up for all the “By ear materials.” This will be a mix of instrument
instruction as well as songs for either piano or guitar to be learned “by ear.”
d. Instructions for playing a specific instrument by ear
i. Type in “Guitar by ear” or substitute “Guitar” for one of the instruments listed below.
ii. Results will come up for all the by ear materials for that specific instrument.

Music Course Materials (Audio Format)

Bill Brown: Mr. Brown made a series of introductory courses for the guitar and piano that were recorded with the visually impaired in mind. Currently there are “Intro to…” courses for over a dozen instruments as well as hundreds of “by ear” song lessons for several of these instruments.

Instruments: Five-string banjo, chromatic button chord accordion, drums, flute, guitar (bass, flamenco, and lead), harmonica, mandolin, penny whistle, piano, piano by ear, saxophone (alto, tenor, and soprano), ukulele (baritone and soprano), and violin.

…By Ear Series: Many instruments have a “by ear” series that includes basic instruction as well as instruction for specific songs. Do a series search for the name of your instrument and add “by ear.” For example: Flute by Ear.  

Instruments: Banjo, bass guitar, flute, guitar (includes ukulele), harmonica, piano, and saxophone (alto, tenor, and soprano).

Music Course Materials (Braille Format)

Belwin Orchestra Builder: This wonderful resource is for those who wish to teach someone else to play an instrument.

Instruments: Baritone, bassoon, cello, clarinet (alto and bass), drums, drums and bells, flute, horn, mellophone, oboe, piccolo, saxophone (alto, baritone, and tenor), string bass, trombone, trumpet (includes cornet), tuba, viola, and violin.

Another resource for braille music course materials is the Hadley School for the Blind.

Hadley School for the Blind

Hadley Institute developed courses intended for adults who wish to learn braille music for themselves, to support braille music learners, and possibly pursue further training in teaching braille music or transcribing print music into braille. The courses are available in downloadable braille in BRF or in large print (LPM) in PDF. The braille and audio course materials are also available to download from the Music Collection on BARD in BRM or DBM.

NLS Music Section

Now you have the basics down or you’re already a virtuoso and you need music. That’s where the NLS Music Section comes into play.

The Music Section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), Library of Congress, has the largest music collection of its kind in the world, with more than 25,000 titles including braille and large print scores and recorded instructional materials about music and musicians.

Any person eligible for NLS services is also eligible for NLS music services. While patrons receive most NLS services through the network of cooperating libraries, NLS music materials circulate directly to patrons from the NLS headquarters in Washington, DC.

How to Request Music Service

Patrons already registered with a cooperating network library should contact the NLS Music Section directly either via phone (800-424-8567 ext. 2) or via email (nlsm@loc.gov).

Finding Music Magazines and MORE on BARD

Music Magazines

Six music magazines are available by direct-mail subscription to registered users. Subscriptions may be obtained through the local cooperating library or the NLS Music Section. Several are also available via download from BARD. The magazines are:

Braille Music Magazine: a monthly British publication containing articles and criticism from British classical music magazines. Hard-copy embossed issues are mailed to all subscribers.

Contemporary Soundtrack: A Review of Pop, Jazz, Rock, and Country: a bimonthly NLS-compiled sampler of articles from national magazines. It is available to subscribers on cartridge and on BARD.

Musical Mainstream: an NLS-compiled sampler from national magazines. It contains current articles on classical music and music education. The quarterly publication is available in braille, ebraille, and audio. Audio is available to subscribers on cartridge and on BARD.

Popular Music Lead Sheets: an NLS-compiled collection of melodies, lyrics, and chords to popular songs ranging from oldies to recent hits. Published quarterly in braille, it is available on BARD.

Quarterly Music Magazine: a single issue of a complete music magazine chosen from among commercial popular and classical offerings. This audio publication is available to subscribers on cartridge and on BARD.

Sound and Vision: a monthly publication containing articles and reviews of music recordings and information about technological equipment. It is available to subscribers on cartridge and on BARD.

NLS Music Notes: The NLS Music Section blog, NLS Music Notes highlights the NLS music collection, presents newly added titles, profiles musicians who are blind or visually impaired, and features braille music transcribers and their work, along with a variety of related music topics and activities. New posts appear every Thursday.

Read With Jenna Jr. Summer Reading Recommendations

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Jenna Bush Hager’s “Read with Jenna Jr.” is an annual tradition that was started in 2023. It continues every summer, with Jenna releasing a kid-friendly reading list covering various age groups, including picture books, middle grade reads, and young adult books.

We’ve included all the books in the NLS collection starting from the first year of Jenna’s Jr. Summer Reading Recommendations. We’re hoping you can find something that will fill your summer with reading fun!

For more information check out the Read with Jenna Jr. website.

Picture Books

MAXINE GETS A JOB by Alexandra Garyn (DB 121796)
GAGA MISTAKE DAY by Emma Straub (DB 121991)
PERLA, THE MIGHTY DOG by Isabel Allende (DB 121789, en español DB 122285)
VERY GOOD HATS by Emma Straub (DB 115352)
BIG by Vashti Harrison (DB 123132)
GIVING TREE by Shel Silverstein (DBC 06031, BR 19020, BT 0000207, LB 0001793)
HOW TO WRITE A POEM by Kwame Alexander (DB 114707)

Middle Grade Books

ALONE by Megan Freeman (DB 104269, LB 14467)
SUMMER AT SQUEE by Andrea Wang (DB 120743)
MAGNOLIA WU UNFOLDS IT ALL by Chanel Miller (DB 121279)
BRIDGE TO BAT CITY by Ernest Cline (DB 123053)
MID-AIR by Alicia Williams (DB 127046)
ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET by Judy Blume (DB 37405, BR 07171, BRG 03180, BT 0000220, LB 03468, LB 06053)
ONE AND ONLY RUBY by Katherine Applegate (DB 115989, BT 0000113)
WAYS TO GROW LOVE by Renée Watson (DB 104005, BT 13463)
HUMAN KABOOM by Adam Rubin (DB 114731)
STARFISH by Lisa Fipps (DB 102975, BR 24096, en español DB 121063, LB 0000472)
SCHOOL TRIP by Jerry Craft (DB 115050)

Young Adult Books

RULES FOR RULE BREAKING by Talia Tucker (DB 120104)
SUMMER NIGHTS AND METEORITES by Hannah Reynolds (DB 121707)
POWERLESS by Lauren Roberts (DB 117629, en español DB 119901)
CHECK & MATE by Ali Hazelwood (DB 117989, LB 0001455)
ONE TRUE LOVES by Elise Bryant (DB 107017)
BLOOD AT THE ROOT by LaDarrion Williams (DB 121038)
NIGERIA JONES by Ibi Aanu Zoboi (DB 116574)
WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED by Angeline Boulley (DB 114761, BR 25116)
SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han (DB 116483, LB 0000284)

Marfield Prize for Outstanding Writing about the Arts

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Since 2006, the Marfield Prize, also known as the National Award for Arts Writing, is announced annually by the Arts Club of Washington. The award recognizes the author of an outstanding nonfiction book about the visual, literary, media, or performing arts. This $10,000 prize is designed to recognize excellence in arts writing for a broad audience. The winner was announced in mid-April, and the prize was awarded on June 4.  

For more information check out the Marfield Prize website.

Titles in the NLS collection are:

Winner

CHASING BEAUTY: THE LIFE OF ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER by Natalie Dykstra (DBC 11759)

Nominees

3 SHADES OF BLUE: MILES DAVIS, JOHN COLTRANE, BILL EVANS, AND THE LOST EMPIRE OF COOL by James Kaplan (DB 119773)
COCKTAILS WITH GEORGE AND MARTHA: MOVIES, MARRIAGE, AND THE MAKING OF WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? by Philip Gefter (DB 121300)
GET THE PICTURE: A MIND-BENDING JOURNEY AMONG THE INSPIRED ARTISTS AND OBSESSIVE ART FIENDS WHO TAUGHT ME HOW TO SEE by Bianca Bosker (DB 119366)
DRAWN TESTIMONY: MY FOUR DECADES AS A COURTROOM SKETCH ARTIST by Jane Rosenberg (DB 126498)

Past Award Recipients in the TBP collection:

2023: ALL THE BEAUTY IN THE WORLD: THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART AND ME by Patrick Bringley (DB 113368, en español DB 126480)
2022: MR. B: GEORGE BALANCHINE’S 20TH CENTURY by Jennifer Homans (DB 111898)
2018: LIBRARY BOOK by Susan Orlean (DB 92869, BRC 01820, LB 11432)
2016: YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR LIFE: THE STORY OF RAINER MARIA RILKE AND AUGUSTE RODIN by Rachel Corbett (DB 86724)
2015: RAZZLE DAZZLE: THE BATTLE FOR BROADWAY by Michael Riedel (DB 88018)
2013: INSIDETHE DREAM PALACE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF NEW YORK’S LEGENDARY CHELSEA HOTEL by Sherill Tippins (DBC 27079)
2012: LADY IN GOLD: THE EXTRAORDINARY TALE OF GUSTAV KLIMT’S MASTERPIECE, PORTRAIT OF ADELE BLOCH-BAUER by Anne-Marie O’Connor (DB 75392)
2008: WHITE HEAT: THE FRIENDSHIP OF EMILY DICKINSON AND THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON by Brenda Wineapple (DB 69087)
2006: STEEL DRIVIN’ MAN: JOHN HENRY, THE UNTOLD STORY OF AN AMERICAN LEGEND by Scott Reynolds Nelson (DB 67453)

TBP Book Club Title Announced for July 2025!

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Join the Talking Book Program for a book club discussion on Thursday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m. (Central). We’ll be discussing the book ART THIEF: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE, CRIME, AND A DANGEROUS OBSESSION by Michael Finkel (DB 115367, LB 14518).

Our book club discussions are held via Zoom, but you can join using just a telephone!

Participating is easy:

  • Use your landline to dial in via phone.
  • Use the “one-tap” number on your smartphone.
  • Alternatively, join via computer using the Zoom invitation we’ll send a week prior to the event.

To ensure you receive the necessary details, please RSVP in advance.

To RSVP, you can fill out our online registration form: Register Here.

Or if you prefer, reply to this email or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605.

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you a digital cartridge, mail you a large print copy of the book, or if you prefer to download it from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

ART THIEF: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE, CRIME, AND A DANGEROUS OBSESSION by Michael Finkel (DB 115367, LB 14518)

NLS Annotation: For centuries, works of art have been stolen in countless ways from all over the world, but no one has been quite as successful at it as the master thief Stéphane Breitwieser. Carrying out more than two hundred heists over nearly eight years—in museums and cathedrals all over Europe—Breitwieser, along with his girlfriend who worked as his lookout, stole more than three hundred objects, until it all fell apart in spectacular fashion. Strong language. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2023.

We look forward to having you join us on Thursday, July 25!

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: Georgina Kleege

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Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Tuesday, July 15 at 6:00 p.m. (Central) with author and educator, Georgina Kleege. Note that this time is a bit earlier than our usual author talks.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean, will discuss Georgina’s career and her latest book, MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: WHAT BLINDNESS BRINGS TO ART. Following the talk, there will be a Q&A session.

Our Author Talks are held via Zoom, but you can join using just a telephone!

Participating is easy:

  • Use your landline to dial in via phone.
  • Use the “one-tap” number on your smartphone.
  • Alternatively, join via computer using the Zoom invitation we’ll send a week prior to the event.

To ensure you receive the necessary details, please RSVP in advance.

We invite you to ask Georgina Kleege questions about her book. Please submit your questions by July 8. We will select questions based on the responses to this form, and they may be asked during the event! Fill out the form here: Author Questions

To RSVP, you can fill out our online registration form: Register Here

Or if you prefer, reply to this email, or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605.

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you a digital cartridge with her book or if you prefer to download it from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: WHAT BLINDNESS BRINGS TO ART (DB 93533, BR 22550) by Georgina Kleege.

NLS Annotation: Author of Sight Unseen (DB 48328, BR 12149) critically examines the ways institutions make art accessible to blind people and the connection of visual arts with language. Uses personal experiences, scientific studies, and historical literary analysis to support her arguments. 2018.

We look forward to having you join us on Tuesday, July 15!

Art for All: Texas Art Museums

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Art is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program. This week focuses on information about Texas art museums. In fact, did you know that most art museums offer accessible tours? Well, they do. Look below to find information on accessible art tours near you!

Austin

Blanton Museum of Art

The Blanton is for everyone.

The Blanton recognizes the wide-ranging abilities and needs of visitors and offers services to ensure the Museum is accessible to all.

For questions, specific accommodation needs, and to share feedback, contact the Blanton’s Visitor Services team at accessibility@blantonmuseum.org or 512-471-5482 during Museum hours.

Visitors with Limited Mobility

  • Elevators are available on all floors of the Michener Gallery Building and the Smith Building. Austin by Ellsworth Kelly is wheelchair accessible.
  • Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available for use on the ground floor of the Michener Gallery Building and both the ground floor and second floor of the Smith Building.
  • Entrances have touch-free door access. Wave your hand to activate the sensors and automatically open the doors. Sensors are located on the left side of the exterior and after both sets of interior doors.
  • Wheelchairs are available for visitors to use on a first-come, first-served basis. Ask for assistance at check-in.

Visitors Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

  • Large-print texts of labels in some galleries are available upon request. Please email if you would like these prior to your visit.
  • Audio guides are available in English and Spanish for Austin by Ellsworth Kelly.

Visitors Hard of Hearing or Deaf

  • Assistive listening devices
  • Open Captioning
  • Sign language interpretation

MexiciArte Museum

All current programs and education lessons are readily available online in a digital format. Digital programs are accessible through mobile and additional internet connected devices. Because of their internet-based accessibility, any screen reader or accessibility browser extension already in use by a visually impaired person would be able to aid in bridging that gap. Additional accommodations are available upon request, including bilingual tours and associates. If you have any questions, please email info@mexic-artemuseum.org or call 512-480-9373.

Dallas

Dallas Museum of Art

The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities to discover the power and beauty of art. To request an accessibility accommodation such as ASL interpretation, gallery chairs, or wheelchairs, please email access@dma.org or call general information at 214-922-1200.

 Specific programs and accessibility accommodations include:

Meadows Museum

Any person needing a disability-related accommodation in order to participate in a Museum program should contact the Education Coordinator (museumaccess@smu.edu) at least one week prior to the program to arrange for the accommodation. For more information email Meadows Museum’s general information at meadowsmuseuminfo@smu.edu or call 214-768-2516.

  • Mobility
  • ASL Interpretation
  • Assistive Listening Devices
  • Access for Visitors with Vision Impairments
  • Service Animals

Nasher Sculpture Center

The Nasher Sculpture Center strives to be a sensory-friendly environment where all visitors can learn and experience modern and contemporary sculpture. Specific accommodations are available for visitors with the following:

Visitors with Autism

  • Sensory Kits
  • Quiet Room
  • Sensory-Friendly Resources

Visitors with Vision and/or Hearing Impairments

  • Verbal Descriptions of Artworks

Visitors with Limited Mobility

  • The Nasher Sculpture Center offers a curbless ADA compliant main entrance with buttons located on the left side of the entryway to open the front doors when you arrive.
  • The entire Museum is wheelchair accessible.
  • Service animals are welcome at the Nasher.
  • Wheelchairs, seating in the galleries, and portable chairs are available for use upon request at the admissions desk. The garden is also designed to be accessible for visitors with limited mobility. Ramps are available on both sides of the sculpture garden so that guests may see every work on display.

Contact

If you are planning a visit and would like to reserve any of the Nasher’s assistive resources in advance or if you have other questions, please reach out to their Visitor Experiences staff at 214-242-5100 or their Manager of Visitor Experiences via email at ileerosson@nashersculpturecenter.org. 

El Paso

El Paso Museum of Art

The Museum is fully accessible and welcomes all service animals. For additional accommodations or requests, please contact the Museum at 915-212-0300.

Fort Worth

Amon Carter Museum of American Art

The following accommodations are available for visitors to the Carter:

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive listening devices are available upon request for use during all public events or tours.

American Sign Language

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is automatically provided for many events or may be requested up to 48 hours before for all other events. Email for additional information. This is provided in partnership with intern students and faculty support from the Tarrant County College (TCC) Sign Language Program.

Color-blind Glasses

Check out a pair of EnChroma color-blind glasses at the information desk. Sizes are available for both children and adults.

Visual Description and Touch Tours

These free tours can be arranged to cover the collection as a whole or concentrate on specific objects or themes. Fill out the form or email them at least two weeks ahead of your visit.

Large Print Labels

Booklets with large print labels are located in every gallery.

Audio Stops

Hear more about artworks from artists, Museum staff, community members, and others by dialing in or streaming on your smart device.

Tactile Tool Kits

Tactile tool kits feature 3D-printed copies and raised-line drawings of select artworks, visual descriptions in braille and large print, and additional sensory objects.

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

The staff of the Modern is committed to making their building and programs available to all visitors. If a specific need is not addressed below, please call 817-738-9215 in advance of your visit.

  • Parking spaces for disabled visitors are reserved in the Museum parking lot by the main entrance.
  • Museum entrances are wheelchair accessible. The Museum offers wheelchairs free of charge to visitors at coat check on a first-come, first-served basis. Portable stools are also available upon request.
  • All public areas, including galleries, auditorium, restrooms, elevators, education studio, Café Modern, and the Modern Shop, are accessible to people who use mobility aids and wheelchairs.
  • The Museum welcomes service animals.
  • Assistive-listening devices are available upon request for auditorium programs on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a new option for assistive listening, the Listen Everywhere phone app that plays the film’s audio through your Bluetooth hearing aids or any phone headphones.

Houston

Blaffer Museum of Art

All galleries and facilities are accessible by elevator and by ramp. Gallery stools are available upon request. Certified service animals are welcome. Gallery wall texts are available in English and Spanish. If you have questions about accessibility resources and programs, email infoblaffer@uh.edu or call 713-743-9521.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) is a place for all people. The Museum is committed to making the art collections, buildings, programs, and services accessible to all guests.

Welcoming Guests Who Have Limited Mobility

Guests with limited mobility are encouraged to use the porte cochere at the Beck Building (5601 Main Street) or the valet entrance at the Kinder Building (5500 Main Street). Most public areas of the Museum, including the galleries, parking garages, theaters, restaurants, shops, and outdoor spaces, are wheelchair accessible.

The MFAH has wheelchairs that you may check out free of charge with a valid photo ID. The wheelchairs are available at any Museum entrance on a first-come, first-served basis. When you arrive, ask for a wheelchair, and the security staff can assist you. The MFAH also welcomes your personal walkers and wheelchairs. Motorized wheelchairs are permitted.

The Museum is accessible to visitors with limited mobility via escalators, elevators, and ramps. Wheelchair and family-accessible restrooms and elevators are located throughout the main campus.

Welcoming Guests Who Are Hard of Hearing or Deaf

Assistive-listening devices are available during lectures, films, and other programs. To request an assistive-listening device, check with any staff member.

Welcoming Guests with Dementia and Alzheimer’s

On the second Monday of the month, the Museum offers “Looking Together,” a program designed for individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to discover and discuss works of art together with their family members or care partners. Admission is free, but space is limited, so be sure to preregister. Contact sniemeyer@mfah.org  to sign up and for more information.

Welcoming Guests Who Have Low Vision or Are Blind

On the second Saturday of the month, the Museum offers “Art Beyond Sight,” a gallery program for guests who are blind or have low vision. Trained gallery educators use verbal descriptions and hands-on materials to engage participants with the MFAH art collections and exhibitions. Admission is free, but space is limited, so be sure to preregister. Contact sniemeyer@mfah.org  to sign up and for more information.

Welcoming Neurodiversity and Guests Who Are on the Autism Spectrum

Preparing for your Museum visit a few days in advance can help guests who are neurodiverse and those who accompany them to have the most enjoyable experience possible.

Contact Us

The Museum welcomes comments and suggestions about how to improve programs and services for visitors with disabilities. If you have questions about accessibility resources and programs, email accessibility@mfah.org or call 713-639-7300.

San Antonio

McNay Art Museum

Guests with special needs may call 210-824-5368 or email info@mcnayart.org  to make arrangements. Wheelchairs are available, and most galleries are wheelchair accessible. Some areas require additional assistance.

San Antonio Museum of Art

The San Antonio Museum of Art is committed to serving visitors of all ages and abilities.

Lightweight folding stools that also serve as canes are available by the stairway in the Great Hall, and wheelchairs may be requested from a security guard at the front desk at the time of your visit. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Service animals are welcome in the Museum.

For more information on the accessibility of the building, call 210-978-8100.

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: Lisa Fittipaldi

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Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Thursday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with world recognized artist and Texas author, Lisa Fittipaldi.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean will talk with her about her career as an artist as well as her book, BRUSH WITH DARKNESS: LEARNING TO PAINT AFTER LOSING MY SIGHT (DB 60724, BRG 02047). A Q&A chat will follow.

Our Author Talks are held via Zoom, but you can join using just a telephone!

Participating is easy:

  • Use your landline to dial in via phone.
  • Use the “one-tap” number on your smartphone.
  • Alternatively, join via computer using the Zoom invitation we’ll send a week prior to the event.

To ensure you receive the necessary details, please RSVP in advance.

We invite you to ask Lisa Fittipaldi questions about her book. Please submit your questions by June 12. We will select questions based on the responses, and they may be asked during the event! Fill out the form here: Author Questions

To RSVP, you can fill out our online registration form: Register Here

Or if you prefer, reply to this email or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605.

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you a digital cartridge with her book or if you prefer to download it from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

BRUSH WITH DARKNESS: LEARNING TO PAINT AFTER LOSING MY SIGHT (DB 60724, BRG 02047) by Lisa Fittipaldi.

NLS Annotation: Author discusses her life after being diagnosed with vasculitis in her forties. Describes her feelings of despair during her first two years of blindness. Relates that a gift from her husband–a child’s watercolor set–became the catalyst for her new career as a renowned painter, and for her new outlook. 2004.

We look forward to having you join us on Thursday, June 19!

Summer Reading Program Presents: Mountain Climbing

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Adventure is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program. This week we’re featuring books about mountaineering.

Adult Nonfiction

ALONE AT THE TOP: CLIMBING DENALI IN THE DEAD OF WINTER by Lonnie Dupre (DBC 16029)
CALLING: A LIFE ROCKED BY MOUNTAINS by Barry Blanchard (DBC 02626)
DEAD LUCKY: LIFE AFTER DEATH ON MOUNT EVEREST by Lincoln Hall (DBG 08121)
EIGER DREAMS: VENTURES AMONG MEN AND MOUNTAINS by Jon Krakauer (DB 55906)
FOREVER ON THE MOUNTAIN: THE TRUTH BEHIND ONE OF MOUNTAINEERING’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL AND MYSTERIOUS DISASTERS by James M. Tabor (DB 67223)
GHOSTS OF K2: THE EPIC SAGA OF THE FIRST ASCENT by Mick Conefrey (DB 82748)
HIGH CRIMES: THE FATE OF EVEREST IN AN AGE OF GREED by Michael Kodas (DB 67804)
KILLING DRAGONS: THE CONQUEST OF THE ALPS by Fergus Fleming (DB 53702)
LEFT FOR DEAD: MY JOURNEY HOME FROM EVEREST by Beck Weathers (DB 92591)
MOUNTAIN: MY TIME ON EVEREST by Ed Viesturs (DB 78694)
NANDA DEVI: THE TRAGIC EXPEDITION by John Roskelley (BR 07444)
TOUCH THE TOP OF THE WORLD: A BLIND MAN’S JOURNEY TO CLIMB FARTHER THAN THE EYE CAN SEE by Erik Weihenmayer (DB 51505, BR 14512)
TWO SHADOWS: THE INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF ONE MAN’S TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY by Charlie Winger (DBC 03296)

Adult Fiction

ABOMINABLE by Dan Simmons (DB 77604)
ABOVE ALL THINGS by Tanis Rideout (DB 76263)
EDGE OF JUSTICE by Clinton McKinzie (DBC 02926)
MOUNTAIN OF THE DEAD by Jeremy Bates (DB 111004)
PATHS OF GLORY by Jeffrey Archer (DB 68935)
SEVENTEEN by Hideo Yokoyama (DB 92989)
STORMS OF DENALI by Nicholas O’Connell (DBC 00221)
THIS COURAGEOUS JOURNEY by Misty M. Beller (DB 109156)
THIS WRETCHED VALLEY by Jenny Kiefer (DB 118975) IN PROCESS
VIEW MOST GLORIOUS by Regina Scott (DB 106556)
WAY OF THE BRAVE by Susan May Warren (DB 98178)

Young Adult Fiction

EVEN THE DARKEST STARS by Heather Fawcett (DB 89269)

Juvenile Nonfiction

BODIES FROM THE ICE: MELTING GLACIERS AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PAST by James M. Deem Grades 5-8
EVEREST: THE REMARKABLE STORY OF EDMUND HILLARY AND TENZING NORGAY by Alexandra Stewart (DB 106544) IN PROCESS
Grades 3-6
RESCUES! by Sandra Markle (DB 62920)
Grades 4-7
TO THE TOP! CLIMBING THE WORLD’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN by S. A. Kramer (DB 40184, BR 10059)
TOP OF THE WORLD: CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST by Steve Jenkins (BR 13015)
Grades 2-4

Juvenile Fiction

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH by Eric Walters (BRG 03241)
Grades 6-12
CLIMB OR DIE by Edward Myers (DB 47312, BR 10476)
Grades 6-9
PEAK by Roland Smith (DB 64746, BR 17994)
Grades 6-9

Summer Reading Program Presents: Natural Attraction: Romance in the Wild

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Adventure is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program. This week we’re featuring romance books that take place in the wilderness. We’ve got couples hiking and camping and some romantic suspense where couples must survive the wilderness…as well as Cupid’s arrow.

En Español

CAMINO A RHODES by Mariana Zapata (DB 120214 IN PROCESS)

Adult Nonfiction

BACKWOODS by Jill Sorenson (DB 79234)
ENJOY THE VIEW: MOOSE SPRINGS, ALASKA, BOOK 3 by Sarah Morgenthaler (DB 105384)
FAMOUS FOR A LIVING by Melissa Ferguson (LB 14666)
GIRL UNDERWATER by Claire Kells (DB 112000)
HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS by Katherine Center (DBC 11939, LB 08144)
HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE by Talia Hibbert (DB 112060)
LOLA AT LAST by J. C. Peterson (DB 114880)
MEET ME AT THE LAKE by Carley Fortune (DB 114298, LB 14839)
SIMPLE WILD: A NOVEL by K. A. Tucker (DB 93876)
SOMETHING WILD & WONDERFUL by Anita Kelly (DB 118310)
SOMETHING WILDER by Christina Lauren (DB 108471)
TAKE ME HIGHER by Pamela Clare (DB 109192)
WHITEOUT by Adriana Anders (DB 98477)

Summer Reading Program Presents: Olympic Odyssey

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Adventure is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program. This week we’re featuring books about athleticism and the Olympics. Find out how the modern Olympics began. Or read about what it’s like to compete at the highest level on a global stage by reading a memoir written by an Olympian. No matter how you choose to participate, remember: adventure begins at your library!

Adult Nonfiction

BRACE ENOUGH by Jessie Diggins (DBC 17761)
BUTTERFLY: FROM REFUGEE TO OLYMPIAN– MY STORY OF RESCUE, HOPE, AND TRIUMPH by Yusra Mardini (DB 91238)
COWBOY STUNTMAN: FROM OLYMPIC GOLD TO THE SILVER SCREEN by Dean Smith (DB 96572)
DON’T GIVE UP, DON’T GIVE IN: LESSONS FROM AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE by Louis Zamperini (DB 81537)
DREAM TEAM: HOW MICHAEL, MAGIC, LARRY, CHARLES, AND THE GREATEST TEAM OF ALL TIME CONQUERED THE WORLD AND CHANGED THE GAME OF BASKETBALL FOREVER by Jack McCallum (DB 75291)
FINISH STRONG: A FATHER’S CODE AND A SON’S PATH by Nate Ebner (DB 103430)
GAMES: A GLOBAL HISTORY OF THE OLYMPICS by David Goldblatt (DB 91775, BR 22356)
GOING FOR WISCONSIN GOLD: STORIES OF OUR STATE OLYMPIANS by Jessie Garcia (DBC 08262)
IT’S TRUE! IT’S TRUE! by Kurt Angle (DB 53200)
LETTERS TO A YOUNG GYMNAST by Nadia Comaneci (DB 91675)
MAKING OF A MIRACLE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE 1980 GOLD MEDAL-WINNING U.S. OLYMPIC HOCKEY TEAM by Mike Eruzione (DB 98705)
NAKED OLYMPICS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE ANCIENT GAMES by Tony Perrottet (DB 58757)
OLYMPIC PRIDE, AMERICAN PREJUDICE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF 18 AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO DEFIED JIM CROW AND ADOLF HITLER TO COMPETE IN THE 1936 BERLIN OLYMPICS by Deborah Riley Draper (DB 98792)
SIXTH MAN: A MEMOIR by Andre Igodala (DB 95635)
SPEED KINGS: THE 1932 WINTER OLYMPICS AND THE FASTEST MEN IN THE WORLD by Andy Bull (DB 82853)
THREE-YEAR SWIM CLUB: THE UNTOLD STORY OF MAUI’S SUGAR DITCH KIDS AND THEIR QUEST FOR OLYMPIC GLORY by Julie Checkoway (DB 83154)
TIGERBELLE: THE WYOMIA TYUS STORY by Wyomia Tyus (DB 93189)
TOUGH GIRL: LESSONS IN COURAGE AND HEART FROM OLYMPIC GOLD TO THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO by Carolyn Wood (DBC 15867)
WATERMEN: THE BIRTH OF AMERICAN SWIMMING AND ONE YOUNG MAN’S FIGHT TO CAPTURE OLYMPIC GOLD by (DB 118959 IN PROCESS)

Adult Fiction

Español

TRANSBORDO EN MOSCÚ by Eduardo Mendoza (DB 112229)

English

BEAR PIT by Jon Cleary (DB 99168)
BONE CAGE by Angie Abdou (DBG 08478, BRG 02738)
GAMES by James Patterson (DB 85110)
GOLD by Chris Cleave (DB 75265)
HORSEWOMAN by James Patterson (DB 106198, LB 13608)
LONG JOURNEY HOME by Don Coldsmith (BR 14492)
PRIVATE GAMES by James Patterson (DB 74689)
RAT CATCHERS’ OLYMPICS by Colin Cotterill (DB 96083)
TYPHOON by Charles Cumming (DBC 26527)

Young Adult Nonfiction

GOLD IN THE WATER: THE TRUE STORY OF ORDINARY MEN AND THEIR EXTRAORDINARY DREAM OF OLYMPIC GLORY by P. H. Mullen (DB 56039)
GRACE, GOLD AND GLORY: MY LEAP OF FAITH by Gabrielle Douglas (DB 76347)
INAUGURAL BALLERS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE FIRST US WOMEN’S OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM by Andrew Maraniss (DB 110512, LB 14383)
WORK WITH WHAT YOU GOT: A MEMOIR by Zion Clark (DB 117752 IN PROCESS)

Young Adult Fiction

EVERY REASON WE SHOULDN’T by Sara Fujimura (DB 99186)

Juvenile Nonfiction

AS FAST AS HER: DREAM BIG, BREAK BARRIERS, ACHIEVE SUCCESS by Kendall Coyne (DBC 26533) Grades 6-9
BOBBIE ROSENFELD: THE OLYMPIAN WHO COULD DO EVERYTHING by Anne Dublin (BRG 00872) Grades 3-6
COURAGE TO SOAR: A BODY IN MOTION, A LIFE IN BALANCE by Simone Biles (DB 103602)
FIERCE: HOW COMPETING FOR MYSELF CHANGED EVERYTHING by Aly Raisman (DB 89796)
STORY OF THE OLYMPICS by Dave Anderson (DB 50298) Grades 5-8
WOMEN OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS by Nathan Aaseng (DB 54640) Grades 5-8

Juvenile Fiction

GOLD MEDAL MESS: MVP BOOK 1 by David A. Kelly (DB 87575) Grades 2-4
HOUR OF THE OLYMPICS: MAGIC TREE HOUSE, BOOK 16 by Mary Pope Osborne (DB 54426, BR 23037, en español DB 110933) Grades 2-4
MYSTERY OF THE MASKED MEDALIST: KUDO KIDS by Maia Shibutani (DB 100823)