Librarian Newsletter 

The Librarian is a newsletter published by the Braille Institute Library with news and articles about books and the people who read them along with author features, storytelling and updates from the National Library Service (NLS).

From the Director

Hi, Everyone, 

Welcome to the fall edition of The Librarian! 

As the weather cools down and we settle into the busy season, I wanted to use my hello this issue to spotlight something I’m excited about: Reading Reimagined. 

We want our library to feel just as full and welcoming as any traditional public library, and that’s what our workshops called Reading Reimagined are about. Reading Reimagined, for those who do not know, is a monthly series of online workshops that walk patrons through the apps and tools that make reading accessible, things like getting BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) set up on your phone, or learning your way around a reading app like Libby or Audible. 

Each workshop focuses on a specific tool or task, and we have lively discussions where patrons learn not only from the instructors but from each other, as people share their own tried and true access methods. Reading Reimagined workshops have been a hit, and we’ve had so much fun and such great patron feedback that we are expanding! Reading Reimagined will now be a partnership with our sister libraries: 

• BTBL (Braille and Talking Book Library) in Sacramento 
• The NLS subregional library at the San Francisco Public Library 

This means even more patrons throughout the state will have access to the same friendly, personalized support that our program is built on. 

Libraries have always done their best work by teaming up and we’re looking forward to the new ideas and directions from our friends at BTBL and the San Francisco Public Library.

This also includes a Reading Reimagined Spanish version—we are calling Lectura Reinvitada. Exploraremos los mismos temas: cómo usar sus dispositivos para acceder a materiales de lectura. Y lo haremos en el mismo formato en vivo, donde podrá reunirse de manera amena con otros usuarios y resolver sus dudas junto a un instructor, todo en español.

If you’d like to sign up for a Reading Reimagined workshop or set up time with a reader advisor, give us a call (800-808-2555), email (bils@brailleinstitute.org), or ask any staff member. We’d love to help you get started. 

Happy reading!

Lisa Lepore

Library Events Calendar

Join us for these free events online or over the phone! To sign up or to find more information, call 800-808-2555, email bils@brailleinstitute.org,  or visit BrailleInstitute.org/Workshops-Events

Tues, Sep 8 at 2 PM: Reading Reimagined – Alexa and BARD: My Talking Books Skill Demonstration
Learn how to use voice commands to access your BARD books on Amazon Alexa devices.

Wed, Sep 9 at 1 PM: Rhythm and Roots with Louie Cruz Beltran – In Person in Los Angeles
Join the master percussionist on an interactive journey through the origins of Afro Cuban and Mexican rhythms.

Tues, Sep 22 at 2 PM: Charla con la autora Yolanda Nava durante el Mes de la Herencia Hispana – español
Acompáñanos en una inspiradora conversación virtual con la autora, pionera de los derechos civiles y periodista ganadora del premio Emmy.

Thurs, Oct 8 at 2 PM: Lectura Reinventada: Aplicaciones de Texto a Voz y Dispositivos para Leer – español
Descubre aplicaciones y dispositivos accesibles para la lectura.

Tues, Oct 13 at 2 PM: Reading Reimagined – Find Books You’ll Love
Learn about NLS resources for finding books in the library collection and get suggestions for your next great read.

Tues, Oct 20 at 12 PM: Molly Burke Author Talk
The content creator, advocate, and author joins us to discuss her new children’s book Eltie Takes the Lead: A Guide Dog’s Tail

Wed, Oct 21 at 10 AM: Introducción a la biblioteca: Taller para nuevos usuarios – español
En esta experiencia práctica, aprenderás trucos y consejos sencillos para usar nuestros servicios con confianza.

Fri, Oct 30 at 11 AM: Learning from Horror: Preparing for Real Stress Through Fiction
Join three talented authors for a discussion about how scary stories can prepare us to face real-world challenges.

Mon, November 2 at 2 PM: Sci-Fi Book Club Inaugural Meeting
Join this virtual book club to discuss the science part of fiction—and the fiction side of science—the first Monday of each month at 2 PM! The first meeting will discuss All Systems Red by Martha Wells, DB092425.

Tues, Nov 10 at 2 PM: Reading Reimagined – BARD on the DA2 Player
Learn how to download books onto the library’s new advanced book player.

Thurs, November 12 at 10 AM: Finding Hope in Science Fiction
Attend an author panel about sci-fi that inspires courage and hope.

Featured Author: Molly Burke

Sci-Fi Month Book Recommendations

November is Sci-Fi month! Whether you’re a science fiction superfan or new to the genre, there’s something for everyone among the subgenres of Sci-Fi. Give one of these books a try this fall and be transported to other worlds, timelines, and adventures.

Ancestral Night: A White Space Novel by Elizabeth Bear, DB094284
Subgenres: Adventure, space opera
Haimey and her crew uncover evidence of a crime and relics of powerful ancient technology. After encountering pirates, she must flee, fighting to protect her find against revolutionaries who wish to use it for war.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, DB016072
Subgenres: Historical fiction, time travel
An educated young black woman is drawn repeatedly back in time to the antebellum plantation of her forebears. Here amidst the cruelties of slavery, she becomes the protector and teacher of the plantation owner’s son, whom she knows will become her own great-grandfather.

Death of the Author: A Novel by Nnedi Okorafor, DB127592
Subgenres: Artificial intelligence, disability themes, robots
Zelu’s life is upended when she’s fired and her novel is rejected.  She decides to write a book VERY unlike her others. A science fiction drama about androids and AI after the extinction of humanity. Everything changes as the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur.

The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi, DB082462
Subgenres: Climate change, dystopia, thriller
The American Southwest fights over dwindling sources of water during a growing shortage. Angel Velasquez—a water knife who “cuts” water—investigates rumors of a water source in Phoenix, where he meets a hardened journalist and a young Texas refugee.

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz, DB131818
Subgenres: Cozy fiction, dystopia, robots
A group of deactivated robots make their own way doing what they know: making food for the humans of San Francisco. To keep their doors open, they’ll have to call on their customers, their community, and each other —and find a way to survive and thrive in a world that wasn’t built for them.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, DB109499
Subgenres: Gothic fiction, historical fiction, Mexican fiction
A dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico. Dr. Moreau keeps secrets, his daughter Carlota has questions, and passions may ignite in the sweltering heat of the jungle.

Summerland by Hannu Rajaniemi, DB118603
Subgenres: Alternate history, historical fiction, spy fiction
In 1938, after the discovery of the afterlife, the British Empire has extended its reach into a metropolis for the recently deceased called Summerland. The Soviets have spies and the tech to build their own god. When agent Rachel White gets a lead on one of the Soviet moles, she will have to go rogue to bring him in. But how do you catch a man who’s already dead?

There is No Antimemetics Division by qntm, DB133943
Subgenres: Aliens, horror
They’re all around us, hiding in plain sight. You could be seeing it right now — but look away, you’ll forget that you did. These entities can feed on your most cherished memories, the things that make you you — and you’ll never even know anything changed. How do you fight an enemy when you don’t know that you’re at war? Welcome to the Antimemetics Division. No, this is not your first day.

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon, DB091322
Subgenres: Racism, space travel, war fiction
Aster lives in the lowdeck slums of the HSS Matilda, which has ferried the last of humanity to a mythical Promised Land for generations. The ship’s leaders impose harsh restrictions and deep indignities on dark-skinned sharecroppers like Aster. She learns there may be a way to improve her lot—if she’s willing to sow the seeds of civil war.

Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis, DB100395
Subgenres: Aliens, first contact
Fall 2007. A leak has revealed that the US government might have engaged in first contact. Cora Sabino is doing everything she can to avoid the whole mess, until she becomes the first and only human vessel of communication. Her otherworldly connection will change everything she thought she knew about being human—and could unleash a sinister force.

Get to Know Your Library Staff

Nate Kurth: Hello, readers! My name is Nate, and I am the programming and digital services coordinator at Braille Institute Library. That basically means that I make sure there are cool things to do at the library!

My fraternal twin and I are the oldest of five children. I was born in Texas, but grew up in Illinois, and consider the Midwest home. Genetics and an early love of reading ruined my eyesight at a very young age; without glasses or contact lenses, I am legally blind.

I have many hobbies, including cooking and baking, oil painting, video games, board games, roleplaying games, media criticism and analysis, sewing, hiking and camping, and physical fitness.

I am also an enthusiastic reader, and am happy to explore a wide variety of genres, from science fiction and horror to romance and fantasy to biography and historical fiction. I can get very distracted when an interesting book crosses my path, so I strictly limit myself to reading a maximum of four books at once: one physical book, one eBook, one audiobook, and one graphic novel. That way, I stay focused and finish the books I start!

Currently, I am reading:

Physical book: Below the Water, by Camille Cabrera (Available from your favorite print bookstore)

eBook: The Fox Wife, by Yangsze Choo (DB119298)

Audiobook: Keeper of Lost Children, by Sadeqa Johnson (DB135592)

Graphic Novel: Blood Stain, Vol. 4, by Linda Sejic (Available at your local comic book shop) 

Keith Reynolds: Hi! I started my career in the music business as a composer & producer before a chance recommendation led me to Audible and a career as an audiobook director. After many wonderful years at Audible, I left to start my own podcast production company, which I sold in 2024. After taking some time off to figure out what I wanted in the next stage of my life, I was thrilled when the opportunity came up to join the Braille Institute team. This is my first time in the nonprofit world, and I can’t imagine finding a better place to begin that journey. Everyone at Braille has been so warm and welcoming and an absolute delight to work with.

When I’m not at Braille, I love gardening (jasmine are my favorites, in case you were wondering), RuPaul’s Drag Race (tough to pick a fave, but maybe Bob or Bianca), and Liverpool FC (Mo Salah, you will be missed). I also truly love reading, one of the many reasons it’s so wonderful to be working in the library here at Braille. I recently finished Andrew Leland’s The Country of The Blind (DB115575, BR025166), and my favorite book of all time is Skippy Dies by Paul Murray (DB072359).

Kate Stanley: Hi, everyone! I’m the Library’s Senior Manager of Programming & Digital Learning, which means I get to help dream up the events, workshops, and reading programs that bring our community together.

Just like Nate, I am a twin — although my twin sister and I are identical, not fraternal. I was born and raised right here in Southern California and have spent more than a decade working in the LA nonprofit field. While I’m still relatively new to my current role in the library, joining last October, I’ve been with Braille Institute for almost four years now.

Outside of work, I’m a huge jigsaw puzzle fan — I need at least 1500 pieces or I finish too fast! I also host a weekly trivia night at a local bar. My head is packed with more obscure facts than any one person should reasonably know, and I’m always looking for an excuse to use them.

I’m also a big mystery and thriller reader. A few recent favorites: You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego (DB127256), a clever whodunit set at a mystery writers’ retreat where the murder mystery turns terrifyingly real — meta, funny, and genuinely gripping; Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (DB100531, BR023425), a funny and moving story about a botched robbery and the unlikely strangers it brings together; and The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (DB093996), a psychological thriller about a woman who stops speaking after a shocking crime — and the therapist determined to understand why.

New Releases

Adventure

In the Grip of Darkness by David Archer and Vince Tisdale, DB131243

In the dense jungles of Indonesia’s remote island of Sumba, a forgotten temple stands shrouded in mystery and danger. Noah Wolf’s mission takes him deep into the heart of darkness lurking within the temple.

Undiscovered by Anna Hackett, DB131868

In the Egyptian desert, Former Navy SEAL Declan Ward is swept into a deadly treasure hunt for a mythical lost oasis.

Mystery and Detective

The Widow’s Secret by Theo Baxter, DB134221

After her husband’s death during a couples’ hike on the Appalachian Trail, Leona Woodrow finds herself the prime suspect in a twisted plot of secrets, betrayal, and murder.

Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests by KJ Whittle, DB133783

Seven strangers meet for an anonymously hosted dinner party. Seven cards appear. On the card is a number – the age at which they will die. It’s up to the guests to figure out who (or what) was behind that fateful dinner party before their numbers catch up with them.

Romance

In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams, DB134316

An unexpected job offer falls in Madison Walker’s lap: the head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant in her hometown. The only catch? It comes from her brother’s best friend, who has quietly loved her for years, though she’s never seen him as more than an annoyance.

Saltwater Cove by Amelia Addler, DB133761

At 48 years old, Margie Clifton never expected to be starting her life all over again. But San Juan Island is the perfect place to start a new business venture, and if her new life happens to involve the town’s gruff and ruggedly handsome Chief Deputy Sheriff? All the better.

Short Stories

Something to Look Forward To by Fannie Flagg, DB134077

Fannie Flagg once said that what the world needs now is a good laugh. That is what she gives us in these thirty warmhearted, often hilarious, always surprising stories about people cleverly dealing with the curveballs of life.

The Eleventh Hour: A Quintet of Stories by Salman Rushdie, DB133916

An unforgettable cast of characters span India, England, and America in an inventive collection of fiction that explores life, death, and what comes into focus at the proverbial eleventh hour of life.

Memoir

When I Fell from the Sky: The True Story of One Woman’s Miraculous Survival by Juliane Koepcke and Beate Rygiert, DB134795

At 17 years old, Juliane experienced the unimaginable: still strapped to her airplane seat, she fell through the night air miles above earth and survived 11 days alone in the jungle. 40 years later, she tells her story.

Truly by Lionel Richie, DB133699

As a storyteller second to none, musician Lionel Richie is ready to tell it all in this intimate, deeply candid memoir.

History

Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor by Christine Kuehn, DB134071

Christine Kuehn was shocked and confused to learn her family had history as Nazi spies in Hawaii. Uncovering the truth, this fast-paced history jumps between the family’s secret and the untold past of the spies in Germany, Japan, and Hawaii.

The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John U. Bacon, DB133490

In 1975, the “storm of the century” threw 100 MPH winds and 50-foot waves on Lake Superior, sinking the 729-foot long “Mighty Fitz.” The author draws on more than 100 interviews to tell the story of the sinking and its aftermath.

Science and Nature

Weird Universe: Everything We Don’t Know About Space (and Why It’s Important) by Erika Hamden, DB134289

With years of experience studying the cosmos, Hamden specializes in making complex topics fun and easy to understand – whether you’re fascinated by black holes, curious about the history of NASA, or want to explore the strange things found in outer space.

Ocean Beach: Fog, Fauna, and Flora by Eddy Rubin, DB131523

Get ready to experience Ocean Beach, San Francisco like never before as longtime local surfer and scientist Rubin tells stories of its animals, plants, and the natural and human forces that have shaped the coast.

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Read The Librarian Online or by Phone

Visit https://www.brailleinstitute.org/library/the-librarian/ to read this issue online or listen to the audio version.

Call into the Telephone Reader Program (TRP) to listen to the audio version by phone. Give us a call at 800-808-2555 to sign up to use TRP.

Audiobook Catalog

Would you like to receive a catalog in the mail featuring new audio titles that have been added to the library collection? Let us know, and we will add you to the mailing list for a special all-books edition of the newsletter. Call us at 800-808-2555 or email bils@brailleinstitute.org