Association of College and Research Libraries of Greater Metropolitan New York City In Other News

Save the Date and Call for Proposals -LACUNY Institute 2026: Vulnerability at Work and Beyond: How are We Managing? Thurs May 21, 2026

MarkAaron Polger — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:43:58 GMT

Save the Date and Call for Proposals

LACUNY Institute 2026: Vulnerability at Work and Beyond: How are We Managing?

Thurs May 21, 2026 | 8:30 am - 4:30pm

held in-person (with a virtual option) by CCNY Libraries

https://lacuny2026.commons.gc.cuny.edu

Proposal Deadline: April 17, 2026

Notification of Acceptance: April 21, 2026

Submit a proposal:

https://form.jotform.com/250496752502155

The LACUNY Institute invites scholars, librarians, educators, information professionals, and library workers to submit proposals for the upcoming LACUNY Institute 2026, taking place in person on Thurs May 21, 2026 at City College of New York, CUNY. This year’s LACUNY Institute will explore personal and professional vulnerability in the library profession. We welcome case studies, theoretical explorations, panel discussions, poster presentations, and creative proposals.

We seek innovative and thought-provoking contributions that propose solutions to problems, and delve into topics such as:

Uncertainties our profession is facing in this turbulent political landscape
The feeling of “walking on egg shells” during the tenure track process
When your article was rejected for publication
The personal things we share when we interact with students and faculty.
More broadly, democracy and citizen engagement is being threatened
The disappearance or alteration of resources, such as public data and historical materials
The vulnerability involved in building communities with students, co-workers, and peers

**Submission Guidelines:**

Proposals should include:

- A 250-300 word abstract outlining the proposed presentation.

- A brief biography, as well as institutional affiliation and contact information for all applicants.

- The type of presentation being proposed.

Presentation types accepted: individual presentations, panels, workshops, or interactive sessions.

We encourage submissions from information professionals representing a diverse range of perspectives and experiences. The LACUNY Institute is committed to providing a platform for meaningful discussions on issues central to the professional and academic growth of librarianship and information work.

As a presenter at the LACUNY Institute, you are especially encouraged to submit your written proceedings for publication in the Fall 2026 issue of Urban Library Journal. You will receive an automated email confirmation upon submission of your proposal.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact the LACUNY Institute 2026 Chair, Mark Aaron Polger at markaaron.polger87@login.cuny.edu

Kind regards,

LACUNY Institute 2026 Planning Committee

https://lacuny2026.commons.gc.cuny.edu

lacuny-institute@lacuny.org

2026-2027 Call for Mentor Participation in CJCLS Mentoring Program

MarkAaron Polger — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:35:28 GMT

2026-2027 Call for Mentor Participation in CJCLS Mentoring Program

Hello Community College Librarians and Administrators,

Do you consider yourself an experienced community college librarian or administrator? Would you like to share your knowledge and insight about the profession with a colleague working at a community college or a current MLIS/MSLS graduate student interested in community college librarianship?

The CJCLS Mentoring Program Committee is now accepting mentor applications for the 2026-2027 (October 2026 - June 2027) Mentoring Program.

Mentors are not required to be CJCLS members, and the minimum requirement for participating in the program includes:

Current employment at a community college library as a librarian or administrator with a minimum of 4 years of library experience.
If you no longer work at a community college library and want to serve as a mentor, the Committee is asking that you have a minimum of 7-10 years of community college experience.

Applications will be accepted from February 16 to March 16, 2026. Be sure to have an updated copy of your CV or resume ready to upload before you begin your application.

Each year, the CJCLS Mentoring Program Committee reflects on the program's success and identifies ways to improve it for future cohorts. Through feedback from mentors and mentees in past and present cohorts, the Committee will continue to offer mentor training to support the success of mentoring relationships. This year’s mentor cohort will receive guidance on the following:

Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Mentorship
Appreciative Inquiry Mentorship Framework
- Including an Appreciative Inquiry SOAR Training scheduled for Apri 23,2026, with Dr. Kim Burns https://drkimburns.com/. For a more in-depth timeline, please see the ACRL/CJCLS Mentoring Program LibGuide.

CJCLS Mentoring Program information Welcome - ACRL/CJCLS Mentoring Program Committee - LibGuides at ACRL

Questions? Email co-chairs Sandy McCarthy (mccarthy@wccnet.edu) and Kathy Ladell (ladellkn@ucmail.uc.edu)

Call for Proposals: ENY/ACRL Annual Conference

MarkAaron Polger — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:28:47 GMT

Call for Proposals: ENY/ACRL Annual Conference

On behalf of the ENY/ACRL Program Planning Committee I'm excited to let you know we're now accepting proposals for our annual conference!

The conference will be held on May 21, 2026 at the Capital District Library Council (CDLC) Headquarters in Latham, NY. This year's conference theme is "Tools and Techniques for Today: Shared Challenges, Practical Strategies."

Presentation formats are:

· Poster Session

· Lightning Round (5 minutes)

· Breakout Session (35 minutes plus Q&A)

· Short Session (15 minutes plus Q&A)

Visit this link to access Annual Conference Submission Form

The deadline to submit a proposal is Friday, March 27, 2026.

The Librarians Documentary and Panel Discussion

MarkAaron Polger — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:15:20 GMT

You are invited to a free showing of the incisive documentary The Librarians, followed by a thought-provoking panel with Emily Drabinski of the QC School of Information Studies (and 2023-24 ALA president, and all around notable thinker in the library universe) and Jackson Gomes of Brooklyn Public Library and the Books Unbanned initiative.

Thursday March 5

6:00-8:30 p.m. (come early for free pizza, before the show starts ~6:30!)

City College

Shepard Hall Rm. 291

If you can come, please RSVP!

The event is open to the public and co-sponsored by the Documentary Forum of CCNY,Third World Newsreel, and CCNY Libraries. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Haruko Yamauchi at HYamauchi@ccny.cuny.edu

Call for Proposals: SUNYLA 2026 Annual Conference

MarkAaron Polger — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:17:48 GMT

Call for Proposals: SUNYLA 2026 Annual Conference

Currents of Change: Navigating Librarianship in a Rapidly Evolving World

Hosted by SUNY Brockport
Tuesday-Thursday, June 16-18, 2026

SUNYLA 2026 Submission Form

Deadline for presentation proposals: Friday, February 27, 2026

The Planning Committee for the State University of New York Librarians Association Annual Conference is accepting proposals for pre-conference workshops, panels, presentations, spotlights, and lightning talks. This is an in-person conference.

If proposing multiple sessions, submit a separate form for each one.

Please submit proposals here: Call for Proposals

Presentation options:

Pre-conference workshop
Date: June 16, 2026
Length: 90 minutes
Workshops are active training sessions where participants have the opportunity for hands-on practice or time for critical thinking and application.

Presentation or panel
Dates: June 17-18, 2026
Length: 50 minutes

Spotlight
Dates: June 17-18, 2026
Length: 20 minutes
If you don’t think your topic needs a full 50 minutes but is longer than a lightning talk, then consider proposing a spotlight talk.

Lightning talk
Dates: June 17-18, 2026
Length: 10 minutes

Poster (Call for poster proposals will be sent in March)
Date: June 17, 2026

Thank you for your interest. You can expect to hear back from the committee 2-3 weeks after the submission deadline (Feb. 27). We hope to see you at SUNYLA 2026!

Questions? Please contact Programming Subcommittee Co-Chairs Jocelyn Ireland and Mary Timmons.

Call for Proposals - SUNYLA Midwinter Online Conference

MarkAaron Polger — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 21:10:49 GMT

*** Please excuse cross-posting ***

Call for Proposals - SUNYLA Midwinter Online Conference

Please submit your proposal here: https://forms.gle/veXoJTdPaVqMVvpJ6

Technical Services in libraries has always faced a changing landscape, from classification schemes to MARC formats and the once “new worlds” of computing and automation. This moment feels momentous, from the much-heralded yet still formless “transformation” AI will bring, to new challenges and tools in the realm of accessibility. What feels like a precipice could be the starting point for new successes and new adventures – are we equipped with the tools and expertise we will need?

In our own ways, each of us and our institutions have been surveying the road ahead and taking our first steps, or more, into these new worlds. Come share your ideas, your tools, and your experience with other technical services colleagues as we enter this new era together.

What innovative projects are you working on to meet the challenges of the future? Have you integrated AI into any of your technical services workflows? How have you been remediating your digital environments in advance of the April Title II deadline? The SUNYLA Midwinter Online Conference planning committee is seeking proposals from presenters looking to share their creative solutions to meeting the challenges of the future in the realm of library technologies.

Some possible presentations could include:

Accessibility (Including Title II requirements)

AI tools

Primo NDE (Next Discovery Experience)

Project management

Collaborations

Automation

Working with APIs

Open source systems

And beyond! The possibilities (and challenges) are endless!

Come share your experiences with your supportive and non-judgmental library colleagues at the SUNYLA Midwinter Virtual Conference on Friday, February 6, 2026 (10:00 am - 3:30 pm EST).

Presentations should be 15-20 minutes in length, in a format that best suits your topic. All presentations will be recorded live and shared on the conference website after the event.

Technology requirements: Computer, internet connection, microphone/speakers (headset recommended) or telephone, quiet space for presenting, webcam optional.

Accepting proposals until Friday, December 5, 2025. You do not need to be a SUNYLA member in order to attend or present at this FREE conference. Those who submit proposals should expect to hear back from us regarding their proposals by early January, if not sooner.

Please submit your proposal here: https://forms.gle/veXoJTdPaVqMVvpJ6

Call for Applicants: ACRL/NY 2025 Symposium Scholarships

MarkAaron Polger — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 19:14:20 GMT

Call for Applicants: ACRL/NY 2025 Symposium Scholarships

ACRL/NY is now accepting applications for scholarships to attend our 2025 Symposium

Extended deadline: Nov 16, 2025

Pleasure and Play: Finding Joy in LIS Work

The ACRL/NY 2025 Annual Symposium

“Pleasure activism asserts that we all need and deserve pleasure and that our social structures must reflect this. In this moment, we must prioritize the pleasure of those most impacted by oppression.

Pleasure activists seek to understand and learn from the politics and power dynamics inside of everything that makes us feel good.”
adrienne maree brown in Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good (2019)

“To be sure, players are thinkers; but they also are movers. This combination leads to acts of doing and making—not only of objects of many types but also of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Involvement in such activity produces more than intellectual discernment. It leads to excitement, fun, and, perhaps in its most sublime manifestations, joy.”
Henricks, T. S. (2020). Play Studies: A Brief History. American Journal of Play, 12(2), 114–155.

It seems like every day a new disaster begins as older ones fester. Through compounding environmental and social abandonment, structural racism and inequality, war and genocide, and disappearing higher education budgets, we are still asked to show up at work.

In light of everything that feels bad in the world, ACRL/NY’s 2025 symposium theme asks: what feels good in LIS? How do we find joy, or at least contentment, in our jobs? Let’s indulge together and learn from our library pleasures. Using Adrienne Maree Brown’s 2019 book Pleasure Activism and the practice of play as jumping off points, let's talk about how feeling good might make us more thoughtful, effective, values-driven, or justice-oriented LIS practitioners. We also welcome critiques of the idea of joy at work and the productive tensions between work under capitalism and finding joy in work.

Presented annually by the New York Metropolitan Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries, this year’s event will take place Friday, December 5, 2025, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM at Fordham University – Lincoln Center Campus

Scholarship awardees will receive:

A waiver of registration fees for the ACRL/NY 2025 Annual Symposium
A free 1-year membership to ACRL/NY (benefits include Mentoring Program, discussion group events, and professional development opportunities)
A copy of the book, Pleasure ActivismThe Politics of Feeling Good by Adrienne Maree Brown
A $75 gift certificate for the Strand Book Store, to be redeemed online or in-person

If you are interested, please note that ACRL/NY offers three scholarship programs.

Student Scholarship – For students currently enrolled in graduate degree programs in library/information science who are considering a career in academic librarianship (three awardees). To Apply: fill out this student scholarship form

Early Career Librarian Scholarship – For an academic librarian who has been practicing less than five years following receipt of a master’s degree in library/information science (one awardee). To Apply: fill out this early career librarian scholarship form

The Dr. Barbara Bonous-Smit Scholarship – For an academic librarian who has been in practice at least five years following receipt of a master’s degree in library/information science (one awardee). To Apply: fill out this Dr. Barbara Bonous-Smit scholarship form

Scholarship recipients are expected to produce a short article on their impressions of the Symposium for the ACRL/NY blog (guidelines to be provided).

Application submission deadline (extended): Sun, November 16, 2025 at Midnight

Scholarship recipients will be notified by Monday, November 23, 2025

Questions? Contact us at scholarships@acrlny.org

For further information about the symposium, check out our web site.

We look forward to your submission.

Call for Nominations: 2025 ACRL/NY Elections

MarkAaron Polger — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:04:53 GMT

Call for Nominations: 2025 ACRL/NY Elections

Are you eager to seize a unique leadership and learning opportunity within a thriving community of academic and research librarians centered around the vibrant hub of New York City? If so, we invite you to consider volunteering for ACRL/NY!

The Greater New York Metropolitan Area Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is actively seeking dedicated volunteers for appointment or nomination to fill specific positions for the upcoming year, 2026. Each of these roles comes with the distinction of being a member of our Executive Board. The selection process will be carried out through elections and appointments scheduled for November 2025, with the official commencement of roles slated for January 2026.

We are actively searching for passionate individuals who are interested in contributing to the following roles:

Elected Positions

VP/President Elect

Recording Secretary

Treasurer Elect

Member at Large

Symposium Chair and/or Co-chair

Social Media Coordinator

Appointed Positions

For detailed information regarding these opportunities, we encourage you to delve into the position descriptions.

Should any of these roles align with your aspirations and passions, we invite you to express your interest by filling out our volunteer form. The nomination period ends November 7, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST.

We understand that you may possess unique talents and perspectives that don't neatly fit into the predefined roles we've outlined. If that's the case, we encourage you to reach out to us and share your interests. Opportunities within ACRL/NY may be more flexible and adaptable than you might initially imagine, and there are countless ways to engage with our community.

If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to contact us at acrlnypresident@gmail.com. Your curiosity and enthusiasm are most welcome as we embark on this exciting journey of growth and collaboration.

You’re Invited to the 2025 Panel from the Library Writing Cooperative: “Overcoming Obstacles, Celebrating Success”

MarkAaron Polger — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:23:54 GMT

Please join us for a panel presentation, Overcoming Obstacles, Celebrating Success

Date: June 9, 2025

Time: 3-4 ET / 2-3 CT / 1-2 MT / 12-1 PT

Location: Zoom (link sent in advance of the session)

In the session, you’ll hear from a panel of librarians who will share their writing and publication expertise, oriented around the theme “Overcoming Obstacles, Celebrating Success.” This theme includes areas like time management, keeping organized, and publication and peer review. We’ll be joined by:

Danielle S. Apfelbaum, Scholarly Communication Librarian, Farmingdale State College
Ellie Dworak, Research Data Librarian, Boise State University
Amy Russo, Writing Center, San Jose State University
Alicia G. Vaandering, Head of Instruction, University of Rhode Island

Please RSVP by Monday, June 2.

Space is limited, but if the session is full, we’ll have a waiting list.

We will send you an invitation and link to the session a few days before the event, but if you have any questions, please contact us at libwrtcoop@gmail.com.

We hope to see you there!

On behalf of the Library Writing Cooperative,

Amanda Izenstark, Holly Jackson, Anna Sandelli, Ann Agee

The Library Writing Cooperative

Helping library workers share their work since 2021!

For updates, follow us on Mastodon, Bluesky, or join our mailing list.

ACRL/NY Social Activism & Support Affinity Group Meeting- June 3, 2025 Zoom meeting

MarkAaron Polger — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:23:12 GMT

ACRL/NY Social Activism & Support Affinity Group Meeting

June 3, 2025, 1pm (via Zoom meeting)

Register here —-> https://acrlny.wildapricot.org/event-6196881

Join us for the next meeting of the Social Activism & Support Affinity Group which will take place via Zoom on June 3, 2025 at 1 PM. On the topic of activism and libraries, we’ll start by discussing this (open access) editorial on microactivism and libraries:

Lockman, R. (2015). Academic librarians and social justice: A call to microactivism. College & Research Libraries News, 76(4), 193-194. doi:https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.76.4.9292

The article is 10 years old but is arguably still relevant to activism in academic libraries. Some questions we might discuss: 1.) Are you or your library facilitating any microactivism (or other types of activism)? 2.) Libraries are facing challenges from the federal/state level, including book bans, challenges to DEI, data removal/information erasure. Can microactivism play a role in confronting these macro issues?

3.) As the author notes, many of us are drawn to librarianship as a helping profession. Are there aspects of librarianship that align well with social justice work? Conversely, what aspects of librarianship present a challenge to this work?

If you don’t have time to read the article, please come anyway! We look forward to discussing with you.

More about the Social Activism and Support Affinity Group:

We will convene conversations on the role of librarians, libraries, and ACRL/NY in engaging with timely issues of equity, justice, and political and social discourse. College campuses have a long and rich history as a site of student organizing and activism. We saw this in 1968 as students protested the war in Vietnam, in the 1980s when students protested apartheid in South Africa, and again in the Spring of 2024 as students set up encampments, and called for a ceasefire in Gaza and for their universities to divest from the State of Israel. Now, we are facing a crisis as higher education is under attack.

This group will be a space for librarians across academic institutions to come together to wrestle with questions that are changing by the day, identify opportunities for mutual support and action, and advocate for organizational support from ACRL/NY and perhaps ACRL National.

The group will collectively establish guidelines for engaging in respectful group discussion.

Discussion questions for the group may include:

What role should libraries play on college and university campuses in these situations?

What do the ethics of our profession compel us to do?

What does the positionality of the library allow for and what does it limit?

How can academic libraries support and respond to student activism, political engagement, and the campus climate more generally?

How can librarians support each other?

Community Agreements

We are committed to establishing a safe space where everyone is heard and treated with respect. We intend for the group to be a place where librarians can safely discuss complicated, and potentially charged, issues. The group will discuss community agreements that will help guide us in facilitating conversation and treating others with courtesy and respect. These agreements include: .

Tolerating discomfort

Respecting one another’s needs

Articulating our own needs

Setting expectations around confidentiality

Listening to each other

At the start of each meeting, community agreements will be reviewed to help set expectations for the group.

Liam Adler, Barnard College

Carrie Jedlicka, Kingsborough Community College, CUNY

ACRL/NY Information Session , June 5, 2025- 2pm via Zoom

MarkAaron Polger — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:17:33 GMT

ACRL/NY Information Session , June 5, 2025- 2pm via Zoom

Register here at https://acrlny.wildapricot.org/event-6198662

Are you interested in learning more about ACRL/NY and eager to seize a unique leadership and learning opportunity within a thriving community of academic and research librarians? If so, we invite you to attend an information session to learn more about volunteering for ACRL/NY!

The Greater New York Metropolitan Area Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is actively seeking dedicated volunteers for appointment or nomination to fill specific positions for the current and upcoming year, 2026. Each of these roles comes with the distinction of being a member of our Executive Board. The selection process will be carried out through elections and appointments scheduled for November 2025, with the official commencement of roles slated for January 2026.

We are hosting an informational meeting on June 5th at 2 p.m. to provide you with further insights.

After registration, a Zoom link will be sent with your confirmation email.

We encourage you to delve into the position descriptions for detailed information about these opportunities. We are actively searching for passionate individuals who are interested in contributing to the following roles:

Elected Positions

VP/President Elect
Recording Secretary
Treasurer Elect
Member at Large

Appointed Positions

Symposium Chair and/or Co-chair
Social Media Coordinator

We understand that you may possess unique talents and perspectives that don’t neatly fit into the predefined roles we’ve outlined. If that’s the case, we encourage you to reach out to us and share your interests. Opportunities within ACRL/NY may be more flexible and adaptable than you might initially imagine, and there are countless ways to engage with our community.

ACRL/NY Information Literacy Discussion Group Spring 2025 Meeting!

MarkAaron Polger — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:17:08 GMT

*****Please excuse cross-posting*****

ACRL/NY Information Literacy Discussion Group Spring 2025 Meeting!

Join us for a presentation about Wikipedia, library instruction, archives, and some of the collaborative projects and courses with CUNY librarians. The 2-year CUNY Wikimedian-in-Residence program, funded by Craig Newmark Philanthropies, will also be introduced.

How Wikipedia and its open access sister projects (Wikidata, WIkimedia Commons) have been used by faculty, librarians, and archivists in different courses and workshop/events (edit-a-thons, translate-a-thons) across the CUNYverse over the last 15 years.
The online and in-person network of resources available to educators interested in trying out a small or ambitious version of a Wikipedia project at your college (Wikimedia NYC community, WikiEdu, AfroCROWD, Art+Feminism).

More info:

Guest speakers: Richard Knipel, CUNY Wikimedian-in-Residence; Ann Matsuuchi, instructional technology librarian at LaGuardia Community College.

Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Time: 2:00PM – 3:00PM

Location: Held via Zoom

The ACRL/NY Information Literacy Discussion Group meeting is open to ACRL/NY members. If you are not a member, please join ACRL/NY.

All ACRL/NY events, programs, and discussion groups are guided by our Code of Conduct. For more information, please see Code-of-Conduct

For any questions and information please email Dianne Gordon Conyers at dconyers@lagcc.cuny.edu

Dianne Gordon Conyers and Madeline Ruggiero, Co-chairs

ACRL/NY Information Literacy Discussion Group

Become a mentor to MSLIS Students this fall and spring! (NYU-LIU joint degree program)

MarkAaron Polger — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:16:09 GMT

Become a mentor to MSLIS Students this fall and spring!

The NYU-LIU Dual Degree Mentoring Program (flyer) facilitates connections between GLAM (gallery, library, archive, or museum) professionals with new MSLIS students seeking to develop and share their interests and expand their professional networks. This is a year-long program during which graduate students in the NYU-LIU Dual Degree Program are matched with mentors to work through self-directed goals. Formal mentoring begins September 5, 2025, and ends May 8, 2026. Mentors are paid a stipend of $500 for their participation. Mentorship activities take place virtually and in person. Mentors and mentees will be paired based on expertise, interest, and need.

Mentors are early-, mid-, or senior-career professionals working in galleries, libraries, archives, or museums who offer significant experience or an exceptional knowledge base in the field of library and information science. Mentors of all expertises or specialties will be considered, although the program is often in need of mentors working in archives, arts institutions, costume studies, fashion, or food and nutrition subjects. Prior experience as a mentor is not required. Most importantly, mentors are enthusiastic about the profession and eager to give back to it by offering their time and counsel as mentors.

We are now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 mentor cohort. You can find the mentor application form here. Deadline for applications is July 6, 2025. Mentor applicants will be informed whether they have been matched with an incoming student in late July/early August.

Please send any and all questions to: dualdegree@nyu.edu. This email is monitored by members of the Mentorship Committee.

With care,,

Kristen J. Owens (she/her)

Librarian for African American and Black Diaspora Studies
Bobst Library, New York University

70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012

+1 212 998 2473

ACRL/NY Professional Development Field Trip Held on June 12th, 2025: Some of the Highlights!

MarkAaron Polger — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:14:39 GMT

By Dr. Kanu A. Nagra

Overview:

On the morning of the June 12th,2025, A group of ACRL/NY, LACUNY and METRO library members visited the New York Public Library location, the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library which is located at 40 West 20th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), New York, NY 10011-4211.The speaker of the event was Supervising Librarian Ashley Dalle and event is organized and moderated by me from ACRL/NY Professional Development Committee! The objective of planning this event is to know the availability of resources; and how academic libraries at the NYC area collaborate and utilize National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS, Library of Congress) to develop assistive technology courses and/or to foster community engagement.

Braille Collections: a typical Braille book is very large – one novel might be several volumes

Anyone who is Blind, Legally Blind, Low Vision, Physically Disabled or Limited in Mobility, Print Disabled, or have any other disability, whether permanent or temporary, that may preclude them from accessing traditional printed material is eligible for service at Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. This library is part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled – they refer to it as NLS. Serves all five boroughs (Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens) as well as Nassau and Suffolk Counties in Long Island. Patrons receive Talking Book Service through the United States Postal Service. Postage to and from Andrew Heiskell is FREE. Patrons are welcome to return materials to their local NYPL or BPL branch if they are unable to access a post office, or post office corner drop box

Snapshot of Services:

165,000+ titles of digital talking books for Children, Teens, and Adults, ranging from BRAND NEW releases to out of print classics, in ALL genres, read by human narrators, available in 60+ languages – with no holds, available the SAME day

13,000 volumes of print Braille, to check out same day
60+ audio and braille magazines

Periodical: Braille edition of The New York Times

Mailed directly to your patron’s door with a free audiobook player, or downloadable from the BARD website, with our free app – BARD Mobile.

Display of Braille eReader -1
Refreshable Braille Display (Braille eReader) available, for freeDisplay of Braille eReader-2

Access to Bookshare.org

One on one assistive tech coaching with our Assistive Technology Department, in English and Spanish for students, educators, and anyone else interested in learning about assistive technology
Virtual and in-person Group workshops on accessible & adaptive coding and robotics, 3D model design and making, 3D pen art, tactiles creation lab, research databases, career prep, or anything else you would like us to tailor for your staff or patrons!

Example 1 : 3D PrintingTools 3D printing

Example 2: 3D Printing

The Talking Books service is always free, for all patrons

Recording Studio:

If you have colleagues or students who are interested in volunteering at the recording studio, or are interested in recording accessible college materials, academic press publications, email Studio Manager, James Langton jameslangton@nypl.org

Recording Studio

Audiobooks – deep dive

As per librarian Haruko Yamauchi, one of the attendees, the NLS and their branches operate “outside of copyright” because of the services they provide in making materials accessible. So, for instance, if there is a book that does not exist in audio form, they do not have to seek permission before recording their own version of it and making it available to patrons.

James Langton explaining the technicalities of recording the audio narrations of the book

Brochures:

Library Brochures are available in variety of languages– English, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, Bengali, or Chinese brochures to distribute to patrons and families, email the library at talkingbooks@nypl.org with your request!

You can visit the NYPL Talking Book Library or Invite them!

Supervising Librarian Ashley Dalle said they encourage hosting tours and visits. Further she mentions this is the largely the most impactful way to connect organizations and clients, it really makes a lasting impression – please send email and/or Invite us to your community fairs, library resource fairs, tabling events, city council member sponsored events – anywhere we are visible in the community, is great for us!