For a long time, our newsletter, NewsLion, has been our primary way to communicate with people, and while it remains the best way to update the most people on new services, the latest books recorded in our very own Audio Book Studio, upcoming programs, and other services and agencies of interest to our patrons, it is not the most timely of publications. Because it is published only four times a year, we find out about many interesting and useful books, services, and programs too late to include them in the latest issue. To help get the word out between issues, we now have this blog, plus our Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/nyplheiskell) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/nyplheiskell) accounts.

Facebook and Twitter are great ways to communicate in real time. As soon as we find out about something we know would interest our patrons, we post the information on those websites. And we can then update or repeat the messages as often as we want. We realize not everyone has accounts with those services, so from time to time, we'll post the highlights here on the blog. However, that doesn't mean you can't join the fun on Facebook and other social media websites, so to help, we're offering classes on how to set up and use accounts on these sites.

Getting Social: Workshops for the Social Web

Get connected with friends, family, and your favorite organizations using the web's most popular social media sites. We'll show you how to find friends, navigate the sites, and offer tips for making the sites more accessible. For adults and young adults, ages 13 and up. Participants under age 16 must have the signed permission of a parent or guardian.

• October 21: Facebook
• November 18: Twitter
• December 12: LinkedIn
You may register by phone (212-206-5400), email (ahlbph@nypl.org), or in person.

Library Social Web Group

Here are some recent postings from our Facebook page

Service Updates

We're offering 2 new accessories for your Digital Talking Book Machine! Now you can request a headphone adapter for using your NLS headphones with the big 1/4" plug in the new player. There's also a right-angle USB adapter that lets you plug in your flash drive parallel to the machine so it doesn't stick way out.

Links We Shared

• Disability Studies, Temple University; a blog. 
• Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to Walk with Canes. 
• Making Games Accessible. 
• Millions of Books Get Digitized for the Disabled, an article about the Internet Archive. 
• Talking Word Puzzles; information from the American Printing House. 
• Access Content Blog. 
• A Leather Bible Case that fits our Digital Players. 
• Art Education for the Blind presents New York Beyond Sight. "New York as you've never heard it before! Prominent New Yorkers describe their favorite works of art and culture, architecture, and city landmarks. Hear politicians, actors, artists, business and community leaders use Verbal Description to make New York's visual culture accessible to all—including people with visual impairments."
• Touch Sight: A Camera for the Blind. 
• NFB Krafters Korner; a blog for blind crafters from the National Federation of the Blind. You can join their organization and take classes: 
• Upgrading Accessible to Fully Accessible on The Open Library Blog. 
• No Barriers USA. 
• Blind Bloggers; a list on Vision Aware.  
• Blind Photographers.org. 

And finally...