CT Library for Accessible Books Newsletters
Current Newsletter: May and June 2026
CT LAB News
CT LAB Book Club
The next CT LAB book club will meet virtually on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Our selection for April is a fiction book, titled The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. This title is available as a Talking Book cartridge and from BARD as DB129518. A summary of the book follows. One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to alter Hai’s relationship to himself, his family, and a community at the brink. Following the cycles of history, memory, and time, The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what it means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt our collective soul. Hallmarks of Vuong’s writing – formal innovation, syntactic dexterity, and the ability to twin grit with grace through tenderness – are on full display in this story of loss, hope, and how far we would go to possess one of life’s most fleeting mercies: a second chance. Please register for the book club by calling Paula McLean at (860) 704-2216 or (800) 842-4516. Participants will receive the Zoom meeting link or dial in phone number approximately one week before the book club meeting.
Most Popular Fiction Books on BARD
Note: The books listed below are the most popular fiction books on BARD within the last thirty days. All titles are available on BARD and can be sent on a Talking Book Cartridge.
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. DB 103718
- The Widow by John Grisham. DB 133042
- The Invisible Woman: A Thriller by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo. DB 134328
- Theo of Golden: A Novel. by Allen Levi. DB 131887
- The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly. DB 133660
Most Popular Nonfiction Books on BARD
Note: The books listed below are the most popular nonfiction books on BARD within the last thirty days. All titles are available on BARD and can be sent on a Talking Book Cartridge.
- Unseen: How I Lost My Vision But Found My Voice by Molly Burke. DB 134008
- Windows Screen Reader Primer: All the Basics and More: Third Edition by David Kingsbury. DB 121117
- When I Fell from the Sky: The True Story of One Woman's Miraculous Survival by Juliane Koepcke and Beate Rygiert. DB 134795
- Ain't Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton by Martha Ackmann. DB 134275
- Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run by Paul McCartney. DB 134456
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) Updates
Braille On-Demand
NLS patrons who read braille can now request hardcopy braille books to keep indefinitely! Many patrons are taking advantage of this new offering by requesting books of knitting patterns or cookbooks, while others are building at-home libraries of their favorite book series.
To request a book in hard-copy braille, use the request for which can be accessed at the Braille on Demand Request form.
If you would like to speak with someone or place your request over the phone, please call CT LAB at (860) 704-2220 or toll free for in-state callers at (800) 842-4516.
Happy Birthday to BARD!
BARD celebrated a birthday just last week. The online service debuted on April 30, 2009. And here’s a fun fact: In Fiscal Year 2025, patrons downloaded more than 4.3 million audio items from BARD!
Upcoming NLS Programs
Get to Know the Many Faces of BARD
NLS staff members offer tips, answer questions, and demonstrate new features of BARD, the BARD Mobile app, and BARD Express each month during The Many Faces of BARD. This online event is open to all patrons and is held at 7 p.m. eastern time on the second Thursday of every month.
Get program details, login information, and recordings of previous programs at the Many Faces of BARD web page.
That All May eRead Program
NLS presents a monthly program called That All May eRead on Zoom. This program, scheduled monthly for the last Tuesday night of each month, focuses on using the NLS Braille eReaders. Each session begins with a brief demonstration of a feature or use case. The rest of the hour is spent answering patron questions about any aspect of the Zoomax or HumanWare Braille eReaders. Get program details and access recordings of previous programs at the That All May eRead web page.
Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker
NLS presents a monthly program called Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker. This program, held on the third Thursday of each month, focuses on assisting patrons using the My Talking Books skill on their smart speaker. Get program details and access recordings of previous programs at the Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker web page.
From CT LAB Community Partners
This engaging, activity-based class is designed to make learning Braille fun and approachable. Participants will be introduced to the Braille alphabet and numbers, with a focus on practical, everyday use, like reading labels, navigating indoor signage, and understanding elevator markings. Whether you are supporting someone with vision loss or simply interested in learning a new skill, this class is a welcoming place to start.
No experience is necessary and all materials are provided. Just bring your curiosity!
Ready to get started? To register or learn more, call (860) 430-4557 or visit the UR Community Cares website.
Connect with CT LAB
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Phone: 860-704-2220 or 800-842-4516 (toll free in state only)
Email: csl.AccessibleBooks@ct.gov
Mailing Address: 786 South Main St., Middletown, CT 06457
Upcoming CT LAB Holiday Closings
Monday, May 25, 2026 – Memorial Day Friday, June 19, 2026 – Juneteenth Friday, July 3, 2026 – Independence Day observed
