Additional Library Services Beginning March 29, 2021
Beginning Monday, March 29 the currently open library locations will be open for limited in-person services. In this takeout+ model, customers can visit open locations to:
- Return materials
- Pick up a hold
- Check out display items
- Have a book paged from the stacks
- Get a library card
- Manage your library account
- Print, copy and scan services
- Sign-up to use a limited number of computers for a 45-minute session once per day or one 15 minute express session per hour
- Use the bathroom
Customers cannot:
- Browse the collection
- Sit and read/study/work at a table or lounge area
- Read magazines and newspapers
- Use meeting or study rooms
- Attend in-person programs or events
Open Locations
Anacostia, Bellevue, Benning, Capitol View, Cleveland Park, Francis A. Gregory, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Mt. Pleasant, Northeast, Petworth, Shaw, Shepherd Park, Tenley-Friendship, West End and Woodridge libraries are currently open.
Videophone and Computers Equipped with Assistive Technology
Customers who need to use a videophone or a laptop equipped with assistive technology for blind/low vision, may visit the Digital Commons in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW. Customers will need to sign up in advance for a 45-minute slot at the beginning of the hour - 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 Noon, 1 PM, 3 PM, 4 PM, 5 PM. Customers are limited to one 45-minute period per day for videophone and a 90-minute period per day for the Assistive Technology laptop. This is twice the standard amount of allotted time for computer use which is 45 minutes per day. This laptop is equipped with a large print keyboard and headset. The designated Assistive Technology Computer has available on it, JAWS screen reader, ZoomText screen magnifier and Fusion which combines JAWS and ZoomText. Printing is not available from this computer. This laptop is only to be used by patrons with disabilities who are using assistive technology software as a reasonable accommodation.
As always, all patrons are also welcome to use any of the 45-minute general desktop computers, however, the software, JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion are still undergoing maintenance on these computers and we encourage you to use the 90-minute Adaptive Technology Computer if needing to use JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion.
Hours
Monday - Friday: 10AM - 6PM. Closed daily 2 – 3PM for cleaning.
|
|
Calling All Volunteers and Students!
Are you interested in free one-on-one virtual tutoring in how to use an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, android or other technology using assistive technology? VoiceOver is a screen reader that makes it possible to use an iPhone device without sight. Magnification, color enhancement and font size make it easier to see things on the screen. Have you tried to learn but are not making much progress on your own? DC Public Library may have a solution for you! One-on-one virtual tutorials over the phone or via Zoom to learn how to use your technology that best fits your needs. Volunteers to teach and students wanting to learn are both needed so contact us now. DCPLaccess@dc.gov or 202-727-2142.
|
|
|
Spring Health and Wellness at the Library: Unemployment, Debt, and Credit
Need some guidance for dealing with unemployment, debt and credit? Join Neighborhood Legal Services for for a monthly workshop with legal experts from the Neighborhood Legal Services Program , who will guide you in your options.
The debt and credit component will cover protections against creditor harassment, wage garnishments and other seizure of your property, how to know whether your income and assets are protected from collection, what to do if a default judgment is entered against you in a debt case, considering bankruptcy, and DC caps on interest rates, including on internet loans.
The unemployment benefits section will cover D.C.’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Act, which limits hiring discrimination against you for many past arrests and convictions, the Fair Credit in Employment Act, which limits hiring discrimination against you for bad credit, information on Worker’s Compensation if you are injured on your job, employers’ obligations to offer reasonable accommodation for disabilities, and unemployment compensation including COVID related unemployment.
These webinars are virtual using Webex and will occur on the following Tuesdays 12:00 Noon-1:00 PM: April 6, May 4, May 25.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED:
To Register, click here: Webex.
Password: knowledge
After you register, you will receive an email on how to join the webinar.
For more information, visit the DC Public Library page: https://www.dclibrary.org/node/67217.
|
|
|
Bluetooth Technology in Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants: How it Works and Why it’s Better
Sunday, April 11 at 2:00 PM
The Hearing Loss Association of America- DC Chapter invites you to attend the following virtual program on Bluetooth Technology in Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants: How it Works and Why it’s Better on Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 2:00 PM ET.
Presenter Amy Bernstein, Au.D., FAAA, will demystify Bluetooth and streaming, how they work and why their advent is an exciting advance for people with hearing loss.
Real time captions will be provided. All are welcome.
Please RSVP by April 6 to hladcchapter@gmail.com. The program will be virtual via Zoom.Instructions on how to access the Zoom link to the program will be emailed to affirmative responses closer to the date of the program.
|
|
|
Virtual ASL Story Time
Tuesday, April 13 at 2:00 PM
Join us on Facebook Live for American Sign Language (ASL) Story Time with Librarians Ms. Janice and Ms. Jenny! Janice will sign in ASL and Jenny will read aloud from Denise Fleming’s 5 Little Ducks
After the story we will teach some signs from the story and how to sign the song “The More We Get Together.” Even though the program is designed for ages 2-5, all are welcome. Automatic captioning will be available.
Stream on Facebook Live at facebook.com/dclibrary. Follow the Library's Facebook page to receive notifications when Facebook Live programs start.
|
|
|
The Americans with Disabilities Act State of the Science Virtual Conference
April 13-15
This year's conference will mark the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), highlighting research related to successes and challenges in fulfilling the promise of the ADA. Each day the virtual conference will feature a keynote speaker and research presentations focusing on a unique theme:
- Day 1: Employment and Economic Self-Sufficiency
- Day 2: Community Development and Planning
- Day 3: Access and Inclusion
Visit the 2021 ADA State of the Science page to learn more and to register.
|
|
|
Talking Book Club
Wednesday, April 14 at 11:00 AM
Join the Center of Accessibility for the Talking Book Club on Wednesday, April 14th at 11:00 AM. Although this book club is targeted toward participants who are blind or have low vision, all book lovers are welcome to join in! We meet on the second Wednesday of every other month. Paisley, Library Associate at the Center for Accessibility, hosts and moderates the Talking Book Club.
The book for April 14 is: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes.
For information on how to join the book club, contact: DCPLaccess@dc.gov ; or call: 202-727-2142.
|
|
|
Join the Labs at DCPL and the Center for Accessibility for informative Maker Talks with Labs staff. All of these programs will be ASL-interpreted.
The schedule for April:
Monday, April 19 at 3:00-4:00 PM
What is Sewing?
One of the technologies offered by the Labs at MLK is sewing machines. Are you curious about how machine sewing works? If so, discover the basics of how it works, what materials are used, and what kinds of machines are at the Labs.
Saturday, April 24 at 1:00-2:30 PM
Zines with K.S. Brenowitz
Artist K. S. Brenowitz will demonstrate how easy it is to make your own zine, even if you don't have traditional art materials or layout software. Brenowitz will demonstrate how to fold a zine from scrap paper and talk about planning, layout, and using found collage to illustrate.
Registration is required for these events: bit.ly/labsclasses
Questions? Contact:
Alexandra Genia, Library Associate, The Labs at DCPL, labs.dcpl@dc.gov, (202) 727-1275
|
|
|
Fair Housing Rights for People with Disabilities with Nick Adjami
Thursday, April 22 at 2PM
In honor of Fair Housing Month, Nick Adjami from the Equal Rights Center, will talk about Fair Housing Rights for people with disabilities. He will cover the federal Fair Housing Act, local fair housing laws, and the Americans with Disabilities Act as it applies to housing. He will discuss protected classes, prohibited activities, reasonable accommodation and modification requests, and service and assistance animals. He will also provide examples of housing discrimination and discuss how to respond.
Register in advance for this webinar, https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VkNWp6NpQWyqB3ZGBWcrnA.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
American Sign Language Interpreters and automatic captions will be available, for other reasonable accommodations please contact us at DCPLaccess@dc.gov or 202-727-2142.
|
|
|
|
Stacy Abrams to receive 2021 AAPD Democracy Award at Virtual Leadership Awards Gala on April 28, 2021
Make plans now to attend the 2021 AAPD Virtual Leadership Awards Gala!
DATE: April 28, 2021
TIME: 7:00 PM Eastern Time
FREE but registration is required.
REGISTER HERE for the 2021 AAPD Virtual Leadership Awards Gala on April 28, 2021. The link containing the livestream video will be sent at a later date after completion of registration.
Captioning, ASL interpreting, and audio description will be provided.
The AAPD Leadership Awards Gala is the one night a year that the disability community comes together with business and government leadership to celebrate the progress of disability rights. This year's Gala will provide a unique opportunity for AAPD's partners, supporters, colleagues, and friends to demonstrate their continued support for access, equity, and inclusion.
This year's AAPD Democracy Award winner is Stacey Abrams, Founder, Fair Fight
Stacey Abrams, political leader, voting rights activist and New York Times bestselling author, will be honored with the inaugural AAPD Democracy Award for her work to enfranchise all voters, including the disability community of over 60 million strong. Over the course of her career, Abrams has founded multiple organizations devoted to voting rights, training and hiring young people of color, and tackling social issues at both the state and national levels.
Other Guests Include:
AAPD Image Award Winner: Jane Pauley, Host, CBS Sunday Morning
Valerie Jarrett, President of The Barack Obama Foundation
2021 AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awardees: Elijah Armstrong anf Noor Pervez
2021 Emcee: Jonathan Capehart, The Washington Post, Host, The Sunday Show, MSNBC
Questions about the AAPD gala? Visit www.aapd.org.
|
|
|
ASL Book Club
Monday, May 10 at 2:00 PM
Do you love to read and talk about books? Are you interested in participating in a book discussion in American Sign Language (ASL)? If so, this book club is for YOU! Although the target language is ASL, all book-lovers are welcome to join in. ASL/voice interpreting and automatic captioning is provided. We meet once every other month, the second Monday of the month, from 2:00-3:00 PM, via Zoom. The book club is facilitated by Janice Rosen, Librarian, Center for Accessibility.
The book for May 10, 2021 is The Guest List: A Novel by Lucy Foley
Copies of the book may be found in the following DC Public Library locations:
Register in advance for the ASL Book Club:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkdO-grzopEtLqvGT3ByH1hEYLnRcpuUZ-
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the ASL Book Club.
|
|
|
Podcast Announcement
Check out the Center for Accessibility's new channel, "Access This", on the DC Public Library Podcast page.
Our latest podcast, Access This: METAS International with Jenny, Children's Librarian with the Center for Accessibility. Jenny talks about braille literacy, beep baseball, and the importance of mentorship with Daniel Martinez and Richie Flores from METAS (Mentoring Engaging and Teaching All Students), a non-profit working in Mexico to empower and encourage equal access to education for blind and low vision students. You can follow their work on METAS' Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/metasllc/.
|
|
|
|
NLS on the Move
Join NLS’s 90th anniversary celebration!
NLS is celebrating its 90th anniversary with special digital content and features throughout the year—beginning with the March 3 virtual concert by acclaimed jazz pianist and NLS patron Matthew Whitaker. If you missed the concert, or want an encore performance, it’s archived on the Library of Congress YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/c/loc).
NLS has created a 90th anniversary page on the NLS website (www.loc.gov/nls/90th-anniversary), where you can find a timeline of significant events in NLS history, including the year when each library joined the network. There is also a video message from Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and links to congratulatory remarks in the Congressional Record from the chairperson and ranking member of the House of Representatives and Senate committees that oversee the Library of Congress: Rep. Zoe Lofgren (California), Rep. Rodney Davis (Illinois), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota), and Sen. Roy Blunt (Missouri).
Future special anniversary content on the NLS website and Facebook page to look for:
- Features on the NLS program and its history. Look for the first—about the connections between World War I veterans and the founding of NLS—on the website by the end of the month.
- Interviews with patrons of all ages, to highlight the ways NLS and its network serve everyone from children to nonagenarians.
- A minibibliography of books by popular authors born in 1931.
- Historical documents, such as old issues of Talking Book Topics.
|
|
|
|
Welcome to Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Path to a Guide Dog E-Series!
Get the facts straight from the dog’s mouth on a variety of topics about the guide dog lifestyle! Join hosts Jane Flower, Youth Outreach Specialist and Jake Koch, Community Outreach Specialist at Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) for this three-part online series.
This event is intended for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, (including family members/friends), and blindness professionals interested in exploring the guide dog lifestyle. The Path to a Guide Dog E-series is recommended for ages 14 and older.
Topics include:
- Day 1: Overview of GDB, a discussion about the differences between white cane and guide dog mobility, how to determine guide dog readiness, and GDB’s youth services.
- Day 2: Application path and criteria to GDB’s guide dog program, and a description about the Orientation and Mobility Immersion program.
- Day 3: Client training options, and Guide Dogs for the Blind’s suite of follow-up services.
For more information or to register, visit the following link: https://www.guidedogs.com/get-a-guide-dog/path-to-a-guide-dog-series.
|
|
|
|
|
|
