The latest Allen’s List – Presidential Campaigns and Elections

In this edition of Allen’s List we take a look at Presidential elections on the eve of the 2020 election’s first Presidential debate. From the earliest days of our nation to the 2016 election, a few to enjoy in this Allen’s List of Presidential Campaigns and Elections.

Get a fresh Allen’s List sent to your email whenever it’s published – Sign up today to get emails from the Allen’s List Book blog.

Missed a list? Check out the Allen’s List page to see more

Banned Books Week, Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2019

It’s Banned Books Week! This is a time to celebrate everyone’s freedom to read. There are times when books are published and the books’ appropriateness for audiences are challenged. This could lead the book to being banned and limit a reader’s access to information.

The American Library Association (ALA) has provided a list of the ten most challenged books from 2019. If you’re interested to see what the books are about, a link has been provided to help patrons check them out. Not all of the books on the list are in our collection.

1. George DB08227
   • When people look at George, they think they see a boy, but she knows she’s really a girl. A class play pushes George to take action. George and her friend Kelly come up with a plan so that everyone can know who she truly is. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7. 2015.
2. Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out DB078523
   • Collection of six interviews with transgender teens. Recounts their experiences before, during, and after the personal acknowledgment of their gender preference. Includes resources, questions and answers with the clinical director of a health outreach to teens program, and more. Some descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers. 2014.
3. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo BR022045
   • When Marlon Bundo, a very lonely bunny who lives in a stuffy old house, meets another boy bunny, Wesley, his life changes for the better. A stink bug tries to disrupt their happiness, but all the animals in the garden have a different plan. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2018.
4. Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth (Not available in our collection)
5. Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, illustrated by Stevie Lewis (Not available in our collection)
6. I Am Jazz! DB085028 BR021044
   • Autobiography of Jazz Jennings, who recounts her early awareness that she is a girl in spite of male anatomy, and the acceptance she finds through a wise doctor who explains her natural transgender status. For grades K-3 and older readers. 2014.
7. The Handmaid’s Tale DB024695 BR011911 DB090213 (Spanish)
   • Set in the future, the United States of America is now the Republic of Gilead, a fundamentalist Christian theocracy that arose after fanatics shot the president, machine-gunned the Congress and forced the army to declare a state of emergency. To reverse the declining birthrate, women are forcibly recruited into the ranks of Handmaids and are assigned to the Commanders of the Faithful, whose wives are barren. Some strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1986.
8. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier (Not available in our collection)
9. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Our entire collection of the series
10. And Tango Makes Three DB092109 BR022618
    • At New York City’s Central Park Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and start a family by taking turns sitting on an abandoned egg until it hatches. Commercial audiobook. For grades K-3. 2005.

Learn why these Books were challenged… Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2019

The latest Allen’s List – Baseball Novels

In this edition of Allen’s List we take at look at the great American pastime and it’s signature, baseball novels. Great stories about players, coaches and games to offer more enjoyment of the game, in this Allen’s List of Baseball Novels.

Get a fresh Allen’s List sent to your email whenever it’s published – Sign up today to get emails from the Allen’s List Book blog.

Missed a list? Check out the Allen’s List page to see more

Notable on NOBLE – The Governor’s Lady

Check out what’s Notable on NOBLE, right now! The Governor’s Lady: A Novel by Robert Inman – DBC06105. Cooper Lanier has been surrounded by politics her entire life. Her late father, Cleve Spainhour, was a beloved two-term Southern governor, as was her husband, Pickett Lanier. Now, Cooper is taking office as governor herself, succeeding Pickett as he campaigns for president. On her first day, as the state is blindsided by a blizzard, Cooper quickly realizes she is surrounded by leftovers from her husband’s administration and that Pickett intends to manage the state’s affairs from the campaign trail, even if it means undermining her every command. Cooper is faced with the stark choice of seizing control or becoming a phony, irrelevant figurehead.

Take a listen to this Notable on NOBLE and then download the rest of the story, just like BARD, but without a password. We trust you’ll really enjoy this book!

Notable on NOBLE – https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/lbph/podcasts/notable-noble, helping you find the best reads from North Carolina’s Locally Recorded books and magazines site NOBLE.

For more listening enjoyment, check out the other NCLBPH podcasts like Tar Heel Talk Podcast, Heard Any Good Books Lately? and Craig’s Desk in the library’s new podcast section

The latest Allen’s List – Fantastic Fantasy

In this edition of Allen’s List we take at look at Fantasy. Wizards, witches, hobbits, elves and magic! Epic battles galore! If you great stories and fantastic worlds, consider some of the following fantasy series in this Allen’s List of Fantastic Fantasies. Some very magical and mystical writings on this edition of Allen’s List.

Get a fresh Allen’s List sent to your email whenever it’s published – Sign up today to get emails from the Allen’s List Book blog.

Missed a list? Check out the Allen’s List page to see more

NCLBPH’s Writing Contest!

The North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is having its first Writing Contest!

In relation to the theme for Summer Reading this year, “Imagine Your Story”, we think it will be great for our patrons to not only imagine their story, but to share it as well.

Each submission will be judged based on its clarity, creativity, spelling/grammar, and impact. We will accept submissions in a typed, brailled, or audio format.

There will be three top spots for each age group, but everyone who enters will receive recognition for their participation.

This is a patron only event and we encourage interested patrons to enter! We look forward to reading your stories!

Contest Rules

• One entry per patron.
• Entries must be submitted by October 30th, 2020.
• Submissions will be judged and awarded prizes by age group.
  • 10 and below
  • 11 – 14
  • 15 – 19
  • 20 and above

Top Prizes

• First place in each age group will receive a pack of Uno Braille Cards, a plaque and publication of story in a future Tar Heel Talk, NOBLE and BARD.
• Second and Third place winners in each age group will receive a plaque and publication in a future Tar Heel Talk, NOBLE, and BARD.

How to Enter

You may submit your entries by using this link or mailing your submission to:

NCLBPH

1841 Capital Blvd

Raleigh, NC 27635

The latest Allen’s List – The Sixties

In this edition of Allen’s List we take at look at the Sixties, a time of great change for our country. Part of this great chance was seen in this decade was the literature. Consider some of the following novels from that decade in this Allen’s List of books from The Sixties. Some very critically acclaimed novels and writings on this edition of Allen’s List.

Get a fresh Allen’s List sent to your email whenever it’s published – Sign up today to get emails from the Allen’s List Book blog.

Missed a list? Check out the Allen’s List page to see more

Heard Any Good Books Lately? – September 2020 edition is here

Just in time for some great late Summer / Early Fall Reading and looking forward to some better times ahead, a new edition of Heard Any Good Books Lately? The August 2020 edition of Heard Any Good Books Lately? produced by North Carolina Reading Service and brought to you by the Friends of NCLBPH is now live on our Heard Any Good Books Lately? Page and as a podcast from the Library’s website and the North Carolina Reading Service’s website.

This edition features a review of the book The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird by Joshua Hammer.
Check it out here – https://files.nc.gov/dncr-statelibrary/LBPH/podcasts/HeardAnyBooks/HEARD091520.mp3

If you missed any previous editions check out the Heard Any Good Books Lately? Archive – https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/lbph/podcasts/heard#archive

Library BARD Signup Month

It’s library card signup month! You may know our library doesn’t have a card for patrons, but we have BARD!

For patrons who have never used or heard of BARD, it stands for Braille and Audio Reading Download. With BARD you will not have to wait days for your books to be delivered; you can download them at your home, or anywhere you have internet access!

If you have a computer, you can use your internet browser to visit the BARD website to sign in and download books to a flash drive and listen to them on the USB port on the side of your talking book player!

If you have a smart phone or tablet, you can download the BARD Mobile app from your app store. From there you can browse and download books directly to you device.

You can keep BARD books for as long as you want; once you are done listening to them, you can delete them from your flash drive or device. If you want to listen to it again, you could download it again at anytime!

You do need to sign up for BARD if you are not already. You’ll receive a temporary password once your application is processed; from there, you can create your own password and begin using BARD!

Listen All About BARD (About 3 minutes 30 seconds)

For a more in-depth explanation of the technology you may follow think link: Understanding the Technology

BARD Application page: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/cgi-bin/public/nlsbardprod/accountrequest.cgi?libcode=NC1A

Notable on NOBLE – The Highland Scots of North Carolina, 1732-1776

Check out what’s Notable on NOBLE, right now! The Highland Scots of North Carolina, 1732-1776 by Duane Gilbert Meyer – DBX01220. This books examines the causes of the Scottish migration to the Cape Fear Area of North Carolina and their loyalty to the crown during the American Revolution.

Take a listen to this Notable on NOBLE and then download the rest of the story, just like BARD, but without a password. We trust you’ll really enjoy this book!

Notable on NOBLE – https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/lbph/podcasts/notable-noble, helping you find the best reads from North Carolina’s Locally Recorded books and magazines site NOBLE.

For more listening enjoyment, check out the other NCLBPH podcasts like Tar Heel Talk Podcast, Heard Any Good Books Lately? and Craig’s Desk in the library’s new podcast section