Sightlines from Central Rappahannock Regional Library |
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What’s New in Access Services? |
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Access Services and the Talking Books library have reopened in a limited fashion. We are working remotely, so there is no walk-in service, but you can call, or send us mail or email. Additional updates about our status, including the library’s expanding services, will be announced on librarypoint.org.
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We are changing the publication of Sightlines to align with CRRL’s quarterly publicity schedule. Aligning these dates will help you stay better informed of CRRL services and virtual events. |
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Central Rappahannock Regional Library's Expanding Services |
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Branches are offering 1-hour Library Express visits to browse, use computers, and check out materials. Masks and temperature checks are required. Curbside pickup is available during all Library Express hours. Materials can be returned to bookdrops anytime. Learn more at librarypoint.org/express.
For everyone’s safety, please do not visit if you have a fever, symptoms of COVID-19, or known exposure to a COVID-19 case in the preceding 14 days.
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Annual Reminders and the Post Office |
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All Talking Book libraries run on an October-September calendar, so now that we’re in our new year, here are four things you can do to keep your Talking Books account in good shape:
- Send back any old cartridges you have. This tells us you’re ready for new books, and will keep your account active. Customers need to check out a book at least once a year to keep accounts open. We promise to send you new books as fast as we can, and we always send out new books once we’ve checked your old ones back in.
- If you have or use BARD, but you haven’t used it for a while, please log in to your account. You need to log in at least once a year to keep that account active.
- We keep records of your preferred authors and topics. You can update those records by calling Access Services Librarian Babak Zarin at (540) 372-1144, extension 7054, or by emailing talking-books@crrl.org.
- If you’ve changed addresses, want to switch to BARD only, or just want to put a temporary hold on your account, please tell us. We can do all of that and more!
We have also gotten some questions about post office reliability. While they appear to be delivering cartridges and machines on a timely basis, we encourage you to call your local post office if you have questions or problems with your mail delivery.
It’s also worth knowing that for those of you with physical difficulties, retrieving your mail from a mailbox on the street or a curb may qualify for Hardship Status, a Postal Service exemption that tells your mail deliverer to deliver mail to your door instead. You can learn more about at the Post Office’s Frequently Asked Questions page on Hardship status. |
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We’ll be reading Haben: The Deaf Blind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma (DB 96188).
Haben, written and narrated by Haben Girma herself, is her memoir about her life, starting from her childhood in California as the daughter of Eritreans. Her chronicle spans her college days advocating for accommodation in the school cafeteria to her current experiences as a disability rights advocate. Powerful, thrilling, and fascinating, Haben tells the story of a life that demonstrates disability is not a limitation, but an opportunity to help innovate a whole new world.
We will again be meeting virtually during lunch as a Book Group for those who want to discuss the book. We will be using Google Meet, which has been recommended by the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is considered an accessible platform. The Virtual Sightlines Book Group will be held on Thursday, January 7, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. You can join the webinar by visiting meet.google.com/hzt-fgxw-xcp or by calling (‪US‬)‪+1 513-666-7377‬‬ and then dialing PIN number ‪378 160 684#‬ |
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Fiction Bestsellers
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The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition; Star Wars by Jason Fry Russell (DB90647)
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Seven Stones to Stand or Fall: A Collection of Outlander Fiction by Diana Gabaldon (DB89327)
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Tom Clancy Code of Honor by Marc Cameron (DB97885)
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The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner (DB91555)
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Tangerine by Christine Mangan (DB91557)
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Nonfiction Bestsellers
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Orange World and Other Stories by Karen Russell (DB95553)
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Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting by Anna Quindlen (DB95647)
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GuRu by RuPaul (DB93646)
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How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (DB96351)
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Life to the Extreme: How a Chaotic Kid Became America’s Favorite Carpenter by Ty Pennington (DB95465)
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As predictable as leaves clogging up my driveway, this fall brings us new versions of Apple iOS and Android. Along with these new releases come some great new accessibility features I would like to share with you. This is not a comprehensive look at all of these features, just the highlights, but I will link to sites with full coverage of them all.
Let’s look first at Apple. iOS 14 support starts at the iPhone 6S (2015) and SE (2016) through the newest iPhone 12. Here’s what I’m most excited about:
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Sound Recognition: You can receive notifications when audible alerts, such as fire alarms and door bells, are detected.
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VoiceOver Recognition: Apps and websites not built with accessibility support can now be used with full VoiceOver.
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Back Tap: You can map actions and apps to both double- and triple-taps on the back of your phone
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Sign Language Prominence: FaceTime can now detect when a participant is using sign language and make that person prominent in a Group FaceTime call.
Now for Android 11. Unlike Apple’s iOS, the only phones guaranteed to get the newest version of Android right when it releases are Google’s Pixel phones, and even they only enjoy 2-3 years of updates. Depending on your phone’s manufacturer, you may not get the latest versions of Android. 2020 also brings fewer accessibility updates to Android than to iOS 14. Still, here is what is offered:
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Voice Access: Intuitive labels on apps help you control and navigate your phone, all by speaking out loud. You can use Voice Access offline for more support whenever you need it.
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Talkback Braille Keyboard: Type braille using just your Android device. No additional hardware needed.
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Lookout: Lookout now has two new modes. Scan Document and Food Label help people with low vision or blindness get things done faster and more easily. Opening Lookout also turns on your flashlight, helping users read in low light.
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Holidays and Next Sightlines |
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Access Services will be closed November 26-27, December 24-25 and 31, and January 1. Our hours may vary around Thanksgiving, and in the week between Christmas and New Year’s, so please hold on to anything you want to read during that time!
The next Sightlines will come out mid-January 2021.
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For book reservations, to share a review, or for more information, contact Access Services Librarian Babak Zarin at 540-372-1144 extension 7054, Toll Free: 1-800-628-4807, or
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Please share this information with those who you feel may benefit.
If you receive Sightlines on a cartridge, please return the cartridge after listening to Sightlines.
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Inspiring lifelong learning for everyone in our community. |
Serving Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Westmoreland, Virginia.

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