In this issue:
- Letter from CELA’s Executive Director
- Awards update
- Best Books of the year
- Free Literature for the Blind update
- January is World Braille Month
- Reading in the news
- Books to promote at your library
- Come visit us at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference!
- Reading for Truth and Reconciliation
- Reporting problems with books
- World Braille Month resources available!
- Webinars
- Featured title for adults: 100 rules for living to 100: An optimist's guide to a happy life
- Top five this month
- Featured title for kids: Green
- Top five for kids
- Top five for teens
- Service tip
- Holiday hours
- Stay connected!
Letter from CELA’s Executive Director
This past year has been a pivotal one for CELA in many ways. Issues around funding and changing technology required us to make the difficult decision to cease CD production and distribution. Many of our users who relied on CDs have been learning new ways of reading their books, and our library partners have supported us and their patrons through this change. We were pleased to launch the Accessible Reading Canada skill, which allows users with an Alexa smart speaker device to listen to their books in a new way. I’d like to extend my appreciation to all of you for working with us through this transition.
We’ve also been pleased to take on new projects and opportunities to meet with colleagues at home and abroad to learn from one another and to better support accessible reading for all who require alternate formats.
CELA welcomed new staff this year to help us both behind the scenes and with our outreach efforts. These new team members have already made invaluable contributions to our organization. One aspect of this work will be contacting new users for their feedback on our onboarding process and our services. Watch for a survey from us in the new year. In addition, we have started our new strategic planning process and we will have more information to share in the new year on how you can contribute.
And most recently, we’ve been responding to the proposed repealing of the Canada Post Free Literature for the Blind in Bill C-15, and we’ve been especially grateful for the community of libraries, organizations and colleagues who are committed to ensuring people across Canada have fair and equitable access to reading materials.
As we head towards the new year, it’s always interesting to see what books made it onto which Best Of 2025 lists. We’ve gathered some of the notable titles in our newsletter to make them easy to find, but I always want to encourage you to give yourself the gift of reading books you love. The only Best Of list that really matters is the one you create for yourself. I hope you find time over the next few weeks to add some new titles to your own Best Of list.
Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!
Laurie Davidson
Laurie Davidson, Executive Director
Awards update
Four Canadian authors, Maria Reva, Kyle Edwards, Éric Chacour and Elizabeth Murphy are nominated for the 2026 Dublin Literary Award.
Endling by Maria Reva has also won the Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize.
Kyle Edwards, has been nominated for Small Ceremonies: A Novel, which as has also won the 2025 Governor General's award for fiction.
Éric Chacour's novel What I Know About You is his debut book and was a bestseller in its French edition, winning many awards, including the Prix Femina. It was also shortlisted for the 2024 Atwood Gibson Prize for fiction and the 2024 Giller Prize.
Elizabeth Murphy's book The Weather Diviner rounds out the list of Canadian titles on the 69 book long list.
The winner of the $163,000 prize will be announced in May.
Keep an eye on our Awards page for updated lists and winner announcements!
Best Books of the Year
We love a good book list, especially when they feature the top books of the year. Find accessible versions of books listed on the following Best of lists.
Quill and Quire
New York Times
Enjoy!
Free Literature for the Blind update
CELA and NNELS, alongside many other organizations serving the blind and print disabled communities, have been advocating against proposed amendments in Bill C-15 (the 2025 Budget Implementation Bill) that would repeal free postage for the blind as well as repeal the reduced postal rates for library materials.
After some media attention and a letter with more than 200 signatories delivered to his office, Minister Lightbound, who oversees Canada Post, issued a statement assuring us that neither the federal government nor Canada Post intends to cut the free literature for the blind program or remove the reduced postal rates for library materials. However, the statement also continued to support the amendments which repeal these very clauses that guarantee regulatory protection. By removing these regulations from the legislation, these critical services will no longer have the legal protection they deserve and may be at risk in the future based on decisions made by Canada Post or a different government.
We are in discussions with federal government officials to advocate for the keeping in place of these two provisions providing regulatory protection to ensure equitable access to reading across Canada. You can read more on our blog and find resources, including a template letter to assist you if you want to contact your Member of Parliament or Minister Lightbound.
We also have a template letter of support specifically for libraries that includes both issues of the free postage for the blind and reduced postage rates for library materials.
We want to thank everyone who has reached out and supported the community’s advocacy efforts on this issue so far.
January is World Braille Month
Louis Braille famously said, “Braille is knowledge, and knowledge is power”. Each January on his birthday, we celebrate the gift Louis Braille gave the world. This January, we are inviting everyone (including library staff) to a webinar about braille features on iOS and Android Devices.
Webinar for Braille Readers
Software updates for Android and iOS devices have come a long way over the years, especially for braille readers. Whether you want to learn to type more quickly, or practice your braille writing skills, this workshop is for you! Our presenters will go in-depth into the braille features available on both iOS and Android mobile devices, including braille screen input.
Time: Jan 22, 2026 10:00 AM PST
Register: Meeting Registration - Zoom
This program will be recorded and made available following the presentation.
And visit the World Braille Month page for information about Braille Boost activities and more.
Reading in the news: The Hawking Principle
Are you familiar with the Hawking principle? We weren’t really either but it is an interesting idea. According to a recent story in Boing Boing “In 2014, mathematician Jordan Ellenberg invented a way to quantify something publishers and authors had long suspected: most people don't finish the books they buy. He called it the Hawking Index, named after Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time," famously dubbed 'the most unread book of all time.'"
Do you have a process for deciding when to abandon a book that hasn’t captivated your attention? Read more of the article.
And if you’d like to improve the odds of finishing A Brief History of Time, we recommend A Briefer History of Time: The Science Classic Made More Accessible. It’s a four and a half hour audiobook. Good luck!
Books to promote at your library
Are you looking to promote some new accessible titles in your newsletters, social media feeds, or as part of an in-branch display?
Download the list of promotable titles (and the extra one for December) and share it with your communications team.
Find the new list, updated monthly and featuring links to new books in our collection, on our For Libraries page.
Come visit us at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference!
We are looking forward to meeting up with colleagues at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference at the end of January.
If you are planning to be at the conference, please stop by our booth (number 100) and say hello! We’d love to show you what’s new at CELA.
CELA staff and colleagues will also be making a number of presentations at this year’s conference.
Ebooks, And Audio, And Hi-Los, Oh My! Supporting Struggling Readers Using Accessible Formats
o Presenters: Denise Scott (CELA) and Cora Payne (CELA)
o January 29, 10:45 am-12:00 pm
Book Tasting with the OLA Best Bets
o Presenters: Theresa Power (CELA), Chanel Craigie (Orillia Public Library), Linda Ludke (London Public Library) and Margarita Cifuentes (Vaughan Public Libraries)
o January 29, 2:15 pm-3:30 pm
Reading with Assistive and Accessible Technologies: Demonstrations and Interactive Exploration
o Presenters: Lindsay Tyler (CELA), Daniella Levy-Pinto (NNELS) and Winona McMorrow (Toronto Public Library)
o January 29, 2:15 pm-3:30 pm
What’s Next? How Libraries Can Support Their Patrons to Access CELA’s Audiobooks
o Presenters: Rachel Breau (CELA), Jessica Desormeaux (CELA), Brooke Gardhouse (Innisfil Public Library) and Lucy Rodrigues (Innisfil Public Library)
o January 30, 10:45 am-12:00 pm
Decolonize Reading: Promote Accessibility
o Presenters: Cora Payne (CELA), Andrea Blake (CELA) and Danielle Big Canoe Snake (Chippewas of Rama First Nation)
o January 30, 10:45 am-12:00 pm
Reading for Truth and Reconciliation
This month’s pick is Winter's Gifts (An Indigenous Celebration of Nature)
Kaitlin B. Curtice, an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi Nation, is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller and public speaker. Illustrated by Gloria Félix.
A vibrantly illustrated children’s book about an Indigenous girl who finds awe in the resting and waiting that winter teaches us and shares with her friends how Creator’s gift of gratitude can transform the way we see the world.
Your thankfulness is your gift to Earth. Winter’s Gifts is the tale of a young Potawatomi girl named Dani whose family celebrates the darkest season of the year by treasuring the slowness that winter brings. Dani’s schoolmates think it’s silly to think that Earth gives us presents, but on a magical snowy day, her family and Creator give Dani the courage to teach her friends about the gifts of winter—resting, remembrance, and gratitude. Can Dani help them receive winter’s gifts? Winter’s Gifts is a joyful and tender family story of honoring creation, the power of storytelling, and how a new perspective can transform us.
Reporting problems with books
We work hard to keep our collection in good shape, but once in a while there is a problem with a book, such as an error in the audio recording. You can let us know about these kinds of problem by using the “Damaged Book Report” form.
We’ve made some improvements to the way you access this form so it’s easier to fill out. Information about the book is now automatically completed for you. This change is designed to make reporting issues quicker and more convenient.
You’ll also find detailed instructions and helpful tips on resolving common problems before submitting a report.
To learn more and access the form, visit our Damaged Book Report information page.
World Braille Month resources available!
The World Braille Month team is putting together resources to help libraries plan for and promote events and activities related to Louis Braille and the impact his code has made for people who are blind or have low vision.
Engage your library users in learning about Louis Braille and the code he invented which changed the world for people who are blind or have low vision, by supporting independence in literacy.
The World Braille Month organizing team has put together programming ideas, book recommendations and storytime kits, a variety of resources, and information on available materials and manipulatives to bring braille to life for everyone.
Library Programming for World Braille Days: Resources for Libraries.
Our colleagues at NNELS are hosting the World Braille Month events page.
Webinars
Are there topics related to accessibility that you would like to see included in our webinars? We regularly update our content and always appreciate hearing ideas from library staff. Send your suggestions to members@celalibrary.ca.
Getting Started with Accessible Reading Canada: Listen to CELA Audiobooks with Alexa
Join us for a live webinar introducing Accessible Reading Canada, a new way for CELA patrons to enjoy CELA audiobooks using Alexa-enabled smart speakers. This 60-minute session will walk you through how to use voice commands to search, browse, and listen to audiobooks from your CELA Direct to Player Bookshelf using the Accessible Reading Canada Alexa skill.
This webinar will cover:
- What Alexa-enabled smart speakers are and how they work
- How to set up and use the Accessible Reading Canada skill
- How to use voice commands for browsing and reading
- Where to find help guides and additional support
After the presentation, there will be a Q&A session to ask additional questions. This session will be recorded.
To register for the online Zoom webinar, select the link below and fill in the registration form. To attend by phone, please call the Contact Centre at 1-855-655-2273.
Educator Access Program webinar
This webinar will introduce library staff and educators to the CELA Educator Access program. This program is offered through public libraries and gives teachers and other educators access to CELA’s collection to support their students with print disabilities at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels.
Audience: Public library staff and educators. Educators can include teachers, teacher librarians, educational assistants, and special education teachers – anyone who supports students with print disabilities in a formal educational setting.
Learning goals:
- How to register with the Educator Access program
- What alternate formats and reading technologies are available for students at all levels in the CELA collection
- What is Bookshare and how can educators get access
- How to find, access and read our books, magazines and newspapers in audio, e-text and braille
Length: 60 minutes
Envoy Connect: An accessible and affordable audiobook player
This webinar will provide a basic introduction to the Envoy Connect player, a portable, affordable and easy-to-use device to listen to CELA's audiobooks. This webinar is for both library staff and CELA patrons who want to learn more about this device.
This webinar will cover:
- Basics of the Envoy Connect Player: what it is, how it works, etc.
- How to manage books on the Envoy Connect with the CELA Connect software.
- Where to find learning resources or purchase the player.
To register for the online Zoom webinar please select the link below and fill in the registration form. To attend by phone, please call the Contact Centre at 1-855-655-2273.
Summer reading for everyone! Make your library’s club accessible for kids with disabilities
Would you like to make your summer reading club accessible for kids with print and other disabilities, but aren’t sure where to start? This webinar will teach you practical accessibility tips for your programming, outreach and reading activities. By learning to take an inclusive approach, you will be inviting more patrons to participate in your summer fun. This webinar will be recorded.
Learning objectives:
How to make your club inclusive from planning, delivery and evaluation
Why libraries should include accessible formats in reading activities
Craft and activity ideas that are accessible
Accessibility considerations for clubs: tracking reading, giveaways and more!
Length: 60 minutes
Featured title for adults: 100 rules for living to 100: An optimist's guide to a happy life
On the eve of his 100th birthday, national treasure Dick Van Dyke brings us this autobiographical collection of stories, reflections, and life advice on how he's maintained a zest for life. Dick Van Dyke danced his way into our hearts with iconic roles in Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Now, as he's about to turn 100 years old, Dick is still dancing and approaching life with the twinkle in his eye that we've come to know and love. In 100 Rules for Living to 100, he reveals his secrets for maintaining your 'joie de vivre' and making the most out of the life you've been given. Through stories of his pivotal childhood, moments on film sets, his expansive family, and finding love late in life, Dick reflects on both the joyful times and the challenges that shaped him. His indefatigable spirit and positive attitude will surely inspire readers to count the blessings in their own lives, persevere through the hard times, and appreciate the beauty and complexity of being human.
Read 100 rules for living to 100: An optimist's guide to a happy life by Dick Van Dyke.
Top five this month
Most popular with our readers last month:
- The Black Wolf (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #20) by Louise Penny, Canadian authors (Fiction)
- Pick a Colour: a novel by Souvankham Thammavongsa, Multi-cultural fiction
- Smoke and whispers (Oxford Investigations #4) by Mick Herron, Mystery and crime stories
- Unseen: How I lost my vision but found my voice by Molly Burke, Women biography
- The widow: a novel by John Grisham, Suspense and thrillers
Featured title for kids: Green
A heartwarming winter story, exploring big emotions – from the award-winning author of The Night Box. Ed is at his happiest when winter comes and Green turns to White. White means snow and playing on his fast, sleek, shiny sled. But one day, some other sleds whizz by – faster, sleeker, shinier – making Ed's sled seem old and dull and slow. There is only one thing to do...
Ed must build a new sled, so spectacular, it will stop everyone in their tracks. But while he is busy working, competing to be the best, things around Ed are changing. White is disappearing and Green is returning.
Read Green by Louise Greig in our collection.
Top five for kids
Most popular with kids last month:
- A super sticky mistake: the story of how harry coover accidentally invented super glue! by Alison Donald, Historical fiction
- Owen Foote, super spy by Stephanie Greene, Martha Weston, Friendship stories
- Mischief, Mad Mary, and Me by Dawn Knight, Animal stories
- Hurricane! by Celia Godkin, Adventure and exploration
- From Anna by Jean Little, Canadian fiction
Top five for teens
Most popular with teens last month:
- Song of freedom, song of dreams: a novel in verse by Shari Green, Award winning fiction
- 1984: a novel by George Orwell, Serious and literary fiction
- Super stock rookie (Motor Novels) by Will Weaver, Sports fiction
- Fake skating by Lynn Painter, Contemporary romance
- Boy robot by Simon Curtis, Science fiction
Service tip
You can find important statistics about your library’s CELA users. Log in to the CELA website and select Statistics under Library Services. There you can find statistics about the number of patrons registered for CELA from your library and circulation statistics for different formats.
Just a friendly reminder to libraries to run your end-of-year statistics as close as possible to the period for which you will need them. For example, if you need January 1 – December 31, 2025 data, please run your reports as early as possible in January. If you encounter any issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
Holiday hours
Happy Holidays!
Member services will be closed December 25th, 26th and January 1st and open during our usual hours for the other days.
Contact Centre hours for our patrons are listed below. Please note these are all in Eastern Standard time (EST).
Monday December 22 – 8am-7:30pm
Tuesday December 23 – 8am-7:30pm
Wednesday December 24 – 8am-4pm
Thursday December 25 – CLOSED
Friday December 26 – CLOSED
Monday December 29 – 9am-5pm
Tuesday December 30 – 9am-5pm
Wednesday December 31 – 9am-5pm
The Contact Centre will be closed on January 1.
Stay connected!
Visit CELA's social media, including X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, YouTube and our blog, for more news about what's happening in the world of accessible literature.