In this issue
- Letter from CELA’s Executive Director
- Canada Reads shortlist announced
- CELA’s strategic planning project
- Freedom to read
- Reading in the news: Heated Rivalry is everywhere!
- EasyReader and DAISY audio
- Save the date: Accessible Reading Symposium
- Reading for Truth and Reconciliation
- Reporting problems with books
- Webinars for you
- Featured title for adults: Ain’t nobody’s fool: The life and times of Dolly Parton
- Top five books
- Featured title for kids: You are a diamond: A book for the littlest Dolly Parton fans
- Top five for kids
- Top five for teens
- Service tip for braille learners
- Stay connected!
Letter from CELA’s Executive Director
Happy belated New Year.
January is always such a busy month. We celebrate World Braille Days throughout the month in recognition of the impact made by Louis Braille who was born on January 4th. Canadians also celebrate Family Literacy Day, which is a chance to take 15 minutes to read to the young people in our lives, explore some great kids lit, or sneak in some extra reading time for ourselves.
January is also the time for the Ontario Library Association conference in Toronto, the largest library conference in Canada and an opportunity to meet colleagues, learn from and support one another. In addition to presenting on a number of topics, our team is looking forward to promoting CELA to library folks and expanding support for people with print disabilities.
In addition to all of our usual activities, this January CELA is also kicking off our strategic planning process. Consultation with our users, libraries and others may include surveys, focus groups and interviews. Please stay tuned in the coming weeks for links to surveys conducted by Nordicity, the consultants who are assisting us in this process. We would love to hear from you about our work and our future direction.
The winter weather across the country gives us all an extra excuse to spend a little extra time reading. We’ve got the Canada Reads long list in accessible formats, newspapers and magazines to keep you informed, and all those great pre-holiday releases just waiting to be explored.
Happy Reading!
Laurie Davidson, Executive Director
Canada Reads shortlist announced
Congratulations to the authors and the debaters for this year’s Canada Reads.
Every year we are delighted to work with the CBC to make sure that our users have access to the Canada Reads titles when they are announced.
Accessible formats mean that folks with print disabilities can participate in conversations at their library, book club, and anywhere else books are discussed.
Find all the books on the shortlist and the ones on the longlist in accessible formats.
Congratulations to:
- Filmmaker and actor Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers champions A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt
- Hockey YouTube personality and podcaster Steve “Dangle” Glynn champions Searching for Terry Punchout by Tyler Hellard
- Musician and writer Tegan Quin champions The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor
- Broadway actor and kids TV host Josh Dela Cruz champions Foe by Iain Reid
- BookTok star Morgann Book champions It's Different This Time by Joss Richard
The debates will take place April 13-16. You can learn more on the CBC Canada Reads website!
CELA’s strategic planning project
CELA’s staff and Board are working on a new strategic plan which will guide our work for the next five years. Part of this planning will include consulting with our users, our member libraries and our colleagues who support people with print disabilities and accessible reading.
We have engaged an organization called Nordicity to help us in this process. We will be gathering information through surveys, focus groups and interviews, beginning in February with a survey.
Information about the survey and other ways we may reach out can be found on our Strategic Planning page on our website where we will post a link to the upcoming survey once it is available. Please also watch your email for more information and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
As our thanks for participating in our upcoming survey, we are offering a chance to enter a draw to win one of five new Envoy Connects. Please see the Strategic Planning page for more information.
Freedom to read
Reading is a pleasure, but it is also the way we educate ourselves, share ideas and spark important conversations. And so it is essential that we have access to a broad range of materials from different perspectives. Every year there are books which are challenged as being inappropriate for libraries and classrooms, both here in Canada and around the world.
Each February, Canadians celebrate our freedom to read and the choices we have. Join us by reading challenged books and by boosting the importance of reading on your social media on the Digital Day of Action on Monday, February 23.
Reading in the news: Heated Rivalry is everywhere!
Heated Rivalry, the book series by Canadian author Rachel Reid, is having a moment, as they say. The novels featuring the very steamy relationship between two gay professional hockey players have been adapted for television and the first season just finished airing in Canada and the US. Like all great trends, it is sparking important conversations, along with trivia nights, fashion, fan pilgrimages and more.
The two stars of Heated Rivalry, Hudson Williams and Connor Storie, have been named as Olympic torchbearers for the Milano-Cortina Winter Games. Famous fans include everyone from Gary Bettman and hockey player Sarah Nurse, to most of the attendees of the Golden Globes. The media attention is overwhelming. Even Cottage Life magazine ran a story featuring the cottage in the show.
If you aren't sure what all the fuss is about, we have the entire series ready for you in accessible formats.
And you can check out these recent news stories at CBC Books and in the Guardian. Or read what the author Rachel Reid thinks about her book becoming a phenomenon.
EasyReader and DAISY audio
Recently we have had an increase in reported issues with the EasyReader bookshelf displaying books as DAISY text when users have requested an audiobook. Thanks to the users who have reported it, we are working with colleagues at Dolphin to fix this bug. The good news is that the problem appears to be a labelling issue. The audio book is mislabelled as DAISY text on your EasyReader bookshelf, and when you try to play it, you’ll find it is an audiobook.
We hope this issue is resolved soon and we thank you for your patience.
Save the date: Accessible Reading Symposium
The Accessible Reading Symposium is a virtual, two-day, bilingual event designed to help library staff and readers with print disabilities learn about accessible reading in Canada.
The symposium brings together readers, authors, libraries, content providers, publishers, and technology developers/providers to share practical demonstrations, introductory knowledge, and different viewpoints on accessible reading.
The Symposium’s goals are to:
- Help everyone better understand accessible reading and formats.
- Share the experiences of readers with print disabilities.
- Strengthen knowledge among libraries, content providers, publishers, technology providers, and readers.
- Provide library staff and readers with print disabilities the opportunity to explore available tools, formats, and services.
The symposium will take place March 11 - 12 and is free to attend. Learn more on our website.
Reading for Truth and Reconciliation
This month’s pick is Legendary frybread drive-in: Intertribal stories by Cynthia Leitich Smith.
Featuring the voices of both new and acclaimed Indigenous writers and edited by bestselling Muscogee author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of interconnected stories serves up laughter, love, Native pride, and the world’s best frybread.
The road to Sandy June’s Legendary Frybread Drive-In slips through every rez and alongside every urban Native hangout. The menu offers a rotating feast, including traditional eats and tasty snacks. But Sandy June’s serves up more than food: it hosts live music, movie nights, unexpected family reunions, love long lost, and love found again. That big green-and-gold neon sign beckons to teens of every tribal Nation, often when they need it most.
Featuring stories and poems by: Kaua M a hoe Adams, Marcella Bell, Angeline Boulley, K. A. Cobell, A. J. Eversole, Jen Ferguson, Eric Gansworth, Byron Graves, Kate Hart, Christine Hartman Derr, Karina Iceberg, Cheryl Isaacs, Darcie Little Badger, David A. Robertson, Andrea L. Rogers, Cynthia Leitich Smith, and Brian Young. In partnership with We Need Diverse Books.
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 problems 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.
Webinars for you
We host a series of webinars on Zoom to help users access CELA services, to stay up to date on new technologies and to learn more about accessible reading. Most of our webinars are recorded.
On the Webinars for you page, you will find upcoming webinars. On that same page you will find links to other CELA video resources available on our YouTube channel.
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 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.
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.
Ask Us! Come chat with CELA staff and have your questions answered
This hour long interactive conversation gives CELA users an opportunity to ask questions related to using CELA’s library services. We encourage you to bring your questions and learn from CELA staff, as well as to share experiences with other CELA patrons in the audience. This Q&A aims to support how you access the books, magazines and newspapers in CELA’s multiple format collections for people with print disabilities.
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.
Featured title for adults: Ain’t nobody’s fool: The life and times of Dolly Parton
A larger-than-life new biography of country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton. In Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton, Martha Ackmann chronicles the life of an American Original. From her impoverished childhood in the Smoky Mountains to international stardom as a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Dolly Parton has exceeded everyone’s expectations except her own.
During a time when the Beatles set the standard for contemporary music, Dolly appeared on a local country music television show that her high school classmates thought was pure cornpone. The day after her high school graduation, she boarded a bus for Nashville, but record executives turned her down. One said her voice sounded like a screech owl. When Dolly finally got her foot in the door, her talent and focus catapulted her to the top of country charts, the pop world, and movie stardom. Yet her success came at a price. Shunned by many in Nashville who saw her ambition as a betrayal of her country music roots, Dolly became the target of death threats, lawsuits, and a judge who threatened to throw her in jail. She nearly collapsed on-stage and later succumbed to depression that pushed her to the brink, but she refused to be counted out and came back stronger than ever developing Dollywood, the amusement park that became the economic engine of East Tennessee, and founding the Imagination Library that provides free books to children around the world. Her philanthropy to health organizations led to creation of the Moderna COVID vaccine. And, finally, she returned to her roots, recording bluegrass albums that became the most celebrated of her unparalleled 60-year career. Ain’t Nobody’s Fool is a deep dive into the social, historical, and personal forces that made Dolly Parton one of the most beloved and unifying figures in public life and includes interviews with friends, family members, schoolmates, Nashville neighbors, members of her band, studio musicians, producers, and many others. It also sheds light on her family’s hardscrabble life. More than anything, Martha Ackmann’s fresh and animated new audiobook proves Dolly Parton knows just who she is and she ain’t nobody’s fool.
Read Ain't nobody's fool: The life and times of Dolly Parton by Martha Ackmann in our collection.
Top five books
Most popular with our readers last month:
- Smoke and whispers (Oxford Investigations #4) by Mick Herron, Mystery and crime stories
- The housemaid by Freida McFadden, Suspense and thrillers
- Unseen: How I lost my vision but found my voice by Molly Burke, Women biography
- The proving ground (Lincoln Lawyer #8) by Michael Connely, Police procedural fiction
- 100 rules for living to 100: An optimist's guide to a happy life by Dick Van Dyke, Biography
Featured title for kids: You are a diamond: A book for the littlest Dolly Parton fans
Introduce the little ones in your life to the inspiring story and unstoppable spirit of Dolly Parton with this powerful anthem, You Are a Diamond. You are fabulous, baby! A true diamond in a rhinestone world. Through engaging narration and vibrant narration, this audiobook beautifully illuminates Dolly's remarkable journey, transforming challenges into triumphs and dreams into reality.
Readers will embrace their inner sparkle, read about discovering the unique brilliance within themselves, develop resilience and grit, learn to overcome obstacles with strength and determination, chase their dreams fearlessly, be inspired to pursue their passions with unwavering courage. You Are a Diamond is more than just an audiobook—it's a timeless tribute to a true icon and a source of inspiration for Dolly Parton fans of all ages. Share the gift of empowerment and introduce a new generation to the magic of Dolly!
Read You are a diamond: A book for the littlest Dolly Parton fans by Odd Dot in our collection.
Top five for kids
Most popular with kids last month:
- The aztec adventure (Timekeepers) by SJ King, Adventure stories
- The cat mummy by Jacqueline Wilson, Serious and literary fiction
- Mischief, Mad Mary, and Me by Dawn Knight, Animal stories
- Captain Underpants and the big, bad battle of the Bionic Booger Boy: night of the nasty nostril nuggets : the sixth epic novel / part 1 (Captain Underpants #6) by Dav Pilkey, Humourous fiction
- Harry Potter and the goblet of fire (Harry Potter. #4.) by J. K. Rowling, Fantasy
Top five for teens
Most popular with teens last month:
- The headmasters by Mark Steven Morton, Science fiction
- The hunger games (#1) by Suzanne Collins, Adventure stories
- Super human (Super Human #1) by Michael Carroll, Michael Owen Carroll, Fantasy
- Boy robot by Simon Curtis, General fiction
- Fake skating by Lynn Painter, Contemporary romance
Service tip for braille learners
We’ve recently put together a new resource for adults who are interested in learning to read braille or who want to improve their skills. Find learning materials, resources and books to help practice braille.
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.