Category: Uncategorised

An Introduction to Nemeth, Tuesday at 7:30 PM

The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation was developed in the US and used in many parts of the world until the introduction of Unified English Braille. Although it was never the official maths and science code in the UK, many people acquired a passing familiarity with it as it was used by default by many braille technology manufacturers in applications such as calculators on braille notetakers.

IN this session, we are joined by Jen Goulden, the Chair of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA), which maintains the Nemeth code. Jen will tell us about the origins of the code and its creator, Abraham Nemeth, explain how the code is maintained, and provide an overview of common Nemeth symbols.

Register for An Introduction to Nemeth

To join by phone, please use these details:

  • Phone number: 0131 460 1196
  • Meeting ID: 827 5569 1951
  • Passcode: 123456

Braille and Beer After Sight Village Central, Tuesday 7 July at 4:30 PM

Hosted by the Braillists Foundation and Bristol Braille Technology

Location: The Sacks of Potatoes, 10 Gosta Green, Birmingham B4 7ER (a short walk from the Sight Village venue at the Eastside Rooms)

This informal gathering is the perfect opportunity to unwind after the first day of Sight Village Central, meet fellow Braille users and enthusiasts, and talk all things Braille over your favourite drink.

We are especially pleased to have Holly Baker joining us – a university lecturer who will be giving an informal demonstration of how she uses new applications on the Canute Scientific in her academic work. Other suppliers and manufacturers are also welcome, so there should be plenty to talk about.

Sight Village closes at 3:30pm. You are welcome to gather at the Bristol Braille Technology stand at that time and walk over to the pub together as a group, or to make your own way there and join us at any point during the event. Food is available at the pub throughout the evening. The event runs until 7pm, and you are very welcome to stay on afterwards if you would like to continue the conversation.

To help with arrangements, please email [email protected] if you plan to attend. Walk-ins are warmly welcomed, and knowing numbers in advance is simply helpful for planning. If you have any questions on the day, or would like any assistance getting to the venue, please call Laurent on 07894 292647.

We look forward to seeing you at Braille and Beer!

Laurent Cadet de Fontenay and Stephanie Sergeant
Braillists Foundation and Bristol Braille Technology

That All May eRead: Typing Special Characters Using Your NLS eReader, Wednesday 1 July at midnight

The topic for the Tuesday, June 30, 2026, That All May eRead online program will be Typing Special Characters Using Your NLS eReader. In the remaining time after the presentation, we will answer any questions you have about the NLS Braille eReader.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. eastern time and will last for one hour. The meeting will be recorded. To access the meeting, go to https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1603971745?pwd=AAyByFXmbZ94WHMCroPt1Iw28Se5mU.1

Meeting ID: 160 397 1745

Passcode: 471174

If you choose to dial in to the call, use the telephone numbers provided below. The Zoom.gov ID will not work with standard Zoom.us.

+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)

+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)

+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)

+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)

+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)

+1 551 285 1373 US (New Jersey)

International numbers

Remember that the meeting is recorded. Do not speak if you do not wish to be on the recording.

You can find recordings and transcripts of previous That All May eRead programs on the NLS website at www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/that-all-may-eread.

2026 NLS Summer Reading Program Information, Tuesday 16 June to Tuesday 11 August 2026

The Braille Institute of America was selected by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled to host this year’s nine week literary and learning experience open to anyone, anywhere interested in participating.

The 2026 summer reading theme is “Unearth a Story” that emphasizes discovery with dinosaurs, nature and more. Programs are designed for kids — as well as adults — to encourage reading through fun activities.

Why is your participation in the Summer Reading Program (SRP) so important?

Books matter, plus there are going to be some audio narrated soundscapes of some awesome places!  We hope you will join this SRP.  Your support helps these organizations continue to provide great activities and programs.

Adult Programming & Activities

Inspired by Unearth a Story Summer Reading Theme, stories are everywhere, embedded in landscapes, preserved in archives, carried through families and reflected in individual lives.

To register go to:  https://www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/summer-reading/

Here are the SRP activities:

  • Tuesday, June 16, 4 p.m. eastern time: Author Event: Best-selling author Peter Heller discusses his novel, The Dog Stars (DB75493) and The Orchard (DB134029), with public radio journalist Maeve Conran.
  • Monday, June 22: Narrated Soundscape “walk-through” of Badlands National Park: Kathleen Slocum, Accessible Library Services Manager at South Dakota Accessible Library Services, released June 22.
  • Tuesday, June 30, 4 p.m. eastern time: National Parks as Living Archives: Stories from New Mexico: National Park Service staff and partners explore the science, history, and culture embedded in Aztec Ruins National Monument, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and Valles Caldera National Preserve.
  • Monday, July 6: Narrated Soundscape “walk-through” of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Matthew Brown, Managing Librarian at Hawaii State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, released on July 6.
  • Tuesday, July 14, 4 p.m. eastern time: Author Event: Blind authors Leona Godin, There Plant Eyes (BR23825, DB104014), and Georgina Kleege, More Than Meets the Eye (BR22550, DB93533), explore nonfiction as excavation in conversation with Mike Marlin, Director of the Braille & Talking Book Library in Sacramento.
  • Monday, July 20: Narrated Soundscape “walk-through” of Everglades National Park: Felicia Brown, Talking Book Librarian, and Jennifer Shipley, Library Operations Manager, Special Services at Miami-Dade Public Library System, released July 20.
  • Tuesday, July 28, 4 p.m. eastern time: “Excavating a Life: Megan Marshall” Author Event: Pulitzer Prize winning biographer Megan Marshall will be in conversation with author Heather Clark about her memoir After Lives (DBC11807).
  • Monday, August 3: Narrated Soundscape “walk-through” of Cape Cod National Seashore: Kim Charlson, Executive Director, and Andrea Everett, Children’s & Young Adult Services Librarian at Perkins Library, released August 3.
  • Tuesday, August 11, 4 p.m. eastern time: Digging Up the Past: A Historical Fiction Panel with authors Sadeqa Johnson, Elizabeth Wein, and Jess Shaara. Author-led exploration of the research, craft and creative rewards of historical fiction.

From the EBU Braille Working Group: Illustrated Braille Calendar 2027: Call for Participation and Contribution

The Braille Working Group of the European Blind Union (EBU) will publish a calendar for 2027 with images composed of braille signs.

A basic example of a braille image is a table: ⠹⠉⠉⠏

We invite European countries, there assotiations of blind people or single persons to take part and contribute with a braille image.

The calendar will consist of 12 pages for the 12 months of the year. Each page has an image and the days of the month.

The images will be chosen to represent a typical object from twelve different countries. This can be a famous building, a plant, a tool, something to eat etc.

The calendar will be published for free as a digital braille file to download and print with a braille embosser.

Please contribute to our calendar with such an image composed by braille cells.

Here are a few examples of braille images:

Important restriction: The maximum size of the images is 17 lines and 28 cells per line.

Please add a descriptive title in English which is not longer than 15 characters.

You can submit your artwork in different ways: as a digital file with Braille text, as a photo where the Braille dots are clearly visible, or traditionally on paper by mail.

Please indicate your interest to take PART BY 15 July 2026.

Please send in the braille image representing your country BY 1 September 2026.

Please contact to register and with any question Reiner Delgado – [email protected]

Narrator Now Supports HID Braille

As part of the Windows K2 initiative to revitalize Windows 11, there have been a number of braille improvements in Narrator. From the Windows Central article:

Braille displays now connect instantly with Narrator

  • We’re making refreshable braille displays easier to use in Windows. Narrator now supports displays that use the HID standard — an open industry standard for braille displays. If your display supports HID, simply connect it via USB and start reading — true plug-and-play with no additional setup required. For Bluetooth, pair your HID braille display in Settings > Bluetooth & devices just like any other accessory, and you can work wirelessly without being tethered to your PC.
  • Compatible HID displays include models like the Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40.

HID braille displays now work during the initial Windows setup experience (OOBE) over USB — meaning users who are deaf-blind can set up their PC independently, right from the first screen. You can customize braille input and output options anytime in Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.

Liblouis Release 3.38.0

This release is highlighted by a new Norwegian grade 3 contraction table, the result of Lars Bjørndal’s work implementing the revised Braille Authority rules. The Swedish tables have been thoroughly renewed and now also cover Sami and Elfdalian. Malayalam has been updated to comply with the new Bharati Braille 2026 rules. Several security vulnerabilities were fixed, and the documentation was improved.

Read the full announcement