Join Ashley and Melissa Riccobono as they discuss the importance of the Library's Friend's group and how you can get involved!

On Saturday, July 11 th at 10 AM, the Technology User Group (TUG) explored two of the most powerful reading tools available to the visually impaired community: the Kindle app for iOS and the Kindle skill for Alexa. If instant access to millions of books and magazines sounds appealing, this is a must-attend session. We’ll explore the real story behind Kindle accessibility:

• How well does the iOS app actually work with VoiceOver
• when you’re reading, browsing, or navigating long texts?
• Is the Alexa Kindle skill strong enough to become part of
• your daily reading routine?
• What challenges do users commonly face — and how can
• you work around them?
• And yes, we’re even tackling the big question: Is Kindle
• Unlimited worth the subscription price, or is it just another
• hyped service that doesn’t deliver?

If you’ve ever wished for more reading options, more flexibility, or more control over how you access books, this session is designed for you. Bring your curiosity, your questions, and maybe even your own Kindle frustrations. We’re unpacking it all.

On Saturday, June 13th at 10 AM, the Technology User Group (TUG) traded hardware diagnostics and system updates for something far more riveting: games! That’s right, we’re diving into the wildly popular, highly rated world of accessible gaming, where fun and accessibility coexist. These games are not just playable, they are addictive, clever, and designed so everyone can join the adventure.

Whether you are a casual player, a puzzle fanatic, or someone

who just wants to see what all the fuss is about, this session

promises laughs, surprises, and a few “Wait, I didn’t know my

iDevice could do that!” moments. Come ready to play, explore,

and enjoy because this TUG meeting is all about fun!

The LBPD Newsletter for July/August 2026.

On Saturday, June 13th at 10 AM, the Technology User Group (TUG) traded hardware diagnostics and system updates for something far more riveting: games! That’s right, we’re diving into the wildly popular, highly rated world of accessible gaming, where fun and accessibility coexist. These games are not just playable, they are addictive, clever, and designed so everyone can join the adventure.

Whether you are a casual player, a puzzle fanatic, or someone who just wants to see what all the fuss is about, this session promises laughs, surprises, and a few “Wait, I didn’t know my iDevice could do that!” moments.

Michael W. Twitty is an acclaimed culinary historian, independent scholar, and living history interpreter specializing in African American foodways and the culinary traditions of Africa and its Diaspora. He is known for reconstructing historic Southern cuisine as prepared by enslaved African American cooks using period ingredients, cooking methods, and food traditions. Twitty founded Afroculinaria, one of the first major platforms dedicated to preserving historic Black food culture, and has worked with institutions including the Smithsonian, Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello, and Oxford University. His award-winning book, The Cooking Gene, earned two James Beard Awards, and he was named a TED Fellow in 2016. He joins us to discuss the importance of Soul Food in Maryland.

Books in the NLS collection:

• The Cooking Gene (DB 88916)
• Koshersoul (DB 110343, DB 110375, BR 024554)

Natural History Society of Maryland Education Director Bronwyn Mitchell-Strong joined the MSLA Guest Hour to discuss the Society's partnership with Maryland libraries and its efforts to educate the public during 2026 Summer Reading and Learning Programs - and beyond.

Think you have mastered your Victor Reader Stream 3? Not so

fast! May's Technology User Group (TUG) meeting is

pulling back the curtain on the advanced, hidden, and seriously

powerful features that most users never tap into. This isn’t just

another demo. It’s a hands-on, guided exploration of the Stream 3

as a reading, learning, and productivity machine. Whether you

have been using the Stream for years or you’re just a novice

Stream user, you will walk away with new tricks and a whole new

appreciation for what this handheld device can really do. We will

cover:

• Organizing your life with categories for recorded notes
• Pairing your Stream with TuneIn for effortless radio and
• podcast listening
• Unlocking new reading formats, like BRF and EPUB
• Using Audible directly on your device
• Exploring powerful settings that make everyday use faster
• and more intuitive

What's happening at LBPD in May and June in 2026? Find out here.

The Technology User Group (TUG) rolled out the virtual red carpet for Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, the unmistakable voices behind Double Tap, a podcast for blind and partially sighted people to talk and learn about technology. The two presenters brought a rare mix of sharp insight, quick humor, and lived experience that turned accessibility from a technical topic into something lively, relatable, and genuinely fun.