Accessible World

The Accessible World News Wire, April 20, 2008 Indianapolis, Indiana USA

This week's guest on the Internet talk show Books and Beyond, hosted by Bonnie Blose, has achieved national and international recognition for outstanding leadership in a number of areas affecting the lives of thousands of blind and visually impaired individuals. Kim Charlson , herself totally blind, has consistently displayed outstanding leadership capabilities. In pursuing her own education, she became one of the few blind people in the United States to earn a master's degree in library and information science. Then, following 16 years as the Service Management Librarian and Assistant Director, she was appointed in 2001 to the position of director of the Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped network library in Watertown, Massachusetts, becoming the only library director on the East Coast who is blind.. Recapping her career provides just a mini view of a person willing to give of herself for others while at the same time advancing her personal career goals.

She has distinguished herself as a recognized national and international expert on library and information services for people with disabilities, Braille literacy, adaptive technology in libraries, and information access.

Kim serves on several committees for the Library of Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the American Library Association, and is a member of the State Advisory Council on Libraries of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. She is the immediate past President of the Keystone Library Automation Systems User's Group and she has served on the board of the Massachusetts Metrowest Regional Library System. She is also the past chair of the Braille Authority of North America, the standard-setting body for braille in the United States and Canada. She is chair of the Massachusetts Braille literacy Advisory Council, and is the past treasurer of the international Council on English Braille.

Kim is also active in a wide range of consumer advocacy arenas including arts access and audio description, adaptive technology, civil rights, guide dog access issues and special education. She also serves as an appointee of the Secretary of State on the Steering Committee working to implement the Help America Vote Act in Massachusetts.

In addition to her many other responsibilities, Kim has published "Establishing a Braille Literacy Program in Your Community: A Handbook for Libraries and Other Community Organizations. She has contributed to numerous other publications including a chapter on braille library services in the book, Braille: Into the Next Millennium, which was published by the Library of Congress. She is a contributing author to the book, Making Theatre Accessible: A Guide to Audio Description in the Performing Arts, published by Northeastern University Press; and she co-authored a chapter on audio description in the book "Video Collection Management and Development: Perspectives for Multiple Types of Libraries, 2nd edition, published by Greenwood Publishing Group.

Following the formal interview, the virtual audience will be encouraged to ask questions of this high profile, prestigious award winner, and super achiever.

Contact: Kim Charlson, Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library, Watertown, MA Telephone: (617) 972-7240
Email: kim.charlson@perkins.org Web: http://www.perkinslibrary.org

Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m. Eastern and elsewhere in the world Thursday 0:00 GMT.

Where: Books and Beyond Conference Room at:

http://www.accessibleworld.org.

or use the Direct Link:

http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsf44894b5dc56

All shows are recorded so if you are unable to participate live at the above times then you may download the show or podcast from the Books and Beyond Archives section at: www.accessibleworld.org. You may also hear the show on ACB Radio, Philmore Telephone Service at 773-572-3166, and several Radio Reading services throughout the United States.

All online interactive programs require no password, are free of charge, and open to anyone world wide having an Internet connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound card. Those with microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and others in the virtual audience.

If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download and then run. A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms.

Sign up information for all Accessible World News Wires and discussion lists are also available at: http://www.accessibleworld.org.

Media Contacts:

Bonnie Blose, Hostess
Books and Beyond
Phone: 740-945-6740
Email: bonnie@accessibleworld.org

Robert Acosta, Chair - Planning Committee
Phone: 818-998-0044
Email: boacosta@pacbell.net
http://www.helpinghands4theblind.com

Pat (Patricia) Price, Founder and Events Coordinator
The Accessible World Symposiums
Vision Worldwide, Inc.
Phone: 317-254-1185
Skype: patprice1
Email: pat@patprice.org
http://www.accessibleworld.org