PICAYUNE — Christmas came early this year for low-vision adults and children in the Pearl River County Library System. The library system was awarded a 2009 L.S.T.A. (Library Services & Technology Act) Grant for General Library Services Development. This government grant, administered by the Mississippi Library Commission has enabled the library system to purchase two Topaz Desktop Video Magnifiers, one each for the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library in Picayune and the Poplarville Public Library.
“The grant, entitled ‘I Can Read Too: An Aid to Reading Project for Low –Vision Adults and Children’, focuses on a group in our population that we feel is not being adequately served by the library system,” said Linda Tufaro, library system director and grant author. She continued, “There are many adults, all of us probably know of someone, who cannot see well enough to read regular print materials, even with prescription lens. There are many children with poor vision who have a very hard time learning to read and older people who have had to give up the pleasure of reading books, magazines, and newspapers. Television and radio, though wonderful for keeping us entertained and informed, are poor substitutes for the true book lover.”
The Topaz machine from Freedom Scientific is a wonderful device for giving back a measure of independence and freedom to such adults. And for children with low vision capability it can provide the means for them to finally be able to learn to read. The Topaz machine has 16 levels of magnification and 28 color combinations to help diminish as much glare as possible. The machines have been placed in the magazine and newspaper browsing area of each library to facilitate their usage. Patrons can also bring their own reading matter (correspondence, mail, prescriptions, etc.) to the library to read on the machines. A stationary lock can even enable the user to write his/her own letters, sign checks, write and address Christmas Cards, and do many other little tasks that one might otherwise have to ask someone else to do for them.
Innovations such as these make life a little easier and a lot more enjoyable for many people in our community. Come by to experience the Topaz freedom for yourself. Call 601-798-5081 or 601-795-8411 for more information or to set up an appointment to see a demonstration of the Topaz machine and its capabilities. Pass the word around to your friends and neighbors about this new technology available at your local library, the place where all the community comes together. There’s something for everyone @ your library!
Features
Early Christmas for Crosby Library
- Features
-
-
These walls are talking and they have stories to tell
Thirteen captivating days of historic home tours via an authentic double-decker bus, candlelight reenactments at Friendship Cemetery, dining, boutique shopping and walking tours in Columbus, Miss.
-
PRCC dental hygiene students brighten kids’ smiles
Approximately 60 children left Pearl River Community College’s dental hygiene clinic with bright smiles Friday, Feb. 3, after participating in the annual Give Kids A Smile event.
-
Planning ahead makes a difference in landscape
Even though it’s cold outside, now is a good time to stroll through your yard with pencil and paper in hand, noting what worked and what didn’t in your landscape last year. Viewing it during the bare-bones winter season will help you see where changes should be made.
-
“Words With Friends” kidnaps innocent brain cells
“All our words are but crumbs that
fall down from the feast of the mind.”
— Khalil Gibran -
Mr. Know it all: ‘A River Runs Through it’ Montana
Q: I was watching a DVD of the movie “A River Runs Through It.” Where was the movie filmed? — V.A.D., Carson, Calif.
-
Tweet, tweet: Can you hear the mockingbirds singing?
One of the best free shows I’ve witnessed lately was a boisterous mockingbird who also had mastered a pretty showy dance routine, jumping up and down in the top of a sweetgum tree.
-
History brought to life: Local woman portrays African-American abolitionist Harriet Tubman
Gwen Williams, a.k.a Miss Chocolate, is portraying famous ‘conductor’ for the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, for local children in recognition of Black History Month.
She says, “In high school we always did Negro Spirituals, but never really appreciated what they were about or how significant they were in the Underground Railroad. -
Pawdi Gras coming to Picayune February 25
The Senior Center is hosting its first Mardi Gras parade for pets and calling it Pawdi Gras 2012. The event will be held on Goodyear Blvd from 10 a.m. (registration at Jack Read Park) to 1 p.m. (ending at Jack Read Park) and awards will be given for both the court and regular parade crew. Registration is $25 for regular crew and $50 for court. All registrants will receive an official t-shirt and proceeds will benefit the Senior Center, SPCA and local animal rescue.
-
Mary Ellen Bright
Mary Ellen Bright is this week’s Picayune Item Super Senior because of her high-energy, task oriented, community service which has spanned decades.
She and her husband, Dan, have two children, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and have been married for 52 years. -
Tis the season to obliterate the candidate
Dr. Stanley Watson/Syndicated columnist
We still have several long months to go before the presidential election and we wonder how the slandering on both sides can get any worse. Apparently our election system requires opponents to destroy one another. By the time the election is over the citizens will have been ill informed and distrustful of the nations leadership no matter who wins. Winston Churchill was right when he said our system of government was the worst except for all the other systems. Even after the election is over we will still not know if the winner is the fittest or the unfittest survivor. - More Features Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
