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Kim Charlson: National and International Leader Guest on Books and Beyond
Wednesday, 4-23-08
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@xxxxxxxxxxx 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@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Robert Acosta, Chair - Planning Committee
Phone: 818-998-0044
Email: boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx
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@xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.accessibleworld.org
