Bookshare YouTube Channel!

If you're looking for a quick, easy tutorial for creating an individual account or using Bookshare's new Web Reader, check out Bookshare's YouTube channel. Videos are two - three minutes long and show step by step instructions. Just re-watch them anytime for a refresher! The link will also be added to the Bookshare section of our Blog.

Read Bookshare Books Online with the New Web Reader!

For individual members, Bookshare's new Web Reader let's students read books quickly and easily within an Internet browser. Optimized for Google Chrome, the web reader has text to speech with word highlighting, font sizes up to 70 pt, and is available anywhere there's Internet. With Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari, there's a screen reader but no word highlighting feature. Simply open Google Chrome, log on to Bookshare, find the book and select "read now". Follow prompts to install the Chrome extension and the book will open! Other text to speech Chrome extensions should be disabled. For more information on Bookshare, see the Bookshare Information section on this Blog to download a step-by-step February 2013 PowerPoint Presentation.

Bookshare and Read:OutLoud video tutorials from CAST

More video tutorials for Bookshare and Read:OutLoud
* Overview
* View Options
* Download A Bookshare DAISY Book
* Open and Read a Book
* Navigate by Page
* Internet and Dictionary
* Create an Outline
* Add Notes
* Speech Menu
* Book Styles
* Student Central

Maximize your Bookshare membership

I've posted the recorded webinar in the Bookshare section of this blog. In this one hour session Kristina shows how to manage your membership, search for and request books and shows features of Read Outloud. I would recommend it to educators that have created a Bookshare membership but need help moving forward. A well spent hour!

Bookshare refresher info

This post title navigates to Bookshare's training page that lists free upcoming Webinars, online Learning Guides, pre-recorded Webinars and several Quick Guides. Webinars range from Bookshare membership basics to signing up additional sponsors, and ways to maximize your Bookshare account. There's a Quick Guide to Requesting a NIMAC Textbook through Bookshare so you can start preparing now for the fall!

Read Outloud for Macs Update (Bookshare)

Earlier today I posted that Read Outloud is available for Macs (Bookshare version). I called bookshare to verify and received this reply:

"we have released a beta version of this program for the pc, which can be downloaded from our "reading tools" page. We hope to have the Mac version from Don Johnston in the next month or so."

As many of you know, Read Outloud full version is available cross platform from Don Johnston. There is a reasonable rate for site licenses.

New Bookshare website

The title to this post links to the new Bookshare.org website Training page where you'll find dates for webinars and Quick Guides! The link is in the bookshare section as well.

In addition, Read Outloud is available now and works for MAC users! Here is an excerpt from the website page READING TOOLS.

Software for Macintosh® computers
READ:OutLoud Bookshare Edition by Don Johnston
This DAISY reader is designed specifically for people with learning disabilities. It is not recommended for use with screen readers. This software features high-quality text-to-speech for multi-modal reading, spotlighting, note-taking and other study skill features, an online dictionary, and more. For additional information, visit the Don Johnston website.

To download this software, you need to be logged in as a Bookshare Member.
READ:OutLoud User Manual
There is also a planned Macintosh version of Victor Reader Soft that will be available later in 2009. In the meantime, Mac users can read Bookshare books in their browser.

New Bookshare website

The new Bookshare website is coming soon. New features:
New reader software: an enhanced Victor Reader Soft and READ:OutLoud Bookshare edition by Don Johnston
Online management of your list of students and Sponsors
Easier access to books (no unpack tool needed)


Plan to spend a few extra minutes exploring the new features, or sign up for one of their webinars for the new Bookshare. Webinars will familiarize you with all of the new features. Dates will be on the new site.

Bookshare Q & A

The bookshare.org information has been moved from Links to Resources to its own section. The Question & Answer document is extensive and covers questions from the online webinar I attended on 11/19. Just about any question you've thought of is answered here!

Bookshare Presentation

The bookshare.org powerpoint and quick guides are under Links to Resources. There are also webinars you can attend on the bookshare.org site. Kristina Cohen, Education Program Manager with Benetech has asked that I distribute her contact information. It's also listed in the Links to Resources section.