Patrons now have access to richer, more detailed descriptions of new titles added to the NLS collection. NLS now uses publisher-provided book descriptions for most new titles. These longer descriptions give patrons more insight into book content, making it easier for patrons to identify titles of interest. These descriptions appear in the NLS Catalog, on BARD, and in NLS publications as ‘Provided by publisher’ and are taken verbatim from the publisher.
Talking Book Topics (TBT) lists a selection of titles recently added to the NLS collection and available through a network of cooperating libraries or the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service. It also carries news of developments in services to people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical, perceptual, or reading disability that prevents them from using regular print materials. NLS publishes TBT bimonthly in digital audio and HTML (current and back issues below), as well as PDF in large-print formats, which include order forms for mailing (current and back issues below), and as a digital talking book (DB).
Increasingly, NLS patrons are accessing TBT through downloadable audio files through their subscription to BARD. An abridged TBT section found in Braille Book Review comes in hard-copy braille with a hard-copy braille order form. Patrons can also contact their network library about subscribing through the NLS magazine-on-cartridge program or having the TBT talking book mailed on cartridge. Additionally, as a publication offered by NFB-NEWSLINE, TBT can be accessed via landline phones; please visit https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-newsline or call 866-504-7300 for more information on accessing TBT through NFB-NEWSLINE.
To search the tens of thousands of books available in the NLS collection, search the NLS Catalog.
Books listed in the HTML version of TBT link directly to BARD pages from which books can be saved to a computer for playing on a talking-book machine or can be saved to the BARD wish list for downloading on the BARD Mobile app. The free BARD Mobile app is available from the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon's Appstore for reading talking books on your personal smartphone or tablet. For more information about BARD service, contact your local cooperating library. To find your library online, go to www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/find-a-local-library/.
Current Issue
May-June 2023 HTML
May-June 2023 Printable PDF - Adult Order Form [4 pages]
May-June 2023 Printable PDF - Adult Books [93 pages]
May-June 2023 Printable PDF - Children's Order Form [2 pages]
May-June 2023 Printable PDF - Children's Books [4 pages]
May-June 2023 Printable PDF - Spanish Order Form [1 page]
May-June 2023 Printable PDF - Spanish Books [5 pages]
May-June 2023 PDF [126 pages]
May-June 2023 is available as an audio magazine on BARD
May-June 2023 is still in production as a talking book
Issues for 2023
March-April 2023 HTML
March-April 2023 Printable PDF - Adult Order Form [4 pages]
March-April 2023 Printable PDF - Adult Books [92 pages]
March-April 2023 Printable PDF - Children's Order Form [2 pages]
March-April 2023 Printable PDF - Children's Books [18 pages]
March-April 2023 Printable PDF - Spanish Order Form [1 page]
March-April 2023 Printable PDF - Spanish Books [6 pages]
March-April 2023 PDF [140 pages]
March-April 2023 is available as an audio magazine on BARD
March-April 2023 is also available as DB112939
January-February 2023 HTML
January-February 2023 Printable PDF - Adult Order Form [4 pages]
January-February 2023 Printable PDF - Adult Books [44 pages]
January-February 2023 Printable PDF - Children's Order Form [2 pages]
January-February 2023 Printable PDF - Children's Books [12 pages]
January-February 2023 Printable PDF - Spanish Order Form [1 page]
January-February 2023 Printable PDF - Spanish Books [4 pages]
January-February 2023 PDF [80 pages]
January-February 2023 is also available as an audio magazine on BARD
January-February 2023 is available as DB111975
Issues for 2022
November-December 2022 HTML
November-December 2022 Printable PDF - Adult Order Form [5 pages]
November-December 2022 Printable PDF - Adult Books [64 pages]
November-December 2022 Printable PDF - Children's Order Form [2 pages]
November-December 2022 Printable PDF - Children's Books [9 pages]
November-December 2022 Printable PDF - Spanish Order Form [1 page]
November-December 2022 Printable PDF - Spanish Books [3 pages]
November-December 2022 PDF [104 pages]
November-December 2022 is also available as an audio magazine on BARD
November-December 2022 is available as DB111227
September-October 2022 HTML
September-October 2022 Printable PDF - Adult Order Form
September-October 2022 Printable PDF - Children Order Form
September-October 2022 Printable PDF - Spanish Order Form
September-October 2022 PDF [98 pages]
September-October 2022 Adult Books PDF [58 pages]
September-October 2022 Childrens Books PDF [22 pages]
September-October 2022 Spanish Books PDF [3 pages]
September-October 2022 is also available as an audio magazine on BARD
September-October 2022 is also available as DB110465
July-August 2022 HTML
July-August 2022 Printable PDF - Adult Order Form
July-August 2022 Printable PDF - Children Order Form
July-August 2022 Printable PDF - Spanish Order Form
July-August 2022 PDF version [2.0 MB/122p.]
July-August 2022 is also available as an audio magazine on BARD
July-August 2022 is also available as DB109175
May-June 2022 HTML
May-June 2022 Printable PDF - Adult Order Form
May-June 2022 Printable PDF - Children Order Form
May-June 2022 Printable PDF - Spanish Order Form
May-June 2022 PDF version [1.7 MB/118 p.]
May-June 2022 is also available as DB107881
March-April 2022 HTML
March-April 2022 Printable PDF - Adult Order Form
March-April 2022 Printable PDF - Children Order Form
March-April 2022 Printable PDF - Spanish Order Form
March-April 2022 PDF version [584 KB/104 p.]
March-April 2022 is also available as DB107254
January-February 2022 HTML
January-February 2022 Printable PDF - Adult Order Form
January-February 2022 Printable PDF - Children Order Form
January-February 2022 Printable PDF - Spanish Order Form
January-February 2022 Accessible PDF version [114 KB/98 p.]
January-February 2022 is also available as DB106440
Issues for 2021
November-December 2021 HTML
November-December 2021 Accessible PDF version [112 KB/92 p.]
September-October 2021 HTML
September-October 2021 Accessible PDF version [109 KB/88 p.]
July-August 2021 HTML version
July-August 2021 Accessible PDF version [109 KB/88 p.]
May-June 2021 HTML version
May-June 2021 Accessible PDF version [122 KB/92 p.]
March-April 2021 HTML version
March-April 2021 Accessible PDF version [89 KB/80 p.]
January-February 2021 HTML version
January-February 2021 Accessible PDF version [29 KB/56 p.]
Issues for 2020
November-December 2020 HTML version
November-December, 2020 Accessible PDF version [39 KB/80 p.]
September-October 2020 HTML version
September-October 2020 Accessible PDF version [842 KB/76 p.]
July-August 2020 HTML version
July-August 2020 Accessible PDF version [978 KB/60 p.]
May-June 2020 HTML version
May-June 2020 Accessible PDF version [848 KB/84 p.]
March-April 2020 HTML version
March-April 2020 Accessible PDF version [640 KB/88 p.]
January-February 2020 HTML version
January-February 2020 Accessible PDF version [415 KB/84 p.]
Issues for 2019
November-December 2019 HTML version
September-October 2019 HTML version
September–October 2019 Accessible PDF version [ 476 KB/101 p.]
July–August 2019 HTML version
July–August 2019 Accessible PDF version [ 476 KB/101 p.]
May–June 2019 HTML version
May–June, 2019 Accessible PDF version [ 518 KB/108 p.]
March–April, 2019 HTML version
March–April, 2019 Accessible PDF version [ 650 KB/104 p.]
January–February 2019 HTML version
January–February 2019 Accessible PDF version [ 677 KB/109 p.]
Issues for 2018
November–December 2018 HTML version
November–December 2018 Accessible PDF version [555 KB/ 88 p.]
September–October 2018 HTML version
September–October 2018 Accessible PDF version [546 KB/ 87 p.]
July–August 2018 HTML version
July–August 2018 Accessible PDF version [544 KB / 88 p.]
May–June 2018 HTML version
May–June 2018 Accessible PDF version [507 KB / 85 p.]
March–April 2018 HTML version
March–April 2018 Accessible PDF version [430 KB / 88 p.]
January–February 2018 HTML version
January–February 2018 Accessible PDF version [674 KB / 151 p.]
Other Book Lists
Subject-specific bibliographies