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Magazines from the Talking Book Program

*All Digital Cartridges must be returned in order to receive next issue.

Click here to download issues of Texas Monthly, Texas Highways and Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Internal Links
Introduction
Braille Magazines for Adults
Digital Magazines for Adults
Braille Magazines for Young Readers
Digital Magazines for Young Readers
Digital Foreign Language Magazines
Paid Subscriptions
Talking Book Topics
Ordering

Related Links

Getting Started with the Talking Book Program
Loan Policy
Spotlight on Texas Books
National Library Service for the Blind & Print Disabled

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INTRODUCTION

Free Magazines from the Talking Book Program

As a patron of the Talking Book Program you are eligible to subscribe, free of charge, to magazines on digital cartridge, in large print, or in Braille. You can choose from over 50 national magazines, including Bon Appetit, Sports Illustrated, People, National Geographic, Guidepost, and Essence. Many magazines are also available via digital download from BARD. The program also provides free subscriptions to three Texas magazines and two magazines in Spanish. Magazines from the Talking Book Program contain the text of articles; advertisements are not included.

Below is a list of the magazines that are currently available. Not all magazines are available in all formats. In order to make some popular magazines available that otherwise would be paid subscriptions, you will need to share them with other subscribers. If you subscribe to a shared magazine, please read it and return it as soon as possible for others to enjoy. Please note that magazines may be dropped or added in each format by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled at any time. For this reason, the list below may occasionally be out of date.

If you are interested in subscribing to any of the magazines listed here, please contact a Reader Consultant to order by phone or e-mail:
1-800-252-9605 (toll-free in Texas); 512-463-5458 (Austin area); tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov

BRAILLE MAGAZINES FOR ADULTS

Braille magazines from the Talking Book Program are all direct subscriptions, free of charge to TBP patrons. You may keep or recycle these magazines. Below is a list of all adult-level braille subscriptions in alphabetical order. Information on frequency and content accompanies each listing.

Better Homes & Gardens (BHG1) - A resource for home ideas, food and recipes for everyday and special occasions, and garden know-how. 12/year

Braille Chess Magazine (BCM1) - 4 issues a year. Chess; news of current trends and competitions. A British publication.

Braille Music Magazine (XBM1) - 12 issues a year. Articles about classical music for professional and amateur musicians; reviews of new braille music publications. A British publication.

Conundrum (COU1) - 12 issues a year. Crossword and logic puzzles, anagrams, word searches, and general-knowledge quizzes. A British publication.

Cooks Illustrated (CIM1) - Bimonthly. From America’s Test Kitchen. Includes recipes and tips on cooking.

Dell Sunday Crosswords (DEL1) - 4 issues/year. Enjoy more of your favorite themed puzzles! Featuring Sunday-size puzzles, Dell Sunday Crosswords is the perfect way to hone your solving skills while matching wits with today’s top constructors.

Guideposts (GUI1) - 6 issues a year. Interfaith inspirational articles of human interest.

Harper's Magazine (HRP1) - 12 issues a year. General culture magazine with articles by well-known writers on politics, international affairs, education, and science; includes short stories, satire, and poetry.

Health Newsletters (HNW1) - 12 issues a year. Current health concerns, medical information, nutrition, and stress management from Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter.

Interweave Knits (INT1) - Articles, patterns, and styles for knitting hobbyists. 4/year

Kiplinger's Personal Finance (KPF1) - 12 issues a year. General-interest articles on managing finances, including taxes, investments options, real estate, insurance, and retirement planning.

Musical Mainstream (XMM1) - 4 issues a year. Selected articles from national magazines about classical music, music criticism, and music teaching; lists new NLS music acquisitions. Individual subscriptions only; not available for institutional use.

National Geographic (NGG1) - 12 issues a year. Articles on world geography and cultures, plant and animal life, space exploration, and ancient history.

New York Times Book Review (NYB1) - 52 issues a year. Literary articles and book reviews from the Sunday edition of the New York Times.

New York Times Weekly (NYT1) - 52 issues a year. Highlights from the New York Times.

NLS Calendar (CAP1) - Pocket Sized - NLS Braille calendar, pocket-sized

NLS Calendar (CAW1) – Wall Sized - NLS Braille calendar, wall-sized

NLS News (NEW1) - 4 issues a year. Newsletter of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. 

PC World (PCW1) - 12 issues a year. Information for computer users about hardware, software, advanced technology, and trends in the field; columns on product reviews and helpful hints.

Poetry (POE1) - 12 issues a year. Contemporary poetry selected from a wide range of contributors and styles.

Popular Mechanics (PPM1) - 12 issues a year. Practical advice for the amateur mechanic; information on automotive and home repairs; features on new equipment.

Popular Music Lead Sheets (XML1) - Issues are released on an irregular basis. Melodies, lyrics, and chords to popular songs ranging from golden oldies to recent hits.

Reader's Digest (DIG1) - 12 issues a year. Short articles, profiles, opinion pieces, political commentary, and other general-interest topics; some articles are condensed from print magazines; contains anecdotes, humor, and condensed books.

Rolling Stone (RST1) - 26 issues a year. American popular culture in the arts and entertainment industry; record, video, audiovisual, and computer hardware reviews.

Science News (SNW1) - 52 issues a year. Excerpts of reports on current programs in science, medicine, and technology.

Short Stories (SSR1) - 12 issues a year. Stories from contemporary writers. A British publication.

Update Newsletter (UPD1) - News about volunteer programs and activities related to library. 4/year

Sports Schedules             

American Baseball League by Team (ABL1) - Issued annually.

Major Baseball League by Date (MLB1) - Issued annually.

National Basketball Assn. (NBA1) - Issued annually.

National Football League (NFL1) - Issued annually.

National Hockey League (NHL1) - Issued annually.

National Baseball League by Team (NBL1) - Issued annually.

Women's Basketball Assn. (WBA1) - Issued annually.

DIGITAL CARTRIDGE MAGAZINES FOR ADULTS

*All Digital Cartridges must be returned in order to receive next issue.

Digital audio magazine subscriptions are available from the Talking Book Program (TBP) via magazine vendors. They are offered free of charge to TBP patrons and must be returned by subscribers in 21 days. Return your magazines promptly to ensure that your subscription continues. Available magazines are listed in alphabetical order; information on frequency and content accompanies each listing.

AARP-The Magazine and AARP Bulletin (AAP4) — 6 issues a year. Covers subjects of interest to older people. Published by the American Association of Retired Persons.

American Indian (AMI4) - Featuring Native American art and culture, with diverse articles about the fascinating and often overlooked histories of American Indian nations. Quarterly

Analog Science Fiction and Fact (ANA4) — 11 issues a year. Leading science fiction magazine; contains editorial letter columns, stories, science articles, and book reviews.

Asimov’s Science Fiction (IAM4) — 11 issues a year. Short stories, novelettes, and features with science fiction themes.

Atlantic Monthly (AMO4) — 11 issues a year. Articles on politics and current issues; fiction by contemporary American writers.

Audubon Magazine (AUD4)—6 issues a year. Wildlife news from around the world and articles on contemporary issues related to biodiversity and endangered ecosystems.

Baseball Digest (BAS4) - Bimonthly. Baseball Digest keeps subscribers up-to-date with current action while infusing the rich history of the game in each issue.

Best Friends (BFF4) - 6 issues a year. Best Friends magazine is the nation's most uplifting magazine for pet lovers. 

Bon Appétit (EAT4) — 12 issues a year. Articles on gourmet cooking with a section devoted to light and healthy cooking.

Bookmarks (BKM4) - Bimonthly. Summaries of hundreds of opinions from every major newspaper and magazine designed to give the reader the information needed to make the best reading choices.

Consumer Reports (CRP4) — 12 issues a year. In-depth articles that rate consumer products tested for quality, durability, and safety; general-interest articles on such topics as health and money management.

Consumer Reports: On Health (CRH4) - 12 issues a year. Get expert reviews and ratings for health, fitness, and food products from Consumer Reports.

Contemporary Sound Track: A Review of Pop, Jazz, Rock, and Country (XST4) — 6 issues a year. A sampler of articles from national magazines concerned with jazz, rock, country, and pop music.

Cooking Light (CKG4) - 4 issues a year. Quick and healthy recipes, nutrition tips, entertaining menus, and fitness guides to help all make smart choices for a healthy lifestyle.

Discover: The World of Science (DIS4) — 12 issues a year. Articles on ecology, natural history, and science and technology; news on breakthroughs in science, technology, and medicine; book reviews, brain bogglers (puzzles), and awards for technological innovations.

Economist, The (ECO4) — 51 issues a year. Authoritative insight and opinion on international news, politics, business, finance, science and technology. 

Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine (EQM4) — 11 issues a year. Mystery stories by top writers in the field and by previously unpublished writers.

Essence (ESS4) — 12 issues a year. Monthly lifestyle, beauty, and fashion magazine for African-American women. (replaces Ebony)

Fiyah Literary Magazine (FIY4) - 4 issues a year. Speculative fiction magazine that features stories by and about Black people of the African Diaspora.

Foreign Affairs (FAF4) — 5 issues a year.  Statesmen, diplomats, and scholars analyze issues and trends in international politics, law, and economics.

Golf Digest (GLF4) - 12 issues a year. Authority on how to play, what to play, and where to play golf.

Good Housekeeping (GHK4) — 12 issues a year. Articles on family and home management, with features on food and decorating.

Guideposts (GUI4) — 6 issues a year. Interfaith inspirational articles of human interest.

Harper's Bazaar (BAZ4) - 12 issues a year. General culture magazine with articles by well-known writers on politics, international affairs, education, and science; includes short stories, satire, and poetry.

Harvard Men’s Health Watch (HMH4) - 12 issues a year. Timely information in the new age of men’s health and medicine.

Harvard Women’s Health Watch (HWH4) - 12 issues a year. Timely information in the new age of women’s health and medicine.

Health and Nutrition Newsletters (HNN4) — 12 issues a year. Articles on medical conditions of special interest to older adults: nutritional information and ways to maintain good health from Dr. Andrew Weil’s Self Healing, Healthline, The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter — Health after Fifty, and Nutrition Action Health Letter.

Horticulture (HOR4) — 6 issues a year. American Gardening at Its Best. Gardening trends, products, and projects for the amateur gardener.

International Living Magazine (ILM4) - 12 issues a year. Provides a scope and depth of information about global travel, living, retiring, investing, and real estate.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (KPF4) — 12 issues/year. General-interest articles on managing finances, including taxes, investment options, real estate, insurance, and retirement planning.

Kiplinger’s Retirement Report (KRR4)— 12 issues/year. General-interest articles on practical strategies to grow retirement savings, make money last during retirement, maximize Social Security and Medicare benefits, and other retirement-related topics.

Magazine of the Month (MOM4) — 12 issues a year. Special Library of Congress program designed to provide a limited substitute for newsstand browsing; readers are sent a different sample magazine each month.

Magnolia Journal (MAGA4) -  4 issues a year. The Magnolia Journal is a quarterly magazine by Chip and Joanna Gaines containing inspiration for life and home. Useful as a resource and a guide to living well, the Magnolia Journal contains stories, recipes, tips, and useful information you will refer back to again and again.

Make (MAK4) - 4 issues a year. Part of the maker movement, publishes projects, skill-building tutorials, in-depth reviews and inspirational stories, accessible by all ages and skill ranges.

Missouri Conservationist (MOC4) - 12 issues a year. Outdoor life and conservation management in Missouri.

Mother Jones (JON4) - 6 issues a year. Mother Jones is a nonprofit American progressive magazine that focuses on news, commentary, and investigative journalism on topics including politics, environment, human rights, health and culture.

Musical Mainstream (XMM4) — 4 issues a year. Selected articles from national magazines about classical music, music criticism, and music teaching; lists new NLS music acquisitions.

Nation, The (NAT4) — 47 issues a year. Covers foreign affairs, local and national politics, education, and law; reviews films, theater, books, and the arts.

National Geographic (NGG4) — 12 issues a year. Articles on world geography and cultures, plant and animal life, space exploration, and ancient history.

National Review (NRV4) — 25 issues a year. Presents a conservative viewpoint on business, politics, economics, education, and other subjects; founded by William F. Buckley, Jr. in 1955.

New Yorker, The (NYK4) — 52 issues/year. Timely articles on a number of topics. Includes short fiction, poetry, and cartoons.

New York Times Book Review (NYB4) — 52 issues a year. Literary articles and book reviews from the Sunday edition of the New York Times.

Oklahoma Today (OKT4) - 6 issues a year. Oklahoma people, places, food, art, and culture.

Overseas Outlook (OVR4) - 6 issues a year. Newsletter for patrons living outside the United States. Its contents also may be useful for all NLS patrons.

People (PEO4) — 52 issues a year. News, articles, and interviews of celebrities.

Piano Technician’s Journal (PTJ4) —12 issues a year. Technical magazine covering all phases of working on pianos. Articles explore new tools, industry woes and organizational issues. Feature articles range from setting up a repair shop to rebuilding techniques.   

Prevention Magazine (PRE4) - 12 issues a year. A live-better handbook and guide to feeling your best, head to toe, inside and out through trustworthy expert advice, fresh ideas, and health secrets.

Psychology Today (PST4) - Bimonthly. General-interest psychology magazine representing a variety of approaches.

QST (QST4) — 12 issues a year. Contains project-building ideas and news on all aspects of ham radio. Official publication of the American Radio Relay League.

Quarterly Music Magazine (QMM4) — 4 issues a year. A different music magazine each quarter. Covers a variety of aspects and types of music, such as opera, jazz, and country; guitar and keyboard; and music teaching.

Reader’s Digest (DIG4) — 10 issues/year. Short stories, political commentary, and other general interest topics; some articles are condensed from print magazines. Contains anecdotes, humor, and a condensed book.

Rolling Stone (RST4) — 26 issues a year. American popular culture in the arts and entertainment industry; record, video, audiovisual, and computer hardware reviews. 

Scientific America (SCA4) - 12 issues a year. Covers the most important and exciting research, ideas and knowledge in science, health, technology, the environment and society.

Smithsonian (SMT4) — 12 issues a year. Science, natural history, art, archaeology, history, ecology; events at the Smithsonian Institution.

Sound & Vision (STR4) — 10 issues a year. Reports on new sound equipment and record reviews, with emphasis on popular music.

Southern Living (SOL4) — 12 issues a year. Gardening, history, travel, and recipes; focuses on the Southern style of living.

Sports Illustrated (SPI4) — 54 issues a year. International sports news and articles with emphasis on American spectator sports; features on sports personalities, sports events, and outdoor activities.

Sun Magazine, The (SUN4) - 12 issues a year. Radically intimate and socially conscious writing being published today, celebrating life and its complexity, with personal essays, short stories, interviews, poetry, and photographs.

Texas Highways (TXH4) — 12 issues a year. Information on public parks, recreational grounds, scenic places, and other items of interest to the traveling public in Texas.

Texas Monthly (TXM4) — 12 issues a year. Covers all aspects of Texas political, social, and artistic life.

Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW4) — 12 issues a year. Dedicated to conservation of natural resources and public use of these resources for recreation. Emphasis on state parks, wildlife management, hunting, fishing, and other Texas outdoor activities.

Travel and Leisure (TAL4) — 12 issues a year. Travel; articles on vacation sites, with tips on food and photography.

True West/Frontier Times (TWT4) — 12 issues a year. Nonfiction articles about the Old West, written by historians and western buffs.

Vital Speeches of the Day (VSD4) — 12 issues a year. Important addresses made by recognized leaders in public opinion.

Wax Poetics (WAX4) - 6 issues a year. Created by a group of writers and record diggers to tell the stories behind beatdigging culture and to help contextualize what people were listening to, by looking back at where the music came from and the stories behind it.

Week, The (TWK4) —52 issues a year. Weekly news.

Wired (WIR4)—12 issues a year. Wide-ranging news and opinion concerning technology industries and the digital environment.

Yankee Magazine (YNK4) — 6 issues/year. Offers an insider’s perspective on the region’s people, traditions, and lifestyle with special focus on its unique travel destinations, history, and culinary delights.

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BRAILLE MAGAZINES FOR YOUNG READERS

Braille Chess Magazine (BCM1) - 4 issues a year. Articles on chess; news of current trends and competitions. (British). Magazine shipped from the UK. Shipping dates not available.

Catster (CAT1) - Bimonthly. Catster is full of the tips, advice, and news you need to help keep your cat happy and healthy. Ideas for interacting with your cat, lifestyle stories, new products, new ways to care for your cat.

Conundrum (COU1) - 12 issues a year. Crossword and logic puzzles, anagrams, sudoku, and general-knowledge quizzes. Magazine shipped from the UK. Shipping dates not available.

Cooks Illustrated (CIM1) - Bimonthly. From America’s Test Kitchen. Includes recipes and tips on cooking.

Dell Sunday Crosswords (DEL1) - 4 issues a year. Enjoy more of your favorite themed puzzles! Featuring Sunday-size puzzles, Dell Sunday Crosswords is the perfect way to hone your solving skills while matching wits with today’s top constructors.

Cricket: The Realm of Imagination (CRI1) - 9 issues a year. Stories, poems, and articles by internationally known authors, plus songs, jokes, and crafts. For ages nine through fourteen. Packaged with National Geographic Kids.

Dogster (DOG1) - 6 issues a year. A publication where dog lovers come together to get the latest information on training, health, food and the dog lifestyle.

Interweave Knits (INT1) - 4 issues a year. Articles, patterns, and styles for knitting hobbyists.

Muse/Odyssey (MUE1) - 9 issues a year. Science, art, archaeology, and history activities for ages 
6–14; includes contests and book and media reviews.

National Geographic Kids (NGW1) - 10 issues a year. Articles for children about people, places, customs, animals, and plants. Packaged with Cricket.

NLS Calendar (CAP1) - Pocket Sized - NLS Braille calendar, pocket-sized. Annual
 
NLS Calendar (CAW1) - Wall Sized - NLS Braille calendar, wall-sized. Annual
 
Scout Life (SCO1) - 12 issues a year. Articles on the outdoors, sports, and hobbies, with adventure fiction and humor; ages 9–16. Published by the Boy Scouts of America.

Spider (SPD1) - 12 issues a year. Stories, poems, jokes, and crafts for beginning readers; ages 6–9.

Sports Illustrated For Kids (SPK1) - 12 issues a year. Sports news and articles for ages 8–13; features sports personalities, events, youth who are excelling in sports, and a regular column by youth discussing controversial sport-related issues.

Stone Soup (STO1) - 5 issues a year. Stories, poems, illustrations, and book reviews created by children through age 13. Features an activities section with suggested related projects.

Sports Schedules – Braille only
        
(ABL1) American League Baseball by Team - Issued annually.

(MLB1) Major League Baseball by Date - Issued annually.

(NBA1) National Basketball Assn. - Issued annually.

(NFL1) National Football League - Issued annually.

(NHL1) National Hockey League - Issued annually.

(NBL1) National League Baseball by Team - Issued annually.

(WBA1) Women’s Basketball Assn. - Issued annually.

DIGITAL MAGAZINES FOR YOUNG READERS

*All Digital Cartridges must be returned in order to receive next issue.

American History (AMH4) - Bimonthly. Articles for the general reader about the full spectrum of the history of North America.

American Indian (AMI4) - Quarterly. Featuring Native American art and culture, with diverse articles about the fascinating and often overlooked histories of American Indian nations.

Audubon (AUD4) - 5 issues a year. Appreciation, understanding, and preservation of the natural world, particularly birds and their habitats.

Baseball Digest (BAS4) - Bimonthly. Baseball Digest keeps subscribers up-to-date with current action while infusing the rich history of the game in each issue.

Cricket: The Realm of Imagination/National Geographic Kids (NGW4) - 10 issues a year. Stories, poems, and articles by internationally known authors, plus songs, jokes, and crafts. For ages nine through fourteen.

Discover (DIS4) - 10 issues a year. Science news and articles exploring current events and future views on topics such as technology, space, the environment, health, and medicine.
    
Golf Digest (GLF4) - 12 issues a year. Authority on how to play, what to play, and where to play golf.

Horticulture (HOR4) - 6 issues a year. Gardening trends, products, and projects for amateur gardeners.

Jack and Jill (JAC4) - Bimonthly. Jack and Jill is an award-winning magazine for children ages six to twelve. It promotes the education and creative growth of children through interactive activities and articles.

Humpty Dumpty (HDM4) - 6 issues a year. For 4- to 6-year-olds. Stories, games, puzzles, crafts, and other activities.

Muse/Odyssey (ODY4) - 9 issues a year. The science magazine for young adventurers. 9/year

Spider (SPD4) - 12 issues a year. Stories, poems, jokes, and crafts for beginning readers; ages 6–9.

Sports Illustrated for Kids (SPK4) - 12 issues a year. Sports news and articles for ages 8–13; features sports personalities, events, youth who are excelling in sports, and a regular column by youth discussing controversial sport-related issues.

DIGITAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE MAGAZINES

*All Digital Cartridges must be returned in order to receive next issue.

Spanish (Direct Magazines ~ Revista Directa) 

*Todos los cartuchos digitales deben ser devueltos para recibir la próxima publicación.

Selecciones (Reader’s Digest) (SRD4) - 12 issues a year.  Spanish-language version of Reader’s Digest. 12/year
12 numéros par an. Versión en español de Reader's Digest.

En Français (In French)

FRANCE-AMÉRIQUE (JFA4) — 24 numéros par an. Articles de la culture Franco-Américaine, les nouvelles, la religión, le business, et l’histoire d’interêt aux Américans francophones et aux étudiants de la langue française. (24 issues per year. Articles on Franco American culture, current events, religion, business, and history of interest to French-speaking Americans and students of the French language.)

  PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS

Many organizations offer paid subscriptions to their magazines and newsletters in braille, large print, or on audio cartridge. For more information on these publications, please visit the website of the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) magazine list: The NLS website contains current lists of free magazines and magazines as well as newsletters available by paid subscription.

TALKING BOOK TOPICS

Every patron of the Talking Book Program may request a free subscription to the NLS publication Talking Book Topics, which lists new books that have been added to the collection. Talking Book Topics is available in a variety of formats:

TALKING BOOK TOPICS on NLS website:
•    HTML format, including links to BARD for downloading or adding books to wish lists www.loc.gov/nls/tbt
•    PDF format, containing a printable order form www.loc.gov/nls/tbtt
 
TALKING BOOK TOPICS by mail:
•    Audio cartridge, which comes with a print order form (contact us to subscribe)
 
TALKING BOOK TOPICS from BARD:
•    Audio magazine, downloadable to cartridge or to BARD Mobile

Abridged version of TALKING BOOK TOPICS available inside BRAILLE BOOK REVIEW:
•    BRAILLE BOOK REVIEW’S TBT Abridged section in hardcopy braille by mail (contact us to subscribe)
•    BRAILLE BOOK REVIEW’S TBT Abridged section as a BRF downloadable through BARD or from www.loc.gov/nls/bbr
 
Recently Added lists available through BARD:
•    BARD patrons can also learn about the latest titles added to BARD through the “Recently added books and magazines” link on the BARD website or the “Recently added to BARD” feature on the “Get Books” tab on the BARD Mobile app.

TALKING BOOK TOPICS by NFB-NEWSLINE®
 •    Contact TBP to sign-up for the service.

Please let us know if we can assist you in accessing any of these formats, or if you would like to subscribe to either the audio version of TALKING BOOK TOPICS or the hardcopy braille version of BRAILLE BOOK REVIEW, which includes an abridged version of TALKING BOOK TOPICS.

You may contact us by email at tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov, or by phone at 1-800-252-9605 or at 512-463-5458.

ORDERING

To order or change your subscriptions, please contact the Talking Book Program:

Talking Book Program
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
PO Box 12927
Austin TX 78711-2927
1-800-252-9605 (in Texas)
512-463-5458 (in Austin)
512-936-0685 (fax)
tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov