Talking Book News Bulletin
Spring 2022

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Director's Report
Holiday Closings
New Braille Magazines
Passwords
Talking Book Topics
Summer Reading Program
Texas Magazines

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Director's Report

Greetings!

This summer we will start sending out overdue notices. If you receive a notice and still have overdue materials, please return them so that your account may be put into good standing. If you have already returned the items by the time you receive the notice, simply disregard the notice or call 1-800-252-9605 or send an email to tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov, to verify the items have checked in. You can find information about when your books are due by checking the container or you can log on through the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). We will be sending out overdue notices twice a year. Remember: to stay active in the program, you must check out or download at least one book or magazine a year.

As always, please take care and be well.
Sarah Jacobson, Director, Talking Book Program

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The Talking Book Program will be closed on the below listed holiday.

Monday, May 30 ~ Memorial Day

Of course, you can leave a voicemail message or send email on a holiday.

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New Braille Magazines Added

Five new braille magazines are now available for subscription.

CRICKET (CRI1) 
Stories, poems, and articles for ages nine through fourteen. 9 issues per year.

DELL SUNDAY CROSSWORDS (DEL1)  
Features Sunday-size puzzles. 4 issues per year.

INTERWEAVE KNITS (INT1)  
Modern knitter with projects and articles. 4 issues per year. 

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS (NGW1)
Children's magazine published by the National Geographic Society. 10 issues per year.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS (SPK1)  
Sports news and articles for ages eight through thirteen. 12 issues per year. 

If you would like to subscribe to any of these braille magazines, please call us at 
1-800-252-9605 or 512-463-5458, or send an email to tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov. We will be happy to help.

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Passwords, Passwords

Here are a few tips to help with keeping your TBP password(s) in good working order:

1.    There are two different passwords that you might be using for your TBP service. You may be using either one of these, both, or neither, depending on how your service is set up.
a.    BARD password:  If you are downloading books or magazines from BARD.
b.    OPAC password:  If you are using our online WebReads catalog on the TBP website and then ordering books to be sent by mail.
2.    When you call or email to request a password reset, please specify which kind of password you need to reset:  a BARD password or an OPAC password.
3.    OPAC passwords expire and must be changed every 30 days. They must be exactly 16 characters long. If you remember your OPAC password, you can log in and change your password yourself without contacting us.
4.    If you forget your OPAC password, you can reset it yourself after answering your secret questions. Or you can call us and ask us to reset your OPAC password. You have 30 minutes from the time your OPAC password is reset to log in with the temporary password sent to you by email and change it to your new password. If you miss the 30-minute window, you can call back when you are ready to change it and we will reset it again.
5.    BARD passwords never expire, though it’s a good idea to change them periodically. If it seems like your BARD password has expired because you aren’t able to log in, it may be that your BARD account has been inactivated. BARD accounts are automatically inactivated if unused for six months. If you think your BARD account has been inactivated, please contact us by phone or email when you are ready to use it again. We can easily reactivate it. Note that when we reactivate your BARD account, you must at least log in that same day to keep it active. If you don’t, it will be automatically inactivated again that night.
6.    If you forget your BARD password, you can reset it yourself, if you have set up secret questions; or you can call or email us to request that we reset your BARD password.
7.    When your BARD password is reset, you will receive a temporary password by email. You will log in using that temporary password, and you will be prompted to set up your new password. You can also set up or change your secret questions on the same screen. Important note:  You cannot use a temporary password in BARD Express or the BARD Mobile app. You must first log into BARD through a browser, change your password, and then use your new password to log into BARD Express or the BARD Mobile app.

Let us know if you have any questions or if we can assist with your OPAC or BARD passwords.

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Talking Book Topics

Due to significant and worsening supply-chain issues and worldwide paper shortages, the large-print edition of TALKING BOOK TOPICS (TBT) for calendar year 2022 will not be printed. The US Government Publishing Office (GPO) has informed NLS that these problems are expected to continue through the end of 2022, and likely beyond. Although NLS will not be able to provide large print versions of TALKING BOOK TOPICS if these issues continue, there are several other formats in which TALKING BOOK TOPICS can be read and enjoyed: 

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.

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2022 Summer Reading Program Begins June 1

The adventure begins on June 1 and continues through August 8! This year we are trying something new for our TBP Summer Reading Program! The theme is Oceans of Possibilities. You will be able to get themed book lists and matching activity ideas and enter a prize drawing at the end of summer by writing book reviews. Sign up is open now and available for ALL AGES—children, teens, and adults!

The first 100 people will get a free prize bag just for signing up. For more information visit www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/summerreadingprogram or call us at 1-800-252-9605. We also encourage you to participate in your local library’s summer reading program for extra fun!

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Texas Magazines

Did you know that you can access Texas Monthly, Texas Highways, and Texas Parks and Wildlife magazines from our website? Visit www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/txmagazines for current and past issues. You can also subscribe to these magazines by calling 1-800-252-9605.

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End of Texas Talking Book News
Spring 2022