Phone: 1-800-252-9605
or 512-463-5458
Fax: 512-936-0685
Email TBP
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday - Friday
Address:
Talking Book Program
Texas State Library and
Archives Commission
PO Box 12927
Austin TX 78711-2927
Newsletter Sign Up / Book Club / Monthly Youth Book Lists / BARD Information / Other Places to Get Books
Welcome to the TBP Youth Services page for patrons 0-18 and their adults! Here you will be able to sign up for our youth services newsletter, have easy access to BARD, see monthly reading lists, find archived newsletters, and see upcoming events.
Sign up to receive our monthly youth newsletter with activities, events, book lists, and more:
Not a patron of the Talking Book Program yet? Start your TBP application.
We are excited to announce a new youth book club format at TBP starting in October 2023!
Our Read Anything Book Club will take place on Zoom every month, and now you can read ANYTHING! Join us to chat about whatever you are reading, or just come to get ideas of what to read next. This is for our youth patrons only.
If you are in grades 3 through 7 you can join on the second Tuesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. using this link each time: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84644745759
If you are in 8th grade or older you can join on second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. using this link each time: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83951521648
Don’t want to read? No problem! You can come to the meeting to chat and get ideas of what to read next. After each meeting we will send out a list of all the books we talked about so you can add them to your to-be-read lists.
Here are the dates for each book club so you can save them:
Grades 3-7 (Second Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m.)
November 14, 2023
December 12, 2023
January 9, 2024
February 13, 2024
March 12, 2024
April 9, 2024
May 14, 2024
(June and July is summer reading program time!)
8th Grade and Up (Second Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.)
November 15, 2023
December 13, 2023
January 10, 2024
February 14, 2024
March 13, 2024
April 10, 2024
May 15, 2024
(June and July is summer reading program time!)
Steps for Success:
1. Choose a book.
2. Download it on BARD or ask us to mail you the cartridge to play in your talking book machine.
a. You could also read books from school or your local library.
3. Read the book!
4. Save the Zoom link for easy access.
5. Go over the general guidelines listed below so you know what to expect.
6. Join on time.
7. Be ready to talk about books or listen to others and save ideas for later.
General guidelines:
• The Youth Book Club is for registered youth patrons (age 18 and under) of the Talking Book Program.
• Attendees may have their adult attend if needed; no other adults are able to register or attend.
• You can choose camera on or camera off; or you can call in from a phone.
• This will NOT be recorded.
• You can speak out loud or through the chat (or you can just listen).
• Stay muted until it’s time to answer a question or make a comment.
• You can use the “raise hand” button to get our attention. You can also use the chat to talk.
• Stay on topic!
• Be kind to others, especially if they have a different opinion than you.
• No swearing for this; there’s lots of different ages here!
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
Febrauary 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
Other Youth Book Lists
TBP Youth:
- Bluebonnet Nominees 2023-2024
- Youth Graphic Novels in Digital Audio
- Lonestar List 2022
- Schneider Family Award Winners 2012-2022
- Odyssey Award Winners 2018-2022
- Bluebonnet Nominees 2021-2022
- Newbery Medal Winners 1922-2022
- 2022 Youth Media Award Winners
- Booklist’s Top Audio Books for Young Adults 2021
- Top Audiobooks for Middle Grades
- Spanish Language Titles for Youth
NLS Kids:
https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/kids-books/
BARD Information
Need to get to the BARD website to download books? Go here: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/
Need to know how to navigate BARD? Learn how to use BARD.
The Patron Engagement Section offers The Many Faces of BARD online event the second Thursday of every month, at 6:00 p.m. (Central). Each monthly event covers one aspect of BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download service) and is open to all. Learn more from NLS: www.loc.gov/nls/about/services/many-faces-of-bard/
Looking for the BARD mobile app?
Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bard-mobile/id705229586
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.loc.nls.dtb
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Library-of-Congress-BARD-Mobile/dp/B016760320
Need more BARD help? Contact us at tbpBARD@tsl.texas.gov or call 1-800-252-9605.
Other Places to Get Audio Books
To get recorded textbooks for school you can get a Learning Ally account for $12 per month-https://learningally.org/. Check with your school district to see if they have an account you can use for free!
Bookshare offers downloadable audiobooks for a fee, but is FREE for students with print disabilities. Check out more information here https://www.bookshare.org/cms/.
Houston Public Library “My Link” card: All Texas residents are eligible for a free My Link library card which gives you access to all of their digital content including audiobooks and ebooks.
Apply at https://houstonlibrary.org/mylink and get instant access.