Youth Services for Talking Book Program Patrons

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 | Kid Zone | Activities | Book Lists | Games | 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, get themed reading lists, see upcoming events and play some virtual games.

Youth Newsletter Sign Up

Not a patron of the Talking Book Program yet? Start your TBP application.

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Kid Zone

During the 2024 Summer Reading Program, themed around adventure, we created a collection of exciting virtual escape rooms and interactive "choose your own adventure" games. These experiences can be enjoyed on a computer, smartphone, or tablet, either solo or with friends. Follow the links below to play!

Dinosaur Themed Choose Your Own Adventure: https://forms.gle/mSFwXgUBJYsd95rC9
Spy Themed Escape Room: https://forms.gle/eHiUqBC826hqfZdy5
Cryptid Themed Choose Your Own Adventure: https://forms.gle/wkxRBercsGhEUBKv8

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Activities

Coming soon.

Book Lists

NLS Kids:

www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/kids-books/

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Borrow Games

The Talking Book Program now has a selection of accessible games available for check out. Here is a list of what is currently available, with more to come soon:
•   Apples to Apples
•   Bananagrams
•   Mancala
•   Fluxx
•   Braille playing cards
•   Braille UNO cards
•   Braille LEGO (in English or Spanish)
•   Tactile Yahtzee with large print score cards
•   Tactile Parcheesi
•   Shut The Box with braille
•   Tactile Double-Six Dominoes
•   Tactile Chinese Checkers
•   Tactile Connect 4

To check these out, please contact us via email tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov, or call us at 1-800-252-9605

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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: apps.apple.com/us/app/bard-mobile/id705229586
    Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.loc.nls.dtb
    Amazon: amazon.com/Library-of-Congress-BARD-Mobile/dp/B016760320

BARD Search Tips

BARD Magazine Search Tips

Need more BARD help? Contact us at tbpBARD@tsl.texas.gov or call 1-800-252-9605.

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Other Places to Get Audio Books

Your local public library via Libby, Hoopla, or E-Reads Texas
Your local public library has their own collection of audiobooks you can access with your library card. Each location will be able to give you more information and teach you how to access their collection and which apps they use.

Houston Public Library MyLink Card
Free if you live in Texas! The My Link library card gives you access to all of their digital content including audiobooks and eBooks. Apply at https://houstonlibrary.org/mylink and get instant access.

LibriVox: librivox.org Free audiobooks that are in the public domain; will play in the talking book machine with a couple extra steps.

Bookshare offers downloadable audiobooks for FREE to students with print related disabilities. Includes text and audio so that you can read along with the audio. Check out more information here www.bookshare.org/cms

Learning Ally: To get recorded textbooks for school you can get a Learning Ally account for $12 per month. learningally.org. Check with your school district to see if they have an account you can use for free!

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