Category Archives: News & Announcements

Audie Awards Finalists 2024

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The Audio Publishers Association (APA) has announced the finalists for the 2024 Audie Awards, “recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment.” The full list of finalists follows. Winners were announced at the Audie Awards Gala at The Avalon in Los Angeles on March 4, 2024.

For more information, see the Awards website.

Here are the finalists for 2024 that are in the TBP collection.

Audiobook of the Year

ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by S. A. Cosby and narrated by Adam Lazarre-White (DB 115237)
SURRENDER: 40 SONGS, ONE STORY by Bono and narrated by the author (DB 111015)
TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett and narrated by Meryl Streep (DB 116555)

Audio Drama

NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell and narrated by the author Lisa Jewell with Nicola Walker, Jenny Walser, Kristin Atherton, Ayesha Antoine, Louise Brealey, Alix Dunmore, Elliot Fitzpatrick, Thomas Judd, and Dominic Thorburn (DB 116345)

Autobiography/Memoir

BEHIND THE SEAMS: MY LIFE IN RHINESTONES by Dolly Parton, Holly George-Warren, and Rebecca Seaver and narrated by the authors. (DB 117524)
MAKING IT SO: A MEMOIR by Patrick Stewart and narrated by the author (DB 116785)
SAVED: A WAR REPORTER’S MISSION TO MAKE IT HOME by Benjamin Hall and narrated by the author (DB 114606)

Best Fiction Narrator

LAST LIFEBOAT by Hazel Gaynor and narrated by Billie Fulford-Brown (DB IN PROCESS)
EYES & THE IMPOSSIBLE by Dave Eggers and narrated by Ethan Hawke (DB 116273)
LAND OF MILK AND HONEY: A NOVEL by C. Pam Zhang and narrated by Eunice Wong (DB 116953)

Best Nonfiction Narrator

ART THIEF: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE, CRIME, AND A DANGEROUS OBSESSION by Michael Finkel and narrated by the author and Edoardo Ballerini (DB 115367)
KING: A LIFE by Jonathan Eig and narrated by Dion Graham (DB 115189)
WAGER: A TALE OF SHIPWRECK, MUTINY AND MURDER by David Grann and narrated by the author and Dion Graham (DB 113965)
WOMAN IN ME by Britney Spears and narrated by the author and Michelle Williams (DB 116686)

Business/Personal Development

LIGHT WE CARRY: OVERCOMING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES by Michelle Obama and narrated by the author (DB 111237)
WIN EVERY ARGUMENT: THE ART OF DEBATING, PERSUADING, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING by Mehdi Hasan and narrated by the author (DB 112685)
WISDOM OF MORRIE: LIVING AND AGING CREATIVELY AND JOYFULLY by Morrie Schwartz and narrated by Rob Schwartz and Steven Weber (DB IN PROCESS)

Español – Spanish Language

CON LUZ PROPIA: VENCER EN TIEMPOS DE INCERTIDUMBRE por Michelle Obama [traducción de Gabriel Dols Gallardo, Efrén del Valle Peñamil, Raúl Sastre Letona y Carlos Abreu Fetter] and narrated by Jane Santos (DB 112490)

Faith-Based Fiction or Nonfiction

SOUL BOOM: WHY WE NEED A SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION by Rainn Wilson and narrated by the author (DB 114163)

Fantasy

RED RABBIT by Alex Grecian and narrated by John Pirhalla (DB 116383)
STARLING HOUSE by Alix E. Harrow and narrated by Natalie Naudus (DB 116445)
TREAD OF ANGELS by Rebecca Roanhorse and narrated by Dion Graham (DB 113252)

Fiction

BIRNAM WOOD by Eleanor Catton and narrated by Saskia Maarleveld (DB 115924)
MAAME by Jessica George and narrated by Heather Agyepong (DB 112961)
YELLOWFACE by R. F. Kuang and narrated by Helen Laser (DB 114930)

History/Biography

ELON MUSK by Walter Isaacson narrated by the author and Jeremy Bobb (DB 116346)
EMPIRE OF ICE AND STONE: THE DISASTEROUS AND HEROIC VOYAGE OF THE KARLUK by Buddy Levy and narrated by Will Damron (DB 113494)

Humor

HOW TO SURVIVE HISTORY by Cody Cassidy and narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris (DB 118800 IN PROCESS)
LESLIE F*CKING JONES: A MEMOIR by Leslie Jones and narrated by the author and Chris Rock (DB IN PROCESS)
RAW DOG: THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT HOT DOGS by Jamie Loftus and narrated by the author (DB 115180)

Judges Category- UK – Produced Audiobook

ATLAS: THE STORY OF PA SALT by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker. Narrated by Richard Armitage and Middleton Tuppence (DB IN PROCESS)
SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES by Jojo Moyes and narrated by Daisy Ridley (DB 112338)

Literary Fiction and Classics

MAKING OF ANOTHER MAJOR MOTION PICTURE MASTERPIECE by Tom Hanks and narrated by the author (DB 114593)

Middle Grade

BIG TREE by Brian Selznick and narrated by the author with Meryl Streep (DB 114871)
ELF DOG AND OWL HEAD by M. T. Anderson and narrated by Pete Cross (DB 115064)
SCHOOL TRIP by Jerry Craft and narrated by Dereje Tarrant, Nile Bullock, Guy Lockard, Marc Thompson, Kaian Lilien, Dan Bittner, Ron Butler, Kim Mai Guest, Miles Harvey, January LaVoy, Robin Miles, Rebecca Soler, and Phoebe Strole (DB 115050)
SIMON SORT OF SAYS by Erin Bow and narrated by Will Collyer (DB 113782)
WHAT HAPPENED TO RACHEL RILEY by Claire Swinarski and narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano, Alexandra Hunter, Karla Serrato, Gail Shalan, Reena Dutt, Caitlin Davies, Andrew Eiden, and Kirby Heyborne (DB 112718)

Multi-Voiced Performance

NO TWO PERSONS by Erica Bauermeister and narrated by Barrie Kreinik, Braden Wright, Carol Jacobanis, Cassandra Campbell, Gabra Zackman, George Newbern, Jesse Vilinsky, Max Meyers, Rachel L. Jacobs, and Stephen Graybill (DB 114586 IN PROCESS)
SING HER DOWN by Ivy Pochoda and narrated by Frankie Corzo, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Sophie Amoss, and Victoria Villarreal (DB 114455)

Mystery

THE GOLDEN GATE by Amy Chua and narrated by Robb Moreira, Suzanne Toren, and Tim Campbell (DB 116781)
LINE IN THE SAND by Kevin Powers and narrated by Christine Lakin (DB 115402)
MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER by Rupert Holmes and narrated by Neil Patrick Harris and Simon Vance (DB 115376)
VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS by Jesse Q. Sutanto and narrated by Eunice Wong (DB 113039)
WORLD OF CURIOSITIES by Louise Penny and narrated by Robert Bathurst (DB 111297)

Narration by Author

COVENANT OF WATER by Abraham Verghese and narrated by the author (DB 114896)
IT. GOES. SO. FAST: THE YEAR OF NO DO-OVERS by Mary Louise Kelly and narrated by the author (DB 115155)

Nonfiction

FIRE WEATHER: A TRUE STORY FROM A HOTTER WORLD by John Vaillant and narrated by Alan Carlson (DB 116220)
POVERTY, BY AMERICA by Matthew Desmond and narrated by Dion Graham (DB 113856)
PUNISHED FOR DREAMING: HOW SCHOOL REFORM HARMS BLACK CHILDREN AND HOW WE HEAL by Bettina L. Love and narrated by the author with Karen Chilton (DB 116415)

Romance

10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED by Alexis Hall and narrated by Will M. Watt (DB 118479 IN PROCESS)
TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT by Christina Lauren and narrated by Jonathan Cole and Cindy Kay (DB 115235)

Science Fiction

DUAL MEMORY by Sue Burke and narrated by André Santana (DB 116833)
DEEP SKY by Yume Kitasei and narrated by Sarah Skaer (DB 115190)
WORLD WE MAKE by N. K. Jemisin and narrated by Robin Miles (DB 113527)
CASSANDRA IN REVERSE by Holly Smale and narrated by Kristin Atherton (DB 115359)

Thriller/Suspense

BAD CREE by Jessica Johns and narrated by Tanis Parenteau (DB 112059)

Young Adult

BEHOLDER by Ryan La Sala and narrated by Vikas Adam (DB 117571)
STOLEN HEIR by Holly Black and narrated by Saskia Maarleveld (DB 112168)
THIS WINTER by Alice Oseman and narrated by Jenny Walser, Joe Jameson, and Aaron Barashi (DB 118753 IN PROCESS)

Young Listener

SKULL by Jon Klassen and narrated by Fairuza Balk and Jon Klassen (DB 116902)
I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU’LL EVER KNOW by Leslie Jr. Odom and Nicolette Robinson and narrated by the authors (DB 114139)

BARD Mobile iOS Version 2.2.2 Release!

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The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) is releasing BARD Mobile iOS version 2.2.2 this week, introducing enhanced features and improvements.

BARD Mobile enables NLS patrons to download and listen to audiobooks and magazines directly from their iOS devices. Registered Texas Talking Book patrons will need a BARD account and a device running iOS versions 14 through 17 to use this updated version of the app.

Among the highlights:

Siri shortcuts (voice user interface):

The app can now be operated by voice commands for playback and navigation, including stopping and resuming playback, fast-forward and rewind by various intervals, and setting a sleep timer or a bookmark. Users can add Siri shortcuts in the app’s settings.

International language search:

Set up to four languages in the app’s settings and then filter search results by selecting a preferred language.

Accessibility improvements for visually impaired users:

We have boosted color contrast between selected and unselected search categories. This update enhances visibility with Smart Invert, Classic Invert, and Dark Mode on.

Multiword search for Search/Search music

Bug fixes, including:

  • Garbled credentials error fixed
  • Switch from tone to speed is fixed on iOS 17
  • Get Books and Bookshelf now return only titles matching the type selected in the Show Me setting, i.e. Audio Only / Braille Only / Both Audio and Braille

The app supports iOS versions 14 through 17.

This is a phased release, and the version will be available to all users by February 29.

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: Rubén Degollado

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Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with award winning author Rubén Degollado.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian Laura Jean will talk with him about his career as an educator and author as well as his book, THE FAMILY IZQUIERDO: A NOVEL (DBC 28906).  A Q&A chat will follow.

Promo image of stage with red curtain and old fashioned chrome microphone with TBP and TSLAC logos and text mirroring post body with author name, date, etc.

Our Author Talks meet via Zoom; however, all you need to participate is a telephone! If you have a land line, you will use the telephone number. If you have a smart phone, you will use the “one-tap” number to join the discussion. We will also email a Zoom link invitation to those who prefer to use a computer. This information will be sent to all patrons who RSVP a week prior to the author talk.

We would also like to offer you the opportunity to ask Rubén Degollado questions about his book. Please submit questions by April 16. We will choose questions based on the responses to this form and they may be asked during the event!

Submit your questions at: https://forms.gle/Xagif6CpPgKgvuNj8

To RSVP, please reply to this email, or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you the digital cartridge or if you prefer to download it from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

FAMILY IZQUIERDO: A NOVEL (DBC 28906) by Rubén Degollado

NLS Annotation: “A masterful debut that weaves together the lives of three generations of a Mexican American family bound by love, and a curse. The tight-knit Izquierdo family is grappling with misfortunes none of them can explain. Their beloved patriarch has suffered from an emotional collapse and is dying; eldest son Gonzalo’s marriage is falling apart; daughter Dina, beleaguered by the fear that her nightmares are real, is a shut-in. When Gonzalo digs up a strange object in the backyard of the family home, the Izquierdos take it as proof that a jealous neighbor has cursed them-could this be the reason for all their troubles? As the Izquierdos face a distressing present and an uncertain future, they are sustained by the blood that binds them, a divine presence, and an abiding love for one another. Told in a series of soulful voices brimming with warmth and humor, The Family Izquierdo is a tender narrative of a family at a turning point”– Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. Unrated. 2022.

We look forward to having you join us on Tuesday, April 23!

NLS Patron Corner Program

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The next topic of the NLS Patron Corner will be “Your Patron Engagement Section: How We Can Provide the Service You Want.”

Join the National Library Service (NLS) for the Patron Corner program on Monday, March 11, at 6:00 p.m. (Central).

This will be your opportunity to let NLS know what you’d like to see in the future. This meeting will be recorded.

Registration is not required. The session is scheduled for ninety minutes. Click on the link to join: http://tinyurl.com/bdevajya.

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: The Texanist, David Courtney

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Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Thursday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with esteemed Texas journalist and author, David Courtney.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean will talk with the Temple, Texas native about his career working as a columnist and editor for Texas Monthly as well as his book, The Texanist: Fine Advice on Living in Texas (DBC 18771). A Q&A chat will follow.

No registration is needed! Simply join the meeting on February 22 via one of the following methods.



Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84839719639

One-Tap phone number (use with smartphones): http://+13462487799,,84839719639#

Dial In phone number (use with landlines and non-smartphones):

(346) 248-7799
Meeting ID: 848 3971 9639

Our Author Talks meet via Zoom, however all you need to participate is a telephone! If you have a land line, you will use the telephone number. If you have a smart phone, you will use the “one-tap” number to join the conversation.

If you’d like to read THE TEXANIST book, contact us to order it by replying to this email or calling us at 1-800-252-9605.

THE TEXANIST: FINE ADVICE ON LIVING IN TEXAS (DBC 18771) by David Courtney NLS Annotation: “The Texanist, Texas Monthly’s perennially popular back-page column, has become the magazine’s most-read feature. With an inimitable style and an unassailable wholesomeness, columnist David Courtney has counseled many a well-intentioned Texan, native or wannabe, on how to properly conduct him—or herself.” Publisher’s website. 2017.

We look forward to having you join us on Thursday, February 22!

TBP Book Club Title Announced for March 2024!

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Please join us on Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) for our book club discussion of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus (DB 107538, BR 24813, LB 13735).

Our book club meetings take place via Zoom; however, all you need to participate is a telephone! If you have a land line, we will provide a telephone number for you to dial. If you have a smart phone, we will email you an easy “one click” number you can use to join the discussion. We will also email a Zoom invitation to those who prefer to use a computer. This information will be sent to all patrons who RSVP a week prior to the book club meeting.

To RSVP, please call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605. 

Please indicate if you would like us to mail the digital cartridge to you or if you prefer to download it from NLS BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone call (or both).

NLS Annotation: In the early 1960s, chemist Elizabeth Zott has a lot of challenges as the only woman on her team at Hastings Research Institute. She falls for colleague Calvin Evans, but the double standards of the day eventually have her looking for a new chapter outside academia, hosting a television cooking show. Strong language and some violence. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2022.

We request that everyone remember the following:

  • Keep external distractions to a minimum.
  • Be courteous and be respectful of differing opinions.
  • Keep discussion points concise and relevant to the book.

We look forward to having you join us on Thursday, March 21!

BARD Mobile Android Version 2.1.0 Release!

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The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) is releasing BARD Mobile Android version 2.1.0 this week, introducing enhanced features and improvements.

BARD Mobile enables NLS patrons to download and listen to audiobooks and magazines directly from their Android devices. Registered Texas Talking Book patrons will need a BARD account and a device running Android OS version 9-14 in order to use this updated version of the app.

Among the highlights:

In-app search functionality

A fully supported in-app search function, including Music Collection search, for a more seamless experience.

Spanish translation

The app can now be set so its text and audio are in Spanish. To switch to Spanish, select it as the default language in your device settings. The app’s visual and TalkBack interface will adjust.

International language search option

Explore the new international language search option by choosing up to four languages in the app’s settings. Filter search results by selecting your preferred language.

Navigate to: App’s Settings > User Account Settings > Language Preferences > Select up to four languages.

When accessing Get Books – Search, you will have up to four languages based on your settings. Default languages are English and Spanish if no changes are made.

Compatibility and User Guide update

  • The app supports Android OS versions 9–14.
  • Please note that the User Guide is being updated and will be added later.

Users should be able to update supported Android devices by February 1, 2024. BARD Mobile users can confirm that they are running the latest version by checking the bottom of the app’s Settings screen.

New BARD Download Limits

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Beginning February 6, 2024, NLS patrons will be allowed to download no more than 250 books and magazines from BARD in any rolling thirty-day period. This download maximum includes both audio and braille titles, and across all BARD platforms. This means if you download 200 unique items using BARD Express, you can still download another 50 titles using the BARD mobile app on your smart device.

The download limit is calculated by adding up the number of “unique titles” downloaded. You can download the same title on additional devices in the same thirty-day period without that download counting against the limit.

January is Blood Donor Month

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January is National Blood Donor Month, a time when we honor the generosity of America’s blood donors and highlight the importance of donating blood regularly for those who are able to do so.

Did you know that every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood for surgeries, cancer treatments, childbirth, anemia, serious injuries, blood disorders, and more?

If you are able, consider donating blood. Below are some nonfiction books about blood for adults and children as well as one fiction book that features a blood donor who travels to a small town to donate her rare blood and finds love along the way. 

For more information: https://www.aabb.org/for-donors-patients/national-blood-donor-month

Adult Nonfiction

BLOOD: A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION by Chris Cooper (DB 115447)
BLOOD MONEY: THE STORY OF LIFE, DEATH, AND PROFIT INSIDE AMERICA’S BLOOD INDUSTRY by Kathleen McLaughlin (DB 114750)
NINE PINTS: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE MONEY, MEDICINE, AND MYSTERIES OF BLOOD by Rose George (DB 94206)

Juvenile Nonfiction

BLOOD! NOT JUST A VAMPIRE DRINK by Stacy McAnulty (DB 110037) Grades Kindergarten-3
CHARLES DREW: THE INNOVATOR OF THE BLOOD BANK by Aaron Talley (DB 115453) Grades 3-6
SEEING RED: THE TRUE STORY OF BLOOD by Tanya Lloyd Kyi (DBC 06727) Grades 4-7

Adult Fiction

PIECE OF MY HEART by Sharon Sala (DB 94768)

That All May Play: Accessible Games and a Game Bibliography

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The Texas Talking Book Program is excited to announce the launch of its new game collection!

A variety of braille, tactile, and large print games are available for check out to individual patrons and institutions starting in 2024. There are a mix of board and card games that everyone can enjoy.

Games can be checked out for 45 days. To ensure that everyone gets a chance to borrow these games, there are no options to renew your loan. Individuals can check out one game at a time. Institutions can borrow up to five games simultaneously. Even if the game you want is currently loaned to another patron, we can always add it to your request list, so that you’ll be sent it once it is available.

This is a growing collection so check back throughout the year to see what new acquisitions we’ve made.

Perhaps you’d rather just read about games. Here are some books about board games, card games, and strategy games.

Backgammon: Tactile

Fiction

GAMBLER’S ANATOMY by Jonathan Lethem (DB 86013)

Cards (Spades, Poker, Euchre, etc.): Braille and Large Print

Fiction

PLAYING THE CARDS YOU’RE DEALT by Varian Johnson (DB 106454) Grades: 4-7

Nonfiction

HOYLE’S RULES OF GAMES: DESCRIPTIONS OF INDOOR GAMES OF SKILL AND CHANCE, WITH ADVICE ON SKILLFUL PLAY; BASED ON THE FOUNDATIONS LAID DOWN BY EDMOND HOYLE (DB 53859; BR 14229)

Checkers: Tactile

Nonfiction

PLAY WINNING CHECKERS: OFFICIAL AMERICAN MENSA GAME BOOK by Robert Pike (BR 12569)

Chess: Tactile

Fiction

FOCUSED by Alyson Gerber (DB 95432; LB 12619) Grades: 5-8
GRANDMASTER by David Klass (DB 78852) Grades: 6-9
LORDS OF THE WHITE CASTLE by Elizabeth Chadwick (DB 58566)
NERD SERIES
OBSESIÓN ENFERMIZA por Axael Velasquez (en español: DB 113336) para grados: 9-12
NOT AN EASY WIN by Chrystal D. Giles (DB 113356) Grades: 3-6
QUEEN’S GAMBIT by Walter S. Tevis (DBC 17656; en español: DB 105896)

Nonfiction

CHESS IN TEN LESSONS by Larry Evans (LB 02735)
IMMORTAL GAME: A HISTORY OF CHESS, OR HOW 32 CARVED PIECES ON A BOARD ILLUMINATED OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WAR, ART, SCIENCE, AND THE HUMAN BRAIN by David Shenk (DB 101961; BR 17706)
UNDERSTANDING CHESS MOVE BY MOVE by John Nunn (DB 106626)
WINNING CHESS: TACTICS AND STRATEGIES by Ted Nottingham (DB 52571) Grades: 5-8

Monopoly: Braille

Nonfiction

MONOPOLISTS: OBSESSION, FURY, AND THE SCANDAL BEHIND THE WORLD’S FAVORITE BOARD GAME by Mary Pilon (DB 81188)
PASS GO AND COLLECT $200: THE REAL STORY OF HOW MONOPOLY WAS INVENTED by Tanya Lee Stone (DBC 17272) Grades: 2-4

Parcheesi: Tactile

Fiction

FACESPACE by Adrian Chamberlain (DBG 08643) Grades: 5-8

Scrabble: Braille

Fiction

FINGERTIPS OF DUNCAN DORFMAN by Meg Wolitzer (DB 75236) Grades: 5-8
QUEEN OF THE TILES by Alkaf Hanna (DB 111410) Grades: 9-12

Nonfiction

WORD NERD: DISPATCHES FROM THE GAMES, GRAMMAR, AND GEEK UNDERGROUND by John D. Williams, Jr. (DB 82637)