News and Announcements

The NLS Patron Engagement Section (PES) will host a series of informational sessions through its new Patron Corner. The Patron Corner offers programs and resources to help enhance your library experience. Quarterly sessions share information around a specific topic and provide an opportunity for patrons to learn more about library services directly from NLS staff. The most recent session from December, “Do You Hear What I Hear: The NLS Music Section Is Not Just for Musicians,” highlighted music resources available to all TBBL patrons. Register for upcoming events and enjoy recordings of previous sessions by visiting the NLS Patron Corner.

In addition to the Patron Corner, the NLS Music Section will start hosting a quarterly virtual event where patrons can learn in depth about selected music topics. Beginning in the spring, the quarterly Music Notes Meeting will occur on the fourth Tuesday of the first month of each quarter, at 7:00 p.m. eastern time. The 2023 sessions will be on April 25, July 25, and October 24. Each hour-long Music Notes Meeting will begin with a pre-recorded conversation about a topic covered in the NLS Music Notes blog between the blog author and the Music Section Head. A live question-and-answer session with the blog author will follow. The topic for April 25 is “Time Out for ‘Take Five.’” Music Section Head Juliette Appold will talk with Music Reader Services Librarian Brian McCurdy about this famous piece of music and its relevance to the NLS Music Collection. Does this make you curious? Check out the blog post, "Song Stories: Time Out for “Take Five,”" by Brian McCurdy.

Stay tuned for more information about these programs from the NLS! 

Magazines are available to be delivered through the US mail to your home address, or you may download issues in electronic braille or audio format from BARD. If you have not signed up for a free BARD account, please visit the NLS BARD site for instructions on how to enroll.

New audio magazines have been added to the NLS collection:

• "Harvard Women’s Health Watch" offers timely information on women’s health and medicine. Includes new prevention strategies, diagnostic techniques, medications, and treatments. Issues come out monthly.
• "Psychology Today" is an American general-interest psychology magazine. A variety of psychological perspectives and approaches are represented in the magazine’s analyses. Issues come out bi-monthly.

The NLS added two new NLS-produced braille magazines:

• "Guideposts" shares inspirational stories. Issues come out monthly and are available in hardcopy braille and through BARD.
• "Better Homes and Gardens" is a resource for home ideas, food and recipes for everyday and special occasions, and garden know-how. Issues come out monthly and are available in hardcopy braille and through BARD.

Please note that "Martha Stewart Living" in braille format and "People" en Español in audio format have ceased publication. NLS will explore potential replacements for these magazines.

You can choose to receive magazines delivered through the US mail to your home address, or you may download issues in electronic braille or audio format from BARD. If you have not signed up for a free BARD account, please visit the NLS BARD site for instructions on how to enroll.

This Winter, readers may see richer and more extensive descriptions provided directly from the publishers. The NLS hopes this helps patrons find titles that interest them. Read more about this in the Talking Book Topics November-December 2022 issue. 

Unfortunately, due to ongoing paper shortages and increased printing costs, NLS has made the difficult decision to cease production of its large-print publications. Talking Book Topics (TBT), Braille Book Review (BBR), and Musical Mainstream (MM), will continue to be available in the following formats:

• Talking Book Topics (TBT) - TBT remains available in HTML and PDF through NLS’ TBT site. You may also receive this publication in audio from BARD, BARD Mobile, or by mail as a magazine on cartridge subscription and as a digital book. In addition, TBT is available through NFB-NEWSLINE.
• Braille Book Review (BBR) - BBR continues to be available in hardcopy braille. To access BBR in HTML and BRF format, please visit the BBR site. To subscribe to BBR in electronic braille, visit BARD.
• Musical Mainstream (MM) - MM continues to be available in braille, electronic braille, and in audio. Please reach out to the NLS Music Section at nlsm@loc.gov or by phone at 800-424-8567 ext. 2 to discuss alternate formats and distribution opportunities.