Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library

10/13/2026

You served your country, now let us serve you!

Since the 1930s, the Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) has been dedicated to supporting veterans with accessible library resources, and that commitment continues today. Veterans still receive priority access to our materials and specialized equipment.
BTBL provides free audiobooks, braille books and accessible reading technology to anyone who has a visual, physical or reading disability that makes it difficult to read or hold standard print materials.

If reading print is challenging for you or a loved one—whether due to vision loss, mobility limitations, or a reading disability—you qualify for this service. Learn more at Michigan.gov/BTBL or email [email protected] for assistance enrolling.

BTBL is here to help Michigan veterans stay connected, informed and empowered through accessible reading.

10/09/2026

Join patrons nationwide in virtual programming offered through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Details below.

NLS has a full schedule of free patron-focused online events in October. All begin at 7 p.m. eastern time; get details and register at the links below
First up, this Thursday, October 8, the Many Faces of BARD will offer tips on advanced navigation on the BARD Mobile app. After the presentation and demonstration, NLS staff members will take questions about all things BARD for the remainder of the hour. www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/many-faces-of-bard?loclr=fbnls.
On Tuesday, October 13, the quarterly Patron Corner will continue the celebration of BARD’s 20th anniversary. The program will feature a panel of NLS colleagues and patrons who were the first users of BARD in a 2006 beta test. There also will be an opportunity for audience members to express what BARD has meant to them as patrons. www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/patron-corner?loclr=fbnls.
On Thursday, October 22, the NLS Music Section will present a Q&A with Noah Tobias Carver, a tenor soloist, disability rights activist and NLS patron who won the 2026 Eastman School of Music Concerto Competition. You can read more about Carver in an NLS Music Notes Blog post at https://blogs.loc.gov/nls-music-notes/2026/09/reader-spotlight-on-noah-tobias-carver?loclr=fbnls. Find a link to join the webinar at www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/music-service-and-materials?loclr=fbnls.
Finally, the topic for That All May eRead on Tuesday, October 27, will be Care and Use of the eReader: Troubleshooting and Other Miscellany. www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/that-all-may-eread?loclr-fbnls.
[Image: Noah Tobias Carver, who will be the special guest at the October 22 NLS Music Notes webinar. Photo courtesy of Noah Tobias Carver.]

10/08/2026

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the many ways people learn and to highlight resources that make reading accessible for everyone.

At the Braille and Talking Book Library, we’re proud to support individuals with dyslexia by providing access to over 135,000 audio books in our collection. Whether you prefer to listen independently or pair an audio book with a print copy for added support, we’re here to help you enjoy reading in the way that works best for you.

If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, reach out—we’d love to help you discover your next great read.

Call: 1-800-992-9012
Email: [email protected]

10/06/2026

What happens when you put the camera in the hands of young Braille readers?

Find out in Brailled It, an award-winning documentary available free October 7–13. Then join us for a national discussion on October 13!

Register: https://bit.ly/BrailledIt

More info: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILEO/bulletins/42e2475

Brailled It - Free Movie Screening Begins TOMORROW! Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity sent this bulletin at 10/06/2026 08:48 AM EDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. OCTOBER 6, 2026 Brailled It - Free Movie Screening The Maryland State Library for the Blin...

10/05/2026

BTBL can provide iBill currency readers to our patrons for free through the Bureau of Engraving and Printing! These handy devices make identifying paper money quick and accessible, and our patrons have found them incredibly helpful. If you’d like to learn more or request one, contact the library at 1-800-992-9012.

10/02/2026

The One Grand Read program is a collaboration between Capital Area District Libraries, East Lansing Public Library, and Michigan State University to bring community members together around a single book through activities spanning several months.

This year’s selected title is “There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension” by Hanif Abdurraqib (DB120391)

Learn more at:

Our Community in Conversation Starts with One Grand Read

09/29/2026

📚 Behind the Scenes: Braille Books Incoming!

We’re busy preparing a new batch of braille books to add into the collection for circulation soon.

Because braille takes up more space than print, many titles come in multiple volumes. Our newest cart includes a book so long it spans seven volumes and fills almost an entire shelf by itself!

We also unpacked a few new print‑braille books for children, perfect for early braille learners and families reading together.

Once everything is checked in, labeled, and added to the catalog, these books will be ready to borrow. Thanks for enjoying these behind‑the‑scenes moments with us — we love sharing the process of keeping our collection growing and accessible! 📘✨

09/28/2026

Won't you be our neighbor? Refer a friend to BTBL and help connect more readers with the resources they need.

It’s been said that good fences make good neighbors — but we think good books make even better ones. You may have already shared a cup of sugar or exchanged friendly waves with the folks next door, but have you told them about NLS? On , the ultimate way to be a good neighbor is to tell your neighbors about our free service!
If you also want to provide them with some neighborly recommendations, books about America’s favorite neighbor, Mister Rogers, are sure to please. “The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers (BR22929, DB92214)” by Maxwell King celebrates the creator and star of the children’s TV program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers (DB96626)” offers lyrics to 75 songs from Fred Rogers’ show, presented as a treasury of poems narrated by actors Kate Mulgrew and John Lithgow. Fred Rogers answers letters he received from children and adults through the years in “Dear Mister Rogers: Does It Ever Rain in Your Neighborhood? Letters to Mister Rogers (DB45482).”
“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor.” NLS is looking forward to meeting your neighbors today!

[Photo: Mister Rogers with puppet Lady Elaine Fairchilde and children. Photo by Robert Lerner, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection, Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.]

09/28/2026

The newest issue of the BTBL InFocus Newsletter is here! 🎉

Inside this edition, you’ll get to meet our new Library Manager, explore helpful tips about using the DA2 player, discover fresh book recommendations you won’t want to miss, and more!

Want BTBL updates delivered right to your inbox? 📬
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with all the latest news, resources, and announcements from BTBL.

InFocus Newsletter Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity sent this bulletin at 09/28/2026 08:56 AM EDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. In Focus September 2026 News from the Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library Familiar Face Takes the Lead Long-time patr...

09/25/2026

Discover the power of Braille.

Join the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled for a free viewing of Brailled It, an inspiring documentary that follows the world's top young Braille readers and writers as they compete in the Braille Challenge.

🎥 Watch on demand: October 7–13 💬 Live national discussion: October 13 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Registration is free, but required. 🔗 https://bit.ly/BrailledIt

An official website of the State of Maryland.