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Arizona Talking Book Library

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Arizona Talking Book Library

Since 1970, Arizona Talking Book Library has been a Regional Library of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.

https://www.loc.gov/nls/ Arizona Talking Book Library provides books, magazines and other library resources in alternate formats for all Arizona residents whose visual, physical or reading disabilities prevent the reading of conventional print materials. Our lending library includes audio books and magazines; movies with audio descriptions; and Braille books and magazines by postage free mail. Oth

er resources include: BARD: Braille and Audio Reading Download website; Newsline: Audio newspapers over the phone, online and on mobile devices; Greater Phoenix Digital Library: Downloadable eBooks, audio books, music and more.

06/01/2026

It's time to Unearth a Story!

Today, June 1st, marks the start of the Summer Reading Program here at the Arizona Talking Book Library! Open to all of our patrons, this program invites you to Unearth a Story and discover something new while working your way through your TBR. The program runs from June 1st to August 1st.

To complete the program and be entered into a prize drawing, youth patrons can read 20 minutes a day for a total of 1,220 minutes across the program, and adult patrons can complete a row in the adult bingo card or read six books of your choice.

If you want to join the Summer Reading Program, call us at 602-255-5578 - we can't wait to Unearth a Story with you!

05/22/2026

We will be closed on Monday, May 25th, 2026, in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume normal business hours at 8 AM on Tuesday, May 26th.

05/15/2026

Are you ready to dig deep into the world of reading this summer?

Join us for our 2026 Summer Reading Program! This year's theme is Unearth a Story - whether you are digging into a good book, uncovering hidden histories, or exploring the past, there are tons of exciting stories to discover!

The Summer Reading Program runs from June 1st to August 1st, and is open to any active patrons of the Arizona Talking Book Library. Patrons who complete the challenge will be entered into a prize raffle.

To learn more about the Summer Reading Program, call us at 602-255-5578. We can't wait to unearth a story with you this summer!

05/11/2026

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! We have amazing books celebrating AAPI heritage in our catalog year round, but if you're looking for a new read, find these titles on BARD or request them from your librarian today!

Extinction Capital of the World: Stories by Mariah Rigg (DB 135190) - In ten vibrant, affecting stories, Mariah Rigg immerses readers in contemporary Hawai'i. By turns heartbreaking and hopeful, these stories of love, longing, and grief are fierce dispatches from a state haunted by the specter of colonization, a precious biome under constant threat. Linked by both place and character, Rigg's stories illuminate the exotification and commodification of Hawai'i in the American mythos.

The World of Nancy Kwan: A Memoir by Hollywood’s Asian Superstar by Nancy Kwan (DB 129240) - A Hollywood icon and Asian superstar shares the inspiring story of her groundbreaking career. When Nancy Kwan burst onto the scene in the early 1960s, Asian characters in film were portrayed by white actors in makeup playing "yellowface," and those minor roles were the stuff of clichés. When--against all odds--Nancy landed the lead role in the much-anticipated 1960 film The World of Suzie Wong, she became an international superstar and was celebrated for her beauty, grace, authenticity, and s***k: a "Chinese Garbo," the "Asian Bardot." Never allowing show business to change her, Kwan persevered in an industry where everything was stacked against her, breaking through barriers and becoming a beacon of hope to generations of Asians who aspired to be seen.

For more information about us and the services we offer, call us at 602-255-5578 or visit azlibrary.gov/tbl

04/23/2026

Today is World Book Day!

There is no better day to highlight our mission That All May Read. Whether you or someone you know cannot read standard print due to reading disabilities, physical disabilities, low vision, or blindness, we provide free access to books, magazines, and more in audio and braille for all Arizonans who qualify. Our catalog contains books and magazines all the way from pre-K to adult reading levels across a wide range of genres, so we have something for everyone.

How are you celebrating World Book Day? If you have a current read or longtime favorite from our collection, we'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

And if you want to learn more about us and the services we offer, call us at 602-255-5578 or email [email protected].

04/16/2026

Do you want to keep up with the latest books in our catalog? Are you looking to explore other genres to expand your reading interest?

Talking Book Topics (TBT) lists a selection of audio titles recently added to the NLS collection and available on the NLS website, on BARD, or to send out on book cartridges. It also carries news of developments in services to people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical, perceptual, or reading disability that prevents them from using regular print materials.

You can find the online version of Talking Book Topics (which also includes links to TBT on BARD, as well as a printable order form) on the NLS website here: https://www.loc.gov/nls/new-materials/talking-book-topics/

if you would prefer to receive the audio version mailed to you on a cartridge with your magazines, you can request it from your librarian at any time.

To learn more about TBT, or any of the other services we offer, call us at 602-255-5578 or visit azlibrary.gov/tbl

04/14/2026

April is National Poetry Month! Poetry is a wonderful art form that explores the full depth of human emotions whether you are writing your own poetry or diving into the work of another poet. If you're looking to discover a new poet, find these titles on BARD or request them from your librarian today!

Quipu by Arthur Sze (DBC10231) - In this collection of poetry, the author utilizes quipu, a tactile recording device for the pre-literate Inca, as a unifying metaphor, knotting and stringing luminous poems that move across cultures and time, from elegy to ode. Some strong language.

An American Sunrise: Poems by Jo Harjo (DB 101306 or BR 22723) - Collection of fifty-seven poems by the twenty-third US poet laureate. Themes explored include colonialism-induced generational trauma, aging, creative expression, activism, and
the beauty of nature. In "By the Way," Harjo reflects on the impact of Adrienne Rich on her own work.

Rhyme's Rooms: The Architecture of Poetry by Brad Leithauser (DB 108701) - Leithauser takes a deep dive into that how -- the very architecture of poetry. He explains how meter and rhyme work in fruitful opposition ("Meter is prospective; rhyme is retrospective"); how the weirdnesses of spelling in English are a boon to the poet; why an off rhyme will often succeed where a perfect rhyme would not; why Shakespeare and Frost can sound so similar, despite the centuries separating them. Here is both an indispensable learning tool and a delightful journey into the art of the poem--a chance for new poets and readers of poetry to grasp the fundamentals, and for experienced poets and readers to rediscover excellent works in all their fascinating detail.

For more information about us and the services we offer, call us at 602-255-5578 or visit azlibrary.gov/tbl

04/02/2026

Are you looking for a spectacular science fiction title to spark your imagination?

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (DB 103718, BR 24103, or DB 104736 en español) follows Ryland Grace, who awakens on a spaceship far from Earth with no memory and two dead crewmates. As he begins to remember the details of his
impossible mission to try to save humanity from an extinction-level threat, he encounters an unexpected ally.

This title has just been adapted into a movie with a star-studded cast led by Ryan Gosling, so before you hit the theaters - or if you saw the movie and want to dive deeper - find this title on BARD or request it from your librarian today!

For more information about us and the services we offer, call us at 602-255-5578 or visit azlibrary.gov/tbl

03/30/2026

Do you love playing or learning about music, instruments, music theory, and more?

The Music Section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), Library of Congress has the largest music collection of its kind in the world, with more than 25,000 titles including braille and large-print scores and recorded instructional materials about music and musicians. Music-related magazines in audio and braille are also available. The items in the collection range from beginning to advanced, so there is something for everyone!

Any person eligible for NLS service is also eligible for NLS music services. Patrons already registered with a cooperating network library should contact the NLS Music Section directly either via phone (800-424-8567 ext. 2) or via email ([email protected]). You can also read more about this program on their website https://www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/music-service-and-materials/

03/25/2026

Today, March 25th, is Tolkien Reading Day!

Since it's inception in 2003, Tolkien Reading Day encourages people to read and share their favorite words from J.R.R. Tolkien's prolific body of works. You can find the complete collection of his works available through the library in audio and braille here: https://www.loc.gov/nls/new-materials/book-lists/lord-of-the-rings-and-other-works-by-j-r-r-tolkien/

To request these titles, ask questions, or to learn more about the services we offer, call us at 602-255-5578 or visit azlibrary.gov/tbl

And if you see a mysterious ring with Elvish script that calls to you... perhaps pick up a good book instead!

[Photo: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.]

Address

1030 N 32nd Street
Phoenix, AZ
85008

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

https://azlibrary.gov/talkingbooks

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