Braille and Talking Book Library, Sacramento - BTBL

05/11/2026

NLS has a full slate of patron-focused online events this month.
On Thursday, May 14, the monthly Many Faces of BARD program will explore Typing Text Using the DA2. After a presentation and demonstration, NLS staff members will take your questions about all things BARD (our Braille and Audio Reading Download service) for the remainder of the hour. The program will begin at 7 p.m. eastern time and last for one hour. Get more information at www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/many-faces-of-bard.
The topic for the Thursday, May 21, Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker online program at 7 p.m. eastern time will be Creating the Personalized Experience: Effectively Setting Volume, Speed and Tone in the My Talking Books Skill on Alexa. More information: www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/smart-speaking-to-the-smart-speaker.
Finally, That All May eRead resumes its regular schedule on Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. eastern time. Navigating DAISY Files on Your eReader is the subject of this month’s program. NLS staff members will answer questions about the Braille eReader for the remainder of the hour. More information: www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/that-all-may-eread.
[Image: Close-up photo of a person holding an NLS DA2 audiobook player.]

05/05/2026

May the Fourth Be with You! On , awaken the force within you by enjoying books related to the Star Wars universe from the NLS collection. Start “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away” with “Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker (DB11495)” by George Lucas, or its retelling in “Star Wars: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy (DB83213)” by Alexandra Bracken. You can even whip up some comfort food with “The Star Wars Cook Book: Wookiee Cookies and Other Galactic Recipes (BR12243)” by Robin Davis. Or go metaphysical with "Star Wars and Philosophy: More Powerful than You Can Possibly Imagine (DB92292)," a multi-author collection of essays looking at philosophical questions brought up by the Star Wars film franchise. The Library of Congress has also posted videos related to Star Wars, including a scholarly panel discussing “The Politics of Star Wars” and how its themes relate to American culture: https://youtu.be/WykUee_c06E.
[Image: A fan-made R2D2 droid takes part in the annual McMenamin’s UFO Festival parade in McMinnville, Oregon. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.]

04/17/2026

Calling all readers! Do you want to help make books accessible to your fellow Californians? Head over to https://www.library.ca.gov/btbl/ under the volunteer link to see the volunteer job postings in Idealist.

Video description: from the name plate of the BTBL recording studio the camera goes down a hallway into a door, where the door to the recording studio opens, revealing a volunteer, Caro, inside. It pans over the recording equipment and open, book, transitioning to a view from outside the studio by the staff member working the equipment and looking through the window into the studio with the volunteer speaking into a mic. The last shots are of the recording equipment and monitor the staff uses and ends with a flyer to volunteer.

04/16/2026

Join us for this event!

If you’ve been hearing about the DA2 and wondering what it actually does, this is your moment to get clear answers.

Join us for a guided introduction to the new DA2 Talking Book Machine, led by Mike Marlin and Morgan Pershing from the Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL).

They’ll walk us through what’s new, what’s improved from the DA1, and how features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and direct downloads from BARD can shape your reading experience.

You’ll also get clarity on eligibility and support options, with time to ask your own questions so you leave feeling informed and confident.

Register here: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/find-services/offerings/intro-to-da2-talking-book-machine/

04/05/2026

The Braille and Talking Book Library’s Print/Braille collection features children’s books that are print books with braille pages included with each print page - so a braille reader and print reader can enjoy the book together! Learn more about how to access these materials: https://www.library.ca.gov/btbl/

Image Description: A Print/Braille volume of El conejito andarín – a Spanish-language copy of The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown – sits upright on a green table in the Braille and Talking Book Library reading room. The volume cover features Clement Hurd’s illustration of a little white bunny and his mother in the grass, with a braille overlay.

03/16/2026

We are holding our second Accessible Appy Hour on March 17 at 12-1pm.

Explore the potential of GPS in navigating the world if you are visually impaired with Jack Heim, retired Manager of High Performance Computing at the Math Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This program will cover how GPS and maps work as well as an overview of currently available apps.

Register at: https://libraryca.libcal.com/event/16468313

03/12/2026

Getting the word out for a partner org: Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) is excited to invite teens ages 14–17 to apply for Camp GDB, a five-day summer program designed to introduce youth to the guide dog lifestyle while building independence, confidence, and community.

Camp GDB will take place June 22–26, 2026, at the Hull Foundation & Learning Center in Sandy, Oregon.

This immersive experience is ideal for teens who are curious about guide dogs and ready to grow their independence in a supportive and engaging environment. Participants will:

• Explore the companionship, independence, and responsibility that come with a guide dog partnership.
• Participate in hands-on activities with dogs, gaining insight into their care and training.
• Learn about the critical role strong Orientation and Mobility (O&M) skills play in a successful guide dog relationship.

Camp GDB balances learning with fun. Campers will build friendships while enjoying swimming, outdoor activities, and classic summer camp evenings by the fire complete with s’mores.
Independence Expectations

Please note that participants must be independent with daily living activities, including dressing, bathing, and eating. Camp GDB may not be a good fit for youth whose behavioral, developmental, or mobility challenges are more significant than their vision loss.

Apply and Learn More
For additional details about Camp GDB or to apply, visit Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Youth Programs page:

Video: Meet GDB Youth Programs and Guide Dog Client, Elana Regan Elana Regan Video Transcript [AUDIO DESCRIPTION] Meet Elana Regan and her yellow lab…

02/27/2026

Louis Armstrong recorded "Heebie Jeebies" 100 years ago and helped popularizing s**t singing, but today Armstrong is mostly known for "What a Wonderful World," a song that wistfully longs for a better world while pointing out seemingly mundane things. For NLS patrons who want instructional material to learn this wonderful song on guitar and in the style of Armstrong, check out "What a Wonderful World (DBM04742)," performed and taught by Bill Brown. Learn more about receiving NLS music materials at www.loc.gov/nls/how-to-enroll/enroll-for-music-service-and-materials?loclr=fbnls. For books on Armstrong himself, begin with "Louis Armstrong, An American Genius (DB21821)" by James Lincoln Collier, which chronicles Armstrong's rise as one of the key figures in the history of jazz. Collier also analyzes Satchmo's musical style, which influenced rock, pop and the music of Copland, Milhaud and Poulenc. For younger readers in grades 6-9, "Louis Armstrong (DB33741)," by Sam Tanenhaus, focuses on Armstrong's early life in a poor New Orleans family and in reform school, and then his rise to fame after discovering the trumpet.

[Image: The Louis Armstrong statue in New Orleans. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.]