Talking Book News Bulletin
Summer 2024

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From the Director
2024 Texas Great Read
Author Talk: Taylor Moore
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From the Director

Our ALL AGES summer reading program has returned! This year’s theme is Adventure Begins at Your Library and focuses on stories, games, and all kinds of exploring.

From June 3 to August 9, you’ll get themed book lists and matching activities, and you can win a prize at the end of summer by reviewing books. Materials will be available electronically, in large print, in braille, and in Spanish.

This year the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) is also providing several virtual events, including a kickoff party, live author talks, and online games!

Please join us this summer. For more information visit: www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/summerreadingprogram, or you can always give us a call at 1-800-252-9605.

Until next time,

Ann Minner, TBP Director

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Texas Center for the Book Announces the 2024 Texas Great Reads

The Texas Center for the Book at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission has announced its Texas Great Read titles for 2024. The Center has chosen THE MYSTERY OF THE MONARCHS, written by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Erika Meza, as the 2024 Texas Great Read Youth Selection and THE WHICH WAY TREE by Elizabeth Crook as the 2024 Texas Great Read Adult Selection.

Many libraries across Texas carry copies of THE WHICH WAY TREE and THE MYSTERY OF THE MONARCHS; we encourage you to check them out! Talking Book Program patrons may request the THE WHICH WAY TREE now (DB 90644), and THE MYSTERY OF THE MONARCHS (DB 120769, in process; LB 0000524). In addition, both books are available through E-Read Texas, TSLAC’s statewide program that provides e-books to small and medium-sized public libraries statewide; if your local library is part of this network, you can access the books this way, too.

Every year, the Library of Congress asks each state Center for the Book to select titles that represent the state’s literary landscape to highlight at the National Book Festival, an event showcasing the importance of books and reading. This year’s festival will be held August 24 in Washington, DC, and online. Check out the Library of Congress website for details.

This summer, TSLAC will hold two video webinars, one for each book, including an interview with each author and the opportunity for readers to ask questions. These events will be free and available on TSLAC’s YouTube channel after airing.

The Texas Center for the Book invites Texans to read THE MYSTERY OF THE MONARCHS and THE WHICH WAY TREE. For more information on the 2024 Texas Great Read Program, including synopses of the books, information about the authors and illustrator, and upcoming events, visit www.tsl.texas.gov/greatreadtexas.

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Summer Reading Program Author Talk: Taylor Moore

Join us for another author talk on Tuesday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with action-packed thriller author, Taylor Moore.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean, will talk with Taylor about his career as an author as well as the books from his Garrett Kohl Series. A Q&A chat will follow.

We are offering you the opportunity to ask Taylor Moore questions about his books. Please submit questions by July 9. We will choose questions based on the responses to this form and they may be asked during the event! http://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnJUBaiGh0MUQEMUtqldrlqjQFj5vIXotqLsp1WqghSNwPLg/viewform?usp=sharing

To RSVP, please reply to this email, or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605. You can start with the first book in the series.

DOWN RANGE by Taylor Moore   DBC 26465
Annotation: "As a decorated undercover DEA special agent, Garrett Kohl has traveled the world—and fought in most of it—but it's the High Plains of northwest Texas he calls home and dreams of returning to one day. When he is ordered back to Texas on a short mission expected to take a week at most, Kohl is unsettled to discover that the once-peaceful ranching community he loves is under attack. A band of criminals who have infiltrated law enforcement, corrupted local businesses, and is now terrorizing Kohl's own family."—adapted from jacket. Commercial audiobook. Violence and strong language. 2021.

We look forward to having you join us on Tuesday, July 16!

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Games

The Talking Book Program now has a selection of accessible games available for check out.

Individuals can check out one game at a time, while institutions like schools, libraries, or nursing homes can check out up to five at a time.

Here is a list of what is currently available, with more to come soon:

• Apples to Apples
• The Resistance
• Bananagrams
• Braille playing cards
• Braille UNO cards
• Braille LEGO
• Tactile Yahtzee with large print score cards
• Tactile Parcheesi
• Shut The Box with braille
• Tactile Double-Six Dominoes
• Tactile Chinese Checkers
• Tactile Connect 4

To check these out, please contact us via email tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov, or call us at
1-800-252-9605.

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Need BARD help?

The Patron Engagement Section offers The Many Faces of BARD online event the second Thursday of every month, at 6:00 p.m. (Central). Each monthly event covers one aspect of BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download service) and is open to all. Learn more from NLS: www.loc.gov/nls/about/services/many-faces-of-bard/

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New TBP Monthly E-News

Interested in the new monthly E-News Digest? Give us a call or email us at tbp.info@tsl.texas.gov.

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Holiday Closings

The Talking Book Program will be closed on the following holidays:

Thursday and Friday, July 4-5 ~ Independence Day
Monday, September 2 ~ Labor Day

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Helpful Contact Information

• To ask for assistance using BARD or to make changes to your account:
  1-800-252-9605 or tbp.bard@tsl.texas.gov
• To access the TBP blog: www.tsl.texas.gov/texastalkingbooks/
• To see the TBP book club schedule: www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/tbpbookclub/index.html

End of Texas Talking Book News
Summer 2024