Talking Book & Braille Service
Important Notice
3/6/24 All Nationally-Produced magazines are now distributed by Nebraska TBBS. They will come to you in the same clear cases as your books, and can be returned as normal. If you have questions, please contact the library (800) 742-7691, (402) 471-4038.
About Us
Nebraska Library Commission's Talking Book and Braille Service (TBBS) is part of a nationwide network of cooperating libraries headed by the National Library Service (NLS), a division of the Library of Congress.
TBBS provides free audiobooks, audio magazines and Braille through the mail to individuals with a visual or physical condition, or a reading disability which limits use of regular print. Eligible individuals can also download books and magazines from BARD online. Learn more about BARD.
In our in-house sound studios, we also record and produce audiobooks and audio magazines from either Nebraska and regional authors or about Nebraska and the Great Plains. The recordings from our Nebraska Collection are made available for loan to our patrons.
How to Apply
- Check if you are eligible for TBBS service. Service is free for eligible patrons
- Fill out an application form. Make sure it is signed by a doctor, optometrist, nurse, therapist, professional staff of a hospital or institution, a social worker, caseworker, rehabilitation counselor, or other certifying authority.
- When we receive your application at the library, we'll give you a call to set up service.
- All materials are sent through the mail, no postage required. We'll send playback equipment, some books, and a welcome packet with large print catalogs and our policy information.
- After you sign up, you will have the option of setting up an account to download materials online through BARD.
TBBS Staff Directory
Current talking book and Braille readers are encouraged to contact a Reader Advisor with all questions, comments and requests. If you're curious, here's a full list of all TBBS Staff
Policies
Please visit our Policies page to learn about how we maintain our collection, our loan policy, how materials are selected to be added to our collection, and our policy on reproducing library materials.
Audio Production
The Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service recording studios are available for spoken-word recording. The service includes use of a digital audio recording studio, as well as assistance from an NLC staff member who will operate recording equipment and provide technical advice. The organization requesting service would provide its own reader and two copies of the script.
Studio production and post-production: $50.00 per hour.
Braille Embossing
The Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service braille embossing service will emboss Microsoft Word documents or an ASCII (DOS text) files. The organization requesting service should submit the document to be embossed on a flash drive. Time required for completion of projects is determined by length of document, number of copies requested, current volume of usage, and overall staff workload.
Cost: $0.04 per braille page.
To estimate cost, figure one page of text, double-spaced, equals approximately four pages of braille.
Billing for Audio Production and Braille
Government agencies and nonprofits will generally be billed on a monthly basis. If fees are less than $10.00, cumulative charges will be billed during the month when the total reaches or exceeds that amount. An invoice will be sent at least once a year.
Reviewed April 2012.
Note: Rates may be subject to change.
This project was made possible with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.