Louisville Talking Book Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

301 W York St. Louisville, KY 40203 Telephone: (502) 574-1625

General Information | Who is eligible for service? | What is available? | Archived Read On Newsletter | Search the TBL Catalog

General Information

The Louisville Talking Book Library offers recorded books and other materials to eligible visually and physically handicapped Jefferson County, KY residents. All recorded books & equipment may be sent to borrowers and returned by postage-free mail. We are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

These materials are provided by the Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (NLS).

For additional information contact Linda Atzinger 574-1770 - Supervisor, Accessibility Services

You may also call your Reader's Advisor directly.

• For those with last names starting with A-O call: Mary Latham at 574-1602
• For those with last names startng N-Z call: Kathy Szinnyey 574-1723

Who is Eligible for the service?

• Anyone who is unable to read or handle standard printed materials as a result of temporary or permanent visual or physical disability.
• Persons who are legally blind or cannot see well enough or focus long enough to read standard print, even with glasses.
• Persons who are unable to hold or turn pages of print books.
• Persons who are certified by a medical doctor as having a reading disability.

What is Available?

• Books: Recorded and Braille books from a national collection. Westerns, bestsellers, classics, mysteries, biographies, westerns, children's books, and foreign language materials.  Frequently Asked Questions about upcoming Digital Talking Books
• Braille Books: Braille books from the National Library Service are available from the Kentucky Talking Book Library in Frankfort, but the Louisville Talking Book Library does have a small collection of braille books. These are primarily "twin vision" books for younger children but there are other useful titles as well. Twin vision books provide print books with a clear plastic overlay of braille that allows braille and print readers to share the same book together. Click here for a list of braille books owned by the Louisville Talking Book Library.
• Magazines: Library patrons may subscribe to over seventy magazines in recorded or Braille formats from NLS. They include such popular selections as Sports Illustrated, People, and National Geographic.  NLS Network Libraries also record accessible versions of many magazines that can be requested.
• Equipment and Accessories: Special playback equipment is needed to listen to the books and magazines produced by NLS. This equipment is lent to eligible users free of charge for as long as the patron is a user of reading material provided by NLS and its cooperating libraries. Accessories are available which will help readers with limited mobility or hearing impairment to use the equipment.  Follow this link for pictures and a description of new playback equipment distributed by NLS.
• Book Reviews and Catalogs: Registered borrowers learn about new books in the collection through two bi-monthly publications, Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review. These catalogs are available in large print, recorded, and Braille formats.
• Descriptive Videos: A limited collection of VHS video tape movies have a separate sound track through which a narrator describes the action taking place on the screen. These videos are designed for visually impaired person who cannot see well enough to follow the visual content of a movie.
• Click here to view a complete descriptive video list.

Read On Newsletter

Click here for "Read On" the Louisville Talking Book Library newsletter (archived copy).