The Talking Book Services, formerly called the Blind and Physically Handicapped Library Service, is administered by the Mississippi Library Commission, which serves as a free public library service for eligible Mississippi residents who are unable to read standard print due to a visual, physical or organic reading disability and for institutions which serve these eligible individuals (schools, hospitals, living facilities, etc.).

Eligibility requirements may be found at the Mississippi Library Commission’s Talking Books webpage, but, generally, you must be a Mississippi resident and must meet at least one of the following conditions:

  • Cannot hold a book or turn pages due to physical disability (includes missing arms or hands, lack of muscle coordination or prolonged weakness)
  • Cannot see standard size print due to visual impairment or blindness (includes macular degeneration)
  • Have temporary disabilities due to injury, illness, or surgery
  • Have an organic-based reading disability (medically certifiable reading disabilities, including dyslexia)

You may stop by the library to pick-up a Talking Book Services application or you can download the  “form fillable” application. Once you complete the application, just print a copy and mail. Here are the applications:

Once you complete either version of the application, mail the application to:

Mississippi Library Commission
Talking Book Library Services
3881 Eastwood Drive
Jackson, Mississippi 39211

If you have questions about the Talking Book Services, please contact the Mississippi Library Commission toll-free at 1.800.446.0892 or local at 601.432.4116 or email them at talkingbooks@mlc.lib.ms.us.

BARD: Braille & Audio Reading Download

The BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) service allows Talking Book Services patrons with internet access and an email address to search for and download titles to either a personal flash drive or a digital cartridge for immediate listening. New titles are frequently added to this service. It is also recommended that BARD users have a basic understanding of the internet and computers.

Talking Book Services registered patrons must register separately for the BARD service. Go to the BARD Application Instructions for the Application for Individuals and for Institutions.

For information on how the BARD service operates, go to Welcome to BARD.

The Mississippi Library Commission created the following instruction manual and tutorials for BARD users:

For a detailed BARD Instruction Manual please click here: BARD Instruction Manual
For a video walk-through for BARD on computers click here: BARD Tutorial for Windows
For a video walk-through for BARD on iOS devices click here: BARD Tutorial for iOS

The Reading Light Newsletter

The Reading Light newsletter is written and edited by the staff of the Mississippi Library Commission’s Talking Book Services Department. The newsletter talks about the various Talking Book Services and has interesting, fun articles, such as author highlights, book recommendations, and local news. Click here to access the text and audio versions of the newsletter via your computer or mobile device. The newsletter is also available in Braille, via email, in large print, and MP3 audio by contacting the Talking Book Services Department at 1-800-647-7542 or emailing them at talkingbooks@mlc.lib.ms.us.

Identify U.S. Currency with iBill Talking Banknote Identifier

As part of the U.S. government’s meaningful access initiative, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has developed a new device as part of it’s Currency Reader Program called an iBill Talking Banknote Identifier. The new iBill is a compact “key-fob” size device that can identify Federal Reserve notes (U.S. currency) for blind or visually impaired individuals, which BEP provides at no cost to eligible individuals who request them. For more information about the iBill, stop by the library to pick-up a brochure or you can go to Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where you can also find instructions for using the device in audio, video, print, and braille versions.

You may stop by the library to pick-up an iBill application or you can download a “form fillable” application by clicking:

Identify U.S. Currency with Your Mobile Device

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has made available two mobile device apps that can also identify U.S. currency. For iOS devices, you may download the free EyeNote App that is developed for Apple iOS platform mobile devices from the Apple App Store. For Android devices, you may download the free IDEAL Currency Identifier that operates on the Android platform by going to the Google Play Store.

If you have questions, contact the Tamara Blackwell, Reference Services Librarian, at 662.843.2774 x104, email her at: tdblackwell@bolivar.lib.ms.us or stop by Robinson-Carpenter Memorial Library.