Kentucky Talking Book Library

Kentucky Talking Book Library Kentucky Talking Book Library provides audiobooks and braille to readers with print disabilities. KTBL is located in Frankfort, KY.

The Kentucky Talking Book Library is a free service provided by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. KTBL provides audio and braille books and magazines for Kentuckians who are blind, have low vision, or are otherwise unable to read print. It is part of a nationwide network of cooperative libraries headed by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, a division o

f the Library of Congress. The Kentucky Talking Book Library collection includes both fiction and non-fiction, with items suitable for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Materials are sent by mail or can be downloaded from the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) website.

• Digital audio Talking Books and a special Talking Book player
• Embossed braille books
• Digital braille and a special braille eReader
• BARD—downloadable audio and braille books available 24/7
• BARD Mobile—download and play books on your smartphone or tablet
• Kentucky books—audio books about KY or by KY authors; recorded in the KTBL studio
• Print/braille books—children’s picture books with a braille overlay
• Audio and Braille magazines by mail or download

Communication through agency-related social media is considered a public record under KRS 171.410(1) and will be managed under the terms of KRS 171.410 through 171.740 and 725 KAR Chapter 1. Any posting to these social media pages may be subject to disclosure to third parties. The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives reserves the right to address or remove any posts or comments at its discretion. The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives has not evaluated and does not endorse any products advertised or opinions expressed on these pages​.

Beam into the Badlands!Starting today, June 22, NLS is offering a narrated soundscape “walkthrough” of Badlands National...
06/22/2026

Beam into the Badlands!

Starting today, June 22, NLS is offering a narrated soundscape “walkthrough” of Badlands National Park in South Dakota, hosted by Kathleen Slocum, the Accessible Library Services Manager at South Dakota’s Accessible Library Services.

For more information on how to join, contact KTBL at 800-372-2968, 502-564-5791, or email us at [email protected].

The next meeting of the KTBL Book Club will be on Zoom at 3:30 pm ET on Tuesday, July 21. We will be discussing Girl, Se...
06/18/2026

The next meeting of the KTBL Book Club will be on Zoom at 3:30 pm ET on Tuesday, July 21. We will be discussing Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Brashardoust. DB 123822.

"Soraya, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch, has lived eighteen years in the shadows but as her twin brother's wedding approaches, she faces choices with unimaginable consequences."-- From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. Narrated by Nikki Massoud.

If you would like to join the KTBL Book Club, please contact the Kentucky Talking Book Library at 1-800-372-2968, (502) 564-5791, or [email protected].

Summer Reading is rolling right along!KTBL has designed a bingo card to help you keep track of what you’ve read this sum...
06/17/2026

Summer Reading is rolling right along!

KTBL has designed a bingo card to help you keep track of what you’ve read this summer! Once you’ve filled in five spots in your bingo card, send it in with your name so we can give you your KTBL tote bag as a prize!

If you receive our large print newsletter, you’ve already got a copy of the bingo card. If you need a replacement or prefer an alternate format give us a call at 800-372-2968 to get yours today!

TODAY!NLS Summer Reading continues with an author talk this afternoon!Bestselling author Peter Heller will discuss his n...
06/16/2026

TODAY!

NLS Summer Reading continues with an author talk this afternoon!

Bestselling author Peter Heller will discuss his novel The Dog Stars (DB 75493) with public radio journalist Maeve Conran.

For more information on how to join, contact KTBL at 800-372-2968, 502-564-5791, or email us at [email protected].

KTBL will be closed on Friday, June 19 for Juneteenth. Messages may be left at ktbl.mail@ky.gov, 800-372-2968, or 502-56...
06/15/2026

KTBL will be closed on Friday, June 19 for Juneteenth. Messages may be left at [email protected], 800-372-2968, or 502-564-5791.

TODAY!The National Library Service is kicking off their Summer Reading Program with a special kickoff event today, Monda...
06/15/2026

TODAY!

The National Library Service is kicking off their Summer Reading Program with a special kickoff event today, Monday June 15 at 4:00PM ET/3:00PM CT.

Join NLS for a program featuring special guests introducing this year’s summer reading theme: Unearth A Story!

For more information on how to join, contact KTBL at 800-372-2968, 502-564-5791, or email us at [email protected].

06/14/2026

Coming soon from the KTBL Studio: “Mother of Bourbon: The Greatest American Whiskey Story Never Told” by Eric Goodman and Kaveh Zamanian. This historical fiction novel is about the real Kentucky historical figure, Mary Dowling, a largely forgotten distiller who overcame prohibition and sexism to build a bourbon empire.

To honor the legacy of women in the bourbon industry, Studio Coordinator Kali Mattheus talked with Alex Castle, Master Distiller at Augusta Distillery about her favorite books, what it takes to be a master distiller, and what it’s like to be one of the few female master distillers in Kentucky. Have a listen to our Compelling Conversation and keep an eye out for “Mother of Bourbon” coming soon to BARD and digital cartridge!

America’s 250th Birthday is right around the corner and we are starting the celebration early this Flag Day.Flag Day com...
06/12/2026

America’s 250th Birthday is right around the corner and we are starting the celebration early this Flag Day.

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the American flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. It takes on extra meaning this year in the lead up to America’s Semiquincentennial! In recognition, we’ve picked out this star-spangled collection for you to enjoy.

DB 110077: O Say Can You Hear?: A Cultural Biography of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Mark Clague.
DB 72863: Betsy Ross and the Making of America by Marla Miller.
DB 61466: Flag: An American Biography by Marc Leepson.
DBC 04287: Honor Our Flag: How to Care For, Fly, and Otherwise Respect the Stars and Stripes by David Singleton
DB 84840: Flags Over America: A Star-Spangled Story by Cheryl Harness. For grades 2-4.

To request these or any other title on digital cartridge or for help signing up for BARD, please contact the Kentucky Talking Book Library at 1-800-372-2968, (502) 564-5791, or [email protected].

June 7 through June 13 is recognized as National Gardening Week.Be the best gardener you can be! We’ve picked out five b...
06/08/2026

June 7 through June 13 is recognized as National Gardening Week.

Be the best gardener you can be! We’ve picked out five books that you can leaf through with your green thumb.

DB 115673: Raised Bed Gardening: A Complete Beginners Guide: Grow Everything from Herbs to Tomatoes in Your Own Custom Raised Beds by Tara Nolan
DB 125064: Attracting Birds and Butterflies: How to Plant a Backyard Habitat to Attracted Winged Wildlife by Barbara Ellis
DB 111462: Grow by Riz Reyes. For grades 4-7.
DB 126845: The Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening: Grow Beautiful Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers – the Easy Way! By Charlie Nardozzi
DB121128: A Gardener’s Guide to Botany: The Biology Behind the Plants You Love, How They Grow, and What They Need by Scott Zona

To request these or any other title on digital cartridge or for help signing up for BARD, please contact the Kentucky Talking Book Library at 1-800-372-2968, (502) 564-5791, or [email protected].

Thank you to the McDowell Center and all of our wonderful community partners for making our KTBL Roadshow Resource Fair ...
06/05/2026

Thank you to the McDowell Center and all of our wonderful community partners for making our KTBL Roadshow Resource Fair last month a rousing success!

We loved talking to and helping our patrons in person, as well as introducing them to our community partners with the Kentucky Council of the Blind, the Kentucky Federation of the Blind and NFB-NEWSLINE, the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, Radio Eye and Braille Tales.

Keep an eye out for future events. We can’t wait to meet more of our patrons around the state and sign up new people for the service!

Address

300 Coffee Tree Road, PO Box 537
Frankfort, KY
40601

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+15025645791

Website

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