Suggest Additions to the Library

NLS Book Selection Process

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled’s (NLS) collection includes titles from many sources, including:

The NLS collection includes titles from many sources, including:

• Best sellers from New York Times list and USA Today list
• New York Times Books section (including their Editors’ Choice lists which are made available weekly)
• Library Reads monthly list
• Book Clubs, such as Oprah selections as appropriate, and Reese Witherspoon Book Club selections
• Publisher catalogs
• Patron requests
• Social media
• Review journals including Library Journal, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly
• Awards finalist/nomination lists including Pulitzer, PEN, Agatha (mystery), Anthony (mystery), Edgar (mystery), RITA (romance), Locus, Nebula, and Hugo (all Science Fiction/Fantasy), Spur (Western), and others.

NLS obtains recordings directly from the publishers and contracts for narration.

• If titles are recorded and commercially available, please allow 4-6 weeks after publication for them to appear in the collection.
• If NLS needs to record them, production time averages 2-3 months. Depending on length of book and other factors, it can be 8-9 months.

Braille and Audio Reading Download service, offered by the National Library for the Blind and Print Disabled

If you have requests for titles you would like added to BARD, including:

• earlier titles missing from an existing series,
• new titles to an existing series,
• or additional titles missing from an author already included in BARD,

Please send an email to OPAC_librarian@dbs.fldoe.org. A determination can be made whether the titles are available commercially and can be requested that NLS add them, or place them for recording. Please note there are no guaranteed time frames, if we get confirmation they can be added, you will need to keep checking. We cannot notify you when it is available.

Florida Award Winners, Authors, and Subject Matter

Evaluation includes structure and layout of books, among other factors. Please refer to consideration form for details.

If not accepted, the Library will return the books sent for review. Production time averages 9 months to one year. If accepted, the recorded or embossed work becomes the property of this institution and will become available for loan to registered patrons. Personal copies are not created.

Consideration Form and Mailing Address:

Recording and Braille Consideration Form (PDF)

Mail completed form and two (2) copies of book for review to: 

Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library
421 Platt Street
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Attention: Shayna Amato

We can make referrals for educational materials and braille requests. Please email OPAC_librarian@dbs.fldoe.org with questions.