Talking books from National Library Services (NLS) are available on digital talking-book cartridges. These require specially designed playback equipment which is loaned free to eligible individuals and organizations who are registered patrons of the Talking Book Center.

Special accessories are also loaned free of charge.

For more information about the playback machines, please read the Equipment for NLS Materials - National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) | Library of Congress (loc.gov).

Digital Standard Player

The digital standard player is the latest version of the playback machines which were made available beginning in late 2009, and the newest NLS recorded books are on digital cartridges. 

The advantage of these machines is that they are smaller and can hold up to 30 books. The digital book collection at the Talking Book Center numbers over 200,000 book titles and 50 magazines, with several being added daily. The number available to patrons with internet connections is larger as they can access the NLS catalog and download books using the BARD (Braille & Audio Recording Download) website.

Characteristics

• Plays NLS digital talking books
• Plays Daisy 2.02 digital talking books
• Plays AMR-WB+, MP3, and WAV audio files
• Has eight controls
• Includes a variable speed control that permits speeding up or slowing down playback speed without changing the pitch
• Portable
• Equipped with a rechargeable battery and an electrical cord
• Includes built-in audio instructions for using the digital machine