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Magazines


In addition to books, readers can also enjoy a wide selection of magazines that cover a variety of interests.  Audio magazines are loaned just like books and must be returned, with a loan period determined by the magazine's publishing schedule.  Braille magazines are considered a consumable item and do not need to be returned.

For the most part, Talking Books can manage your subscriptions for you (adding, holding, suspending), but there are a couple publisher-direct audio magazines that require the user to manage their own subscription.

Most of the NLS audio and Braille magazines are also available for download from BARD or BARD Mobile.  Downloading magazines means there are no loan periods, so you can keep an issue for as long as you need it.

​The following magazine subscriptions are available directly from Talking Books through the National Library Service.  Magazines are checked out to users and must be returned by the end of the loan period.

Weekly: 3 week loan period
Monthly / Bimonthly / Quarterly: 7 week loan period

All of these magazines are also available for download from BARD and BARD Mo​bile​.

To subscribe to either of these magazines, please fill out our audio magazine request form​ and return it to us, or contact us with your preferences at 800-452-0292 or talkingbooks.info@slo.oregon.gov.

 

AARP - The Magazine
Bimonthly
AARP Bulletin
10 issues/year
These two magazines are bundled and come together.  Published by the American Association of Retired People, AARP - The Magazine and AARP Bulletin contain news and short articles with a focus on seniors.

American Indian
quarterly
Featuring Native American art and culture, this award-winning quarterly magazine engages its readers with diverse articles about the fascinating and often overlooked histories of American Indian nations and the contemporary challenges facing Native peoples across the Western Hemisphere.

Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact
10 issues/year
Short stories, novelettes, and features with science-fiction themes.

Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction
10 issues/year
Short stories, novelettes, and features with science-fiction themes.

The Atlantic Monthly
10 issues/year
Articles on politics and current issues; fiction by contemporary American writers.

Audubon
bimonthly
Appreciation, understanding, and preservation of the natural world, particularly birds and wildlife and their habitats.

Baseball Digest
bimonthly
Baseball Digest keeps subscribers up-to-date with current action while infusing the rich history of the game in each issue.

Best Friends
bimonthly
The nation's most uplifting magazine for pet lovers. Full of engaging stories, happy tales of rescue and gorgeous photos, the magazine is the official publication of Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving the lives of homeless pets.

Bon Appétit
monthly
Articles on cooking, entertainment, and travel; recipes from well-known restaurants.

Bookmarks
bimonthly
Summaries of hundreds of opinions from every major newspaper and magazine for a comprehensive look at 50 new fiction, nonfiction, and children's books, all designed to give the reader the information needed to make the best reading choices… Also present[s] in-depth profiles on classic as well as contemporary authors, discussing their lives and major (and not so major) works.

Consumer Reports
monthly
In-depth articles that rate consumer products tested for quality, durability, and safety. Also features general-interest topics such as health and money management.

Consumer Reports: On Health
monthly
Get expert reviews and ratings for health, fitness, and food products from Consumer Reports, and read the latest on drugs, hospital safety, and more.

Contemporary Sound Track: A Review of Pop, Jazz, Rock, and Country
bimonthly
A sampler of articles from national magazines on jazz, rock, country, and pop music.

Cooking Light
quarterly
Find quick and healthy recipes, nutrition tips, entertaining menus, and fitness guides to help you make smart choices for a healthy lifestyle from Cooking Light magazine.

Cricket: The Realm of Imagination
9 issues/year
Stories, poems, and articles by internationally known authors. Also includes songs, jokes, and crafts. For ages 9–14. Packaged with National Geographic Kids.

Discover Magazine: Science, Technology, and the Future
10 issues/year
Articles on ecology, natural history, science, and technology. Features news on breakthroughs in science, technology, and medicine. Includes book reviews, brain bogglers (puzzles), and awards for technological innovations.

The Economist
weekly
Authoritative weekly newspaper focusing on international politics and business news and opinion.

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine: World's Leading Mystery Magazine
10 issues/year
Mystery stories by established authors in the field and by new, previously unpublished writers.

Essence
monthly
Lifestyle, beauty, and fashion magazine for African-American women.

Fiyah Literary Magazine
quarterly
FIYAH is a quarterly speculative fiction magazine that features stories by and about Black people of the African Diaspora.

Foreign Affairs
bimonthly
Analysis of issues by statesmen, diplomats, and scholars and trends in international politics, law, and economics.

Golf Digest
monthly
The worldwide authority on how to play, what to play, and where to play golf.

Good Housekeeping
monthly
Articles on family and home management with features on food and decorating.

Guideposts
bimonthly
Guideposts is the inspirational magazine that will move and inspire you with personal, heartwarming stories and faith-affirming articles that show anything is possible with hope, faith and prayer.

Harper's Bazaar
monthly
Fashion magazine with features on cosmetics, lifestyle, events, celebrities, travel, and relationships.

Harvard Men's Health Watch (HMH)
monthly
Timely information in the new age of men’s health and medicine.

Harvard Women's Health Watch (HWH)
monthly
Offers timely information in the new age of women's health and medicine. Includes new prevention strategies, new diagnostic techniques, new medications, and treatments.

Health and Nutrition Newsletters
monthly
Selections on medical conditions of special interest to older adults, nutritional information, and ways to maintain good health from Johns Hopkins Medicine: Health after Fifty; Mayo Clinic Health Letter: Tools for Healthier Lives; and Nutrition Action Health letter.

Horticulture: The Art and Science of Smart Gardening
bimonthly
Gardening trends, products, and projects for amateur gardeners.

Humpty Dumpty
bimonthly
Stories, poems, cartoons, puzzles, games, recipes, and crafts for kids ages three–five, who are learning to read independently.

International Living Magazine
monthly
First issue: April 2023
International Living Magazine aims at providing a scope and depth of information about global travel, living, retiring, investing, and real estate.

Jack and Jill
bimonthly

An award-winning magazine for children ages six to twelve. It promotes the education and creative growth of children through interactive activities and articles.

Jet
monthly
Created in 1951, JET has always been the trusted source for news, information and entertainment for Black culture both young and old.

Kiplinger's Personal Finance
monthly
General-interest articles on managing finances, including taxes, investment options, real estate, insurance, and retirement planning.

Kiplinger's Retirement Report
monthly
Practical strategies to help grow retirement savings, how to make money last during retirement, maximization of Social Security and Medicare benefits, and other retirement-related topics.

Magazine of the Month
monthly
Special NLS program designed to provide a limited substitute for newsstand browsing. Readers are sent a different magazine each month.

Magnolia Journal
quarterly
A magazine by Chip and Joanna Gaines containing inspiration for life and home. Useful as a resource and a guide to living well, the Magnolia Journal contains stories, recipes, tips, and useful information you will refer back to again and again.

Make
quarterly
As the leading voice of the maker movement, Make: publishes projects, skill-building tutorials, in-depth reviews and inspirational stories, accessible by all ages and skill ranges.

Mother Jones
bimonthly
A nonprofit American progressive magazine that focuses on news, commentary, and investigative journalism on topics including politics, environment, human rights, health and culture.

Muse Magazine for Kids
9 issues/year
Muse magazine is the science and arts magazine for kids that’s spot on with the facts, but off-kilter with the jokes; for grades 5–9.

The Musical Mainstream
quarterly
Selected articles from national magazines about classical music, music criticism, and music teaching; lists new NLS music acquisitions.

The Nation
45 issues/year
Covers foreign affairs, local and national politics, education, and law. Reviews films, theater, books, and the arts.

National Geographic
monthly
Articles on world geography and cultures, plant and animal life, space exploration, and ancient history.

National Geographic Kids
10 issues/year
Articles for children about people, places, customs, animals, and plants. Packaged with Cricket.

National Review
24 issues/year
Presents a conservative viewpoint on business, politics, economics, education, and other subjects.

The New Yorker
47 issues/year
Each audio edition will feature selected material from the print edition, chosen and recorded by Audible, Inc.

The New York Times Book Review
weekly
Literary articles and book reviews from the Sunday New York Times.

Outdoor Life: The Source for Hunting and Fishing Adventure
10 issues/year
Adventures and experiences in hunting and fishing, information on conservation and game laws, reports on sporting equipment and techniques.

People
51 issues/year
Celebrity news and interviews.

Popular Science
quarterly
Products, trends, and practical applications of science and technology.

Prevention Magazine
monthly
Prevention is the ultimate live-better handbook. It’s the trusted go-to guide to feeling your best, head to toe, inside and out through trustworthy expert advice, fresh ideas, and health secrets.

Psychology Today
bimonthly
An American-interest psychology magazine. A variety of psychological perspectives and approaches are represented in the magazine's analyses.

QST: Devoted Entirely to Amateur Radio
monthly
Contains project-building ideas and news on all aspects of ham radio. Official publication of the American Radio Relay League.

Quarterly Music Magazine
quarterly
Special NLS program designed to provide a limited substitute for newsstand browsing. Readers are sent a different music magazine each quarter. Covers a variety of aspects and types of music, such as opera, jazz, and country, and instruments such as guitar and keyboard.

Reader's Digest
monthly
Inspiring stories, hilarious jokes, and surprising advice on health, weight loss & more.

Rolling Stone
24 issues/year
American popular culture in the arts and entertainment industry. Provides record, video, audiovisual, and computer hardware reviews.

Scientific American
monthly
Scientific American covers the most important and exciting research, ideas and knowledge in science, health, technology, the environment and society. It is committed to sharing trustworthy knowledge, enhancing our understanding of the world, and advancing social justice.

Selecciones del Reader’s Digest
monthly
Spanish-language version of Reader’s Digest.

Smithsonian
monthly
Science, natural history, art, archaeology, history, and ecology.  Also includes events at the Smithsonian Institution.

Sound + Vision: Quality Entertainment. Everywhere
8 issues/year
Reports on new sound equipment and record reviews, with emphasis on popular music.

Southern Living
monthly
Recipes, guides to local travel, decorating ideas and inspiration, and gardening tips tailored specifically to the region's climate.

Spider: The Magazine for Children
9 issues/year
Stories, poems, jokes, and crafts for beginning readers ages 6–9.

Sports Illustrated
51 issues/year
International sports news and articles with emphasis on American spectator sports. Features on sports personalities, sports events, and outdoor activities.

Sports Illustrated Kids
monthly
Sports news and articles for ages 8–13. Features sports personalities, events, and sports cards; youths who are excelling in sports; regular column by youths discussing a controversial sports-related issue.

The Sun Magazine
monthly
In each issue of The Sun you’ll find some of the most radically intimate and socially conscious writing being published today. Each monthly issue celebrates life, but not in a way that ignores its complexity. The personal essays, short stories, interviews, poetry, and photographs that appear in The Sun’s pages explore the challenges we face and the moments when we rise to meet them.

Travel + Leisure
monthly
Articles on vacation sites and tour destinations with tips on food and photography.

True West: Preserving the American West
monthly
Nonfiction articles about the Old West written by historians and western buffs.

Vanidades
monthly
Spanish magazine covering current fashion, news and beauty tips, national and international celebrities, the intimacies of royalty, as well as entertainment, cooking, decoration, art and culture.

Wax Poetics
semiannually
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 2001, Wax Poetics was created by a group of writers and record diggers to tell the stories behind beatdigging culture. To help contextualize what people were listening to, by looking back at where the music came from and the stories behind it. It quickly grew into one of the most iconic and influential music magazines in the world.

The Week: The Best of the U. S. and International Media
50 issues/year
News and commentary on world events.

Wired
monthly
Wired is an American magazine that reports on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics.

The Writer: Advice and Inspiration for Today's Writer
monthly
New and established writers discuss their craft and work experiences. Regular columns feature trade news, contest information, and names and addresses of manuscript markets.

Yankee Magazine
bimonthly
Offers an insider’s perspective on the region’s people, traditions, and lifestyle with special focus on its unique travel destinations, history, and culinary delights.

Braille magazines are considered consumable items, which means they have no loan period and do not need to be returned.  To subscribe to any of these Braille magazines, fill out our Braille magazine request form and return it to us, or contact us with your preferences at 800-452-0292 or talkingbooks.info@slo.oregon.gov.

These magazines are also available for download from BARD and BAR​D Mobile​.

 

Better Homes and Gardens
monthly
A resource for home ideas, food and recipes for everday and special occasions, and garden know-how.

Braille Chess Magazine
quarterly
Articles on chess; news of current trends and competitions. (UK)

Braille Music Magazine
monthly
Articles about classical music for professional and amateur musicians; reviews of new braille music publications. (UK)

Conundrum
monthly
Crossword and logic puzzles, anagrams, word searches, and general- knowledge quizzes. (UK)

Cooks Illustrated
monthly
Magazine editors and test cooks explain exactly how and why recipes work.  They are the authority on food and cooking, with science to back it all up.

Cricket: The Realm of Imagination
10 issues/year
Stories, poems, and articles by internationally known authors. Also includes songs, jokes, and crafts. For ages 9–14.

Dell Sunday Crosswords
quarterly

Themed crossword puzzles, featuring Sunday-size puzzles.

Guidepost
monthly
Shares inspirational stories.

Harper's Magazine
monthly
General culture magazine with articles by well-known writers on politics, international affairs, education, and science. Includes short stories, satire, and poetry.

Health Newsletters
monthly
Current health concerns, medical information, nutrition, and stress management from Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter: Tools for Healthier Lives; and University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter.

Interweave Knits
quarterly
Offers seasonal patterns, expert tips and tricks, and inspiration for knitting projects.

Kiplinger's Personal Finance
monthly
General-interest articles on managing finances, including taxes, investment options, real estate, insurance, and retirement planning.

Muse: The Magazine of Life, the Universe, and Pie Throwing
9 issues/year
Offers science, art, archaeology, and history activities for ages 9–14; includes contests and book and media reviews.

The Musical Mainstream
quarterly
Selected articles from national magazines about classical music, music criticism, and music teaching; lists new NLS music acquisitions.

National Geographic
monthly
Articles on world geography and cultures, plant and animal life, space exploration, and ancient history.

National Geographic Kids
10 issues/year
Articles for children about people, places, customs, animals, and plants.

The New York Times Book Review
weekly
Literary articles and book reviews from the Sunday New York Times.

The New York Times Large Print Weekly
weekly
Highlights from the New York Times.

NLS News
quarterly
National Library Service newsletter. National and international developments in library services to blind and physically handicapped individuals.

PC World
monthly
Information for computer users about hardware, software, advanced technology, and trends in the field; columns on product reviews and helpful hints.

Poetry
11 issues/year
Contemporary poetry selected from a wide range of contributors and styles.

Popular Mechanics
monthly
Practical advice for the amateur mechanic, information on automotive and home repairs, features on new equipment.

Popular Music Lead Sheets
irregular
Melodies, lyrics, and chords to popular songs ranging from golden oldies to recent hits.

Rolling Stone
24 issues/year
American popular culture in the arts and entertainment industry. Provides record, video, audiovisual, and computer hardware reviews.

Science News: Magazine of the Society for Science and the Public
biweekly
Excerpts of reports on current programs in science, medicine, and technology.

Scout Life
monthly
Articles on the outdoors, sports, and hobbies, with adventure fiction and humor; ages 9-16. Published by the Boy Scouts of America.

Short Stories
monthly
Stories from contemporary writers. (UK)

Spider: The Magazine for Children
9 issues/year
Stories, poems, jokes, and crafts for beginning readers ages 6–9.

Sports Illustrated Kids
monthly
Sports news and articles for ages 8–13. Features sports personalities, events, and sports cards; youths who are excelling in sports; regular column by youths discussing a controversial sports-related issue.

Sports Schedules
annual
Listings of games for six national sports leagues: Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Baseball schedule includes combined schedule by date for American and National Leagues.

Stone Soup: The Magazine by Young Writers and Artists
bimonthly
Stories, poems, illustrations, and book reviews created by children through age thirteen. Features an activities section with suggested related projects.

​These magazines will mail directly from the publisher.  Users must return each issue of the magazine in order to receive the next issue.  Loan period is determined by the publisher and is subject to change.

 

Choice Magazine Listening
Quarterly
Choice selects and records memorable writing from approximately 100 leading magazine offering over eight hours of outstanding unabridged articles, fiction, and poetry.  Please contact the publisher to subscribe, cancel, or make address changes at 1-888-724-6423.

 

Magazine FAQs

Here are some answers to the most common questions about magazines.  If you have any further questions, please contact us at 800-452-0292 or talkingbooks.info@slo.oregon.gov.
Yes.  NLS magazine cartridges are light blue in color and come in a red container imprinted with a distinctive Library of Congress flag logo and the letter “M” on the case.  The return process is the same as for audio books.​
No. You must return your magazine cartridges just as you return audio book cartridges.  If you don’t return your cartridges, your magazine service will be disrupted.  Due to the higher cost of cartridges, cartridges are reused by the publishers.​
The loan period for an NLS audio magazine depends on the magazines publication schedule:

  • Weekly: 3 week loan period
  • Monthly / Bimonthly / Quarterly: 7 week loan period

If there is a mixture of weekly and monthly issues on the same cartridge, the loan period is 7 weeks from date of receipt.
If you subscribe to more than one audio magazine, you may receive more than one magazine issue on the same cartridge.  When a cartridge with more than one magazines is inserted into a digital player, you will hear instructions for navigating among the magazine issues on that cartridge.  This is called using the “Bookshelf" mode.​
To access the bookshelf mode, press and hold the green Play/Stop button on the player until you hear “bookshelf.”  Use the fast-forward button to scroll to the next magazine in the list.  Use the rewind button to scroll to the previous magazine in the list.  Once you hear the title of the magazine you want to read, press the green Play/Stop button again.​
Subscribers to the audio version of Talking Book Topics will receive it on cartridge with other audio magazines.  If Talking Book Topics is the only audio magazine you receive, it will be the only item on the cartridge.  Talking Book Topics cartridges must be returned like any other magazine.
All issues of magazines are available at any time for download from BARD or BARD Mobile.  Downloading gives you immediate access to over 50,000 books, magazines, and music scores in Braille and audio formats.  BARD is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  There are no loan periods, no need to return magazines, and no limits.

​It’s possible that your service has been halted due to overdue magazines.  Please call Talking Books at 800-452-0292 to have the Serials Coordinator review your account.  It is very important to return your magazines in a timely manner.

By contacting Talking Books at 800-452-0292 or talkingbooks.info@slo.oregon.gov​​.

By contacting the magazine publisher directly:

  • Choice Magazine Listening: 888-724-6423
  • ​Guidepost: 800-431-2344​