The Talking Book Library 6/2010
What is The Talking Book Library?
The Idaho State Library partners with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped to provide reading materials to those who can not read regular print due to a physical condition such as blindness. The service is completely free of charge. The reading materials are funded by federal tax dollars and the library is staffed by Idaho State Library employees.
Who can use the Talking Book Library?
Any Idaho resident with one of the follow temporary or permanent conditions can use the Talking Book Library:
- Legally blind
- Visual disability
- Physical disability
- Reading disability due to an organic dysfunction
What materials are available?
There are over 55,000 fiction and nonfiction materials available. There are recorded magazines, books in large print, descriptive videos, and books in Braille. You can select materials from bi-monthly catalogs and work with trained reading advisors to select the materials that interest you and the authors you prefer. Recorded materials are played on special playback machines that are lent to you for free and replaced as needed. When you are finished with materials or equipment, simply return items to the Talking Book Library, for free, through the US Postal Service.
How can I sign up to use the Talking Book Library?
You can get an application by:
Phone: 1-800-233-4931
Mail: Idaho State Library, 325 W. State St., Boise, ID 83702
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
There are also library services available through the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. For information about the national service, contact the Library of Congress.
Web site: http://www.loc.gov/nls/
Phone: 1-202-707-5100
Mail: Library of Congress, 1291 Taylor Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011