Leber's Optic Neuropathy


RNIB TALKING BOOK SERVICE

If you like reading for pleasure but are having difficulty with print, RNIB Talking Book Service may be able to help.

For over 65 years, our Talking Book Service has been bringing the kinds of books you would find in your local library or bookshop right into people's homes. Over the years, we have developed a quality service, focused on what our customers want. And now we offer a service using digital technology that sounds great and is easy-to-use.

Large range of titles

We offer thousands of books, by all your favourite authors, from Catherine Cookson to Dick Francis, Ruth Rendell to Nick Hornby. Our range of titles increases by over 200 each month. So whether you are aged 4 or 1 04, wanting some romance or adventure, or are interested in real lives or history, we're bound to have something just right for you!

To find out about the types of books we have available before becoming a member, log onto the Revealweb site at www.revealweb.org.uk . This database allows you to search for particular authors, titles and subjects that may be available from RNIB Talking Book Service.

Alternatively, if you are interested in brand new titles added to the Talking Book Library as well as our Braille and Helping you live with sight loss Compact Cassette libraries, we offer a free monthly publication called New Book Guide. Currently available on compact cassette, in Braille, on our website and by e-mail, you can request this publication from our Customer Services team.

Quality books

The majority of our books are unabridged, which means you can read the entire work exactly as the author intended, and are recorded to the highest standards using professional actors and broadcasters.

Easy to read

Our digital books usually come on one single disc, allowing you to read from start to finish without interruption. They are produced in what's known as a DA!SY format, to enable you to move around them easily, and even insert bookmarks. Our books require DAISY playback equipment to be read (which we provide for you).

Easy-to-use player

A Talking Book DAISY player is supplied on loan. It is light, portable, and can run on batteries as well as mains power. It will play RNIB Talking Books as well as music on most standard CDs and other audio books on a CD format.

Friendly and fast

We take pride in our friendly and efficient service. With our high- speed despatching system, you should never be without a book, and you can exchange them as often as you like. If any problems arise, we're just a telephone call away.

Free postage

Talking Books are sent with tailor-made, pre-addressed return wallets. No stamp required, because postage is free.

Chosing your books

Complete the "Reading Preferences" section on the application form to provide us with enough information to send you your first books. Indicate the types of books you wish to receive (e.g. westerns), or list your favourite authors.

This information triggers our automated book selection facility, where we automatically create a reading list of titles in your chosen categories, and issue books to you only from that list. You can change your preferred reading categories at any time, or alternatively, you can select individual titles for yourself using one or more of our catalogues.

We offer a series of catalogues that together describe the full collection at a particular point in time. Our catalogues are broken down first into book categories, then the titles are listed in alphabetical order (by the author's surname) together with a short description. The catalogues are available to members of the service on request.

For advice about different types ofooks and authors, our support team includes professional librarians and Customer Service staff. They can provide information and advice on which way of choosing books is best for you, and assist you with more detailed or specialist enquiries.

Becoming a member

Membership is open to anyone in the United Kingdom who cannot read standard typescript (N12 or less) at normal reading distance with the best possible spectacles. Or, more simply, if you cannot recognise a friend across the road whilst wearing your glasses, you would be eligible to join.
There is an annual membership subscription of GBP 66 (from 1st April 2004), that should be, and often is, paid by your local authority. Of course, you can choose to pay the subscription yourself if you wish. Membership includes:

No payment is required with your application. An invoice will be sent to whoever is paying your subscription after you have joined. For information on how to join the service, please contact Customer Services at:

RNIB Talking Book Service


PO Box 173
Peterborough PE2 6WS
Telephone: 0845 762 6843
Fax: 01733 375 001
Typetalk: 0845 758 5691
E-mail: RNIB Customer Services
RNIB Talking Book Service - passionate about reading.

Go to Top of Page

Go to LHON Home Page

Go to Jim Leeder's Index Page

This page last updated 10 Jan 2005