| Audio books provide an opportunity for a blind child to | | | | machines are sent to borrowers and returned to |
| experience the wonder of Harry Potter books, the | | | | libraries by postage-free mail. Braille books, magazines, |
| whimsical stories by Cat In The Hat, mysteries, | | | | and music materials are also made available on the |
| documentaries, etc. With the professional actors telling | | | | Internet through Web-Braille. |
| the story they can enjoy any type of genre available. | | | | BOOKS - The book collection includes bestsellers, |
| They can not read the books or watch the movies but | | | | biographies, fiction, and how-to books. A limited number |
| can listen to the audio books, which is also a great | | | | of titles are produced in Spanish. |
| experience. | | | | MUSIC - The national music collection contains more |
| Audio books are useful for many demographics of the | | | | than twenty thousand titles. |
| population - Elder people could go on "reading" audio | | | | -The collection consists of scores in braille and large |
| books when they are not capable of reading books | | | | print; textbooks and books about music in braille and |
| any more, busy career people can listen to business | | | | large print; music appreciation cassettes, including |
| journals and magazines via audio books, children can | | | | interviews and opera lectures; and self-instructional |
| listen to audio books of a higher level than they are | | | | cassettes for voice, piano, organ, electronic keyboard, |
| able to read, etc. | | | | guitar, recorder, accordion, banjo, harmonica, and other |
| However, it seems that one of the demographic | | | | instruments. |
| groups that may gain the most from audio books is | | | | -Braille scores and books are also available on the |
| not using them yet. There are approximately 10 million | | | | Internet. |
| blind and visually impaired people in the United States | | | | EQUIPMENT - Playback equipment is loaned free to |
| alone. Audio books can enhance their life personally | | | | readers for as long as they borrow recorded materials |
| and professionally. | | | | provided by NLS and its cooperating libraries. |
| Audio books can take blind people's education one | | | | -Readers with very limited mobility may request a |
| step forward. Learning foreign languages, poetry, | | | | remote-control unit. |
| literature, English grammar etc. could be optimized using | | | | -Hearing-impaired readers may be eligible for an |
| audio books. Did you know that there are | | | | auxiliary amplifier for use with headphones. A cassette |
| approximately 93,600 visually impaired or blind students | | | | machine designed primarily for persons with limited |
| in the United States? | | | | manual dexterity is also available. |
| 'That All May Read' is a free national library program | | | | Ask your local public librarian for more information |
| of braille and recorded materials for blind and physically | | | | about the program and how to apply for service or |
| handicapped persons that is administered by the | | | | online at the National Library Service, Library of |
| National Library Service for the Blind and Physically | | | | Congress. For other downloadable books there are a |
| Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress. | | | | number of quality online book stores to surf. |
| ELIGIBILITY - Any of the over 2 million residents of the | | | | The benefits of audio books cross every population |
| United States or American citizens living abroad, who | | | | demographic. If you belong to the blind and visually |
| are unable to read or use standard printed materials | | | | impaired segment of the population you have a great |
| as a result of temporary or permanent visual or | | | | resource to be able to enjoy a good book or music |
| physical limitations, may use this service. | | | | through the 'That All May Read' program. There is no |
| PROCEDURE - Reading materials and playback | | | | time like now to enjoy a good book. |