| Audio provide the opportunity to listen to a book | | | | libraries by postage-free mail. Braille books, magazines, |
| while you do other activities such as walking, driving, | | | | and music materials are also made available on the |
| exercising, or even lawn work. They also are great | | | | Internet through Web-Braille. |
| way for the blind and visually impaired to enjoy a | | | | BOOKS - The book collection includes bestsellers, |
| good book while they go through their day. | | | | biographies, fiction, and how-to books. A limited |
| Audio books are useful for many demographics of | | | | number of titles are produced in Spanish. |
| the population - Elder people could go on "reading" | | | | MUSIC - The national music collection contains more |
| audio books when they are not capable of reading | | | | than twenty thousand titles. |
| books any more, busy career people can listen to | | | | -The collection consists of scores in braille and large |
| business journals and magazines via audio books, | | | | print; textbooks and books about music in braille and |
| children can listen to audio books of a higher level | | | | large print; music appreciation cassettes, including |
| than they are able to read, etc. | | | | interviews and opera lectures; and self-instructional |
| However, it seems that one of the demographic | | | | cassettes for voice, piano, organ, electronic |
| groups that may gain the most from audio books is | | | | keyboard, guitar, recorder, accordion, banjo, |
| not using them yet. There are approximately 10 | | | | harmonica, and other instruments. |
| million blind and visually impaired people in the United | | | | -Braille scores and books are also available on the |
| States alone. Audio books can enhance their life | | | | Internet. |
| personally and professionally. | | | | EQUIPMENT - Playback equipment is loaned free to |
| Audio books can take blind people's education one | | | | readers for as long as they borrow recorded |
| step forward. Learning foreign languages, poetry, | | | | materials provided by NLS and its cooperating libraries. |
| literature, English grammar etc. could be optimized | | | | -Readers with very limited mobility may request a |
| using audio books. Did you know that there are | | | | remote-control unit. |
| approximately 93,600 visually impaired or blind | | | | -Hearing-impaired readers may be eligible for an |
| students in the United States? | | | | auxiliary amplifier for use with headphones. A |
| 'That All May Read' is a free national library program | | | | cassette machine designed primarily for persons with |
| of braille and recorded materials for blind and | | | | limited manual dexterity is also available. |
| physically handicapped persons that is administered | | | | Ask your local public librarian for more information |
| by the National Library Service for the Blind and | | | | about the program and how to apply for service or |
| Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress. | | | | online at the National Library Service, Library of |
| ELIGIBILITY - Any of the over 2 million residents of | | | | Congress. For other downloadable books there are a |
| the United States or American citizens living abroad, | | | | number of quality online book stores to surf. |
| who are unable to read or use standard printed | | | | Audio books are aids for reading for the Blind and |
| materials as a result of temporary or permanent | | | | visually impaired. They provide enjoyment of a good |
| visual or physical limitations, may use this service. | | | | book and provide the opportunity to learn, grow, and |
| PROCEDURE - Reading materials and playback | | | | be entertained. |
| machines are sent to borrowers and returned to | | | | |