Reading

RNIB Talking Book Service

Summary: All you need to know about the RNIB Talking Book Service

• What can the Talking Book Service offer you?
• How to join
• For Talking Book subscribers
• Support the Talking Book Service
• For local authorities

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What can the Talking Book Service offer you?

• The Talking Book Service provides an extensive range of over 15,000 audio books, paid for by annual subscription and delivered through the post to your door.
• Subscription gives you access to a variety of ways to choose your books including support from our Customer Services Team and the easy to use online Talking Book Catalogue.
• Talking Books are in the DAISY format which lets you skip to a new chapter or insert a bookmark (in the same way a print reader can) using a lightweight player with accessible controls.

How to join

To join the Talking Book Service contact us on 0845 762 6843 or 01733 37 53 50, or email cservices@rnib.org.uk to find out more or download a form here:

• Application form (Word)

Note: Some callers may find it cheaper to call a landline, so we have detailed both 08 prefixed numbers and landline equivalents.

For Talking Book subscribers

New Reader's Forum

Are you having trouble deciding what to read next? You can talk to other book lovers and express your views on the new RNIB Reader's forum. Just go to the board and register to join in or simply browse the messages.

Increase in subscription price

From April 2008, the cost of a full loan subscription for customers who need the loan of a DAISY player will rise to £76 a year from £73. This will help us meet our increased running costs and enable us to continue developing the Talking Book Service. For customers who use their own player, the cost of a library-only subscription will remain unchanged for the fourth year running at £50.

As we receive no government funding, the Talking Book Service is paid for by a combination of subscriptions and RNIB's own subsidy of over £2million a year, which is raised from generous public donations.

More about Talking Books

• Talking Books are recorded in our modern studios, which are designed to be accessible to people with sight problems. We work with professional actors, narrators and authors to bring audio books to life.
• Last year we sent out two million books to 41,000 people and added 450 books to our stock. Find out about the history of talking books and some interesting facts and figures. You can listen to audio clips from talking books now.

Support the Talking Book Service

Even though we ask for a small annual subscription to join the Talking Book Service, RNIB has to subsidise this lifeline service by some two million pounds a year (about fifty pounds per person per year) to keep it running. This is found through fundraising and legacy income; we receive no Government help. Find out how you can support Talking Books or read about celebrity support for Talking Books.

The Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland has adopted the Talking Book Service as their Charity of the Year.

Give a Talking Books subscription as a gift

For a gift that will be enjoyed throughout the year, why not buy a subscription to the Talking Book Service? From only fifty pounds a year, a gift subscription includes an unlimited number of books throughout the year. Please call Customer Services on 0845 762 6843 or 01733 37 53 50.

For local authorities

Many local authorities support people with sight problems in their area through a subscription to the Talking Book Service. If you represent a local authority and want to find out more about what we can offer your clients (publicity posters and leaflets are also available), please contact:

Ansuya Agrawal (Local Authority Relationships Co-ordinator)
Telephone: 020 7391 2060
Email: ansuya.agrawal@rnib.org.uk

Content author: cservices@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 29/04/2008 16:48