Reading Made Easy

I have a friend who has been struggling with macular degeneration. He has always been an avid reader but now struggles even to read books that have large type. I suggested books on tape and that has been a hit, particularly now since there are so many offerings available and modern recorders are so easy to use.

For those with computer and internet access, Audible.com has more than 23,000 digital audio books, magazines, newspapers and radio programs available for burning on CDs or downloading to desktops, iPods, Palm-handhelds and Pocket PCs. There’s no waiting for tapes or CDs to be shipped, and downloading onto the recipient’s equipment takes minutes. Visit www.audible.com for costs.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress (www.loc.gov/nls) provides free tape-recorded books to libraries within each state. These libraries are either called a Talking Book Library or the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

The Talking Book Program of the Texas State Library & Archives Commission offers more than 80,000 titles in fictions and nonfiction and more than 80 national magazines for adults and children in Braille and large print, and on cassette and record. The selections are sent to and returned from the door of the recipient free of charge.

The program offers free magazine subscriptions to adults and children in audio cassette, Braille and disc formats, and guides for librarians and teachers using TBP materials in the classroom for disabled students.

According to the Texas Talking Books Web site, “Texans of all ages who are unable to read standard print material due to visual, physical or reading disabilities, whether permanent or temporary, may avail themselves of this free library services.” Visit www.TexasTalkingBooks.org, call 800-252-9605, or send an email to tbp.services@tsl.state.tx.us for information and the certification-of-need form that can be signed by a teacher, doctor, nurse, librarian or social worker.