For information only. I wonder if this means that overdrive will be free
as well? and how would you go about signing up?
Published November 9, 2015 by Natasha Onwuemezi
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has made Talking
Books free for all blind and partially sighted people to access from
today (10th November).
The charity made the announcement on the 80th anniversary of Talking
Books, the service that provides 4,000 audio books every day to people
with sight loss. Anyone who is registered as blind or partially sighted
can borrow up to six Talking Books at any time, completely
free-of-charge. Previously, customers contributed an annual subscription
of £50.
The Talking Books service was launched in 1935 to help soldiers who had
been blinded in the First World War and were struggling to learn
braille. The National Institute for the Blind (now RNIB) and St
Dunstan’s (now Blind Veterans UK) joined forces to create the Sound
Recording Committee which originally recorded Talking Books onto records
to be played on gramophones.
Almost 30,000 blind and partially sighted adults and children use
Talking Books and the RNIB library is the largest of its kind in Europe,
the organisation has said.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, HarperCollins has become the
first publisher to commit to delivering every new title to the RNIB
library on the date of general publication; providing equal and
immediate access to current bestsellers for blind and partially sighted
readers.
Neil Heslop, director of RNIB Solutions, said: “At RNIB we feel
passionately that reading can change the lives of blind and partially
sighted people. After losing my own sight at a young age, I personally
know how important the connection to the written word is, both for
education and leisure.
“I am delighted that HarperCollins has chosen to support RNIB Talking
Books and help improve accessibility through the library, we hope that
other publishers will follow their lead. We’re committed to providing a
world-class service which makes a huge difference to many people.”
Charlie Redmayne, HarperCollins c.e.o., added: “At HarperCollins we are
committed to ensuring that everyone in the UK can access all our books
in the format of their choice on the moment of publication. As the
publisher of the first ever ‘Talking Book’ it is fitting that we should
extend our support and work in partnership with RNIB Talking Books to
increase accessibility on its 80th anniversary and beyond.”
Mo.
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