Dolphin EasyReader

EasyReader is a reading app produced by Dolphin, and provides a simple and accessible way to search for, download and play books from RNIB Reading Services on a smartphone or tablet. (It runs on both Apple and Android devices, and there is now also a version available for Windows computer users. )

Dolphin EasyReader is available to download for free from both the Apple app store and the Google Play Store to your smartphone or tablet. The Windows version can now be downloaded free of charge from the Dolphin website.

EasyReader provides access to a number of online libraries around the world. In the UK you can access RNIB Reading Services, RNIB Bookshare for accessible curriculum materials, Project Gutenberg and Bookshare International. Apart from Project Gutenberg, you need account details to log into these different libraries.

To use EasyReader you need to create a free account with Dolphin from within the app. You can do this with an email address and password or sign in with an existing Google account.

You are now able to choose RNIB Reading Services from the list of libraries. Choose ‘manage libraries’ to select or deselect libraries that show in your libraries list.

If you have already signed up for an RNIB Reading Services account, you can log in with your username and password. If you haven’t yet signed up for an account, then you can do this outside the app in your device’s browser, or on a PC or Mac.

The first time you log into Reading Services, you log in with your username and password. From then on, EasyReader will automatically log you in when you choose Reading Services. (You might need to sign into Reading Services again from time to time.)

When logged into RNIB Reading Services you have a choice of a log out button, search box, my reading lists, latest and categories.

Currently, ‘my reading lists’ is not active.

To find a book either search by author, title, key word etc. or choose from latest or categories. Each book has a title and a book information button. Selecting either of these will take you to more information where there is a download button. After selecting the download button, the title should begin to download within a few minutes. Preparing is shown then the download progress updates as a percentage.

Once the book has downloaded, an open button appears. EasyReader will bookmark the reading position of each book you have downloaded.

Once the book is open you can play and navigate through the book by headings, time jump etc.

In iOS you can use the rotor option to select time jumps then flick up or down to move by that value.

The playback screen contains a number of controls for changing audio speed, default time jump, book information, sleep timer etc.

At the top left of screens is a menu button described by Voiceover and Talkback as side menu.

Pressing the menu button takes you to a screen where you can choose from my books, a list of libraries, manage libraries, and my newspapers. 

We are delighted to be working with Dolphin to improve the choice and reading experience for our customers.  

In the first release of EasyReader which includes RNIB Reading Services there are a few issues to be aware of:

Some books fail to download or open, if using EasyReader for Android.

When searching or browsing on RNIB Reading Services, a number of EPUB books from International Bookshare are included (Note: These are not RNIB Bookshare). Bookshare hosts our RNIB Reading Service content.

We are working with Dolphin to improve how EasyReader works with RNIB Reading Services online library. Future updates will include fixes and enhancements. 

For further information you can check out the Frequently Asked Questions section.

If you have any questions, or want to share any feedback you can email readingservices@rnib.org.uk or call 0303 123 9999.