What is RNIB Reading Services?
At RNIB Reading Services, we make it possible for you to access books, newspapers and magazines in the format you prefer, whether that’s digital, braille, audio, or large print. You can download or borrow books, music scores and curriculum materials from our Library and Education Collection (RNIB Bookshare) or buy from our Online Shop. For more information visit rnib.org.uk/reading-services
This website, launched in February 2020, hosts our online library where you can download and read Talking Books. Electronic braille books and music scores will also be available.
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Who is allowed to access this service?
RNIB Reading Services is open to people of all ages who are blind or partially sighted or have a print impairment disability when reading standard print. You don't need to be registered as sight impaired or severely sight impaired to sign up.
If the customer being registered is a child, the registration process opens a parent/guardian section. Parents/guardians can manage the account and downloads until the child is able to do this independently.
Please note that books are supplied strictly for your own use and must not be shared.
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How do I register?
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I currently use OverDrive. What is different about this new online library?
Our new RNIB Reading Services online library enables you to download Talking Books with full DAISY structure offering a much higher audio quality.
You’ll also be able to keep your books for longer in your own personal library.
In addition to audio files, electronic braille and music braille files will also be available here in the future.
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What about my OverDrive account? Can I download from here straight away or do I need to re-register?
We’ll continue to run OverDrive until it is decommissioned. With our new service up and running, it doesn’t make sense for us to keep two library platforms. This allows you time to finish the book you’re currently reading and to get set up with our new system.
As an OverDrive member you should have received an e-mail advising you of this change.
Your OverDrive account won’t be automatically transferred over to this new site, as we want to ensure that your account details with RNIB Reading Services are up-to-date.
Registering on our new online library only takes a few minutes. Simply complete our short form on the Registration page.
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Why is RNIB making this change?
We are changing the way we deliver our online library services for the better. Since launching OverDrive in 2014, there have been many advances in technology that the platform doesn’t currently support. For example, it is not possible to stream content and it isn’t compatible with voice assistant devices like Amazon Echo.
This new RNIB Reading Services online library will take advantage of these developments, allowing people to access the new service on a range of different devices, while delivering an even bigger and better range of Talking Books.
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What will happen if I haven’t finished my book by the time OverDrive is switched off?
OverDrive’s book rental system only allows you to keep a book for a maximum of two or three weeks, so we’ve allowed for plenty of time for you to finish off your book before OverDrive is decommissioned.
If you decide to switch over to our new online library before finishing a book, you won’t be able to pick up exactly where you left off – but you can find the same book and use the DAISY structure to find your place again.
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I am already a postal library member. Can I download straight away, or do I need to re-register?
You'll need to sign up separately on this website to access our RNIB Reading Services Online Library. Complete our short registration form to create an account.
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How do I give consent to allow my child to access titles for older age brackets?
We have three categories:
- Child - up to 12 years
- Teen - 13 to 16 years
- Adult - 16 years plus
If you wish your child to access content intended for an older age bracket, please email readingservices@rnib.org.uk or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 to give this permission and our administrators will make the necessary changes.
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How do I choose books to download?
Navigate to the Title Search tab.
Search by author name, title of the book, etc. in the relevant fields and select the apply button.
Select the format which you wish to receive the title in, e.g. braille, audio, etc.
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How do I download a book?
Once you have chosen your book (see "How do I choose books to download?" above, it is prepared ready for you to download. This may take a minute or two, depending on the speed of your internet connection.
You can check in your pending downloads list that the book is ready for you to download.
Each title is downloaded as a zip file.
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Can I search for books that are a maximum or specific length?
Yes. On the Title Search page, choose Show Advanced Search.
Within the options on that page, there is one called Maximum Duration. There, you can choose from a number of pre-set times ranging from 30 mins to 50 hours.
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Will I be able to save books I wish to read in future but not download immediately to a 'wish list' for future reference?
Yes. All titles have an 'Add to read later list' option. This list can then be accessed from your account homepage.
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Which app or player do you recommend using with a downloaded Talking Book?
There's a variety of different software that you can use to download and listen to your books, depending on the equipment or device you're using. Here are a few example apps and players:
- Dolphin's Easy Reader app
- Pod
- Connect
- Guide Reader
- Windows Media Player
- VLC Media Player
- Speakon Media Suite
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How do I find books which have recently been added to the collection?
The home page has a section dedicated to new books and suggested reads. This is regularly updated with new content.
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How can I opt out of marketing communications?
If you decide you no longer want to hear about our news, products, services, campaigning, volunteering, or fundraising activities, you can ask us to stop contacting you by emailing helpline@rnib.org.uk, calling 0303 123 9999 or writing to us at Royal National Institute of Blind People, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE. You can also unsubscribe from RNIB enewsletters at any time. Just click on the "Unsubscribe" link in any of the email newsletters you receive. It appears on every enewsletter we send out and is located right at the bottom. If you are receiving care or support services from us or you use our online shop, we may still need to get in touch for administrative reasons about the services or products we provide to you.
We may not be able to completely delete all of your information from our systems, as there are some records we must keep for legal and regulatory requirements. These include Gift Aid records, sales records, case files from our care and support services, “do not call” lists and complaint files. If you would like to know more about how and why we keep your information, you can ask us for more details by contacting the Data Protection Officer using the addresses provided above.
We are also required to make sure our records are as accurate and up to date as possible. To do this, before we contact supporters we may check the contact information we have against third party databases to make sure it is still correct. We do this to ensure the accuracy of data that we already hold, and will add a new telephone number to your record if your number needs updating and we have the correct permission to call you.
If you have a comment, concern or complaint about the way your personal information has been used, please let us know so that we can make things right.
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