Ohio Department of Aging
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August 2007
So All May Read
Most of us take for granted the ability to sit down, open a book, and begin reading. However, for the estimated 3 million Ohioans who are visually impaired and more than 71,000 Ohio residents with severe vision problems or blindness, picking up a book to read is not an option.
For many, unfortunately, the loss of vision can mean the end of a lifetime of reading for pleasure. A hobby that keeps seniors connected and engaged can seem out of reach. However, reading for the fun of it is still available to these individuals.
The Talking Book Program, coordinated by the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), provides free recorded books, magazines and playback equipment to approximately 26,000 eligible blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped and reading disabled Ohio residents.
Anyone who cannot read regular print with conventional eye-glass correction, who cannot hold a book or turn a page or who cannot read print because of a neurological handicap (e.g., dyslexia) is eligible for Talking Book library service.
Books and magazines in audio form (talking books) are delivered to eligible readers by postage-free mail and are returned in the same manner. Specially designed cassette players are also loaned free to persons who borrow talking books from their local library.
Bestsellers, biographies, fiction, and how-to books are in great demand. Genre such as science fiction, mysteries, romances, and westerns are available, as well as foreign-language materials and popular magazines, such as Good Housekeeping, Sports Illustrated, Reader's Digest and Newsweek. Specialized materials such as sports schedules, tax forms and raised line maps are also available.
Talking Books have also entered the digital age. Through various services, a visually impaired person can listen to an online audio book from his computer or "check it out" and download it to his computer or iPod.
The State Library of Ohio Talking Book Program coordinates the service in Ohio, which also involves local public libraries and social service organizations. To enroll in the Talking Book Program, contact your local public library or call the State Library at 1-800-686-1531.
Ohio Department of Aging