Talking Book and Braille Service
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Outreach Handbook
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Background
-
Who Qualifies for Talking Book and Braille Service?
- Who Can Certify Application Forms?
- What Services Are Provided?
- How to Sign Up
- Additional Information
- Contact Us
Introduction
This outreach handbook is intended to provide information about the Nebraska
Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service to Nebraska librarians, educators,
rehabilitation counselors, advocates, and
care providers. In particular, this handbook discusses what qualifies an individual for free services and what services are available. The handbook presents information in a sequence that accommodates someone making a presentation on behalf of the Talking Book and Braille Service
(TBBS). Also, presenters can obtain a variety of handouts, including pamphlets and brochures,
Braille alphabet cards, and reference circulars by contacting the TBBS. Users of this handbook are encouraged to contact the TBBS whenever clarification or additional information is desired:
Lincoln calls: (402) 471-4038
Toll-free calls: (800) 742-7691
E-mail
Background
The Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille
Service began in 1952. It is part of a nationwide network of cooperating
libraries headed by the National Library Service (NLS), a division of the
Library of Congress. The National Library Service was established in 1931 when
the Pratt-Smoot Act became law. Initially the program was intended only for
blind adults. The service was opened to blind children in 1952. Eventually, it
was recognized that blindness is only one of many disabilities that impair the
ability to read regular or standard print materials, and in 1966 the program was
expanded to accommodate persons with other physical disabilities.
Who Qualifies for Talking Book and Braille Service?
Any resident of Nebraska who cannot see to read regular print or hold a book
or turn its pages qualifies for Talking Book and Braille Services. Those
eligible include:
- Residents who are blind or whose vision is sufficiently impaired to prevent reading standard or regular print;
- Residents who have difficulty holding or handling print books or turning pages;
- Residents who are temporarily unable to read or handle books due to accident, surgery, or medication;
- Residents who have a perceptual or reading disability and unable to read printed works to substantially the same degree as a person without an impairment or disability.
Who Can Certify Application Forms?
Regarding eligibility, "certifying authority" is defined to include: doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, ophthalmologists, registered nurses, therapists, and professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or private welfare agencies, such as an educator, social worker, case worker, counselor, rehabilitation teacher, certified reading specialist, school psychologist, superintendent, or librarian.
An immediate family member, regardless of that person's qualifications, cannot certify an application form. However, immediate family members are invaluable intermediaries for staff and borrowers. This is especially true when borrowers are younger than eighteen, or have difficulty communicating.
What Services Are Provided?
Talking Book and Braille Service provides a free library service. Audio and
Braille books span a wide selection of fiction and nonfiction for all ages.
Players for enjoying the audio books are also loaned out for free. The materials
are delivered to the borrower's home through the mail. The return postage has already
been paid.
Specialized collections are also available for checkout:
- We provide over 100 audio-magazine subscriptions;
- Download audio books and magazines, and Braille books and magazines, onto your computer and play them on
one of our new National Library Service (NLS) digital players at the Braille
and Audio Reading Download System (BARD) website, and download the iOS
Application and play downloaded books on your iOS device;
- Our children's Braille collection includes Twin-Vision Braille
children's books that have the words in both Braille and regular print, as
well as more advanced reading-level Braille-only titles;
- An extensive collection of adult-level Braille is available through the
Utah State Library for the Blind and Disabled;
- A collection of musical scores, textbooks, and books about music is
available through NLS and is available for download on BARD;
- Articles from 300 print news publications can be accessed by touch-tone
telephone through (National Federation for the Blind) NFB-Newsline.
How to Sign Up
Application forms can be found on our Applications page
and also at your local Public library. The form needs a signature from someone outside the individual's
family who understands the person's reading limitations. Any social services professional may sign the form. These include case workers, counselors, and resource teachers, nurses and doctors. Only in cases of a reading disability is the signature of a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathy necessary.
The application should be mailed to:
Nebraska Library Commission
Talking Book and Braille Service
The Atrium, 1200 N Street, Ste 120
Lincoln, NE 68508-2023
Additional Information
Flyers, Braille alphabet cards, and application forms are available on request.
Contact Us
Internet Information:
Contact Talking Book and Braille Service:
Lincoln: (402) 471-4038
Toll-free: (800) 742-7691
Mail applications
and pre-printed order forms, postage-free, to:
Nebraska Library Commission
Talking Book and Braille Service
The Atrium, 1200 N Street, Ste 120
Lincoln, NE 68508-2023