If you have low vision or any other physical handicap that keeps you from reading books the traditional way, there’s a FREE audio-book player just waiting for an invitation to come to your home. Through a federally mandated program run by the state, the Talking Book and Braille Library in Albany will send eligible participants a digital machine player. You can then order books free of charge from the state library. You can even set up the program so that they send you audio books without individual requests. Just mark off your preferences on your application (e.g., Sue Grafton; biography; history; comedy) and your cartridges will arrive via USPS. When you finish each book, return it the same way. And, there are no postage costs. But what if you want to ask for a specific book? No problem – you can do that too. Nice, right?
Have a smart phone or a tablet? You can download the BARD app and download books directly to your machine. Or, you can download books from the BARD website onto a special blank cartridge and use it in your digital player. There are so many options. And we can help you get started.
Come to the library and ask for a demo and we’ll show you how it all works – you’ll be impressed! We’ll help you complete your application (there are separate applications for the machine and the app), set up your user profile and get it out the door.
If you have low vision or have some other obstacle that’s preventing you from enjoying reading and learning, this little machine can change your life. You’re fine? Good! But think – do you know anyone who could benefit from this service? Elderly neighbor, a niece or nephew? Mom or dad? Someone in your life may need you to tell them about this.