__________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                                              Contact:          Tom Peters

                                                                                                            (816) 228-6406

                                                                                                            tpeters@tapinformation.com 


Libraries for the Blind Launch Digital Audio Book Service

 

Five States and the Library of Congress NLS Collaborate in Unabridged

 

January 5, 2005:  State libraries for the blind in Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Oregon, along with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), part of the Library of Congress, have partnered to launch an innovative digital audio book service for visually impaired users. 

Unabridged (http://www.unabridged.info/) enables blind patrons to check out and download digital spoken word audio books directly to their computers.  The digital audio books can then be played back on a PC, transferred to a portable playback device, or burned onto CDs. 

Member Libraries include:

  • Colorado Talking Book Library
  • Delaware Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
  • Illinois Network of Libraries Serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped
  • National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
  • New Hampshire State Library, Talking Books Program
  • Oregon State Library, Talking Book & Braille Services

The first year of the program will serve as the pilot phase, with a limited number of users in each participating state. 

Early responses from librarians and patrons have been very positive.  During the first month of the service use of the collection has been brisk, and reports of technical problems have been sparse.  Lori Bell, Director of the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center, noted, "I am very excited about this project. Our readers are eager to try digital audio books.  Through Unabridged they can browse, select a book and download it directly to their computers."

 

Unabridged is powered by the new digital audio book system from OverDrive (http://www.overdrive.com/).  The content is delivered as encrypted Windows Media Audio (WMA) files.  Playback on a personal computer is accomplished using the new OverDrive Media Console (OMC) software.  OMC builds on the existing features of Windows Media Player to offer key functionalities useful to digital audio books users, such as MediaMarkers, which allow non-linear navigation, bookmarks, and the ability to skip back 15 seconds in the digital audio book.  OMC also enables variable speed playback, an exciting new feature for a mainstream digital audio book system designed for the general consumer market.  The OMC offers enhanced accessibility and general usability for blind and visually impaired readers. 
 

 

About Colorado:   The Colorado Talking Book Library (http://www.cde.state.co.us/ctbl/) is a free service to Coloradans of all ages who are unable to read standard print material due to visual, physical or learning disabilities, whether permanent or temporary. 

About Delaware:  Since 1971 the Delaware Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (http://www.state.lib.de.us/Collection_Development/LBPH/) has provided books in Braille and audio books on record and cassette for the blind and physically handicapped Delaware residents.

About Illinois:        The Illinois Network of Libraries Serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped (http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/who_we_are/talking_book_and_braille_service/home.html) works in conjunction with the Illinois State Library and local talking book centers to provide a full range of library services specializing in braille and talking books.

About the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped: 
NLS (http://www.loc.gov/nls/) administers the free program that loans recorded and braille books and magazines, music scores in braille and large print, and specially designed playback equipment to residents of the United States who are unable to read or use standard print materials because of visual or physical impairment.

About New Hampshire:  The New Hampshire State Library, Talking Books Program (http://www.state.nh.us/nhsl/talkbks/index.html) exists to meet the reading needs and interests of New Hampshire residents who are physically unable to see, handle or process printed material comfortably.   

About Oregon:     The Oregon State Library, Talking Book & Braille Services (http://egov.oregon.gov/OSL/TBABS/) strives to enhance the quality of life for print-disabled Oregonians through reading.

About OverDrive:  Founded in 1986, OverDrive, Inc. (http://www.overdrive.com) is a leading provider of enterprise Digital Rights Management (DRM) and related digital media solutions enabling the management and distribution of premium digital content over global networks.