Alaska State Library > Talking Book Center

What We Can Do for You

The Alaska State Library Talking Book Center is a cooperative effort between the National Library Service and the Alaska State Library to provide print handicapped Alaskans with talking book and Braille service.

These recordings include Gothic and romantic novels, books on travel, history, and religion, as well as classics, bestsellers, mysteries, biographies, and how-to books. If you know someone who can use this free reading program - someone temporarily or permanently unable to read standard print - you can help that person fill leisure hours, continue studies, or just keep in touch with the world by applying for free reading materials.

Our talking books and recordings on 4-track cassettes cannot be bought at the local bookstore. They are available on loan with special playback equipment to eligible handicapped people. Any U.S. citizen or resident who cannot hold a book or read standard print can apply to borrow these materials. The books, magazines, and playback equipment are mailed postage-free directly to the borrower.

Contact Information

The Talking Book Center is located in Anchorage at:
344 West 3rd Avenue, Suite 125
Anchorage, AK 99501-2337

907.269.6575
fax: 907.269.6580
toll-free (in-state only): 800.776.6566
TDD: 907.269.6575
tbc@alaska.gov

Hours of Service are:
8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday

All patrons are encouraged to visit the Library when they are in the Anchorage area.

Bev Griffin, Library Assistant II
Alaska State Library
344 West 3rd Avenue, Suite 125
Anchorage, AK 99501-2337
907.269.6575
fax: 907.269.6580

Rachel Garner, Library Assistant I
Alaska State Library
344 West 3rd Avenue, Suite 125
Anchorage, AK 99501-2337
907.269.6572
fax: 907.269.6580

Eligibility Requirements for Talking Book and Braille Services

Individuals qualify for service if they have a visual or physical disability that limits use of regular print.

Individuals may also qualify because of a reading disability which results from "organic dysfunction." For example, a person with dyslexia would qualify if that condition were severe enough to prevent the reading of regular print in a normal manner.

A medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy must sign applications for individuals with reading disability. This requirement can be confusing because individuals with reading disability are often evaluated by school psychologists.

Contact the Talking Book Center for more information.

How to Order Materials

Application. The Library serves only individuals who have applied for service and meet the eligibility requirements set by law. Applications are available at the Talking Book Center and most public libraries.

Equipment. The Library will provide you with the necessary playback equipment for as long as you want to use the program. You will be required to borrow at least one book per year from the Library or subscribe to an NLS produced magazine in order to retain the use of our equipment. Books from Recording for the Blind and Christian Braille Foundation do not count as materials borrowed during the year. Most often special cassette players and record players are available for loan. However, please contact the Talking Book Center for current equipment information.

Book Requests. To get the best selection of books, use the catalogs and bibliographies that you receive. If at any time there is a specific book that you would like to have sent, contact the Talking Book Center. If it is available, it will be sent to you. If not, your name will be added to the request list.

If you are interested in receiving a book that is not listed in any of the catalogs, contact the Talking Book Center. We will check the complete computer catalog to see if it has been produced. We also have access to a listing of the new titles that are being produced. Online catalogs may be useful in finding the material. If you are checking the status of a relatively new book, be sure to have the complete title.

Loan Period. The loan period for all talking books is one month. If more time is needed to finish a book, you can keep it longer. Just remember, there are other readers who may be waiting for that book. If you find books stacking up and don't have the time to read them, return them to the Library. They can always be sent to you again when you have more time.

Receiving and Returning Materials. All books and magazines are mailed to you postage-free and are returned to us postage-free. On the outside of the container there is a slot with a reversible mailing card. When you return a book, turn the mailing card over so that the Library address is showing and put it in the mailbox. If you receive magazines without a reversible mailing card, they do not need to be returned. They are yours to keep.

If you receive defective books or magazines, put a rubber band around the defective tape and leave it on the top of the container. Leave defective records outside of their sleeves. If you would like to receive another copy of a defective book, contact the Library. Do not put orders and notes inside of the mailing containers. Call the Library or send them separately.

Type of Service. The Library will send you books at any interval that you request. Some of the most popular are weekly and one for one book turn around.

For those individuals who aren't sure how many or how often they want to receive books, one for one turn around is the best type of service. The Library starts you out with three or four books. As the books are returned to the Library, they are replaced.

For those who want to receive books on a weekly basis, the Library sends out books each Wednesday. Staff selects books for you based on your reading preferences or selected authors. If you have requests, those will be filled as the books become available. You will be mailed the same number of books each week even if you have not returned books to the Library.

Changes in Service. Your service can be adjusted at any time. Please call the Library whenever you want to make any changes. Some of the more frequent changes made by readers are:

Quantity and frequency of books sent.
Reader interests.
Magazine subscription changes. All subscription changes must be made by this Library. Do not send them to the address on the outside of the magazine containers.
Temporary address changes. The Library will have books and magazines sent to a temporary address while you are on vacation.
Permanent changes of address. If you are making a permanent move out of state, the Library will send your records to the new Library that will serve you. You can take your equipment with you. Talking books are available, in every state as well as overseas. Just remember, if you are moving, contact this Library before you leave.
Temporary suspension of service. If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time and do not want materials sent, the Library will put your service on hold.

Read our newsletter TBC Newsline

Catalogs & Other Resources

The Library has a collection of catalogs and bibliographies from which you can make book selections. The application packet contains a complete listing of those currently available at the Library. Contact the Talking Book Center for details.

National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (NLS)
NLS administers a free library program of Braille and recorded materials to eligible borrowers through a network of cooperating libraries. NLS offers an online catalog and lists of resources. Alaska residents should contact the Talking Books Center in Anchorage to request materials.

Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI)
Dedicated to disseminating up-to-date information about access to computing and information technology for persons with disabilities. Includes links to information on making libraries accessible and links to electronic texts on the Internet.

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
This organization gives individuals with print disabilities and agencies serving individuals with print disabilities access to the wealth of titles in RFB&D's collection as well as access to other resources. RFB&D offers an online catalog and a resource guide.

Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation web pages offer a listing of available services from the division as well as an evaluative listing of key, online, disability resources.

Assistive Technologies of Alaska (ATLA)
Assistive Technologies of Alaska is concerned with getting technology into the hands of people with disabilities so they might live, work and be a part of their community more independently. ATLA achieves this goal through four major activities. First, ATLA helps people with disabilities find devices and services to improve their daily lives and to locate the money to pay for the technology. Second, ATLA provides training on issues related to assistive technology through seminars, conferences and exhibits. Third, ATLA publishes a quarterly newsletter as an ongoing effort to create awareness in the public of current assistive technology issues. Fourth, ATLA provides advocacy for systems change to encourage services delivery systems to consider assistive technology more readily and to provide assistive technology in a timely manner.

Disability Resources, Inc.
Disability Resources, inc. is developing a home page on the world wide web which includes "The DRM WebWatcher" (an easy-to-use guide to disability resources on the web) and "Librarians' Connections", as well as information about its own publications and services. "Librarians' Connections" includes information about pertinent listservs, assistive technology resources, and links to special, public and academic libraries which offer online information about their services for people with disabilities.

Music

Music is not available from this Library. There is however, a special music library maintained at the National Library Service in Washington, DC. The collection contains music education materials and instruction such as Braille music scores and Braille books about music; large print music scores and large print books about music; recorded self-instructional courses, books, and other material in record and cassette formats. Please contact us if you are interested in this material and we will facilitate your contact with the National Library Services or call direct at 800.424.8567.

Last updated May 19, 2006