| Patron Handbook |
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| General Information |
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Q. What is the Oregon State Library's Talking Book and Braille Services?
A. The Oregon State Library’s Talking Book and Braille Services (TBABS) is a free, tax supported library service located in Salem, Oregon. It loans books and magazines in special formats to anyone who cannot see to read regular print, hold a book to turn its pages, or who has a physically based reading disability. All of the lending is done free through the mail. TBABS is part of the Oregon State Library, which is an agency of the State of Oregon. TBABS is also part of the Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) network of regional libraries.
Q. What does TBABS offer?
A. TBABS loans books and magazines in large print, Braille, and on cassette tape. Patrons may read one or more formats of their choice. Because cassette tapes are recorded at slower speeds than commercially available tapes, TBABS loans specially designed cassette players to patrons who request cassette tape service.
Special accessories such as remote controls, breath switches, extension levers, and amplifiers are available to those who need them to use the cassette players. Some of these special accessories require a separate application. If you require the use of these special accessories, please ask a TBABS representative. TBABS repairs, at no cost, the equipment loaned to its patrons.
TBABS offers a toll free telephone line for use throughout the state of Oregon, as well as a local Salem and TTY telephone number 800-735-2900.
Unabridged Digital Audio Books
This service provides digital audio books, which are downloaded to your computer or portable device via the Internet. To avail yourself of this service you must have a compatible computer or portable device with Internet connection. A user ID and password are required to use Unabridged Digital Audio Books. You may go to the web site http://www.unabridged.info/ to learn more about the Unabridged Digital Audio Books.
If you are interested in signing up for this service or need additional information, please call 1-800-452-0292 and speak with a TBABS representative.
Web-Braille
This service provides downloadable Braille books to library users with Braille embossers, refreshable Braille displays, and other Braille-aware devices.
To avail yourself of this service you must have a compatible computer with Internet connection. Users provide their own equipment and must have an e-mail address. A user ID and password are required to use Web-Braille.
If you are interested in signing up for this service or need additional information, please call 1-800-452-0292 and speak with a TBABS representative.
Newsletter
A TBABS newsletter is provided to patrons quarterly and is available in Braille, cassette tape, large print, or electronically on our website at http://www.tbabs.org./
Q. What does it cost to use the service?
A. The cost is already paid. There is no cost for loan of the materials or equipment.
Q. Do I have to pay postage on books, magazines, or equipment mailed to and from the library?
A. No. Materials sent to and from TBABS are considered Free Matter for the Blind. The Free Matter status is a mailing allowed by the post office due to appropriations Congress makes to the United States Postal Service for this privilege, and certain regulations must be observed.
Braille, large type (in 14 point typeface, such as you see here), sound recordings, and special reproducers or adaptive equipment as defined by the Domestic Mail Manual qualify to be mailed as Free Matter as long as certain conditions are met. These include the following:
- The matter must be unsealed so it may be opened for postal inspection.
- The matter contains no advertising.
- The matter must be for the use of the blind or other persons who cannot use or read conventionally printed material because of a physical disability, and who are certified by competent authority as unable to read normal reading materials.
- The matter must show in the upper right corner of the address side the words Free Matter for the Blind.
Additional Free Matter information:
- Handwritten letters, regardless of the print size, do not qualify as Free Matter for the Blind. Only letters that have been typed in 14 point print or larger qualify.
- Letters must not be sealed. The post office has a right to open and inspect anything mailed as Free Matter.
- Letters or notes, regardless of format, should not be enclosed in a mailing container for Braille or recorded books, or in a mailing container for equipment.
Q. What types of books and magazines are available?
A. TBABS has leisure reading books and magazines like those you would find in your local public library. Listening music is not available, but instructional music materials and musical scores can be obtained directly from NLS. We can supply a brochure about this music service upon request.
Reference resources are not available, although information about other services or products for those who are blind or visually impaired is available. For answers to general reference questions, you may visist http://www.oregonlibraries.net/ or call your local public library.
Q. Why do I need a special tape player to play TBABS tapes?
A. TBABS tapes are recorded at slower speeds than regular commercial tapes. This means more information is recorded on each tape and cuts down on the number of tapes necessary for any given book.
In addition, while commercial tapes are recorded on 2 tracks (using each side once) TBABS tapes are recorded on 4 tracks (using each side of the tape twice), doubling the amount that can be recorded on any one tape.
Our machines are specially designed to playback at the special National Library Service speeds. The cassette players also allow the playing of all 4 tracks of the tapes by simply pressing one switch when so directed by the narrator on the tape.
More information on this topic is included in the Machines and the Books sections of this manual.
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