The New Hampshire State Library’s Talking Books Service is expanding its offerings to include audiobooks available from the New Hampshire Downloadable Books service.
Talking Books provides audiobooks at no cost to those unable to read or use standard print materials as a result of a temporary or permanent visual or physical limitation. Patrons are provided with special audio players and can select from thousands of titles available in Talking Books’ library.
Each year, Talking Books serves more than 2,000 New Hampshire residents and lends more than 90,000 books.
New Hampshire’s Talking Books Service will continue to make material from its existing lending library available. In addition, patrons will now also be able to use digital players, such as iPods, to listen to titles available from the New Hampshire Downloadable Books service.
“New Hampshire’s Talking Books Service has provided material to the blind and physically challenged—including veterans—for generations. Often it is the only way that they are able to access these materials,” said Michael York, state librarian. “The New Hampshire State Library is pleased to be able to expand this service by making downloadable audio books available to them.”
To access material from New Hampshire Downloadable Books, Talking Books’ patrons will need to contact their local library to see if it belongs to the New Hampshire Downloadable Books Consortium (we do!); they will also need a valid library card, computer, internet access and compatible audio player. Patrons whose libraries do not belong to the New Hampshire Downloadable Books Consortium can work directly with Talking Books Service to set up an account.
More information about the New Hampshire State Library’s Talking Books Service is available at www.nh.gov/nhsl/talking_books and by calling (603) 271-3429 or (800) 491-4200 (toll free in New Hampshire only).
The New Hampshire Downloadable Books service is available at http://nh.lib.overdrive.com/.
The New Hampshire State Library promotes excellence in libraries and library services to all New Hampshire residents, by assisting libraries and the people of New Hampshire with rapid access to library and informational resources through the development and coordination of a statewide library/information system; by meeting the informational needs of New Hampshire’s state, county and municipal governments and its libraries; and by serving as a resource for New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.nh.gov/nhsl.