Reading

RNIB Talking Book Service

Summary: All you need to know about the Talking Book Service

What can the Talking Book Service offer you?

  • The Talking Book Service provides an extensive range of over 15,500 audio books, paid for by annual subscription and delivered through the post to your door.
  • Subscription gives you access to a variety of ways to choose your books including support from our Customer Services Team and librarians.
  • Talking Books are in the Daisy format which lets you skip to a new chapter or insert a bookmark (in the same way a print reader can) using a lightweight player with accessible controls.

How to join

The subscription costs, which include all the Talking Books you read throughout the year, are:

  • The full loan annual subscription, which includes the loan of a player, costs £76
  • The books only annual subscription costs £50

To join the Talking Book Service contact us on 0845 762 6843 or 01733 37 53 50, or email cservices@rnib.org.uk to find out more or download a form here:

Please note that some callers may find it cheaper to call a landline, so we have detailed both 08 prefixed numbers and landline equivalents.

Talking Book Catalogue

For Talking Book subscribers

Woman listening to Talking Book, laughing

Library news

Visit our new library news page, for the latest about reading from RNIB and the world of books including our 'Book of the Month'.

Reader's Forum

Are you having trouble deciding what to read next? You can talk to other book lovers and express your views on the RNIB Reader's forum. Just go to the board and register to join in or simply browse the messages.

More about Talking Books

  • Talking Books are recorded in our modern studios, which are designed to be accessible to people with sight problems. We work with professional actors, narrators and authors to bring audio books to life.
  • Last year we sent out two million books to 41,000 people and added 450 books to our stock. Find out about the history of talking books and some interesting facts and figures. You can listen to audio clips from talking books now.

Support the Talking Book Service

Even though we ask for a small annual subscription to join the Talking Book Service, RNIB has to subsidise this lifeline service by some two million pounds a year (about fifty pounds per person per year) to keep it running. This is found through fundraising and legacy income; we receive no Government help. Find out how you can support Talking Books or read about celebrity support for Talking Books.

The Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland has adopted the Talking Book Service as their Charity of the Year.

Man smiling as he listens to a talking book

Give a Talking Books subscription as a gift

For a gift that will be enjoyed throughout the year, why not buy a subscription to the Talking Book Service? From only fifty pounds a year, a gift subscription includes an unlimited number of books throughout the year. Please call Customer Services on 0845 762 6843 or 01733 37 53 50.

For local authorities

Many local authorities support people with sight problems in their area through a subscription to the Talking Book Service. If you represent a local authority and want to find out more about what we can offer your clients (publicity posters and leaflets are also available), please contact:

Ansuya Agrawal (Local Authority Relationships Co-ordinator)
Telephone: 020 7391 2060
Email: ansuya.agrawal@rnib.org.uk

Content author: cservices@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13

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Your stories

Mary’s story – Mary joined a Telephone Book Club and meets new people over the phone who share her passion. "I live alone. I’ve always been quite active but suddenly I find that I’m not. Reading is my biggest pleasure, I’ve read all my life. The group is very good if you live alone. You get to know other people." Mary’s full story.