Talking Book

North Dakota State Library Talking Book offers an array of services for citizens of North Dakota who are unable to read standard print materials because of a visual, physical, or reading disability.

The Talking Book program provides patrons with free access to audio books and magazines. The Talking Book program is administered by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), a division of the Library of Congress.

Eligibility

Persons who are totally or legally blind.
Persons with visual disabilities who are unable to read standard print clearly and comfortably for a reasonable length of time.
Persons with physical disabilities who cannot hold a book, turn pages, or focus on printed material due to muscle or nerve deterioration, paralysis, or some other disabling condition.
Eligibility must be certified by one of the following: doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, ophthalmologist, optometrist, psychologist, registered nurse, therapist, and professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or welfare agencies (such as an educator, a social worker, case worker, counselor, rehabilitation teacher, certified reading specialist, school psychologist, superintendent, or librarian).
Persons unable to read due to a temporary visual/physical disability (such as recuperation from surgery) for the duration of the disabling condition.

Talking Book Service Application

If you would like to apply for the Talking Book program, please complete and print the Talking Book Service Application form, ask a certifying authority to complete and sign their section, and mail to the address on the top of the form.

Magazine Order Form

Please complete the Magazine Order Form mail, fax or email to:

North Dakota State Library Talking Book
604 East Boulevard Ave. - Dept 250
Bismarck, ND 58505-0800

Fax Number: 701-328-2040

Email: tbooks@nd.gov

Please contact us if:

you have a question about your service
your name, address, or telephone number changes
you need to transfer your service to another state or country
you want to order books by phone
your player is broken, lost, or stolen
you need a replacement for a damaged or incomplete book
you wish to discontinue service temporarily or permanently

Related Information

Talking Book Patron Handbook

Talking Book Titles Recorded at the North Dakota State Library

Search the NLS online catalog using Voyager

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)

NLS Talking Book Topics

Duplication on Demand

Duplication on Demand is a service in which multiple books are downloaded onto one cartridge, each cartridge is created especially for each patron. In order to access the multiple books on the cartridge, the patron will need to use the "Bookshelf Mode". Click on the link below to access the Bookshelf directions.

How to Use Bookshelf to Access your Multiple Books