RNIB Reading Services

RNIB Reading Services

The new talking book service from RNIB named, “Reading services” is now here. To use the service you will need to register at the following site:- https://readingservices.rnib.org.uk/ the service is free.

Search and ye shall find

The reading services website lets you search for Titles, Authors & ISBN which is fine if you know what you want. There is however the RNIB Library with many formats of reading material. Here one can search or Browse by Category, which I think is a better method of finding a book.

In the box marked [Everything] please change it to “Talking books only”. Key in your search term and wait for the results. Then click on a title in the results, read the synopsis and note (copy) it’s ISBN e.g. 9780340921043.

A page on the Reading services site which has other searches is called :-

UsefulLinks

Download

Next you move to the Homepage of the Reading services site and key (paste) into the search box the ISBN number found previously.

The book details will appear, click on the title and a download page is shown with a message that says, “Download Pending” wait until this changes to “Available Now” you may have to refresh the page, expect a wait of a few minutes.

The site will personalise your download with your account number. Next click [Download]. A 200MB zip file took about 6 mins to download. Other pages that are useful on this site are:-

Previous searches and ReadLater

Unpack

You will now have a zip file in your download folder. A zip file is one file that has many files within. It contains each chapter of the book as separate MP3 file plus other files such as pictures and notes. The zip file needs to be unzipped or you can play it using VLC or Easyreader without unzipping.

Play

If you are going to play the Audio book on a computer or a MP3 player you will need to unzip the zip file to a folder on your computer or perhaps a memory stick. Once on the device click on the first MP3 file in the list.

Easy reader

Easyreader is an App for portable devices such as Tablets or Phones and can be found on the Dolphin website When first run the app will ask you to register with Dolphin. Easyreader is free.

EasyReader will open books provided by libraries in many file formats.

Notes

When you download a book from RNIB Reading Services, there is no need to return it when you have read it. There is also no borrow time limit on the book. You can delete the book but can re-download it again in the future if you want to read it again.

Using VLC or Media Player you can play the book directly from the zip file. Highlight the zip file and right click or press shift-F10. Select “open with” then play in VLC or Media Player. Note: VLC and Windows Media Player won’t remember where you left off in a book.

This page was updated on

22 June 2020

by

Terry