Free online library for visually impaired people
elsenq...@nlbuk.org
Apologies for crossposting for those of you who have seen this
elsewhere.
This very brief guide outlines the range of free, useful library
services available online from the National Library for the Blind, and
how to access them.
Some services require prior registration.
1. NLB's main website - NLB Online - is an Aladdin's cave of 'book
stuff' including booklists, reviews, Book of the Month, news about
books, reading and NLB, magazines Read On and New Reading and
information on how and where to find more accessible e-books and
e-library services. Go to the homepage at <http://www.nlb-online.org>
or go straight to the goodies at
<http://www.nlb-online.org/readingideas> - registration not required.
2. NLB Booktalk is NLB's email group for book lovers to discuss all
things to do with reading. To register, send a blank email to
<nlbbooktal...@yahoogroups.com> or email
<elsenq...@nlbuk.org> for further details.
3. NLB's comprehensive Online Reference Service now includes around 300
free newspapers and magazines (including BBC Gardeners' World, Computer
Weekly, Economist, New Scientist, New Statesman, The Guardian, The
Times, The Observer, The Daily Mail, Time Magazine and Rolling
Stone).To access these free periodicals, go to
<http://validation.nlb-online.org> - to register, email
elsenq...@nlbuk.org.
4. Also part of the Online Reference Service are over 100 free
reference publications including Which? Guides, Who's Who, The Good
Schools Guide, The Year Ahead, Whitaker's Almanac, ASK Hollis and
Willing's Press Guide and a range of encyclopaedias, dictionaries,
thesauri, books of quotations, and authoritative subject-specific
titles. As with the periodicals, go to
<http://validation.nlb-online.org> - to register, email
elsenq...@nlbuk.org.
5. As part of the Unseen History collection, NLB offers a selection of
local history e-books. Many people are fascinated by their own local
history or by reading accounts of people's life experiences. This
unique collection of fifty titles covers a wide range of short popular
histories of people. Go to http://unseen.nlb-online.co.uk> - to
register, email elsenq...@nlbuk.org.
6. NLB members are also able to access free e-books from Online
Originals, a leading electronic publisher. Go to
<http://www.onlineoriginals.com/showitem.asp?itemID=50> - to register,
email elsenq...@nlbuk.org.
7. A-sites is a portal offering links to hundreds of accessible
websites - from high street shopping to finance, sport and technology.
You can also suggest new sites for inclusion. Go to
<http://www.nlb-online.info> - registration not required.
8. Visugate offers authoritative visual impairment information from the
UK's leading organisations in the field. Go to
<http://www.visugate.org> - registration not required.
9. The new Vision Support Guide contains lots of information about
different eye conditions, and the services and professional people who
can help. Go to http://www.vsg.nlb-online.org> - registration not
required.
10. Steps to Independence is aimed at educators and focuses on mobility
and independence education for visually impaired children. Go to
<http://www.sti.nlb-online.org> - registration not required.
11. The Access Technology Primer - an easy to use introduction to
access technology. This short course is designed for those involved
with training visually impaired users, as well as those who would like
to gain further understanding about working with access technology. Go
to <http://atp.nlb-online.org> - registration not required.
12. Revealweb is the national online database of books and materials in
accessible formats. You can find out about the range of resources that
are available in Braille, moon, audio and digital talking books, large
print and more by searching the catalogue. You can also find out who
produces, loans or sells accessible material. Go to
<http://www.revealweb.org.uk> - registration not required. Revealweb is
supported and managed by NLB and RNIB.
Give them a go and do please email this post on to others you think
might be interested.