Frequently asked questions
Who can join?
You can join Calibre if you
- can't see well enough to read ordinary books, and live in the UK, the Republic of Ireland or other European country, or
- have another disability that makes it difficult to use books, and live in the UK.
All members can borrow our books on MP3 format CDs. Members with sight problems can also borrow books on standard cassettes.
Is the service really free?
Yes. We do not charge a subscription and there are no fines for lost, late or damaged books. The online catalogue is also free. To cover production costs we do make a small charge for the print and CD-R catalogues for adults.
How do I get the books and return them to you?
Calibre books are delivered and returned by post, free of charge. The packaging has been designed to fit into any ordinary pillar box.
How many books can I have?
Most people have two books at a time. When you have finished the first book you return it to us and we then send out a replacement. This should reach you before you have finished reading the second book. In this way you’ll get books at your own speed. If you read a lot you may need more than two books – just ask and we will increase your allocation.
What equipment do I need?
Calibre books are in two formats, on standard cassettes and on MP3 format compact disks. All members can borrow the books on disk. Members with sight problems can also borrow books on cassette.
For the books on MP3 format CDs there is a wide choice of players, with different features and at different prices. If you have recently bought a CD player this may play MP3 disks as well as ordinary CDs. You can also listen to them on many DVD players, on computers, and on many Daisy machines (including the ones currently supplied by the RNIB Talking Book Service). Read more about our digital service or phone 01296 432 339 and ask for our information cassette and a trial MP3 disk.
To use our cassette books all you need is an ordinary cassette player - anything from a Walkman type portable to a big hi-fi system.
Why aren’t you using the Daisy format like RNIB?
Calibre has always produced books that members can play on standard, commercially-available playback equipment. This means that our members can choose machines to suit their personal needs and preferences.
Using standard equipment also keeps our costs down and helps us to maintain a free service.
What sort of books do you have?
We aim to provide a good selection of books to read for pleasure – the sort of books you would expect to find in your local library. We have over 8,000 titles, including popular best-sellers, classic authors, detective stories, historical novels, non-fiction such as biography and travel, and 1,400 books specially recorded for children and young people. We add a new book to the library every day and welcome suggestions from members.
How do I choose the books I want to read?
This website has the complete library catalogue (see What's in the library) and it’s very easy to select your books online – members can click here to go to the members login page.
We produce a range of catalogues in print, on computer disk (CD-ROM) and in audio – there is a small charge for these. As well as the author and title, all the catalogues include a short description of each book to help you decide whether you would enjoy it. Download a catalogue order form here. We announce new ones on this website and in our regular audio newsletters.
As well as the catalogues we produce a quarterly bulletin of reading ideas and new books added to the library. This is sent free of charge to all members who prefer to choose their own books.
Can you help me choose my books?
Yes, we can. If you tell us the sort of books you like, such as detective stories, love stories, or books about the war, we will then choose books for you based on your preferences. More than half our members use this system. There is a page on the application form for you to tell us what sort of books you like, and you can add to or change your list at any time.
Alternatively, if you enjoy particular writers, or if there is a subject that interests you, do ring us up and we’ll try to put together a list of books to suit you. It’s best if you phone after lunch, as we usually have more time to deal with this sort of enquiry in the afternoons. Whatever your question, just ask. We’re here to help - just phone our Membership Services team on 01296 432 339.