News
This page will keep you up to date on Calibre's news and other news that will interest members.
Reading through Audio
Media reports of the death of the cassette are causing understandable anxiety among people with sight problems, and the professionals who work with them. The cassette will probably be with us for some time to come, but it is probably a good idea to look at the new digital audio systems. They offer many advantages to their users, including better sound quality, improved reliability and convenient postage.
The Reading through Audio initiative has been set up by a group of organisations involved in providing audio services. We aim to help rehabilitation workers and other staff to understand the new playback systems and help their clients to do so.
The first product is a leaflet giving brief details of the main national providers of audio services, a guide to how to listen, and a quick reference table. Print copies were sent to local societies for the blind and to social services departments at the end of February. Extra print copies are available from any of the organisations listed in the leaflet. For audio copies please contact National Talking Newspapers & Magazines, phone number: 01435 866103; email: info@torchtrust.org.
Of course no leaflet can hope to give all the information about all the options, let alone stay up to date. We have therefore also set up a website, www.readingthroughaudio.org.uk, which will gradually include more information and links to other sites. All the organisations listed in this leaflet will also be happy to answer questions, and signpost you to other resources.
We welcome all comments and suggestions, both on this leaflet and for other information which would be helpful.
The members of Reading through Audio are:
British Wireless for the Blind Fund; Calibre Audio Library; Kent Association for the Blind; Listening Books; National Talking Newspapers and Magazines; RNIB National Library Service; St Dunstans; Talking News Federation; and Torch Trust.
National Year Of Reading
As you may have heard, 2008 will be the National Year of Reading (NYR).It aims to celebrate reading for pleasure, so from April to December public libraries and other organisations will be holding events all over the country.These should all be accessible to people with sight problems and other disabilities, so we do hope you will find out what's happening in your area, and consider taking part. For more information visit the NYR website, www.yearofreading.org.uk
The Right to Read Alliance is also keen to use the National Year of Reading to highlight the fact that so few books are available in audio, or any other format that someone with sight problems can read. If you would like to support our campaign, one thing you can do is sign the Right to Read Declaration. You can do this on the RNIB website (www.rnib.org.uk/righttoread), or phone Calibre for a print copy sign.
Do get involved if you can.
Right to Read
Did you know that less than 4% of material printed in a year is ever converted into any alternative reading format suitable for print disabled people, such as braille, large print or audio? The main reason for this shocking situation is that almost of these formats are produced by charities, whose resources are limited by their ability to raise funds. The Right to Read Alliance is a consortium of over 20 organisations who believe it is wrong in a civilised society that visually impaired and other print disabled people can only get access to reading matter through the rattling of tins in the High Street!
The Alliance supports the Right to Read Campaign, which is seeking faster and routine provision of more books, magazines, newspapers and information in formats that can be read by visually impaired and print disabled people. The additional costs of these formats should not fall on charitable funds, or result in a higher price to the end user. We urge the government to show leadership and responsibility by setting up a centrally financed fund for the national provision of all alternative format reading material.
Or in brief:
The same book, at the same time, at the same price.
Calibre is a founding member of the Right to Read Alliance, and we should be very glad of your support. If you would like to help with the campaign, there are two important things you can do immediately:
- Write to your MP, explaining how unfair the current situation is, and asking him/her to put down questions for the government and sign up to Early Day Motions.
- Obtain a copy of the Right to Read Declaration (which you can download now by clicking here), and get your friends and relatives to sign it.
Press Play for great books for Young Calibre members
The latest issue of Press Play is now available, with new ideas for books to enjoy. This issue looks at
- Little People - Big Ideas - books about fairies, elves and other creatures
- Schools with a difference - just find out what difference
- Once Upon A Time-Traveller
- From Hogwarts to Hollywood - books
And of course all the new books in the library.
Most Young Calibre books are available on MP3 format CDs, as well as cassettes. These disks can be played on any CD player which has MP3 on the outside, as well as computers, DVD players and Daisy players. They can even be put onto an Ipod or similar player. To find out what’s there just visit the Find that book! page on the Young Calibre website where you’ll be able to look at the whole catalogue online.
Thanks to this digital technology, children and young people with dyslexia can now join Calibre, and borrow books on disk. Young members with sight problems can also borrow books on cassette if they prefer.
For more information phone us on 01296 432 339.
Welcome back to people with dyslexia
Calibre's free service is now open to people with dyslexia, four years after new copyright legislation forced us to suspend it.
The service is being reinstated because upgrades to our computer system mean we can identify titles that cannot be loaned to members with dyslexia because of copyright restrictions. The advent of books on MP3 format disks also means that we can bear the costs of postage.
Elizabeth Twining, Publicity and Fundraising Manager, says: “We are delighted that people with dyslexia can now use our service again. There are an estimated 375,000 pupils who have dyslexia and they have very restricted access to audio books. We’re only sorry that there are some titles they cannot borrow for copyright reasons. As members of the Right to Read Alliance, we are campaigning for equal access for all print-disabled people.”
The move has been welcomed by parents such as award-winning children’s writer Roy Apps, whose son Joel has dyslexia. Earlier this year Joel took part in a children’s lobby of Parliament for the Right to Read campaign. Joel says: “The lack of electronic books inhibits my access to learning and in a society where the government says that ‘every child matters’ I have been badly disadvantaged in my education. Being a member of Calibre and receiving MP3s of fiction gives me enormous pleasure, and without Calibre I would have been unable to access these books.”
We are now working to ensure that every school and every English teacher is aware that Calibre can help them provide support to dyslexic children at no financial burden to the school or education body.
Unfortunately copyright restrictions mean that not all Calibre's titles are available to members with dyslexia. As members of the Right to Read Alliance, Calibre is campaigning for equal access for all print-disabled people. To find out how you can support the campaign go to www.rnib.org.uk/righttoread.
Parents or teachers with any enquiries about the new dyslexia service should phone us on 01296 432 339.
Yahoo discussion group for Calibre members
You may like to know that one of our members has set up an email discussion group about Calibre. It is a users list, for Calibre members and other interested people, to discuss everything to do with Calibre and our services.
To subscribe to the list send a blank e-Mail to:
CALIBREBooks-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk