Reading groups - share the enjoyment
Reading groups allow people to come together to share their views on books they have read. Joining a reading group can offer new insights into your favourite writers and introduce you to books you might not have thought of reading. Some public libraries run reading groups as do local societies for the blind. Many are informal and you can even set up your own reading group with your friends. If you want to know about groups in your area, ask your public library.
Calibre can support reading groups if they are exclusively for people with sight problems or if some of the members are visually impaired. Under the scheme we will provide multiple copies of a book to ensure that all members of the group can read the same book at the same time. We have a good selection of titles available through the scheme though we cannot supply books recorded by commercial companies.
We can also help you if you are the only person in your group who needs audio books - please phone us on 01296 432 339 for information.
"Reading is quite a lonely activity. It is nice to come and share a book and get other people's comments."
Member from the Reading Borough Libraries Group
How the scheme works
There is a FREE three months' trial period to enable you to establish your group and try out the scheme. Click here for an application form and send it to us by post or email.
When you complete the application form, please let us know the book you would like for your first meeting. It is helpful to give us one or two alternatives to ensure that we can supply promptly. Click here to see a list of book sets already in stock (on cassette). Choose from these sets if possible, but your group may choose two titles a year which are not already available as sets.
Please note that we need at least one month's notice to supply and despatch the books.
As soon as possible after completing your form please let us have all your requirements for the first year, bearing in mind again that we need a month's notice. Again it is helpful to have alternative titles. You can borrow up to ten titles a year.
Our charges for one year are as follows:
- up to 5 copies £75
- up to 10 copies £150
- up to 15 copies £225
- up to 20 copies £300
We will invoice you after the end of the three months' trial period. Please note that Calibre books are sent to members and returned free of charge. Calibre bears the postage costs for everyone, even those who are not visually impaired and do not qualify for Articles for the Blind Scheme. At present we can only support groups in the UK.
Do please get in touch with Christine Ronaldson if you have any questions - click here to email Christine.