The majority of items available to WLBPD patrons are made available by the National Library Service (NLS). Other items are also available directly from AADL or from several outside providers. Click on a link below to view a list of the different items provided:

WLBPD Items

The following materials are available for use for free by WLBPD patrons from the NLS. Contact WLBPD directly at (734) 327-4224 to request any of the following materials:

• Books on Cassette Tape / Playback Equipment There are more than 50,000 titles available on recorded cassette for registered patrons of WLBPD. Books are recorded on four tracks, 15/16 inches per second (ips) by National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. These books, played on provided cassette players, supply many hours of reading enjoyment.

  Search for available books in the state catalog and place holds online here.

  Additional titles are available in the NLS catalog.

  The NLS catalog's most recent book titles can be viewed in Talking Book Topics. Registered WLBPD patrons will automatically receive this publication in the mail every two months. Talking Book Topics is available in large print format or on recorded cassette.

  WLBPD staff can select Books on Cassette Tape for you based on your favorite reading categories. If you would like to change your reading category selections or add a new one, go to the full list of WLBPD reading interest categories and contact WLBPD

• Books in Braille WLBPD works in conjunction with the Library of Michigan Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (SBPH) to provide Braille books to registered patrons.

  Search for available books in the state catalog and place holds online here.

  Additional titles are available in the NLS catalog.

  The NLS catalog's most recent book titles are available in Braille Book Review publication. Registered WLBPD patrons will automatically receive Braille Book Review in the mail every two months.

• Books and Magazines in Digital Format The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) is in the process of converting from talking books in a cassette format to a digital format. Recordings are being stored in flash memory, similar to digital camera cartridges. Talking book cartridges are about the size of a cassette and are beveled on one end so they fit into the digital machine in only one way. In most cases, one cartridge holds an entire book with no need to turn it over or flip switches. The Digital Talking Book (DTB) machine is roughly 6x9x2 inches and weighs slightly more than 2 pounds.

  The DTB machines and cartridges are being made available in limited quantities with priority going to veterans and centenarians. By law, veterans who want a DTB machine have first priority. While DTBs are now available, we expect supply will not equal the demand for the first few years. The current cassette player will still be needed for magazines and for older books that have not yet been converted to the digital format. All WLBPD@AADL who have not already received a DTB player have been added to the waiting list.

  Library patrons eager to read digital books before receiving the NLS DTB player can download books from an NLS website and play them on one of six commercial machines available for purchase. The Victor Stream developed by HumanWare is a small, 4x6 inch battery operated player which must be purchased by the individual from a vendor. Braille Plus Mobile Manager can be purchased through the American Printing House for the Blind. Another option is the Icon by LevelStar. Prices range from $300 to $1,400 depending on the machine you choose. A computer with a high-speed internet connection is necessary for download. Once the book is on your computer as a .zip file it can be unpacked and copied to your player. There are currently more than 16,000 digital books and 19 magazines available for download. In order to sign up for the NLS digital download service for access to all titles, you must be a registered user in good standing.

• Described Videos WLBPD houses an on-site collection of over 500 Described Videos (comedy, drama, action, mystery, children, etc.). Described Videos are movies in which the visual elements are described - the action, characters, locations, costumes, and sets - without interfering with the movie's dialogue or sound effects.

  To request descriptive videos, please contact WLBPD. To watch these movies and hear the descriptions, you need a standard VHS video player (VCR) and a television. No special feature or device is needed. A list of all Described Video titles owned by WLBPD can be found here. With an Ann Arbor District Library card, you can check out described videos in the AADL collection. A list of those titles can be found here.

• Magazines To request magazines, print, fill out, and return the Magazine Request Form to WLBPD. The magazines listed on this form are available to consumers and institutions registered for service through WLBPD or through any library in the National Library Service network. Check the items that are desired and return the list to the WLBPD or just call us. Please allow 6-8 weeks before your magazine subscription begins.

The library staff at WLBPD is pleased to select reading materials for Library consumers who do not want to select their own books or who are unable to visit the Library. Selections are made based on the consumer's reading interests (obtained by phone, email, an in-person visit, or from the application form).

AADL Items

Materials circulated by AADL that are not provided by the National Library Service require an AADL library card. AADL Circulation policies, including potential fines, apply. Please contact any AADL service desk to request these and any other AADL materials:

• Books in Large Print AADL owns over 2500 books in large print in all areas of fiction and non-fiction. Please check our catalog to search for specific books or view all of our large print titles. You can also browse the large print titles specifically for children and teens.

• Audiobooks AADL owns audiobooks in both Book on CD and Book on Cassette format. Browse our full collections of Books on CD and Books on Cassette, or take a look at the BOCD and BOC collections for children or BOCD and BOC collections for teens.

• Ebooks/Eaudio/Evideo AADL participates in a consortium with other Michigan Libraries to offer ebooks, eaudio, and evideo to our patrons. To learn more about these collections, take a look at our information page.

• Research Databases AADL subscribes to over 60 databases for patron use. These databases cover a wide range of interests, from Genealogy to Literature to Health. To begin browsing our databases, just visit our Research Page.

Other Items

• Braille & Talking Books for Students For answers to frequently asked questions about Braille, talking books, and other resources for students with disabilities in Michigan, check out Braille & Talking Books for Students: A Primer for Schools & Parents.

• NFB Newsline Thanks to the National Federation of the Blind, you can subscribe to the NFB Newsline service which provides audio access to over 250 newspapers and a number of magazines, including some in Spanish. By using a touch-tone phone, content of newspapers and magazines can be heard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via the use of a toll-free phone number. This site will provide you with the appropriate toll-free number based upon your home telephone number.

  Local newspapers include the Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, and the Lansing State Journal.
  National newspapers include the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the Christian Science Monitor, the New York Times and USA Today.

• Bibles Aurora Ministries provides Old and New Testament Bibles on recorded cassette in 64 languages to sight-impaired and print-handicapped persons, free of charge. WLBPD will submit subscriptions for registered consumers to Aurora Ministries or applicants may do so themselves. Bibles do not have to be returned. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.

• Radio Reading Services There are two radio reading services in southeast Michigan that provide news and information at no charge to individuals who cannot use normal print. Both services provide special transmitters for the use of their subscribers.

  WKAR Radio Talking Book in East Lansing
  Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS) in Detroit