World Autism Day resource - Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services

Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
The Talking Books unique service is an American icon, one of which we should all be proud! Founded in 1931 by an Act of Congress promoted by Helen Keller, this year, 2021, it celebrates its ninetieth anniversary. Although it was originally conceived to serve people with vision loss or blindness, over its ninety years it has expanded eligibility to include anyone who has difficulty reading printed matter. This includes individuals who have certifiable learning conditions, such as organic dyslexia and autism, which prevent them from reading. The Talking Books service has made a huge difference in the lives of thousands of people, thanks to our tax dollars at work. It is an invaluable resource for the Florida community, and should be made available to everyone who needs it.

The Main Regional Library is located at 421 Platt St., Daytona Beach, FL 32114, on the Campus of the Florida Division of Blind Services; service is provided to the entire state of Florida with the collaboration of nine sub-regional Libraries located around the state.  Office hours are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Patrons may call in and leave voicemail or email 24/7. Service is provided year-round (including through the COVID-19 pandemic).

• Who can access? Anyone unable to access standard print due to vision loss or blindness, a physical disability, or a certifiable reading disability may be eligible for the Library’s free services.
  
• Primary purpose? The program provides books and magazines in braille and audio formats, and the loan of long-term playback equipment, free of charge to qualified individuals of any age. Materials are supplied through the U. S. Postal Service (pre-paid) or may be downloaded from the national website.
  
• Main Goals? The Florida Braille and Talking Books Library is part of the Florida Division of Bind Services, part of the Florida Department of Education. It also belongs to a national network of cooperating libraries under the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (Library of Congress), whose motto is “That all may Read”.  This motto drives our goal: to reach all eligible Floridians with Library services, so that they may access reading.
  
• Timeline? This is an on-going program of long standing. The Florida Braille and Talking Books Library has been in continuous operation for over seventy years – since 1950. There is no time limit or deadline. Qualified individuals may sign up any time and use the services for as long as they need them.
  
• How do I sign up? Applications are available on the websites listed below; they must be downloaded, printed, filled out and then signed by a certified authority (as defined on p.2 of the app; eligibility requirements are also specified.) Alternatively, call toll free 800-226-6075 to request an application by mail.
  

Florida website: http://dbs.myflorida.com/Library
National website: http://www.loc.gov/nls
The completed application may be:
- Mailed to the Florida Braille and Talking Book Library, 421 Platt St., Daytona Beach, FL 32118
- Faxed to 386-239-6069
- Emailed as a scanned attachment (PDF) to opac_librarian@dbs.fldoe.org
  (no electronic signatures, please)
 
Library staff will be happy to help with the application process if needed; call toll free: 800-226-6075.