Community directory

RNIB. National Library Service

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) is the largest agency within the United Kingdom working for blind and partially sighted people.

RNIB delivers a wide range of services including the National Library Service, which is a postal book lending service and is offered to any residents of the United Kingdom with serious sight problems (unable to read N12 or less).

Talking books includes over 13,370 fiction and non-fiction titles for adults and children from numerous genres as well as academic books in digital DAISY format. Talking Books are professionally recorded, unabridged and played on easy-to-use DAISY players.

There is an annual subscription for the Talking Book Service of £76.00 for ‘full loan’ and £50.00 for ‘library-only loan’ until 2008, which is often paid by a local authority.

Other materials are available in audio, Braille, large and giant print, electronic, DAISY and audio-described video formats with music scores, tactile maps and diagrams also available. The majority of braille and some DAISY are also available for sale.

Parent organisation: Royal National Institute of The Blind.

Registered charity number 226227