Talking books

Talking books are invaluable to anyone who is unable to read a book for themselves. They can also help to pass the time on long car journeys.

A wide range of titles is now available in talking book format. This includes both fiction and non-fiction. A small charge is sometimes made for this service:

Talking books are continually added to stock.  If the title you want is not currently in the library you can always reserve it for a small charge.

Playaway: the new kind of talking book

Our talking book service is much loved by many of our readers and very important to them. We know, however, that some people find handling a number of tapes or discs awkward, particularly if they suffer from arthritis or visual impairment. It can also be difficult to keep tapes or discs in the right order, or to pause a book in exactly the right place.

There is now a new digital format called Playaway. This is a pre-loaded MP3 player, and much smaller and lighter than other types of talking book.  There are some useful features such as different narration speeds, and a 'bookmark' function.  There are no tapes or discs to change.

These are mainly available in bigger libraries at the moment as we build up our collection. However, you will be able to request titles from your local branch, or online.

You do not need to have used an MP3 player before to use one. You don't need any extra equipment, as we can provide you with earphones, which just plug into the Playaway.  You can also plug the Playaway into a small set of speakers, which can be purchased quite cheaply, or use it in the car if you have an MP3 converter.

If you would like more information about this service please ask the staff at your local library or contact North Lincolnshire Central Library on 01724 860161. You can also email us at library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.