Great Lakes Talking Books Library Application

Great Lakes Talking Books

We serve the U.P. and Alpena and Crawford County in the Lower Peninsula.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled

Great Lakes Talking Books is part of a national network of cooperating libraries with the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). NLS provides a free braille and talking book library service, circulating books and magazines in braille or audio formats that are instantly downloadable to a personal device (using the BARD Mobile app) or delivered by mail free of charge.
Eligibility

Individuals (all ages) are eligible for service provided they meet any of the following criteria:are blind or have a visual impairment that makes them unable to comfortably read print books,have a perceptual or reading disability, or have a physical disability that makes it hard to hold or manipulate a book or to focus or move the eyes as needed to read a print book.
This online application may be completed only by the following certifying authorities:

This online application may be submitted by a certifying authority such as a doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, ophthalmologist, optometrist, psychologist, registered nurse, therapist, or professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or welfare agencies (such as an educator, social worker, case worker, counselor, rehabilitation teacher, certified reading specialist, school psychologist, superintendent, or librarian).
Applicant Information
Date

Month Day Year
Date
Name

First Name Last Name
Address

Street Address

Apt

City State

Zip Code
County
example: Marquette, Ontonagon, Dickinson
Phone Number

Area Code Phone Number
Birth Year
We don't need the birth date, just the year.
Gender
Email
example@example.com
Veteran Status

By law, preference in lending of books and equipment is given to veterans.
Check here

for Veterans who have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces.
Alternate Contact

Person to call if the applicant can't be reached and/or to assist with the account.
Name

First Name Last Name
Phone Number

Area Code Phone Number
Email
example@example.com
Qualifying Eligibility

Indicate the primary disability preventing the applicant from reading printed material.
Check one

Blindness Visual Impairment Physical Disability Reading Disability Deaf/Blindness
Certification

Please provide information about the certifying authority.
Date *

Month Day Year
Date
Email
example@example.com
Certifying Authority Signature *

Clear
Name *

First Name Last Name
Title *
Organization *
Address *

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

City State

Zip Code
Phone Number

Area Code Phone Number
How did the applicant learn about our services?
Check one

Veteran Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation Center Other Health Care Professional Friend / Family Public Library School Consumer / Support Group Event / Expo TV Ad Radio Ad Other Ad (please specify below) Internet / Social Media (please specify below) Other ( please specify below)
Please specify the ad, internet, or other source:
What is BARD?

BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) provides access to thousands of audio and eBraille books, magazines, and music scores. Applicants with an email address and an internet or cellular data connection may download books instantly to their personal devices (iPhone, Android, iPad, or Kindle Fire) using the free BARD Mobile App, which includes built-in playback capability so they may enjoy talking books anytime, anywhere.
Service Options

There are three options for service: 1. BARD only, 2. BARD and by mail service, and 3. By mail service only.
Option 1. BARD only.

The applicant has a personal mobile device and they want to download digital talking books and/or eBraille materials to read instantly with the free BARD Mobile application. (An email address is required for BARD registration.)
Option 2. BARD and by mail service.

The applicant has a personal mobile device and they want to use the free BARD Mobile application. (An email address is required for BARD registration.) The patron also wants to receive materials by mail such as digital talking books and/or braille books. Please mail the following materials to the applicant. Digital talking books on cartridge. (If this option is selected, a digital talking book playing machine will be mailed to the applicant.) Hard copy braille books and braille magazines. Headphones
Option 3. By mail service only.

The applicant does not have a personal mobile device. Please send the following materials by mail to the applicant. Digital talking books on cartridge. (If this option is selected, a digital talking book playing machine will be mailed to the applicant.) Hard copy braille books and braille magazines. Headphones
Applicant reading preferences

We need the following information for applicants who selected either service option 2 or 3. If the applicant selected service option 1 (BARD only), please scroll to the bottom and submit the application.
Check one

Do not select books for the applicant. Send only the specific titles that the applicant requests. Select books for the applicant.
What is the applicant's preferred reading level?

Adult Young Adult Juvenile
If Juvenile reading level, please specify grade and/or reading level:
Example: Grades 4 and 5.
Subjects: Check all that apply.

Adventure Biography Christian Fiction/Amish Classics Historical Fiction History Horror/Paranormal Modern Fiction Mystery Regional Interest (Michigan) Religion Romance Science Fiction/Fantasy War/Military Westerns
Other Subjects, Authors, or Topics:
Examples: John Grisham, Harry Potter Series, etc.
Book content preferences. Please note that Westerns and Mysteries usually contain violence.

No Strong Language No Violence No Explicit Sex Some Strong Language, Violence, and Sex is ok. Send me anything, I don't mind. If I don't like it, I'll skip it.
Catalog subscription:

Every two months, the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), shares a list of titles recently added to the NLS collection. The entire collection is available at www.loc.gov/nls. Applicants who selected Option 1. BARD only service usually bypass the catalog subscription because they have access to lists of newly added titles by way of the BARD mobile app. Please select the format the applicant prefers to receive.
Talking Book Topics, a catalog of newly recorded audio books.

Large Print Audio Please do not send a catalog.
Braille Book Review, a catalog of newly available Braille books.

Large Print Braille Please do not send a catalog.
Questions?

If you have any questions concerning this application, or need additional assistance in completing this application form, please call GLTB Toll Free at 1-800-562-8985, ext 0, or call 1-906-228-7697, ext. 0, or email tb@greatlakestalkingbooks.org. We are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Notice to Institutions

Institutions may use this application to request service. In this case, the applicant name on the first page of the application should be the name of the institution, with the contact person listed as the person filling the application out. Special rules and regulations may apply to those types of accounts.
If this application is for a school, please list eligible students and their qualifying disability here:
Should be Empty:

Great Lakes Talking Books

National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled

Eligibility

This online application may be completed only by the following certifying authorities:

Applicant Information

Veteran Status

Alternate Contact

Qualifying Eligibility

Certification

How did the applicant learn about our services?

What is BARD?

Service Options

Applicant reading preferences

Catalog subscription:

Questions?

Notice to Institutions