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NLS Factsheets

Playback Machines and Accessories Provided on Free Loan to Eligible Individuals and Institutions

January 2009

Contents

Background
Part I. Available Playback Machines
Part II. Special Accessories for Digital Talking-Book Players
Part III. Special Accessories for Cassette Book Machines

Background

Recorded materials loaned free by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, are available on digital talking-book cartridges and audiocassettes. Both digital and cassette recordings require specially designed playback equipment (see Part I, below), which is loaned free to eligible individuals and institutions. Special accessories (see Part II, below) are also loaned free. Digital talking-book players play digital cartridges and cassette machines play audiocassettes at either 15/16 or the commercial standard 1-7/8 inches per second (ips). Only headphones and amplified headphones with miniplugs will work with the digital player.

To obtain any of the equipment and accessories described in Part III, below, individuals and institutions must be registered with the Library of Congress talking-book program. An application for the free library service may be requested from the Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542, or downloaded from the NLS web site, www.loc.gov/nls. All equipment and accessories are provided by the cooperating regional library serving eligible readers in their state of residence for as long as the reader is actively involved in the program.

Part I. Available Playback Machines

Digital Standard Player

Digital Advanced Player

Cassette Machine

Part II. Special Accessories for Digital Talking-Book Players

Amplifier

Headphones

Pillow Speaker

Part III. Special Accessories for Cassette Book Machines

Amplifier

Breath Switch

Extension Levers

Headphones

Pillow Speaker

Remote Control Unit

Solar Panel Battery Charger

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Individuals and institutions who wish to purchase playback equipment, who desire special features not included with NLS-provided machines, or who are ineligible for the free loan of NLS-provided machines, may examine other options by requesting Facts: Sources for Purchase of Cassette Players and Player-Recorders Compatible with Recorded Materials Produced by the National Library Service (NLS) from the Reference Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, as noted above, or by e-mail at nlsref@loc.gov.


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Posted on 2012-10-24