Audiobooks and Ohio's Talking Book Program

According to the World Health Organization, nearly everyone who lives long enough will eventually develop a disability. The Census Bureau estimates from 2022 show that almost one-quarter of all Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have disabilities. Close to half of those 75 or older have some type of disability. In Ohio, around 14% of people have disabilities, and the number of Ohioans who suffer vision loss continues to increase. Because of the growth in the aging population, in 2020 there were 1,729,883 Ohioans affected by vision-robbing conditions. The primary causes are diabetic retinopathy, cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As the population ages, accessibility to library materials like audiobooks will become increasingly important. Tiffin-Seneca Public Library is dedicated to meeting the needs of our patrons, especially our patrons with disabilities. Everyone should have equal access to books and information and the library can help visually impaired patrons gain access to these items. The Tiffin-Seneca Public Library has a large selection of audiobooks available for check-out. We are also a part of SEO (Serving Every Ohioan), which supports a consortium of 103 library systems. If an audiobook is not available at our library, we can see if it is available at any of our partner libraries. If it is available, we will place a hold on it. It will then be shipped through our cargo system to our library. You will receive a notification when it arrives for pick-up. If you are not able to come into the library to pick up your hold, there are several options available to those who qualify. The library offers a books-by-mail service, a homebound delivery service and you may fill out a holds authorization form, which will allow others you designate to pick up your holds for you. With your library card and a smart device, you can have access to audiobooks online by using one of our free streaming services: Libby or Hoopla. Technology trainer, Hayle Lucas, can help you with any questions you may have about getting started. Feel free to call the library and schedule a one-on-one session with Hayle today! Our Extension and Outreach Manager, Beth Gottfried, can see if you qualify for the Talking Book Program. The program provides free access to books and magazines, recorded by professional narrators. These items are available on a digital cartridge, pre-loaded MP3 players, or for download from a secure database (OHIO-BARD). Books and magazines are also available in E-braille or braille, a system of writing using raised dots. All books, magazines, catalogs, and equipment are sent to readers at no cost through the U.S. Postal Services as "Free Matter for the Blind" and returned the same way. Any Ohio resident or Ohioan living abroad who is unable to read or use standard print materials as a result of a temporary or permanent visual, physical, or neurological limitation is eligible to receive service. Interested parties may request an application from the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library at 419-447-3751. Applications are also available through the OLBPD website at http://olbpd.cpl.org or by calling 1-800-362-1262. For more information on the Talking Book Program, please call the State Library of Ohio at 1-800-686-1531 or visit their website at http://www.library.ohio.gov.