The Library provides special machines to play audio books in its collection. The Digital Talking Book Machine (DTBM) is compact, easy to use, and features superior sound quality.
The machines are loaned to you for as long as you are an active user of the Library. We ask that you borrow at least one book or magazine per year to maintain active status.
If you have a problem with a player, please contact our Machines Department. The machines staff can answer your questions and will send a replacement machine if yours is defective.
Machines can be returned by U.S. Mail under Free Matter for the Blind. There will be no postage charged to you. Please keep the original carton in case you need to return your player.
Digital Talking Book Machine
The digital player comes in two versions as described below. Both versions play NLS or locally produced books on cartridges. They also have a USB port for playing downloaded books on flash-memory “jump” or “thumb” drives.
Digital Standard Player
- plays NLS (ANSI/NISO Z39.86:2002) digital talking books
- plays Daisy 2.02 digital talking books
- plays AMR-WB+, MP3, and WAV audiofiles
- has eight controls
- includes a variable speed control that permits speeding up or slowing down playback speed without changing the pitch
- is portable
- is equipped with a rechargeable battery and an electrical cord
- includes built-in audio instructions for using the digital machine
Digital Advanced Player
- plays NLS (ANSI/NISO Z39.86:2002) digital talking books
- plays Daisy 2.02 digital talking books
- plays AMR-WB+, MP3, and WAV audiofiles
- has thirteen controls, including a row of controls for setting and retrieving bookmarks and navigating through the structured levels of a book
- includes a variable speed control that permits speeding up or slowing down playback speed without changing the pitch
- is portable
- is equipped with a rechargeable battery and an electrical cord
- includes built-in audio instructions for using the digital player
Easy to Learn!
When there is no book inserted in the player, press any button to hear that button’s function. The built-in user guide can be accessed on the Standard model by pressing and holding the green rectangular Play/Stop button. On the Advanced model, press and hold the white, diamond-shaped Info button to hear the user guide.
Special Feature!
The white, crescent-shaped control is the Sleep button. Pressing the Sleep button starts the playback and a timer that will turn off the machine after 15 minutes. Each time the button is pressed, another 15 minutes is added to the timer, up to one hour. Pressing the Play/Stop button will cancel the sleep timer.