LIBRARY FOR ASSISTIVE MEDIA AND TALKING BOOKS
Residents of all ages in St. Clair, Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola Counties and some schools and medical facilities are eligible for LAMTB services if they have difficulty reading standard printed materials because of one or more of the following:
• Blind persons.
• Persons whose visual disability, with correction and regardless of optical measurement, is certified as preventing the reading of standard printed material.
• Persons certified as unable to read or unable to use standard printed material as a result of physical limitations.
• Persons certified by competent authority as having a perceptual or reading disability and unable to read printed works to substantially the same degree as a person without an impairment or disability.
Applications for service must include certification by an appropriate authority, such as social workers, rehabilitation therapists, and professionals in various fields related to health care.
Librarians familiar with an applicant and who can determine the applicant is eligible for service may do the certifying.
All certifications must include the certifier's name, affiliation, address, telephone number, and original signature. Family members may not certify applicants.
Reading Disabilities Eligibility Requirements
Public Law 89-522 states that materials will be loaned to readers "certified by competent authority as unable to read normal printed material as a result of physical limitations, under regulations prescribed by the Librarian of Congress for this service." The current federal regulation for this program is in the Federal Register for June 7, 1974, as amended October 2, 1981. Individuals with reading disabilities are not expressly covered by this statute. Under Public Law 89-522, only persons whose reading disabilities are physically based are eligible for the National Library Service talking book program. The reading disability must be certified by a competent authority before the applicant can receive service. Competent authorities for the certification of reading or learning disabilities are Medical Doctors or Doctors of Osteopathy. Further information on eligibility can be found on the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled website.
Submitting Applications
Applications are available at all branches or can be downloaded online. Applications may be mailed, brought into the library, or emailed. Photocopies or faxed applications will not be accepted. Only original applications with the certifier's original signature will be accepted. Family members may not certify applicants.
Applications can be emailed to LBPHStaff@stclaircounty.org
Geographic Area
Eligible residents of St. Clair County, Huron, Sanilac or Tuscola Counties may receive Braille, large print, descriptive videos and audio materials through the St. Clair County Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Residents of Michigan who do not live in our service area may get service through the Library of Michigan: Braille and Talking Book Library, at 702 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, MI 48909-7507; telephone: (517) 373-5614, toll-free: (800) 992-9102.
Residents outside the State of Michigan may receive service through the Regional Library serving their area. Consult the National Library Service's Find a Library webpage.
Braille Services
The Blue Water League of the Blind helped fund the purchase of a HumanWare 120 Juliet braille embosser. This printer can produce text in braille for hospitals, schools, businesses, or any interested party. This service is free for any patron in Huron, Sanilac, St. Clair, or Tuscola Counties. Please contact LAMTB if you need items Brailled.
Talking Book Topics (TBT)
Talking Book Topics (TBT) lists a selection of titles recently added to the NLS collection and available through a network of cooperating libraries or the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service.
Patrons can also learn about the latest titles added to BARD through the “Recently added books and magazines” link on the BARD website or the “Recently added to BARD” feature on the “Get Books” tab on the BARD Mobile app.
Contact Information
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