Book talkback (From The Argus)

Book talkback

8:20am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Your Argus

A COOK’S letter, “Blind Lifeline” (The Argus, February 2), is completely inaccurate. The council has proposed changing its suppliers of talking books. It has not proposed ceasing to supply them to people with visual impairment, nor would it ever contemplate such a mean-spirited move.

Apart from the fact the council’s excellent library service has more than 6,000 talking book titles in stock, and boosts that number by at least 800 new titles annually, it has also been giving access to the RNIB talking books service for those with visual impairment.

The administration is proposing to switch providers of talking books for the visually impaired and has identified the Calibre Audio Library, a national charity which, like the RNIB, is recognised by library professionals nationally.

It has the UK’s largest lending stock of talking books in open format. The council will be paying the one-off set-up charge for anyone with visual impairment opting to access this new service, which delivers free of charge to people’s homes.

Incidentally, the library service operates its own free home delivery service for anyone with a disability that prevents them getting to one of the city’s 14 libraries. The council’s library service will be working with all talking book subscribers to agree which is the best service for them as individuals.

It has made a transition budget available to help ensure the transfer to the new service is smooth, and nobody is left without a quality service to suit their needs. I hope this clarifies the position and will allay the fears of people with visual impairment, their families and friends.

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, cabinet member for culture recreation and tourism, Brighton and Hove City Council