Playback Equipment
Playback Equipment Loans
All equipment and accessories produced by NLS remain the property of the federal government. They may be loaned to registered borrowers for as long as borrowers are eligible, and as long as they actively use the equipment and accessories to read books and magazines produced by NLS or the network library. Active use is defined as reading a minimum of one NLS or network produced book or magazine per year for which the borrowed NLS equipment and accessories are necessary. Equipment and accessories must be returned for repair when necessary to the Braille and Talking Book Library in Watertown, MA or NLS (depending on who originally issued the item). In such an instance, replacement equipment will be issued. Repair of NLS equipment should not be undertaken by borrowers. Patrons should notify the network library of changes of address, discontinuation of service, or transfer to another service area.
Digital Book Machines Available at Talking Book Library
The Talking Book Library provides its customers with standard audio book machine replacements on site to reduce delays in turn around delivery and to minimize listening downtime. Talking Book Library customers, can return defective cassette book machines for replacement directly to the Talking Book Library. Customers can also call the Talking Book Library to make arrangements for a machine exchange to be sent directly to their home address or to their local town library for pick up.
Talking Book Library customers can return a defective machine directly to the Braille and Talking Book Library in Watertown by mail if they have the original shipping carton or can bring a machine to their local library for delivery to the Talking Book Library. Talking Book Library patrons may still negotiate directly with the Braille and Talking Book Library in Watertown for machine exchanges.
Requests for playback equipment accessories (extension levers, remote control unit, pillow phone, amplifiers, breath switches) should be directed to the Braille and Talking Book Library at 1-800-852-3133.