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Bookshare, A Benetech Initiative

General Information

Bookshare, A Benetech Initiative
480 S. California Avenue
Suite 201
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 352 0198
betsyb@benetech.org
http://www.bookshare.org

Brief Description

Bookshare is the world’s largest accessible digital library for persons with print disabilities, such as visual impairments. Memberships cost $50/year, plus a $25 one-time set up fee. Memberships are free for qualified U.S. students of any age enrolled in a approved coursework. Membership is open to any qualified individual around the world; information about international memberships is available on www.bookshare.org.

The library has well over 175,000 copyrighted books, including fiction, (best sellers), nonfiction, and newspapers. Members download books from our website in any of a variety of text or audio formats, depending on the device used and reading preference. Members can read books using free software available from Bookshare, any of a variety of assistive devices, or mobile devices such as the app Read2Go on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, and the app Go Read on Android devices.

With the large selection of titles, members can keep up with the latest bestsellers, read the books their friends or book clubs are reading.

Bookshare is a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing the barriers to printed materials for individuals with visual impairments, physical disabilities, or severe learning disabilities and is run by Benetech, formerly Arkenstone, the original developer of OpenBook, Ruby, and WYNN scanning and reading products.

Services Offered

  • Braille/Electronic/Audio/Large Print Production
    • Offers a wide selection of accessible books and periodicals in digital formats that may be downloaded to a computer, braille device or other portable device in synthetic voice, braille, or large print.

  • Library Services
    • A library of over 175,000 digital accessible books and newspapers in alternate formats for Members. Bookshare has a wide range of content from current popular titles to reference information, classics and newspapers.