Local news and talking book services

Harrogate & District Talking Newspaper (“Roundabout”)

Services available:

The fortnightly Newspaper is recorded on a Fridays onto a memory stick, containing news and a comprehensive selection of other items from the local newspapers, this is posted to members to arrive on Mondays.
The Monthly Magazine is recorded onto a memory stick and posted, it contains talks by local people on a wide variety of topics.
The audiobook Library, available on cassette tape only, contains approximately 1,000 abridged book titles.
An MP3 player is provided free of charge to listeners to the newspaper and magazine. Unfortunately cassette players are not provided to play the audio books.

Postage:

Newspaper memory sticks and library tapes are sent out in returnable pouches
Delivery and return is provided free of charge by Royal Mail.

Who qualifies?

The service is provided, free of charge, to:
people who are blind or partially sighted
people with disabilities which make it difficult to hold or read a newspaper.

How to apply

Complete and return this application form
You may also request a new form by leaving a message on the recording studio answerphone, 01423 771243. Please be ready to leave full name, address and contact telephone number.

Once your fully completed application has been received, you will receive a welcome letter with further details.

Craven Cassette and the Dalesman

The Craven Cassette, is a Skipton-area charity that produces an audio local newspaper, now also produces an audio version of the Dalesman magazine. It is available free of charge for those who are partially sighted or are unable to read print.

Services available:

The Weekly Newspaper The Craven Herald, is recorded onto a memory stick, containing news and a comprehensive selection of other items from the local newspapers, this is posted to members free of charge.
The Monthly Magazine, The Dalesman is recorded onto a memory stick and posted to members free of charge.
You will be required to have your own memory stick player, if you require advice please contact Vision Support on 01423 565915.

Postage:

Newspaper and The Dalesman memory sticks are sent out in returnable pouches
Delivery and return is provided free of charge by Royal Mail.

Who qualifies?

The service is provided, free of charge, to people who are blind or partially sighted,
people with disabilities which make it difficult to hold or read a newspaper.

How to apply

Complete and return this application form
Once your fully completed application has been received, you will start to receive the newspaper and Dalesman.

Other local Talking Newspapers available on android and apple

The Talking Newspaper Federation and British Wireless for the Blind Fund have teamed up to produce free access to local news across the UK.

Featuring over 200 regional Talking Newspapers, this new app makes it simpler than ever to keep up to date with what’s going on locally or in other communities where you may have lived, had friends or family.

The Android app is available here.

The IOS app is available here.

Local Library Services

All public libraries have stocks of large print books for general use and an Audio Book Service, including digital audio, for people who can no longer see to read. Confirmation of vision loss will be required for free loan of audio books. At Harrogate and Knaresborough Libraries there are easy reading machines for public use which magnifies print onto a screen. Local mobile library services are available too.

North Yorkshire Council (NYC) provides a digital library, using the Overdrive and Libby Apps you can listen to audiobooks on your mobile or tablet free of charge. For information on NYC Digital Library Service follow this link

For more information on the NYC Home Library Services follow this link

Library contact numbers:

Harrogate Library: Phone: 01609 536658
Bilton & Woodfield Community Library: Phone: 01423 564630
Boroughbridge Library: Phone: 01609 536629
Knaresborough Library: Phone: 01609 533610
Mashamshire Community Library: Phone: 01765 680204
Pateley Bridge Library: Phone: 01423 711516
Ripon Library: Phone: 01609 536623
Starbeck Library: Phone: 01609 536662

National Newspapers, magazines and audiobooks

Click here for information on more than 200 popular and best-selling Newspapers, periodicals and Magazine publications in a format to suit you.

Pendle Voice Magazine Service, includes weekly and monthly subscriptions to a variety of popular magazines, Women’s Weekly, Yorkshire Life, Four Four Two (football) to name a few. Small joining fee of £10 for residents outside their catchment area. View their Website here.

National audiobooks
Calibre Audio provides a free service to sight impaired members sending out thousands of unabridged audio books to suit all tastes through the post. Available in a choice of digital formats including digital download via the Calibre App with postage of memory sticks free of charge. Click here to find out more.

A completely free service for sight impaired people, RNIB Reading Service is a national audio book service. Thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles to suit all tastes. Books are sent and returned postage free on memory stick (you will need to have an appropriate player). A free digital subscription is available for audiobook downloads through the ‘Easy Reader’ app. You can apply by phoning 0303 123 9999 or registering online here.