Georgia Instructional Materials Center

Braille Textbooks

• Will be loaned from the depository if available.
• If it is not available, the staff will search for a classroom compatible version to loan.
• If a classroom compatible version is not available from the depository, we will search for a copy to purchase and then loan it to the school system.
  • Current state textbook adoptions will be given priority for purchasing.
• If it is not available commercially, the GIMC will attempt to arrange the transcription and production of the textbook for loan to the school system (we will need you to send us an ink print copy of the book).
  • Current state textbook adoptions will be given priority for transcribing.
• If the textbook is not available on loan and the GIMC has exhausted the funds it has for purchasing braille books, the school system will be provided with ordering information.

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Braille Leisure Books

• The local school can borrow many of these from the regional branch of the National Library Services (NLS) for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (404-756-4619).
  • Many books can be downloaded by the local systems from the NLS Web-Braille service and from Bookshare
• The GIMC maintains a limited collection of literature titles in braille that are available on loan.

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Large Print Textbooks

• Will be loaned from the depository if available.
• If one is not available, the center will purchase the book from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and loan it to the school system.
  • The student must be currently registered with APH.
• If the book is not available from APH, the GIMC will produce the textbook (we will need you to send us an ink print copy of the book).

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Large Print Leisure Reading Books

• A great many of currently copyrighted titles are available in Large Print from the local library or can be purchased by the school system from book retailers such as Amazon.com.
• The GIMC maintains a limited collection of classic literature titles in large print that are available on loan.
  • The GIMC may be able to assist in providing non-copyrighted titles that are not available from any other source.
  • The GIMC does not have permission from the publishers to enlarge copyrighted materials that are not textbooks.

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Digital Books

• The most widely used Digital Book format is DAISY. Textbooks with digital speech, navigation, and images (mid 2009) are available free to K-12 members of Bookshare. Bookshare can also provide a free DAISY book player that is appropriate for many students. Please contact Bookshare directly to set up an account, register your students, and to place orders.

  • Please contact the GIMC if a textbook is not available from Bookshare so that we can arrange access for them to the necessary files.

• Another source of DAISY format books is Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic. RFB&D can provide textbooks with digital speech and text that is synchronized with a recorded voice. RFB&D does currently charge a membership fee but many school districts already have a membership. Please contact RFB&D directly to set up an account, register your students, and to place orders.

  • Please contact the GIMC if a textbook is not available from RFB&D so that we can arrange access for them to the necessary files.

• Some students require a replica of the book either enlarged on the screen or with simple text reading ability. These are often included with the purchase of a regular print textbook. Please check with your textbook coordinator.

• On some occasions a student may need a format that is not available from the sources above. It these cases the GIMC will assist in locating an existing source, produce the book, or pay a 3rd party to produce the textbook.

  • Please contact the GIMC to discuss options.

  • If the GIMC produces or purchases a digital textbook the school district must have a designee registered as a GIMC patron and the student using the book must also be registered. Please see the GIMC procedures for information.

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Sound Recordings (textbooks)

• The local school system can register and borrow these from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (706-549-1313).
• The GIMC does not provide textbook sound recordings.

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Books on Tape (leisure reading and magazines)

• The local school system can borrow these from one of the many NLS sub-regional libraries in Georgia (the GIMC can provide contact information).

• The GIMC does not provide leisure book sound recordings.

Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to Jim Downs.  2009 Georgia Instructional Materials Center. All rights reserved.
Last modified: June, 2010.