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Using the Library
Hours of Operation
How to Use the Library
The Loan Period
Returning Books
Talking-Book Machine Care and Maintenance Basic Machine Care
Hours of Operation
Braille Institute's Library Services offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. After regular business hours, leave a message at (323) 660-3880 or at our toll-free number, 1-800-808-2555.
You also may contact Library Services by e-mail at bils@braillelibrary.org
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How to Use the Library
The best way to use the library is to prepare a list of books you would like to order and then call us at (800) 808-2555 or (323) 660-3880. Tell your Reader Advisor the name of the person for whom you are ordering and then tell us what you would like to order.
You are welcome to call as often as you like and order as many as 10 books per phone call. The Braille Library does not place any restriction on the number of books you may have checked out at any given time but we do ask that you return each book within its three-month loan period.
If you receive Talking Book Topics, Braille Book Review or the yearly catalog, you can use them to create a list of RC numbers (for books on tape) or BR numbers (for books in braille). If you do not know the numbers for the books you would like, then you can make a list of specific titles and authors. Your reader advisor can find any book in our collection by title, author, or RC or BR number. Once your selection is found, we will arrange to have it mailed to you, if it is available, or put your name on the wait list if it is not available. Once it is mailed to you, your selection will take about two weeks to arrive.
You also may peruse our online catalog and order books directly through this service. Access our online catalog.
You can also e-mail book orders to readers@braillelibrary.org
You can also pick up books at the Library. Call us the day before you are going to be here, and we will have your available selections ready for you to pick up at the Library counter. A list of our Regional Branch locations can be found here.
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The Loan Period
You may keep books on loan for 12 weeks. No fines are levied for late books, but you are urged to observe this loan period so that materials can be supplied to other users. Books obtained through interlibrary loans may be kept for 60 days and must be returned promptly. Descriptive videos should always be returned within the two-week loan period, as we have limited copies.
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Returning Books
Please rewind partially played cassettes before returning them. On sides 1 or 3, press the REWIND button; on sides 2 and 4, press FAST FORWARD. To return recorded or brailled books in the mail at no cost, simply reverse the mailing label on the green mailing box and put it in a postal box. Do not include correspondence inside the containers.
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Talking-Book Machine Care and Maintenance
- Don't expose your machine or cassettes to extreme heat or cold.
- Be sure to listen to the recorded instructions supplied with your unit.
- Keep food and liquids away from your machine and cassettes.
If your machine needs repair, please do not attempt to do it yourself or have it repaired. Simply contact the Machine-Lending Agency and we will send you a replacement.
Call us at: 1-800-808-2555
Or e-mail us at: mla@braillelibrary.org
Our Main Library and all four branch libraries have machines available for loan or exchange.
If you find that a cassette is defective, please dispose of it and call a Reader Advisor at 1-800-808-2555 to have a replacement sent to you.
Please do not mail it back or place a note in the green mailing box. Be specific in your request. For example, "RC 24501 cassette, side 5, needs to be replaced."
