[Faith-talk] bookshare and NLS

[Kevin LaRose]

Ashley, I'm not sure what you were looking for at Bookshare, but my experience has been phenomenal as far as finding what I want is concerned. I still feel a tinge of excitement every time I hear a book being discussed on an NPR program, or read a review in the latest New York Times Book Review only to go find, what do you know, Bookshare's got it. Being able to read a book at the same time everyone else does feels quite liberating. For those who happen to have I devices, the VoiceDream app is great for reading Bookshare books. For me, it's $50 very well spent. This takes nothing away from NLS, I've been a loyal patron for 45 years, and they do great work. Having different options is a good thing.

Kevin LaRose
Anderson, IN
Email: kl1964 at icloud.com

On May 28, 2017, at 5:17 PM, Ashley Bramlett via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Hi all,

A few people keep asking about Bookshare versus NLS.
Might I suggest you all read the info online and decide for yourselves what is right for you.

There is a significant difference. I prefer audio formats and do not always want to mess with downloading; so I use NLS. Bookshare never seems to have what I want anyways for school when I took classes, or for pleasure reading. 

Some differences are these.


First Bookshare is a subscription service; you pay an annual fee and the fee is $75 for new members. The fee after the first year is $50.
NLS is FREE to individuals although we all pay for it via our taxes.
NLS is part of the Library of Congress.

Second, the difference is the formatting. Bookshare books are text based only; either scanned by people or received from publishers. Bookshare books are downloaded in a zipped file.
The books are available in brf files which is a braille file, pdf, html, and other formats.
You have to read the books on a pc or other device with text to speech ability or a braille display.

NLS on the other hand provides books in high quality human speech format. The books are formatted digitally now so you can jump from section to section such as by chapter, heading, or part of a book.
They are distributed on cartridge or downloaded by you as a patron using some tool. NOT everyone has these technological tools, so I think its great NLS provides the free talking book players. If you can download and have the tools to download and read them yourself, you can do so and get books almost instantly as opposed to waiting for the mail cartridge. Books are played through an app. NLS books are not playable on a pc.
You can play NLS books using the free app they provide for Kindle fires, android or IOS.


Third, the difference is the selection of materials.
Bookshare has more books not only in number but in variety of subjects. Again, they have many academic books which is great for students at any level. 
They receive publisher files from big companies like W.W. Norton & company, Prentice Hall, and
Cambridge university press.
When I was in college before 2010, the only choice for textbooks was RFB, now learning ally.
Bookshare will be able to get books you request much quicker than NLS does. Keep in mind there is at least a year between a book coming out and when NLS will have it for distribution.

What does NLS offer for selection?
Well, NLS offers you books on a variety of subjects to mirror a small to medium sized public library.
NLS does not focus on academic books. They are unlikely to have books found in your academic libraries.
NLS offers some religious books but not a lot.
NLS provides braille music scores and other music appreciation materials. Additionally, they have many popular magazines available in braille, audio formats on a cartridge or downloadable online. You request a subscription through  your network library if you want magazines.
NLS has some foreign language books as well.

I hope this clears up the differences between these sources. For more info, read the descriptions online on their websites.

Ashley
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