October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and earlier this year, the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) implemented a long-awaited change to make it easier for people with reading disabilities to enroll for talking book services. Now reading specialists, educators, librarians, and school psychologists may certify the eligibility of applicants with reading disabilities such as dyslexia.

Great Lakes Talking Books (GLTB) in Marquette is part of a national network of NLS outreach and advisory centers. GLTB serves residents (all ages) of the Upper Peninsula and Alpena and Crawford counties in the Lower Peninsula. GLTB provides a free braille and talking book library service, circulating books and magazines in braille and audio formats that are instantly downloadable to a personal device (iPhone, iPad, Android, or Kindle Fire) using the BARD Mobile app or delivered by mail free of charge.

Individuals are eligible for service provided they meet any of the following criteria:

– are blind or have a visual impairment that makes them unable to comfortably read print books,

– have a perceptual or reading disability, or

– have a physical disability that makes it hard to hold or manipulate a book or to focus or move the eyes as needed to read a print book.

Applicants or caregivers may call to apply by phone. Applications may also be submitted online at https://greatlakestalkingbooks.org by doctors of medicine or osteopathy, ophthalmologists, optometrists, psychologists, registered nurses, therapists, or professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or welfare agencies (such as educators, social workers, caseworkers, counselors, rehabilitation teachers, certified reading specialists, school psychologists, superintendents, or librarians.)