The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and Bloomsbury today announced that Bloomsbury has bolstered the RNIB Talking Books Library by donating their entire audio book category to the charity.

The new collection includes an estimated 600 titles and, in future, every new Bloomsbury audio book will be added to the RNIB Library. Some of the most requested Bloomsbury titles by users of Talking Books Library include Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, Violeta by Isabel Allende, The Anarchy by William Dalrymple, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, A Net for Small fishes by Lucy Jago, The Fantastically Great Women series by Kate Pankhurst and October, October by Katya Balen.

James Bartlett, RNIB Reading Services Manager, said:

“We are delighted that Bloomsbury will be boosting RNIB’s extensive library collection. Talking Books are important so that the estimated two million people living with sight loss in the UK can access and enjoy books just like any other person.

“Our collection of Talking Books continues to grow every day, and we are pleased that Bloomsbury has chosen to gift us their entire cache of audio books to help RNIB expand the collection even more.”

Sam Halstead, Director of Audio at Bloomsbury said: 

“We have long admired the brilliant work of the Talking Books Library and it is great to know that all of Bloomsbury’s wonderful audio authors, and moving forward, every audio book we publish will be available to the library’s users. From the world of Piranesi to the family of October, October, we publish audio books of excellence and originality and want to bring these works to as many people as possible. Working with the RNIB and bringing the entire audio catalogue onto their service means that we can support the charity, which does such important work. We are delighted to have made this happen.”

RNIB produced the first audio book – or ‘Talking Book’ – in 1935. Since then, the charity has provided Talking Books in various formats to blind and partially sighted people across the UK for free, recording them in its own studios in Camden, London. Two years ago, RNIB launched an online library, offering people with sight loss instant access to thousands of free books in formats they can read – including audio. The library now has 38,000 Talking Books in its collection.

To become an RNIB Online Library member, please visit the RNIB website or call the RNIB helpline on 0303 123 9999.