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Bookshare service (U.S.)

Students of higher education institutions can search for the books they need for their studies on the American service Bookshare. Bookshare can also be used by people who need to access professional literature. The service is free to use for Celia talking book users, Celia pays an annual fee. Books available through the service are primarily in English.

According to Bookshare’s membership conditions, people who have the following reading impairments can register for the service:

  • dyslexia or learning disabilities,
  • visual impairments,
  • physical disabilities.

Persons who have difficulties reading for other reasons, such as autism, intellectual disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depressive disorders do not qualify to join Bookshare.

How to start using Bookshare

  1. Go to www.bookshare.org/.
  2. Celia’s customer services or you university library can provide you with the login information. Log in with Celia’s preview account, which can be used to find books on the service. Once you have logged in, the search results will display the publications available to Celia customers.
  3. If you find the book you are looking for, then it is available on the service even if you are unable to download or play it with Celia’s account. Log out from Celia’s account and sign up to Bookshare. Please note that, by signing up to Bookshare, you are consenting to your information being sent outside the EU/EAA.
  4. After registering, log in to your own Bookshare account. There you will find the Proof of Disability form. Ask your university representative or healthcare professional to sign it. You can read on Bookhare’s page what kind of professionals can confirm your reading impairment.
  5. Send the signed form to Bookshare or ask your higher education institution to do so. The email address can be found on the form.
  6. When Bookshare has processed your confirmation of your reading impairment, Bookshare will send you an e-mail informing you that you can borrow books as soon as the invoicing has been agreed upon. In order for Celia to pay the annual fee, send a proof of your right to study to Celia  as an attachment to the security email. Note! The service requires strong identification in the Suomi.fi online service. Proof of your right to study could be a printout of your information on WebOodi or a photograph or photocopy of a student ID that shows what institution you are studying at and which has a current academic year sticker attached.
  7. Celia will send a survey at the end of autumn, whether you want to continue using the Bookshare service in the current academic year. If you want to continue using the service, send a new proof of your right to study to Celia.
  8. You can read books with the Bookshare® Web Reader. Other ways of reading, such as listening on a tablet or smartphone, can be found in the Reading tools section.