Book Services and Reader Advisors

Each patron is asked to be as specific as possible about their reading interests - this includes the kinds of books they like to read (mysteries, best-sellers, westerns, cookbooks, etc.), their favorite authors, and also whether they prefer not to receive books that contain sex, violence, and strong language. There are many variables. Tell us what you like (and what you don't like), and we'll do our best to send the right kinds of books for your tastes!

There are a variety of ways in which patrons receive books:

• On Demand - books only shipped upon specific request
• Send Return - each time a book is returned, another is automatically shipped
• Weekly/Bi-Monthly/Monthly - a specified number of books is shipped on the same day each week/every other week/monthly

When you phone, send in, or submit an on-line book order, your Reader Advisor will do one of three things based on how you have asked to receive service:

1. If the book is available, they will send it out in the next day's mail.
2. If the book is not available and you want to receive it as soon as possible, they can put it on your Reserve list so that the next copy that is returned to us will be sent directly to you.
3. Place the book on your Request list to be sent at a later date.

Each morning, 1,200 - 2,000 mailing cards are printed for outgoing books. Over night, our computer takes all the book requests and puts them in order so that they can be pulled from the shelves quickly and efficiently by our Materials Handling Coordinator and her staff of students. In the afternoons, student workers check in the 800 - 2,000 books that were returned that morning. While doing so, each book is opened and examined. All of the tapes are rewound and each book is checked to make sure it is complete. When our computer does its nightly selection run to create the mailing labels for patrons who are due books, it first tries to pick from this group. Those that are left over are reshelved. Last year we circulated approximately half a million books to patrons.

About 30 - 60 Braille titles are circulated each day. The Braille and Talking Book Library houses the largest braille collection in the state, and one of the largest in the country. Because braille is fragile and expensive to produce, patrons are limited to 5 titles at a time and we ask that these materials are returned in a timely fashion.

If you receive a book with a missing or damaged cassette, please tie a string around one of the container flaps before snapping it closed. This will alert us that there is a problem. If you would like to receive another copy of the book, phone or include a note with the book.

OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING TALKING BOOKS 

begins and ends with You! 

You can reach a Reader Advisor at 800-992-9012 or by e-mailing BTBL@michigan.gov. You can also order books online.

Reader Advisors assist patrons in a number of ways. They:

*Please allow seven business days after placing a book order for the book to arrive at your home.

Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) Location, Hours, Contact Information, and Holidays 

Updated 02/18/2010