Available reading material
Discover the vast range of reading material available in our library collection.
Our book collections
- We have approximately 6,500 DAISY audio books and 4,500 braille titles.
- We also have etexts, which are fairly simple files available in either text, Word or HTML.
Our magazine collection
At present our selection of magazines includes:
- Weekly: Listener, NZ Woman's Weekly, NBR, Time.
- Monthly: Consumer, Healthy Food Guide, Investigate, National Geographic, NZ Gardener, North and South, Readers Digest, NZ Rugby World.
- Bi-monthly: Mana, Cuisine, NZ Musician.
- Quarterly: RSA Review, Diabetes, NZ Geographic, Without Limits.
- Occasional: Grapevine, Topical Treasures.
Finding what's available
- Search for books using the online library catalogue.
- Explore our archives or make use of our reference service
- Ask library staff for recommendations or for more information about particular books, subjects, authors or kinds of stories.
- See the latest additions to our collections and read some book reviews.
- Browse our list of book genres to pick out the types of books you like.
- We also have a good list of other sources of accessible books if you wish to borrow books we don't hold, or to purchase your own books from overseas.
Ordering books
There are several ways that members can request books from the Library. They can:
- Use the online catalogue (there is an option to email us at the bottom).
- Email us at library@rnzfb.org.nz
- Ring us on 0800 24 33 33 option 2.
- Write us a letter, noting down the book numbers or book details.
- Fill out the form provided in the print copy of Sound and Touch.
Alternatively, if members do not want to request specific titles, they can request their favourite subjects or authors, or discuss topics of interest with Library staff.
Borrowing and returning books
Books are loaned for three months but you can return them sooner. Textbooks are loaned for one year. There are no overdue fines, but people who don't return books may be asked to pay for them, or may lose their library service.
Some clients use our collage exchange service. They are sent two books, and when they return them, we automatically send them two more.
There is no charge to you for postage. Audio CDs are sent to borrowers in cardboard sleeves. To return a CD, put it back into the sleeve, which has the library’s address already printed on it, and pop it into a mailbox. Braille, collage, and twin vision books are sent in red bags, with labels on the front. To return a book, turn the address label over so that it shows the Library address and drop the bag or box into your local post office. Large print books are sent with a stamped addressed envelope for you to return them.
Suggestions for new books
We welcome suggestions for new book titles to be added to the collection. To suggest a book please either email or phone the library with the title of the book, the author, the subject or something about the book and how you heard about it.
Archives
Our archive is a collection of historical records which have special value for us. They are primary-source documents which we have accumulated over the course of the RNZFB's lifetime and include photographs, maps, member files, newspaper clippings and minutes from Board meetings as far back as the late 1890s. Email the Reference Librarian for assistance.
Reference service
Our reference collection includes not only the print books on the library shelves in Awhina House, but also the journal articles that we can access from our intranet and from the databases that we subscribe to. Email the Reference Librarian for help with finding articles and other in-depth information about blindness and vision impairment.