Frequently Asked Questions

About our Services

Do you do Braille/recreational reading/testing for dyslexia?
No, but there are local organizations that do provide that service. For further information, please go to "Students" from the left menu bar and click on "Other Resources"

How would I get help finding books in your collection?
Browse our online catalog of books or call our customer service number (800-221-4792). RFB&D members researching a specific subject may also consult with our reference librarians who can pull together a bibliography of books from our library on just about any topic.

What if I need a book that you don’t have in your library?
We will do our best to get your book recorded for you. At times when we cannot complete a book before the school term begins, we divide the book in sections and send it in installments as we finish each section. Many students obtain their course curricula prior to the start of each term so that they are able to provide us a book list with advance notice.

Will you record any book?
Our library contains educational materials. If you need something like a textbook or literary novel, we will probably accommodate that request. We do our best to provide our members with the books they need. If we are unable to fulfill a request, it is likely due to a shortage of volunteers specializing in that particular subject area. Romance novels and other genres of popular fiction are not in our collection.

About our Technology

RFB&D is encouraging all of our existing analog members to GO DIGITAL! We want every member to have the very best audio opportunities available. As of July 1, 2006, we stopped offering cassette players and analog (cassette) installments, and on July 1, 2007, RFB&D switched to an all-digital service, with all new books added to our library being produced only in RFB&D's AudioPlus (CD) format. This is the perfect time to GO DIGITAL. Browse our line of products and check out our latest promotions to find the best player at the best price for you. Read more about the advantages you will have if you GO DIGITAL in our FAQs section.

Limited to US Residents only - if you are an international member, read more

I heard you are using CDs instead of tapes. Can you tell me a little bit about the new technology?
As of September 2002 our top circulating titles have been available in digital format and as of July 2007, all books in our library are offered only in RFB&D's AudioPlus CD format. Using RFB&D's Audio Plus® digitally recorded textbooks on CD , you can find a page as quickly as finding your favorite song on a music CD. But unlike a music CD, we can hold about 40 hours of recorded material on our CDs. You need a special portable CD player or computer software in order to listen to RFB&D's digital audio textbooks. Read more about RFB&D membership and our products.

About our Identity

You have celebrities who read for you, don’t you?
We are a national nonprofit organization, and our readers are generous people who donate their time. There are books on tape by other for-profit companies that employ celebrities to read. (At our annual Record-A-Thon and other special events we have enjoyed the company of celebrity volunteers such as Mel Brooks, James Earl Jones, Marion Ross, George Takei, Cher, Walter Cronkite, Mary Tyler Moore, Paul Newman, and Barbara Walters.)

My grandma gets her mystery novels on tape from you, right?
We do have some fiction in our collection, but your grandmother could also be receiving books from the National Library Service (NLS)/Talking Books/Library of Congress or Braille Institute. They have large libraries of recreational reading material.

About our Locations

How many studios does RFB&D have?
We have 29 studios (in 16 states).

Where are your headquarters?
Princeton, NJ.

Where are the nearest recording studios?
In the Los Angeles Unit, we have studios in Hollywood, Reseda and Redondo Beach. Other Southern California studios are located in the Inland Empire (Upland), Orange County (Santa Ana), Northern California (Palo Alto) and Santa Barbara (Goleta).

About Membership

Can anyone become a member?
Anyone who is unable to read standard print due to a physical, vision or learning disability is eligible for membership. Our membership application requires the signature of a qualified specialist who can certify the disability. A family doctor, ophthalmologist, school psychologist, counselor, educational therapist or education specialist are among those who can certify the need for our services. Membership fees are $100 for the first year and $35 each consecutive year.

I’m not in school anymore. Are there any books for me in your library?
If you enjoy hobbies such as woodworking, stamp collecting or gardening, you might find something of interest in our library. We also have vocational materials, books about computers and other technical materials.

Do I get to keep the audio books I order?
You may borrow audio books for up to one year. If you need a book for longer than that, as with any library, you simply need to renew it. When you are finished with the audio books, you send them back to us. You do not have to pay for postage.

What’s RFB&D's Learning Through Listening® (LTL®) Institutional Membership program?
RFB&D's LTL program is designed for use by schools and other educational organizations. The schools provide RFB&D audio books for student use in classrooms, resource rooms, or with homework assignments. The institutional program provides teachers with year-round support, on-site training sessions and helpful guides for using audio textbooks.

I haven’t borrowed any audio books lately. Do I need to reapply for membership?
If you were a registered member prior to July of 1996, you may reactivate your membership free of charge simply by calling our customer service number, 1-800-221-4792.

AN IMPORTANT REMINDER TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS: A $35 annual fee is required to maintain your membership privileges. If your membership has expired, please print out and send a membership renewal form along with payment to ensure continued access to our services. If you aren't sure whether you've paid within the past year, you may call (323) 664-5525 ext. 101 or (800) 221-4792 to check your membership status. Please don't hold off on renewing your membership. An expired membership will cause a delay in any book orders you try to make!

About Volunteering

How many volunteers does RFB&D have?
We have nearly 7,200 volunteers nationwide; nearly 500 from the Los Angeles Unit.

Where are the local studios?
There’s probably one near you. In the Los Angeles Unit, we have studios in Hollywood, Reseda and Redondo Beach. Other Southern California studios are located in the Inland Empire (Upland), Orange County (Santa Ana), Northern California (Palo Alto) and Santa Barbara (Goleta).

What kinds of volunteers are you looking for?
We're always looking for more dedicated, energetic folks to add to our corps.

RFB&D-LA has multiple opportunities for volunteers in Audio Textbook Production, Educational Outreach, Fund Raising and General Administration.

Many of our volunteers work in the area we call production—the actual reading and recording of textbooks. We especially need individuals with expertise in math, computers, economics, accounting, and the sciences, and all school subjects. We also have volunteers who help us in other ways such as marking books, quality control, fundraising and representing us at community events.

What’s the time commitment for being a volunteer?
A minimum of only 2 hours per week. We’re open weekdays, evenings and Saturdays. Each local studio has its own hours of operation. See the Locations section for more information on studio hours.

How do I become a Volunteer?
E-mail us or call Rob at (323) 664-5525 ext. 111 to schedule an orientation tour.

About our Funding

How do you raise your money?
RFB&D is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. We receive grants from foundations, corporations, clubs, and other organizations. We also receive donations from our volunteers, members, and other generous individuals.

How much does it cost to record one book?
The cost of recording a 700 page medical reference book will differ from that of a 200 page literary novel, but a rough average is about $1,500 per title.