Quick Facts About RFB&D
New! View RFB&Ds latest Quick Facts and Figures for Fiscal Year 2008
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For nearly 60 years, RFB&D has been an invaluable educational resource, enabling those with print disabilities to complete their educations, advance their careers, and gain self-esteem.
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RFB&D was established in 1948 by Anne T. Macdonald to provide recorded textbooks to veterans blinded in World War II. We were legally incorporated in 1951.
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RFB&D's materials are for all people who cannot effectively read standard print because of a visual impairment, learning disability or other physical disability.
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More than 70 percent of those served by RFB&D last year were identified as having a learning disability. This member population is growing rapidly as serious learning disabilities are better diagnosed.
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In fiscal year 2007, more than 7,071 volunteers, working in RFB&D's recording studios across the United States, contributed 388,935 hours of their time recording 6,189 new titles. There are numerous volunteer opportunities available throughout our nationwide locations.
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In fiscal year 2007, RFB&D distributed 502,501 recorded textbooks to 185,235 members around the world.
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With more than 37,000 digitally-recorded titles in our CV Starr Learning Through Listening® Library, RFB&D is the top producer in the world of audio textbooks for people who can't effectively read standard print.
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RFB&D's AudioAccessSM enables downloading of audio textbooks from the Internet for playback on either a Windows computer or a Windows-compatible portable media player
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RFB&D's AudioPlus® digitally recorded textbooks are providing members with unprecedented navigation through their extraordinary portability and ability to be navigated by page, chapter or section at the press of a button. Studies conducted by Johns Hopkins University revealed a 38 percent increase in content acquisition for students with learning disabilities who use RFB&D's AudioPlus digitally recorded textbooks.
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Besides audiobooks in all academic areas, RFB&D's special collections include medicine, environmental issues, law, women's studies, Jewish studies, literature and fiction.
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RFB&D offers both RFB&D's Learning Through Listening Individual and Institutional Memberships.
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Institutional memberships are valid for 12 months from the day the school joins. Institutional members may borrow a set number of audio textbooks based on a chosen membership level.
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Individual membership entitles members to unlimited access to RFB&D's library and a reference librarian service.
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RFB&D audiobooks are password-protected digitally-recorded on CD and downloadable audio textbooks, to comply with US copyright law.
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Portable and desktop CD players and computer software designed to play RFB&D's AudioPlus CDs and AudioAccess audio textbooks are available for purchase directly through RFB&D.
For more information about RFB&D, call, toll free, 866-RFBD-585 or e-mail the appropriate department listed on the Contact Us page.




