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Frequently Asked Questions

RFB&D members often ask questions about our products and services and about strategies for incorporating audio textbooks into their classrooms. Below you will find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions to better assist you. If you would like an answer to a question you don't see listed, please call Member Services at 800-221-4792 or e-mail us at custserv@rfbd.org.

Q1: I have three students with learning disabilities using RFB&D's textbooks in my regular education classroom. How can I help them keep up with the rest of the students in my class?

A: Keep in mind that your student's learning disabilities, which may affect their ability to read well, do not necessarily interfere with their ability to listen and comprehend.

• Encourage them to use the recorded books while following along in the text--the same text that the rest of the class is using.
  
  
• Make sure they understand how to locate pages and chapters in the audiobook. RFB&D has available complimentary training guides for most of the playback equipment and software sold by RFB&D. Call member services at 800-221-4792, or send an e-mail.

If you are at all uncomfortable yourself using the equipment, they'll feel uncomfortable too. Call RFB&D immediately for assistance and technical support so that you-and then your students-will become comfortable using the audiobooks and playback equipment. Once they see that they are able to keep up, participate in class discussions and talk about the readings with their friends, they won't see listening to the audiobooks as such a chore.

Q2: How can I keep the rest of my students from feeling that the students using audiobooks have an unfair advantage over everyone else?

A: Students in your class who don't have learning disabilities are not eligible to use RFB&D's audio textbooks, however, you can introduce the concept of RFB&D's tapes to all of the students in your class. When the whole class understands that some people require tools to accommodate special needs, those who don't need to use the audiobooks won't feel distracted or at a disadvantage when the recorded books are used.

Q3: I have a student who is so frustrated with books and reading that he refuses to do anything that has to do with reading at all. How can I get him to use audio textbooks if that means having to look at the book at the same time?

A: The first step of active listening is just listening. Perhaps you could find the student an audio book in a subject that he is interested in, such as sports, a hobby, or a piece of literature that he may enjoy, and just have him listen to it without following along in the book. When he is done, show him the actual book that he just completed. This will give the student the opportunity to experience finishing a book without any anxiety and will also promote a feeling of accomplishment when he sees how much of the book he was able to complete. Eventually, you can slowly phase in the printed version of the book along with the audio version.

Q4: I am finished using my audiobooks. How do I return them to RFB&D?

A: All RFB&D book titles may be borrowed up to one year. When preparing your audiobooks to send back to RFB&D, there are a few things you need to do.

For CDs:

Place your CD in the original sleeve or mailing container and send it back to RFB&D. No postage is needed.

Q5: What is the best way for me to take care of RFB&D's playback equipment throughout the year?

A: There are several things you can do to keep your RFB&D players running smoothly throughout the year.

• Between each use, be sure to clean all headphones with another alcohol swab and for nighttime storage, wrap the cord loosely around the headsets and place them in a plastic bag.
  
  
• Wipe machines with a soft cloth to keep dust particles from entering the tape head or CD lens area.
  
  
• To keep the buttons from getting sticky, clean them with a damp cloth.
  
  
• After you've finished cleaning the machines, place the players back in the original packaging or in a container with padding to cushion the machines during storage.
  
  
• Be sure to return any books that you will not be using the following year.
  
  
• All of RFB&D's equipment, including adapters, should be stored in a secure, cool, dry place where there is no risk of damage or theft.

Q6: I need to request a book that is not currently in your library. Is it possible to have it recorded for me?

A: Although it is impossible to record every new book published, RFB&D records more than 6,000 new titles every year to provide our members with the most popular textbooks being used. In a case where we do not have a book you need, you may request that it be added to our library. The decision to record a given book is based on the following criteria:

• If the book falls within the educational scope of our library
  
  
• If we have volunteer readers available who are familiar with the subject area
  
  
• If two identical copies of the book with your name and Borrower ID Number written inside the book are provided

RFB&D's policy is to record only complete, copyrighted books that are educational in nature and that support a formal academic curriculum. If RFB&D is able to add the title you submit to our recorded library, we will retain the copies of the print books until the recording process is complete. While a book is in the process of being recorded, we will send CDs to you in installments so that you may begin using the book as quickly as possible.

Q7:: Why does RFB&D record in specialized formats and why do I need specialized equipment to listen to RFB&D's audiobooks?

A: The audiobooks you receive from RFB&D are not like the standard CDs you play on your stereo at home or in your car. RFB&D produces CDs that are password-protected.

The main reason that RFB&D records in specialized formats is to comply with US copyright law. The law allows us to duplicate titles provided we offer them in specialized formats, and only to a qualified population. In our case, that population includes people with documented disabilities, such as a learning disability, visual impairment or other physical disability.

If you choose to listen to RFB&D's AudioPlus books, you'll need a specially equipped CD player or software. RFB&D offers for sale a selection of portable and desktop players and CD-reading software for students, teachers and professionals to use in the classroom, office or at home. We also offer listening accessories, such as headsets and adapters. These items are described in detail when you click on the Players & Accessories button on the left side of the screen.

Q8:: What information should I have ready when calling to place a book order?

A: The book ordering process will go much more quickly once you obtain all the pertinent information about the titles you are requesting. Please supply the following information when you place an order:

• Your name
• Your membership number
• Your school's name (for Annual Institutional Memberships)
• The RFB&D shelf number (you can access it from the online catalog)
• Book's title
• Author's full name
• Copyright date
• Edition or grade level for each book
• ISBN, usually located on the back cover
• Whether you wish the book on CD (if available) or on cassette. Note that special equipment is needed to play RFB&D's audiobooks.

Q9:: I've used the "Go to Page" button, but my player say the page is missing. What do I do?

A: RFB&D has converted its analog books into digital format (e.g. AD-FG555). If the beeptones (page/chapter) were omitted from the analog version of the book, RFB&D was unable to incorporate them into the digital copy. Therefore, if you try to navigate by the "Go to Page" button, the player will state "Page Not Found." Try navigating to the closest page, and then use the page-by-page navigation function. This is described on the instruction CD and also in the quick reference guide that was supplied with your player. For example, if page 55 is not found, try navigating to page 56 and then page back to 55.

Q10: What should I do if I've listened to the correct number of beeptones, but still can't find my page?

A: Make sure that the track selector switch is set for the desired track number. Then make sure that you have the cassette positioned in the player correctly. Remember, the labeled side contains tracks 1 and 3; the unlabeled side contains tracks 2 and 4.

One problem may be that you have advanced or rewound past your desired page. Listen for the next page announcement and fast forward or rewind accordingly. Remember also that new chapters are indicated by a quick, double beeptone. You may have counted this double beeptone as two pages rather than a new chapter.

RFB&D's K-3 textbooks will often have beeptones to indicate the start of a new story rather than page. Some K-3 storybooks don't have beeptones at all. Often in these books there is every little text on a page, or the page only contains an illustration. There may not be a beeptone for that particular page.

Q11: I live outside the United States. Can I join RFB&D? Can my school become a Learning Through Listening Institutional Member?

A: Currently, RFB&D cannot register schools and other institutions that do not have a U.S. address. A U.S. address includes schools that are in the 50 states, U.S. embassies or military addresses in foreign countries, and addresses from U.S. territories.

If you are an individual and live outside of the U.S., you may register as an individual member, but you may only borrow books that are in RFB&D's Classic Cassettes format. At present, RFB&D does not offer any distribution of RFB&D's AudioPlus books on CD outside of the United States, except to U.S. citizens who are temporarily residing abroad.

In Summary:

Institutions located outside the U.S.:

• May not join RFB&D or borrow audiobooks
  Exceptions: U.S. embassies or U.S. military addresses in foreign countries, and addresses from U.S. territories.

Individuals residing outside the U.S.:

• Eligible non-U.S. citizens may join and borrow RFB&D's Classic Cassettes
• Eligible U.S. citizens residing temporarily abroad may borrow both RFB&D's AudioPlus and RFB&D's Classic Cassettes
  

Q12: I am not an RFB&D member, but I would like to purchase digital playback equipment for an RFB&D member. How can I do this?

A: You may purchase equipment; however, RFB&D requires nonmembers to complete a Nonmember Affiliate copyright form.

Q13: Do you have accessible instructions for the audiobook players?

A: RFB&D offers instructions and training in a number of formats to meet the varying needs of our members.

• Audiobook players come with recorded instructions and audiobook software readers work with screen readers for voiced instructions.
• Colorful Quick Reference Guides produced by RFB&D come with each audiobook player or software package. Additional copies are available for free at RFB&D's online ordering center. Just click the "Log In To Order Now" button at the top of this page.
• "Getting Started" text files are available on this website by clicking on the following link: Getting Started Guides

RFB&D has produced an interactive Audiobook Training Tool CD which is included in new members' Welcome Packets. Additional copies are available for free at RFB&D's Online Ordering Center. Just click the "Log In To Order Now" button at the top of this page.

Q14: What is RFB&D's return policy?

A: RFB&D has a 30-day return policy on playback equipment and accessories.
In order to return a product purchased from RFB&D, a member must complete the following steps:

1. Contact RFB&D's member services at 800-221-4792 within 30 days from the date of the product's shipment to receive an RMA (Return Material Authorization) number.
   
   
2. Return the product to RFB&D following the receipt of this RMA number (return shipment is at the customer's expense and should be by an insured carrier).
   
   
3. Upon receipt of the returned unit, RFB&D will process the RMA. The member will receive either a full refund of the purchase price (less any shipping costs paid), exchange or credit if the product and all its original contents are in saleable condition, as follows:
   
   
   • Software products must be unopened
   • Hardware products must be undamaged and returned with all contents in the original, undamaged packaging
   • Accessories must be undamaged and returned with all contents in the original, undamaged packaging
     If any of the above conditions are not met or the unit is returned without RFB&D's RMA number, the hardware equipment or software system will be returned to the member and will remain the property of the member.

Q15: How does RFB&D track audiobook returns?

A: RFB&D uses an automated book tracking system to manage the books ordered and shipped from and to RFB&D's audiobook library.

• Members are encouraged to activate an online account at www.rfbd.org to view their account and ordering profiles. Under the My Account feature, members may keep track of books in their possession as well as view their remaining book limit.
  
  
• Renewing members receive a renewal packet at the end of the membership year that contains renewal forms and a list of outstanding books.
  
  
• Members may retain any and all of the books they borrow from one membership year to the next.
  
  
• Books retained will count towards the next year's membership.
  
  
• Returned books must be received by RFB&D within 30 days after the membership expiration date to avoid being counted towards the next year's membership limit.