Connecticut Library for Accessible Books

The Talking Books made available through CT LAB are recorded in a special format and require use of special equipment to listen to the audio books. Digital Talking Book Machines (DTBM) are used to play specially designed cartridges, which are loaded with Talking Books. DTBMs are loaned to patrons, for free, while using CT LAB services.  

When You First Receive Your Digital Talking Book Player

1. Plug in your DTBM.  This will charge the DTBM battery.  The battery will fully charge in about 3 hours.  
2. Power on your DTBM by pushing the red circular power button.
3. While the DTBM is on, you can press any of the buttons on the machine and the player will announce out loud the purpose of the selected button. This feature is a good way to learn how the player works and the functions of each button. Be sure to do this without a Talking Book cartridge inserted into the player.  

Keep the DTBM shipping box and packaging. These materials can be used to return the digital player to CT LAB if the machine needs to be repaired or replaced.

Playing Talking Book Cartridges using the DTBM

CT LAB usually sends multiple books on a single Talking Book cartridge. The default setting is six books per cartridge. The number of books on each cartridge can be adjusted by calling your CT LAB Reader’s Advisor.  

There are two ways to access multiple books on a cartridge. You can read the books in order, or you can listen to books in the order of your choosing by using a feature on your DTBM known as bookshelf mode.
 

Read Books in Order

1. Insert the Talking Book cartridge into your player and turn on the player by pressing the power button. The player will automatically begin with the first book on the cartridge.
2. When you get to the end of a book, press the green rectangular Play/Stop button to play the next book on the cartridge.  
    

Read Books in Any Order Using the Bookshelf Function

Bookshelf mode in your DTBM enables access to a list of books on the cartridge and allows you to read the books on the cartridge in any order. Use the following instructions to access the bookshelf mode.

1. Insert a cartridge into the DTBM and turn the player on by pressing the circular power button. 
2. Press and hold the green rectangular Play/Stop button on your player for 3 seconds until you hear the player announce, “Bookshelf.” The player will then announce the number of titles on the cartridge.
3. To hear each title on the cartridge, use the triangular fast forward, FF, or rewind, RW, buttons, located on either side of the Play/Stop button to advance through the list of titles. While in Bookshelf mode, the RW button moves to the previous book and the FW button moves to the next book on the cartridge.
4. When you hear the title the book that you would like to play, press the Play/Stop button to begin listening to the book.  
5. You may access bookshelf mode at any time by following step 2. 

What to Do if the DTBM or Cartridge is Not Working

Below are descriptions of some errors that users may encounter with using their DTBM and Talking Book cartridges. Basic troubleshooting tips are provided with the description of each error.  Patrons should contact CT LAB at (860) 704-2220 or (800) 842-4516 if their player or cartridges are not working properly. CT LAB staff will aid you over the phone and, if necessary, will send a replacement DTBM or cartridge to you.  
 

Book Error

Book Error means something is wrong with a book on the Talking Book Cartridge. If you hear the book error message, turn off the DTBM and remove the cartridge from the machine. Re-insert the cartridge into the machine and power on the machine. If the book error message did not go away, please call CT LAB to report the book error. CT LAB will send you a new cartridge with the book on it and you can return the cartridge with the error to CT LAB. 
 

Cartridge Error

Cartridge Error means that the DTBM cannot read the Talking Book Cartridge. If you hear the cartridge error, turn off the DTBM and remove the cartridge. Then, power on the DTBM and wait for it to beep.  Re-insert the cartridge into the machine. This will often fix the problem. If the cartridge error message did not go away, please call CT LAB at to report the error. CT LAB will send you a new cartridge with the same books on it and you can return the cartridge with the error to CT LAB. 

How to Return Your DTBM to CTLAB

To return a Digital Talking Book Machine (DTBM) to CT LAB, please follow the instructions outlined below.

1. Place the Talking Book machine in its original shipping box. If you do not have the original shipping box, you may use any cardboard box that fits the size of the DTBM. You may also call CT LAB at (860) 704-2220 or (800) 842-4516 to request a DTBM shipping box.  
2. Provide the reason why you are returning the DTBM. You can include a note in the box or call CT LAB and provide the reason over the telephone.
3. Address the box. Please address the shipping box to: CT Library for Accessible Books, 786 S. Main St., Middletown, CT 06457. Printed mailing address cards, with the CT LAB mailing address, are also available upon request from CT LAB. 
4. If you are providing your own cardboard box for shipping, please write FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND in the top right corner of the box where postage is typically placed on parcels.  Patrons who are using the original shipping box to mail their DTBM, do not need to write free matter for the blind on their box as it is pre-printed on the box.  
5. Give your DTBM box to your United States Postal Service mail carrier or drop your box off at any United States Post Office.