Members

Members Speak Up

“I have been a Bookshare Member for fourteen months. The service is of enormous value-having access to a library of this size and scope was beyond dreaming about when I was growing up in the ‘60’s. Thanks, thanks, and ever thanks.”
-Recent New Member

Bookshare™ exists today because of the commitment of a loyal, dedicated community of Members. From the very beginning, Bookshare Members have helped each other, contributing books they have enjoyed so others can enjoy them too.

Discussion and Information Sharing

Bookshare has many avenues for sharing your ideas and insights:

  • Join the Members discussion and meet other Bookshare Members. This discussion group is often your best source for good hands-on information. Members share tips about using Bookshare, discuss books they are reading, and talk about print access topics such as scanning or reading technology or just about anything else they think would be of interest to other Members. This is a very active list. Once you have subscribed, you may want to change your settings to “digest form” (see below) which typically means one email a day containing all of the emails sent to the list that day.
  • Share your thoughts, ideas, comments and questions with the Bookshare staff.
  • Get handouts and materials for giving trainings, talks or sharing Bookshare information with groups and organizations.
  • Hear Member stories.
  • Sign up for the Bookshare newsletter

Resources

Resources for people with print disabilities include:

Items of Interest

Volunteer Opportunities

There are many ways to contribute to Bookshare. You can donate funds, books, or time and expertise.

By volunteering with Bookshare, you not only help add books to the library, you also become part of a very lively community. Bookshare Volunteers hold contests, sponsor books clubs, and run a discussion group. In addition, Volunteers with print disabilities can earn credits toward their membership fees.

If you scan a book for your own use and want to share the book file with others, or if you just want to help build the Bookshare library with other efforts, sign up as a Volunteer.

Customer Support

Bookshare has a number of resources to help with any question:

If your question is not answered here, feel free to contact Bookshare.

Membership Information

Membership in Bookshare is available to individuals with qualifying print disabilities and to organizations supporting those individuals.

Through an award from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), Bookshare is able to offer free memberships to U.S. schools and qualifying U.S. students. Read more about the OSEP award.