Support

Getting Started

Helpful hints for the site

How do I download books?

You must be a member to download copyrighted books, and provide proof of a print disability. Anyone can download public domain books. Just use the search functions in the tool bar area of any page to look for, and then download, public domain books.

Excellent or Good quality books from the Bookshare.org collection can be ordered in embossed Braille, to be mailed to anyone in the United States, without requiring membership. Find out more about ordering embossed Braille books.

How do I become a member?

Find out more about membership, including who is eligible, and how to sign up.

Try out the website

You can try out Bookshare.org before signing up as a member. Start by browsing the collection - search for books by Title, Author, or Category. Or go right to the New Books page to check out the newest additions to the Bookshare.org collection. These search functions can be accessed from the tool bar area on every page.

During your search, you can download any book that is in the public domain. You can recognize a public domain book because it is available for download in HTML and TEXT formats in addition to DAISY and BRF. For example, search by author for Dickens to find a whole list of public domain books. Try downloading the different specialized formats (DAISY and digital Braille).

Or, visit the sample download page for a quick preview.

What technology will I need?

To access the Bookshare.org website, like any website, you will need a computer, an Internet connection, and if necessary, assistive technology (such as a screen reader if you use one). The Bookshare.org website requires that your computer's cookies are enabled (if you haven't manually disabled them, you'll be fine).

To open the digital book files after download, you will first need to install the Bookshare.org Unpack tool. Go to the download page.

Also, for members who want to read the DAISY format books, (DAISY is the digital talking book standard), download the Victor Reader Soft DAISY player. Members with current subscriptions can download this software by first logging in, then visiting the download page. Learn more about the DAISY format.

Recommended System Requirements

For Windows PC users, Windows 95 or above is required (Macintosh and Linux users, see below). 32 MB RAM, 1.6 MB for the Bookshare.org Unpack Tool to decrypt downloaded books, plus an average of 1 MB per book stored, assistive technology (such as screen reading software) as needed. On Windows systems, a web browser such as Internet Explorer 4 (or above) or Netscape 4 (or above) browser is required.

The Victor Reader Soft DAISY format book reader is provided with membership and has additional requirements. There are currently two versions available: one that relies on a screen reader for speech access and one that includes text-to-speech. Internet Explorer version 5.5 or higher must be installed with either version. We recommend that you upgrade to Internet Explorer 6.0. System requirements for each version are:

Screen reader version (Version 1.0.1)

An additional 5-6 MB of hard disk space is needed. You will also need a screen reader to work with Victor Reader Soft for speech access. For best results, make sure your screen reader is updated to the most recent version.

Text-To-Speech Version (Version 1.5.5)

An additional 12 MB of hard disk space for the download storage of this version is needed, plus 10 MB to install the application. 64 MB RAM is highly recommended.

Can I use Bookshare.org with a Mac computer?

Macintosh users need to be running 0S10.x (or 8.6/9.x with CarbonLib 1.6) to download and unpack Bookshare.org books. 32 MB RAM, 1.6 MB for the Bookshare.org Unpack Tool to decrypt downloaded books, plus an average of 1 MB per book stored, assistive technology (such as screen reading software) as needed. Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher, or Netscape 6.0 or higher is required.

The current beta version of the Safari browser does not meet minimum requirements.

Macintosh users can use Bookshare.org and all of the downloadable tools if they run Virtual PC with Windows. Virtual PC with Windows is software that mimics the PC Windows environment on a Macintosh.

Can I use Bookshare.org with Linux?

Linux users should download and install the Linux version of the Unpack tool in order to access copyrighted books. This tool is available from the download page.

To enable browsing of the Bookshare.org website and download of public domin books for Lynx users, the following must be set in lynx.cfg:

NO_REFERER_HEADER:FALSE
REFERER_WITH_QUERY:PARTIAL
SET_COOKIES:TRUE

In addition, the version of Lynx you are using must be SSL-enabled. To check this, run the command

lynx -version

and look for "SSL". Unix/Linux users, can also run the command

lynx -version | grep SSL

How do I volunteer?

Find out more about volunteering, including how you can help build the Bookshare.org collection, and how to get started.

What if I'm under 18?

If you are under 18, you will still be able to become a member of Bookshare.org and enjoy access to the library of books. Your parent or guardian will need to sign you up and pay your subscription. Learn more about membership.

I work at a school. How can I use this website?

Organizational accounts are available to enable schools to sponsor subscriptions for their students. There is a special section of information just for organizational accounts. Read more.

For additional information, check out the Frequently Asked Questions, or visit the Help page.

Bookshare.org was created and is maintained by Benetech, a nonprofit organization, and is Bobby-approved.
Copyright © 2001-2008, Beneficent Technology, Inc. (The Benetech Initiative)
All other product names are the trademarks of their respective manufacturers.

The Bookshare trademark is used under license from its registered owner, Follett Library Resources division of Follett Corporation.