QA’s Safeguarding service closes for Christmas on Friday 20th December, reopening on Thursday 2nd January. During this time the Safeguarding mailbox will be unavailable, and the Safeguarding line will only be available at limited times between 12pm-2pm, Monday to Friday. If you are unable to reach us, please leave a message and we will call you back. Click here for advice and help during the Christmas break

Degree library

RNIB Bookshare

Accessible learning

RNIB Bookshare provides textbooks and materials in accessible formats that can be read electronically and adapted to your needs. This service is available to students with:

  • visual impairments;

  • dyslexia, autism, or attention deficit disorder; or

  • physical disabilities impacting the ability to use printed books.

Check who is eligible to use RNIB Bookshare on the service's website.

This is not a one-size-fits-all resource. If you are already comfortable using (for example) VLeBooks, you many not need it. Learn how it works on the RNIB Bookshare website. This resource is intended to facilitate accessible access to existing resources. Users may only download/view books that are already on their reading lists. 

To start using RNIB Bookshare, please contact the DA Specialist Learning Team to make them aware of your learning needs.

RNIB Bookshare users are warmly invited to book a one-to-one session with a librarian to explore the features of this resource. Simply email library@qa.com.

DA learners can also consult with their skills coach.

Users

  • This resource is intended to facilitate accessible access to existing resources. Users may only download/view books that are already on their reading lists.

Use the search function to find the book you require. You can search by title, author, or ISBN.

RNIB Bookshare search screenshot

Your downloaded/read books can be located at the bottom of the RNIB Bookshare home page.

  • Please note that the site's book collection does not cover all books in the QA reading lists.

You can choose which format you want to use. The DAISY format is specially designed to work with a wide range of accessible technology for reading text.

  • Unfortunately, not all available books can be read in every format.

You can download a book, or you can read it on your browser using Bookshare Web Reader by clicking the Read Now button.

Bookshare Web Reader screenshot

Bookshare Web Reader

You can change the settings for the Bookshare Web Reader by clicking on the settings "cog" icon in the top right corner.

Bookshare settings

You can choose a dyslexia-friendly font (select "FONT FACE") and change the size of the text (select "FONT SIZE") or the colour of the text (select "TEXT AND BACKGROUND COLOR").

You can change the speed (select "SPEECH RATE") or voice (select "VOICE") of a text reader.

To reference from the Bookshare Web Reader, look for page numbers in a box in the centre of the page.

page numbers

Dolphin EasyReader

If you download a book, you can read it using Dolphin EasyReader, a reading app for people with dyslexia, low vision and blindness. Dolphin EasyReader can be downloaded at the YourDolphin site.