Audio Library & Magazines

Re-igniting the love of reading

We have an extensive collection of audio books on CD and cassette tape, and produce three regular audio magazines on CD and memory stick.  

Over 4,000 audio book titles are available through our drop-in libraries in Aberdeen and Elgin.  We can also post them out free of charge to homes throughout North East Scotland.  Membership carries a one-off joining fee of £10.

Our audio magazines are provided free of charge to people with a sight loss, and are available on CD or memory stick.  They are posted to your home address in a plastic wallet which you then use to return the magazine when you would like the next edition.  Our audio magazines, recorded by volunteers, are:

• ‘Hameower‘ – our fortnightly audio round-up of articles from the Press & Journal newspaper.
• ‘Leopard‘ – produced monthly and features articles from the print edition of Scottish Field Magazine.
• ‘Bon-a-Talk’ – regular magazine featuring news, interviews etc

The Impact

We currently support around 2,800 blind and visually impaired people of all ages across North East Scotland.  However, approximately 70% of those we support are aged 65 and over; in reality, many are in their 80s and 90s and dealing with age-related sight loss.  Our publications are therefore aimed at this age group.  We aim to help our subscribers find renewed enjoyment in listening to storytelling for pleasure, stimulation and to rekindle previously held interests.  Currently 410 people subscribe to at least one of our audio magazines (the majority receive all three).

“With an extensive range of books, thanks to NESS’s audio library, I now enjoy reading again.” Regular audio library user

[and please thank] … “Andrew for his recordings which tell me some of the news and even the music that introduces the CD lifts my spirits.” Audio magazine subscriber

Talking Newspapers / Magazines in your local area

There are many local talking newspapers & magazines produced by other groups and organisations throughout Scotland – here are details of some in your local area:

• Angus Talking Newspaper Association (ATNA) – Monthly CD with the local news delivered free of charge to blind and visually impaired people. They have teams covering the local newspapers in Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie/Monifieth, Forfar/Kirriemuir, and Montrose.  Click Here to visit their website for more information.
• Dundee Audio News (DAN) – Regular talking newspaper and magazine on CD and cassette tape for blind and visually impaired people in Dundee and the surrounding areas.  For more information Tel 01382 810266 or Email graemetarbet@hotmail.com
• Ellon Talking Newspaper – weekly recording of local news, mostly from the Ellon Times, distributed free of charge to visually impaired people on USB memory sticks. For more information contact Ann Gammack Tel 01358 720606 or email gammack401@btinternet.com
• Speak O’ The Mearns (Stonehaven & District Talking Newspaper Association) – Weekly recording of selected articles from the Mearns Leader sent out free of charge on USB memory stick. For more information email stonehaventalkingnewspaper@gmail.com
• The Talking Banffie and Turra Talk Association – Weekly recordings from ‘The Banffshire Journal’ and ‘The Turriff Advertiser’ newspapers, sent out on CD.  For more information Tel 01467 536568 or email peter@13scotstoun.co.uk

Additionally, the Talking newspaper app, created by British Wireless for the Blind and The Talking News Federation, holds over 200 talking local newspapers.  The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play onto your smart device.