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1. Who listens to audio books?
All kinds of people listen to audio books especially:
- the time impoverished anxious to maximize every minute
- the commuter to fill in time during a trip
- the person working with their hands and wanting to occupy their
minds
- the person with poor vision or those unable to hold a regular
print book
- people with any form of print handicap such as acquired brain
injury
- students
- young children
- people with learning difficulties who cannot process normal
print
- truck drivers, farmers, craftspeople and retirees
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2. What is the difference between unabridged
and abridged audio books?
Unabridged audio books bring you the complete print text--while
abridged versions are edited, sometimes substantially, and only
provide the outline of the story without the colour and detail of
the novel.
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3. What type of books do you publish?
We publish books by Australian authors. Types of books published
fall into the categories of fiction--both literary and popular,
and non-fiction--biographies, autobiographies, self improvement,
history and travel.
We publish books for adults, young adults and children.
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4. How do you decide which books to produce?
We try to select a 'snapshot' of the best of contemporary Australian
writing. We also publish Australian classics which have never been
published in audio.
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5. How do you select the books for recording?
Qualified librarians, experienced in working with audio books,
carefully select books which 'translate' well into audio. These
are chosen from the best of current Australian print titles. Great
care is taken to ensure that all the major reading interests are
covered.
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6. Will I need any special equipment?
No--the cassettes can be used on any conventional cassette player--in
the car, with a walkman or on any sound system.
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7. At what speed are the books read?
The books are read at conversational speed--they are not slowed
down, nor are they sped up.
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8. Will I be able to get replacement cassette tapes/CDs?
Yes--replacement cassette tapes cost $7.70 per cassette and CDs
cost $11.00. The covers and folders are also replaceable if required.
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9. Are these books only for the blind?
No--Louis Braille Audio books can be listened to by anyone unlike
some other audio books which are only for the print handicapped.
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10. Who reads the audio books?
Professional actors trained in audio narration read the books.
Great care is taken to select the actor best able to reflect the
book's tone and characters. The actors use different voices to differentiate
characters.
Sometimes the author will read the book if we feel that this
will enhance the production.
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11. Who are some of the actors who read for you?
Helen Morse, who starred in the film Caddie and Picnic
at Hanging Rock, Julia Blake who starred in the film Innocence
and David Treddinick who has a regular role in the popular television
series The Secret Life of Us are three of our many narrators.
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12. How do schools use audio books?
Schools use audio books in a number of ways:
- Some librarians treat them as just another medium and shelve
them alongside the print book--allowing the student to decide
which format they will access.
- English teachers use them widely as an additional classroom
resource to support the set text. In fact some schools now only
set as class texts, books they know are also available in an audio
format.
- Integration teachers use them as support material for their
students.
- Students find listening to a set text--especially a play, poetry
or complex novel, adds a greater level of understanding.
- Selected readings are used to promote classroom discussion.
- They can also aid students in developing active listening and
aural comprehension skills.
- ESL, Literacy and Remedial teachers all use them widely as
additional material for their programs.
- Our reading kits are designed for supported reading programs--students
can read along with the texts.
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13. What are your reading kits?
Our reading kits or readalongs are published under the outloud!
imprint and are produced for three levels of reader. outloud! alive
is for the beginning or emerging reader, outloud! is for the growing
reader or those who need additional support in establishing a reading
habit and outloud! EXTRA is for the extending reader--the ESL or
older student.
The kits contain an audio book together with the print book. They
are attractively and sturdily packaged and multiple copies of the
print book can be supplied for listening posts.
They are designed to be used by individual students, or with listening
posts for small, or larger groups of students. Learn more
about outloud! reading kits 
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14. How do I find out about new titles being published?
Visit our website regularly and click on new releases in the left side-bar. We
publish 72 titles per year. You can also be added to our mailing list to receive our regular new
release information. Please add your details to the mailing box.
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15. Where can I buy them?
You can buy direct from Louis Braille Audio--by using our online
order forms, by phone, fax, email or post; from your library supplier
or from any good bookshop.
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16. Can I buy audio books in CD format?
Yes--all of our new release titles and most of our recently released
titles are available in cassette and CD format.
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17. Do you provide a standing order service to schools and libraries?
Yes we do and we can tailor a standing order to your needs.
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18. Do you offer discounts to schools and libraries?
Yes--discounts are offered depending on the size of your order.
Contact us for details.
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