Bookshare is a service offering a custom reading experience to individuals with print disabilities such as blindness, low vision, dyslexia, or physical disabilities that make it difficult to hold a book. It is a significant collection (900,000+) of e-books, including textbooks, bestsellers, children's books, career resources and Spanish resources.
MCL has purchased 150 annual Bookshare subscriptions for members of our community that are no longer able to get them through school. (Students can receive Bookshare services through their educational institution through a Federal Grant.) We will add more subscriptions depending on how the trial period goes.
Bookshare offers free titles (not subject to copyright) to anyone if you want to try it out.
How it works
MCL cardholders can sign up on the Bookshare site with the MCL code LIB OR MULTCO. During the signup process, Bookshare will request certification that the individual qualifies for the service.
Who can sign up for the service through MCL?
Adult patrons with proof of a qualifying disability determined by a qualified professional that are not already enrolled in any educational program which would qualify them for a free subscription can get a subscription through MCL. Bookshare for students is free. Read the Bookshare FAQ for more information regarding qualifying disabilities.
It is a separate service from the Oregon Talking Book and Braille Library, but patrons should easily qualify for Bookshare if they have already qualified for the state service.
Bookshare support
Bookshare support is available Monday - Friday from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. Support is currently only available in English.
More about Bookshare
Bookshare offers a customizable reading experience for ebooks in audio, audio + highlighted text, braille, large font and other formats.
Patrons can read on almost any device, including smartphones, tablets, Chromebooks, computers and assistive technology devices.
Learn more on the Reading tool wizard.
Specific formats