NOTE: This service is provided to eligible customers with qualifying disabilities that make reading print difficult. If you are blind, deafblind, low vision, or if you have another disability that makes it hard for you to read print, please continue. If you live in Minnesota and have a print related disability, give us a call to find out more about the services we offer. Call 1-800-722-0550. This application form also provides information on all the services we offer.
Radio Talking Book (RTB) is a State Services for the Blind (SSB) service intended for the use of blind, low vision, and print-disabled persons. RTB shares a wide variety of print materials with its target audiences so that people can be well-informed, participate in their communities, and continue to live independently. For many years, listeners accessed RTB through a proprietary radio receiver as well as online through our live stream and archive. Now, listeners can access RTB online through the live stream, or through our app for Apple and Android, and via our Alexa skill.
RTB reads newspapers - both national and local, magazines - both print and online, and current books not recorded by National Library Service (NLS). It also carries some special programs of interest to its listeners, such as information on assistive technology.
RTB on Digital Assistants (Like Alexa-enabled Devices)
Digital Assistants are devices that use artificial intelligence to complete everyday tasks for consumers. Most often, these devices are programmed to listen for a "wake up word." For instance, "Alexa" is the word that will activate devices from Amazon, like the Amazon Echo, or Amazon Echo Dot. A consumer can follow the "wake up word" with a specific request, such as, "Alexa, Play Radio Talking Book."
Digital Assistants are pre-programmed to respond to a wide variety of requests, such as "Tell me what the weather forecast is," or, "What time is it?" For Amazon devices, the requests that Alexa can perform are called "Skills." In addition to the long list of skills that are built in to Amazon devices, third parties have developed other options that you can add to the list of skills. To add a skill you have to “enable it” by using a specific phrase. Please see "How do I Listen to Radio Talking Book on my Alexa Device" for complete instructions on adding the "Play Radio Talking Book" skill to your device.
To get started using the Radio Talking Book skill on your device you must enable it. Do this by saying, "Alexa, Enable Radio Talking Book." (You only need to do this once.)
Now, you will be able to listen to Radio Talking Book, hear the schedule, or find out what is currently playing on Radio Talking Book. Say, "Alexa, play Radio Talking Book."
Alexa will ask you if you want to play Radio Talking Book, hear the schedule, or find out what is now playing. Respond by choosing one of these options.
Alexa will ask you if you are blind or print impaired. This is added so that only those who are eligible for this service can self-select access. If you are eligible for the service, say "Yes."
Alexa will then answer your question, or begin playing the Radio Talking Book live stream.
Yes, Alexa-enabled devices need Wi-Fi (a wireless internet connection) in order to do things like play Radio Talking Book. See, "What If I don’t Have a Reliable Internet Connection" for a link to resources on finding assistance for paying for Wi-Fi internet service.
The Minnesota RTB app is available from the Google Play Store for Android, and the App Store from Apple/iOS. The app is free. Just search for "Radio Talking Book or Minnesota RTB."
Smartphones are just one way to listen to RTB. You can listen via the Amazon Alexa Skill, or you can listen to the stream via a standard desktop or laptop computer.
No, all broadcasts from the RTB are archived for one week. So, you can pick any day of the week, and any hour, and hear what was broadcast during that time by going to the listing.
Visit the Radio Talking Book and immediately after the button to play the live stream is a button to select the archive "Listen to Archived Programs". After you select "Listen to Archived Programs", you may then pick the day and hour of the week to listen to programming broadcast at that time. You can also listen to the archives using the Minnesota Radio Talking Book app. The process to reach archived programming is the same on the app as on the website.
Other Information on Using the App, Alexa Skill or Website
No, we have eliminated the need for passwords. The Amazon Alexa Skill will ask you if you are blind or print-disabled; if this is true for you, just answer "yes."
Radio Talking Book is free for all eligible consumers. However, there may be associated costs, like the cost of internet service or phone data service that are necessary for playing Radio Talking Book programming. If you already use an Android or Apple smartphone, or you have access to the internet at your home, you will not need to pay any additional fees to listen to Radio Talking Book. There are some resources available to help consumers pay for internet and cell phone services.
If you do not have reliable internet service, but you do have a smartphone with data service, you can listen to the Minnesota RTB app. Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development, part of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, is working to bring access to reliable high speed internet to every corner of Minnesota. You can visit the Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development’s website for maps and information on current coverage. If there is reliable internet service in your area, but you cannot afford to pay for it, you may be eligible for financial assistance.
To access RTB in any of these four ways noted above, a person will need internet service, phone data service, or access to Wi-Fi.
However, content for blind, low vision, and print-disabled people will still be available in other ways including:
News over the phone - National Federation of the Blind, NFB-NEWSLINE® provides access to more than 500 newspapers and magazines over the telephone and can be accessed in every state and territory. This on-demand service is offered free of charge. Call 800-722-0550 for an application or other assistance.
Library - Materials include books and magazines in braille and audio formats, braille music, foreign language titles, and more and are available in a variety of formats. If you have questions or need assistance with accessing the catalog of materials available, call our librarian at 651-539-1422.
The RTB first went on the air on January 2, 1969, broadcasting a few hours a day. Over the years, programming has been increased. Now programming fills 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The RTB was created by C. Stanley Potter, who was Director of SSB for many years. He worked with Robert (Bob) Watson, a long-time acquaintance of his. Watson was an Engineer and did all the technical work on the early RTB. Others who were involved included Minnesota Public Radio and the Hamm Foundation.
While a precise number is hard to determine, we estimate about 2,000 listeners throughout Minnesota listen to RTB. We also have listeners across the country and even internationally. In addition, our programming is frequently rebroadcast by other similar services in the US. Listeners around the country enjoy the books RTB records, which aren’t available via the NLS, but are available through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault.
Good question! We are pleased to say that all the books we record for RTB get multiple uses. First, they are available from the Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. Secondly, we place many of the books we record on BARD, the Braille and Reading Download service from NLS. If you are not already signed up for Library service, call us at 1-800-652-9000.
The Twin Cities newspapers (Star Tribune and Pioneer Press) are broadcast daily. Auxiliary broadcast studios in Fergus Falls, Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, and Mankato provide local newspapers for those cities and surrounding communities.
While most Minnesotans have smart phones and/or internet access on some other device, we know that people struggle with digital technology. SSB can help by providing training on how to use assistive technology. Additionally, our staff, may, in some cases, be able to provide an eligible person with a simple-to-use Amazon Echo Dot, which can play Radio Talking Book if there is Wi-Fi available.
RTB is part of the Communication Center of State Services for the Blind. The Communication Center carries out the mission of making print accessible. The financial support of generous donors, and the time and talent of a dedicated team of volunteers make this work possible. Your financial gift to the Communication Center helps support RTB programming, audio, braille and e-text transcriptions, library services, and more. Learn more and make your donation through our page on GiveMN. You can also call our Development Director, Angela Bodensteiner, at 651-539-2274. Learn more about being a volunteer at the Communication Center on the volunteer information page of our website.
