Production of talking books

Statistics

TPB produces more than 3 000 talking book titles annually; this figure includes production for both the library service and student services. The corresponding production of inkprint books is approximately 12 000 titles per year.

From 2001 all of TPB:s production is in the DAISY format. Read more about the DAISY talking books.

Talking books can only be produced by organisations granted permission by the Swedish Government.

Book selection meeting

At the weekly book selection meeting, librarians at TPB select all books to be produced as talking books or braille. Books requested by readers have priority.

The book selection meeting also decides which titles to buy from other producers. TPB acquires approximately 1000 titles from other producers, including audio books in foreign languages. The TPB stock includes books in almost fifty different languages. TPB may commission a book in a foreign language if it has not already been produced abroad.

The majority of books selected at the meeting are adult literature. 18 per cent are children’s books, and 16 per cent books in foreign languages. More than 50 per cent of those selected are non-fiction.

Technical producers

TPB has no inhouse production but outsources the entire talking book production to professional studios. TPB controlls how the book is to be recorded via guidelines regarding narration and structure.

All narrators are certified by TPB and the book is recorded in mono.

The production process, from book selection to completed talking book ready for loan, takes approximately six months.

Purchasing TPB production

Public libraries and school libraries may buy copies of talking books produced by TPB. That includes both recent books and books from stock. BTJ, the Swedish Library Service Ltd, is the contracted dealer.