PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana offers a service dedicated to blind, visually impaired, and dyslexic users as part of the Libro Parlato Lions project.
The service was established through an agreement between the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and the Associazione Libro Parlato Lions, with the aim of providing free access to the consultation, download, and loan of audiobooks.
This initiative aims to help guarantee the right of access to culture and information for all, including individuals with varying degrees of reading difficulty.
The Libro Parlato Lions service is entirely free of charge. Its database, comprising approximately 10,500 audiobooks, is freely accessible to all users.
For information on registration procedures, please consult the dedicated Libro Parlato Lions page.
To register, contact: iscrizioni_verbania@libroparlato.it
Once registered, users may:
- Download audiobook files to listen to them on a PC, smartphone, or tablet;
- Request audiobooks on CD by post (a free service available only to blind and visually impaired users).
Registration
To register for the service at the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, users must:
- Visit the Library in person (see “How to find us”), bringing medical documentation certifying the disability, or a valid membership card of the Unione Italiana Ciechi;
- Sign the consent form for the processing of personal data on site.
Library staff will then assist you in completing the online registration form for the service.
If you cannot come in person (only after telephone arrangements):
- Complete the online form available on the “User Registration” page: (https://libroparlatolions.it/iscrizione-utente-con-certificazione/);
- Send the following documents to the Library by email (b-marc.libroparlato@cultura.gov.it) or by post (Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Piazzetta San Marco 7 – 30124 Venice):
- A copy of a document certifying your disability, or a copy of your membership card of the Unione Italiana Ciechi;
- The signed consent form for the processing of personal data. If you are a minor, clearly indicate the details of the person exercising parental responsibility after the signature;
- The declaration for the exclusive personal use of audiobooks.
The Library will forward these documents to the Verbania office, which will your the registration.
Once the online registration has been completed, you will receive your password, enabling immediate access to the download service via the website: http://www.libroparlatolions.it
After registration, if you also wish to receive books on CD or audio cassette, you can contact the Verbania office (tel. 0323 402355) to activate the service. This service is provided free of charge through the Italian postal service.
Receiving books on CD and audio cassette only
If you do not have a computer or Internet access, you may register to receive books exclusively on CD or audio cassette. In this case, it is sufficient to provide medical documentation certifying your disability, or a valid membership card of the Unione Italiana Ciechi, and to sign the consent form for the processing of personal data.
Requests are then made by telephone to the Verbania office (tel. 0323 402355), and the service is provided free of charge by ordinary post.
Technical requirements
- The files available for download are in MP3 format and can be played using any MP3 software or compatible player.
- The service works with any standard web browser (Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari, etc.).
Searching for tracks
Audio tracks can be searched for on the website http://www.libroparlatolions.it, under the “Audioteca” (Audio library) section in the menu.
The database contains audiobooks in the following formats: MP3, CD, and audio cassette
If you have any queries or issues, please call the library on 041 24 07 211 (Monday–Friday, 9am–2pm) and ask for Sandra Martin, or send an email to: b-marc.libroparlato@cultura.gov.it