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CNIB Digital Library
This FAQ is intended both for CNIB Digital Library users and for people providing training and technical support.
There is also a contextual Help page available for every section of the CNIB Digital Library. Simply go to the section (Advanced Search, for example) and activate the HELP link in the navigation bar.
This FAQ is divided into three sections:
Questions about Access to the
CNIB Digital Library
I
can’t remember my User Name and Password. What is it?
If you are
a Library client but have not used the CNIB Digital Library before, you
must ask
to be registered for this service. If you think you already have
a CNIB Digital Library account but can’t remember your User Name or
Password, try the following:
However, anyone can search the library catalogue or read the Help screens, which include information about the resources available and how to use them. Simply tell your friend, relative or caregiver to use the SEARCH THE LIBRARY AS A GUEST link on the login page.
To place holds on items, the person should make a list of Call
Numbers or copy and paste search results into an e-mail message and send
them to reader.services@cnib.ca.
To place orders by phone, call Reader Services toll free at
1-800-268-8818 and select option 1, "To leave
a list of books you wish to receive."Why is access to the CNIB Digital Library
restricted?
Access is restricted for a couple of reasons. One
reason is that the CNIB Digital Library contains works in alternative
format that were produced or acquired for the exclusive use of a person
with perceptual disabilities through an exception in
the Canadian Copyright Act (section 32) or by agreement with the
rights holder. A second reason is that licenses to subscription products
(e.g., NetLibrary) do not permit CNIB to extend access beyond its
immediate clients and staff members.
Top of
FAQ At the bottom of the page, you have the option to refine your
search by entering more criteria. You can also save your search and run it
again in the future. For more search options read Advanced
Search Help. Your Book
Bag can also be used to store online digital audio, e-text and e-braille
books you want to read. Questions about Using the
CNIB Digital Library and its Resources
How can I
tell if I have successfully logged in to the CNIB Digital
Library?
If you have successfully logged in then you will find a
LOG OUT link as part of the navigation links.
If you are not logged in you will find a LOG
IN link in the navigation bar. If trying to follow certain
links returns you to the LOG IN page, this
means you are not logged in properly.How
do I search the catalogue?
On the
Search Results page, review the list of
items. (JAWS tip: use the I key to skip
forwards from item to item and SHIFT+I to go
backwards.) For more information on each item, activate the link to the
title. To keep track of an item you want to read, activate the
ADD THIS ITEM TO MY BOOK BAG link.
What happens when
I put a book in my Book Bag?
Your Book Bag is like your shopping
cart. It is temporary storage for items you think you might be interested
in ordering. It’s important to remember that items you put into your Book
Bag are not automatically placed on hold. Items will remain in your Book
Bag indefinitely unless you remove them or place holds.Can I download
a book from the CNIB Digital Library and burn it to CD or transfer it to a
portable listening device?
The CNIB Digital Library is designed
to support live streaming of online digital audio, e-text and e-braille
files – i.e., you can use the files while you are logged in to the system
and do not have to download them. Most books in the CNIB Digital Library
do not have technical protection measures that would prevent you from
downloading the files to your computer, burning them to CD or transferring
them to a portable device. However, the use of these files is strictly
limited to registered users. Sharing with family members or friends is not
permitted. Read about why access to the CNIB
Digital Library is restricted. NetLibrary books have Digital
Rights Management (DRM) features that allow you to download and transfer
books to compatible portable devices but prevent you from burning books to
CD. What is NetLibrary and how do I
use it?
Read
about NetLibrary on our Databases Help page.Why aren’t the links on the Newspapers,
Magazines, Databases page working for me?
If there is only a
list of resources on the page and no links to them, you are not logged in
to the CNIB Digital Library. Read our FAQ on how
to tell if you have successfully logged in. If the links display
but the system prompts you for a user name and password, you need to
adjust your Internet security settings. Read our
FAQ on Internet security settings.How do I listen to an audio book
online?
“Online Digital Audio”, or “ODA” for short, is a popular
format in the CNIB Digital Library. The best thing about this format is
that you can access it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You don’t have
to place a hold and wait for a CD to arrive by mail.
Sound good? Before you can listen to a book, you will need a multimedia
player on your computer. Most computers come equipped with a player -
Windows Media Player, for example. WinAmp is another popular player. Read our FAQ on software programs for more information
about Windows Media Player and WinAmp.
That's it! Let's get started.
Tip: If you want to read the rest of your Online
Digital Audio book later, activate the ADD THIS ITEM TO YOUR BOOK
BAG link. The next time you log in to the CNIB Digital Library,
your book will be waiting for you in your Book Bag.
NetLibrary
The CNIB Digital Library also
provides access to online audio books from NetLibrary. (You can tell if a
book is from NetLibrary if NetLibrary is listed as an author.) NetLibrary
books do not have a list of mp3 files. Instead, you will find a single
link called READ ONLINE. Activate the link to go to the
book on NetLibrary. Find
out more about how to use NetLibrary books. How do I save an audio book to my
computer?
The following instructions describe how to save a
CNIB audio book to your computer using Windows and a mouse or keyboard.
For instructions on saving files with other operating systems or adaptive
technologies please consult the help documentation associated with those
products.
If you have difficulties accessing the MP3 files check our FAQ
on what to do if an online audio book file does not open or save
correctly.
Whenever you want to listen to the
book find the Heart Matters folder on your computer and select one of the
MP3 files to play it. The MP3 file should open and begin playing in your
default media player. For tips on using common media players such as
Windows Media Player or WinAmp please check our FAQ
on where to find support for these products. You can also move
your books to your portable listening device and listen to your book on
the go. Connect your portable listening device to your computer and
transfer the saved files from your computer to your device. Any device
that plays MP3 files should work. If you are using a VictorReader Stream
please check Humanware's FAQ on how
to transfer Online Digital Audio books to the VictorReader
Stream.
Please note that the CNIB Digital
Library also provides access to online audio books from NetLibrary. (You
can tell if a book is from NetLibrary if NetLibrary is listed as an
author.) NetLibrary books do not have a list of mp3 files. Instead, you
will find a single link called READ ONLINE. Activate
the link to go to the book on NetLibrary. Find
out more about how to use NetLibrary books.Can you make it easier to download mp3 audio
books? Will you be offering DAISY books online?
You must select
the link to each mp3 file for an audio book separately. There is currently
no option to save all of the files at once. This method is optimal for a
wide range of people, including those without a high speed connection to
the Internet. However, it is a strategic objective for the CNIB Library to
start offering DAISY service online in the next two years. CNIB has been
actively working with the international DAISY community to develop a
standard protocol for this type of service.What do I do if an online audio book file
does not open or save correctly?
If you were trying to access an
online book, go back to the previous page immediately and try again. If
the file still doesn’t work, try clearing your browsing history.
If the problem continues, contact us at digital.library@cnib.ca.
Please include details about the file you are trying to access or describe
the problem and when it occurred. Can I
place a bookmark in Windows Media Player so I can pick up reading where I
left off?
Currently Windows Media Player does not allow for
bookmarking. A popular application that does is WinAmp. There are two ways to keep track of
where you are with WinAmp:How do I read magazine articles from EBSCOhost
in PDF format?
Read
our Tips for reading PDF magazine articles on our Magazines Help
page.
Top of FAQ Questions about Computer Hardware,
Software, Internet and Security
What computer hardware and software do I need
to use the CNIB Digital Library?
To use the CNIB Digital
Library, you need:
I need help using my computer or the
Internet. Where can I get training and support?
If you are
relatively new to computers and adaptive technology, there is a range of
training options available to you. Here are a few:
The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) on the CNIB Digital Library links you
to online tutorial lessons or instructions for popular products such as
JAWS, ZoomText, Windows Media Player and the VictorReader
Stream.
Read
the FAQ on help with popular products
CNIB
is a partner of the Hadley School for Distance Education, which offers
more than 100 free courses to individuals with vision loss and their
families, including courses on typing, adaptive technology and the
Internet.
Contact
the Hadley-CNIB Ambassador in your region
Workshops on computers and adaptive technology are also available through
selected CNIB offices across the country: Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary,
Edmonton and Vancouver. You can learn basic skills such as how to use a
keyboard, JAWS, ZoomText and the Internet. CNIB Montreal offers computer
training courses for people who use a screen magnifier (ZoomText) or a
screen reader (JAWS or Window-Eyes), including a full course on the CNIB
Digital Library.
Contact
CNIB in your community
On Tuesday evenings
from 6 to 8 pm Eastern Time, CNIB offers Tech Talk Tuesday, an online
opportunity to learn about the uses and challenges that today’s
technologies bring into our lives. The program requires a simple voice
chat program called iVocalize, which CNIB Assistive Technology Specialists
can help you set up.
Find
out how to register for Tech Talk Tuesday
CNIB is not your only option for technology training. Other non-profit
organizations such as the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) offer
computer training. CCB has a mobile computer lab that will bring
accessible laptops and instructors to a group in your community.
Read
more about CCB’s computer training program
Most technology vendors and many retailers offer training and support for
the products they sell. If you have specific questions about a product you
are using, this is the best place to start.
Find links to
technology vendors and retailers
In
addition to structured training programs, online discussion lists such as
Blindtech are good places to find help with adaptive technology.
Read more
about the Blindtech discussion list
Libraries and other organizations looking for staff training on
accessibility and adaptive technology can find seminars through CNIB’s
Accessibility Services.
Read
more about CNIB’s Accessibility Services.
JAWS keystrokes (Freedom Scientific)
Zoomtext, Step by Step (IU Adaptive Technology Center)
Accessibility training resources (Adobe)
Windows Media Player FAQ (Microsoft)
Windows Media Player 9 keyboard shortcuts (Microsoft)
This program can be downloaded from www.winamp.com.
How to transfer Online Digital Audio books to the VictorReader Stream
The Plays For Sure site lists
all portable listening devices that work with audio books using the
Windows Media Audio (WMA) format with Digital Rights Management (DRM). You
will need one of these devices if you want to download NetLibrary audio
books and listen to them on the go. When you purchase a device, make sure
it has the PlaysForSure logo on it. Vidéotron If you
are running Internet security software on your computer you may find you
cannot access some of our third party products such as NetLibrary or
newspapers. If so you will need to adjust your Internet security settings
to designate these sites as safe. We cannot provide instructions
on adjusting security settings for every type of Internet security
software or personal firewall available. If you require help, please
contact the product support line of the software you have installed. If
you have not installed software but receive security through your Internet
Service Provider please contact them for help. When doing so indicate that
you would like to designate the following sites as safe, so that you can
access all of the resources available through the CNIB Digital
Library: http://cnib.web.ca http://visunews.cnib.ca
http://search.ebscohost.com http://web10.epnet.com http://web.ebscohost.com
http://search.epnet.com http://web.ebscohost.com http://library.eb.com
http://www.grovemusic.com http://novelst3.epnet.com/ http://dictionary.oed.com
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com http://repere2.sdm.qc.ca/
http://www.netlibrary.com http://www.netlibrary.org http://download.netlibrary.com
I
am having trouble connecting to the CNIB Digital Library site. Can you
help me?
Your Internet Service Provider should be able to help
you. Below are some links to the support pages of the most popular
Internet Service Providers. Which URLs should I add to the list of
Trusted Sites in my Internet security settings?
What if I still have problems using
the CNIB Digital Library? Who can I contact?
Contact us if
you continue to experience problems after reading this FAQ.
Provide as much information as possible about the problem, including the
date and time it occurred, if there was an error message - and what that
message was. If possible, include a screenshot (Alt+Print
Screen then CTR+V to paste
into your message).
