READING IS FOR EVERYONE

The Philomatheon Society of the Blind is the sub-lending agency for the Talking Book Program which serves three counties and over 1,500 patrons.                

The Talking Book Program is a government program that is ran by The National Library Service (NLS), part of the Library of Congress (LOC), which produces recorded books and magazines, braille books, and all the equipment needed for listening.

People with visual or physical handicaps can still enjoy reading through The Talking Book Program.  Talking books are available on loan to eligible readers across the country. The Philomatheon Society serves the counties of *Stark, Tuscarawas,* Harrison, Holmes and Carroll counties.

*The Stark County Library and Tuscarawas County Library are now the sub-lending agencies for the program in their counties, BUT, The Philomatheon Society is still available to serve ALL with their talking book needs, no matter where you are from*.

Talking Books and magazines are narrated by professionals and produced on digital cartridges.  Our society loans the digital  player to the eligible patron and the books come from The Ohio Library for the Blind & Physically Disabled(OLBPD) at The Cleveland Public Library.

The talking-book program serves readers of all ages. Older adults are a big part of that group. Of the 30 million Americans over sixty-five, many are temporarily or permanently unable to read standard print due to visual loss.

What kinds of books can I get?
More than 67,000 biographies, bestsellers classics , mysteries, romances , westerns, poetry books, histories, children’s and how-to books are available. Music materials, bibliographies, catalogs, and some foreign-language titles are also circulated to eligible readers. Titles on health and fitness for seniors as well as books on retirement activities and the rights of older adults may also be borrowed.  You are also eligible to loan Described Movies from OLBPD. (Described movies have a narrator who will describe the scenes to you. Many newer movies have this feature available, check your language settings on your DVD player to see if the movie has the "Described Video" selection.)

How do I get them?
Your books will come directly from The Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled at the Cleveland Public Library on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. You can participate directly from your home by postage-free mail. Books and equipment are all loaned free, and you will also receive a free bimonthly catalog of new titles. You can choose your own books or let the library pick for you.

How do I apply?  Call our office at (330)-453-9157 for more information or an application

State Library of Ohio (Columbus) 614-644-6895 or 800-686-1531

Ohio Library for the Blind & Physically Disabled (Cleveland) 216-623-2911 or 800-362-1261

BARD - BRAILLE AND AUDIO READING DOWNLOAD

BARD is a free service, once a patron, you can sign up for BARD and download your own books and/or magazines on a digital cartridge for flash drive to use in your book player.  Contact the OLBPD to sign up for a BARD Account.

The Society or OLBPD can assist you in downloading books.  The Philomatheon Society has blank cartridges and mailers for $12.00, they are  4GB and can hold many books. 

You can also get BARD MOBILE on your Apple or Android device.  This makes taking your book on the go, very easy and accessible. 

Application for Scholarship:

Since 1978, The Philomatheon Society of the Blind has made a scholarship grant available each year for a qualified visually impaired Stark County high school senior or qualified former student.

The grant is for one thousand two-hundred and fifty dollars ($1,250.00) for each of two years of college or advance training. Any visually impaired high school senior or former student who qualifies for such a grant, may apply to The Philomatheon Society of the Blind @ 2701 W. Tuscarawas St., Canton, Ohio 44708.  Applications may be obtained by calling The Philomatheon Society of the Blind office at (330)-453-9157.

We would appreciate it if the school principal or counselor could assist the student in completing and returning the application.

If you are interested in more information regarding the Ann Black Scholarship, please contact our office (330)453-9157 for information or an application.

**VISUALLY IMPAIRED/LEGALLY BLIND: The term "Blind Individual" means an individual whose central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye, with correcting lenses, or whose visual acuity is greater than 20/200 but is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision, such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees. (Section 23 (y) of the Revenue Act of 1944).

The Philomatheon Society offers an activity group to all visually impaired persons, family & friends. Activities is a group of people sharing friendships, stories and time spent together. The Activity group meets on  Thursday's, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. (During winter months they usually meet every other week.  Please contact the office for dates)

The group offers fellowship, games such as bingo and horse races. For more information, call the society office @ (330) 453-9157.

Braille Classes: The Philomatheon Society offers Braille classes, free for members and a minimul charge for non members.  These are set up individually for each client.  For more information, call the Society office @ (330)453-9157.

How To Become A Member

The Philomatheon Society of the Blind offers memberships to all activities of the organization for a fee of $15.00 per year.  We offer beneficiary membership for the legally blind, social membership (limited number of sighted members), associate memberships for sighted persons, and youth membership for legally blind and sighted youths under the age of 16.

­Rules of Procedure for becoming a member

  An applicant for beneficiary membership must be legally blind and must either give as authority:

1. State agency for the blind, or
2. A statement from a reputable eye physician.

All potential members must attend one meeting before making application for membership. Membership meetings are held the third Saturday of each month (excluding July and August) @ 4:00 P.M.

There are several types of Membership:

BENEFICIARY:  Available to anyone who is 16 years of age and older and legally blind according to the laws of the State of Ohio.  A beneficiary member may vote and hold office.

ASSOCIATE:  Offered to anyone 16 and over, who desires to be associated with the Philomatheon Society.  Although the Associate Member may not vote or hold office, they may serve on the various committees, with voting rights on such committees.

SOCIAL:  Available to an Associate Member, who has served the Society in an active roll.  The Social Member may vote and hold office as set forth in the Society's "Code of Regulations."

YOUTH:  Open to those under the age of 16.  The same guidelines apply as previously for Associate Members.  All youth members must be accompanied by an adult.

HONORARY:  An individual who has served the Society in an outstanding way, above and beyond normal service.   An Honorary Membership is voted on by the Board and Membership, this is a Life long membership.

SUSTAINING:  Defined as any person or organization making a financial contribution to the Society.  Sustaining Members may not vote or hold office.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

There is no where in the world you can get more out a $15.00 membership than at the Philomatheon Society of the Blind

• Assisted Daily Living Skills, support, education and adaptation to persons who are losing or have lost their sight.
• Supportive counseling on the concerns of vision loss and types of available adaptive low & no vision aids, as well as referral services.
• Braille Lessons
• Talking Book Services - free to anyone who is blind, visually or physically handicapped.  Through the Library of Congress
• CCTV (closed circuit television) Home Loan Program
• Members received free SARTA Curb to Curb transportation to events or sponsored by the Society.
• Personal assistance with filling out forms.
• Quarterly Secondary Health Insurance subsidy is available to eligible Beneficiary Members.
• Hall rental at reduced rate.
• No interest Revolving Loan Fund Program for eligible Beneficiary members.

BUT, AS A MEMBER, ONE CAN EXPERIENCE SO MUCH MORE.  Active involvement in the community, through attendance at monthly membership meetings, attending public events, sponsored fund raisers, chairing the various committees of our organization, thereby maintaining the visually impaired person's independence and self confidence.