Creating Audio Tapes

Need: Cassette recorder, blank cassette tapes, person to do the reading.

Suggest using a 4-track recorder, which permits more information to be included than on a standard cassette tape.

Steps:

  1. Let the leader tape run through, and then wait another 30 seconds before beginning.
  2. State the cassette number, and then wait 15 seconds.
  3. State the title, author, publisher (or source for a brochure).
  4. Next, ALWAYS state the following: “Copyright (year). Recorded solely for use of blind and physically disabled individuals with the kind permission of the copyright holder. Recorded by (your name).”
  5. For subsequent tapes/tracks: State title, author, cassette number, and if appropriate the title of the article and/or page numbers.
  6. At the end of each side of the tape state: “End of side (number) on page (number).”
  7. At the beginning of each section state: page number, chapter number, and name, number of print pages in the section.
  8. State the page numbers at the beginning of each print page.
  9. State "heading" or "subheading" when appropriate.
  10. Read, then spell out a name the first time it appears. Spell out all foreign, unfamiliar, or hard to pronounce names.
  11. Use the inflection of your voice to indicate short italicized sections and single words and short phrases in quotation marks or parentheses. For longer citations, read, "quote...end quote" or "parenthesis...end parenthesis.”
  12. Read footnotes and endnotes immediately following the end of the sentence in which the note number occurs. State "Note (number)...endnote.” Then go on with the next sentence in the text.
  13. Use both large print and Braille to label your tapes.

Some resources for Audio Tapes are available on the World Wide Web:

Resource Directories from The Library of Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
http://www.loc.gov/nls/reference/directories.html