CNIB DIGITAL LIBRARY SERVICES

  • If you already receive library or other services from CNIB, call Reader Services at 1-800-268-8818 or email .
  • If you have another type of print disability, contact Calgary public library as they are a CNIB Library partner (Visunet Canada Partner). You can sign up for CNIB Digital Library service. You can also use this option if you have vision loss but prefer not to receive CNIB services.
  • Guests can explore the CNIB Digital Library. On the Login page, select Search the library catalogue as a guest. As a guest, you will be able to access the catalogue and most other pages - just not the content, which is password protected.
  • Teens can get help with school stuff, download a great book for free – from horror to humour – and read about a new band in Rolling Stone or your favourite star in Teen People.
  • Questions or suggestions about the CNIB Digital Library can be sent by email to or by phone at 1-800-268-8818.

CNIB Digital Library Exercises

Logging in

  • Open Internet Explorer from the Desktop or Start Menu.
  • Press Alt+D to open the address bar and type in Press Enter.
  • If you have an account with the cnib Digital Library, type your username and password into the appropriate edit boxes and tab or click the "Submit" button.
  • If you do not have an account, click on the link, "Search the Library as a Guest".

Exercise 1: Simple Searches

NOTE: The combo box at the top of this page allows you to search by Title, Author, Subject, Series Narrator, Content, Call Number, All. The Hot Key Alt+Down Arrow opens this box and you can arrow up and down through it.

  • Select title in the Combo box.
  • Press tab once and type Eragon in the Edit box.
  • Click on the "Submit" button.

The next screen that opens displays your search results in English or French and in a variety of formats including Braille, DAISY and *On-line Digital Audio. We can download the ones in Online Digital Audio.

Those that show the link: Read online after the words "access Path" are generally from Net Library and you need a separate username and password to download them. (See The instructions in the Accessing Net Library Services handout)

Those with numbered links to .MP3 files can be downloaded immediately if you have a cnib account. Each one must be downloaded separately.

  1. How many search results are there? ______
  1. How many are in an audio format that you can download immediately? ______

Downloading your book

To complete this exercise, follow the directions for creating a folder for your book and downloading the book, in the handout "Overview of Downloading Books"

Download at least two sections of the book before moving on.

Exercise 2: Advanced Searches

Use this method to be more selective in your searching. For the next search, our results will show only the seven Harry Potter books in English and in online digital Audio formats.

  • From the Search results page, or from the opening search screen after logging in, Click on the link for "Advanced Search" or "New Advanced Search".

Note: The page that opens gives you several edit and check boxes to choose from. Set up the following conditions:

  • In the Edit Box "with all of the words", type Harry Potter. Choose "Title" from its combo box.
  • Under the "formats heading, check only the box for Online Digital Audio
  • Under the "Language" heading, check "English".
  • Finally, click the "Submit" button.
  1. If you fill in everything correctly, your Search Results screen should show ______downloadable titles -- all of the Harry Potter books.
  1. Do a Basic Search with the words Harry Potter in the Title edit box. How many search results do you get? ______
  1. List two other formats that the books are in. ______and ______
  1. What languages are the books in? ______and ______