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Author Backs RNIB Book Campaign

August 22, 2010

An award winning author has backed a campaign to make more literature accessible to people with sight loss.

Kate Atkinson will read from her latest novel Started Early, Took My Dog at a Book Festival event organised by RNIB Scotland.

The charity said only 5% of books published in the UK are ever made available in braille or audio formats.

Ms Atkinson said she was “delighted” her new novel had been transcribed just a day after its mainstream publication.

RNIB director John Legg said: We would like to see many more books made available in accessible formats for blind and partially sighted people.

“But it costs between £1,000 and £2,500 to record a RNIB talking book, so we do very much need the support of the public.”

Ms Atkinson said: “I fully support the campaign to make more books available in formats such as braille and audio.”

The launch of the campaign has been sponsored by Glasgow-based construction firm City Building, whose workforce includes 30 workers with sight loss.

Managing director Willie Docherty said: “We operate one of Europe’s largest supported employment factories with some 260 workers, over 50% of whom have a disability, and all of whom do exactly the same job as their sighted colleagues.

“That is why we are delighted to support a campaign that makes more literature accessible to people with sight loss.”

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