A, B, C
Abridged
If a book has been 'abridged' it has been shortened in some way. Often this is done to make a book fit on a CD. The opposite of abridged is 'unabridged' - this means full and complete.
Amazon
Amazon is a large online bookseller (as well as other items). Amazon makes the Kindle, which is a popular eBook reader. Read our page about Amazon eBook readers and apps.
App
An app (short for 'application') is a program that runs on a computer, tablet or smartphone. eBook apps are used to read eBooks.
Apple
Apple makes the iPad, iPhone and iPod. Apple sell music, books and films via its iTunes store.
Audio
We use audio to mean something you listen to. When we talk about an audio book we mean any book you listen to, for instance on a CD, cassette or mp3 player.
Audio books are usually narrated by a real person and are sometimes also called talking books (written with lower case t and b) or spoken word books. Talking Books (with a capital T and B) is the name of an RNIB service that provides audio books in DAISY format.
D, E, F
DAISY/DAISY player
DAISY is a special kind of CD that lets you have greater control over the audio books you listen to. DAISY audio books let you bookmark pages and easily rewind and fast forward the book. DAISY CDs are played on DAISY players. Our audio book service - Talking Books are produced using DAISY format.
DRM or Digital Rights Management
Digital Rights Management is a method of preventing unauthorised copying of digital files such as ebooks. It is usually present whenever you buy a digital file.
Download
When you 'download' something you save it from its original source (often a website) and save it somewhere else (on your computer, on a memory stick, on an MP3 player, or on an eBook reader for instance).
eBook
An eBook is an electronic book that you read using an eBook reader, such as a Kindle.
eBook reader
An eBook reader lets you read eBooks. Popular examples are the Kindle and the Kobo. Read our page about eBook reader accessibility.
G, H, I
Giant print
The size of a font is described in point size. Giant print is anything larger than 18 point. Regular print is usually 10 or 12 point.
iBooks
iBooks is an app made by Apple which allows you to read eBooks on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Read our page about the Apple eBooks app.
Interest level
The interest level of a children's book gives you an idea of the themes that may appear. It does not relate to the recommended reading age, which is about reading ability.
For example, the 'Barrington Stoke' books are published with interest levels that are higher than the reading ages so are ideal for reluctant or struggling readers, such as teenagers who have a reading age of around 7 years.
iPad
An iPad is a kind of touch screen tablet computer, made by Apple. You can read eBooks on an iPad.
iPhone
An iPhone is a kind of touch screen mobile phone, made by Apple. You can read eBooks on an iPhone.
J, K, L
Kindle
The Kindle is an eBook reader made by Amazon. Read our page about Amazon eBook readers and apps.
Kobo
Kobo is an eBook reader made by WH Smith. Read our page about Kobo eBook readers.
Large print
The size of a font is described in point size. Large print is generally 16 to 18 point size. Regular print is usually 10 or 12 point.
M, N, O, P
MP3/MP3 player
An MP3 is a type of audio file. If you buy or listen to music or books online they will usually be in MP3 format.
An MP3 player is a device that can play MP3 files - like an iPod, or a smartphone.
Nook
Nook is an eBook reader made by Barnes & Noble. Read our page about Nook eBook readers.
Q, R, S, T
SD card
An SD card is a type of storage, similar to CDs and cassettes. An SD card can be read by an SD card reader slot on a computer or DAISY player to access the audio or text files saved on it.
Smartphone
A smartphone is type of mobile phone which can also perform more advanced functions such as sending email, visiting websites and pinpointing your location on a map. You can read eBooks on a smartphone using an eBook app.
Suggested reading age
The suggested reading age gives you an idea of the intended reader age range for a children's book. It's based on the average level of reading ability for a child of that age. In the RNIB library our suggested reading ages for children are: 0-4, 5+, 7+, 9+, 11+, 13+, 15+.
Tablet
A tablet is a kind of touch screen portable computer such as the iPad. You can read eBooks on a tablet computer using an eBook app.
Talking Books
RNIB provides an audio books loan service called Talking Books which provides thousands of unabridged titles on DAISY CD.
Audio books are sometimes also called talking books or spoken word books. This is a general term for any book that you listen to, for instance on a CD, cassette or mp3 player.
TTS or text-to-speech
Also called synthetic speech. This is when computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices read out the text on screen in a synthetic voice. Read our page about text-to-speech and listen to sample clips.
U, V, W, X, Y, Z
USB memory stick
A USB memory stick is a type of storage device, similar to a CD or cassette. Also known as a Pen drive. A USB stick can be read by a USB slot on your computer or DAISY player to access the audio or text files saved on it.