Using RNIB Bookshare with Dolphin EasyReader – parents and carers
In November 2024, RNIB Bookshare updated their website.
This guide is for parents to support their child’s access on a home device, if the SENDCo at their child’s school has set up an account with RNIB Bookshare.
The class teacher will be listed as teacher, using the new format, and the child or young person listed as ‘Member’. It also assumes that the Dolphin EasyReader app has been downloaded on a tablet to be used by the child or young person.
On a tablet
- Open Dolphin EasyReader app.
- Create a Dolphin Account (first time only). This will need an email address – parent’s or child’s.
- Log in using the user name and password, as set up by the school.
- To find newly assigned books open RNIB Bookshare (NB, NOT Bookshare).
- Open “My Reading Lists” and select the one it has been assigned to.
- Find the book listed and click download.
- Open the book.
To switch between books on the app
- Touch the ‘bookshelf’ icon (top left)
- Open ‘My Books’ to find books you’ve already opened, then they will open at your last page (it may be that with books downloaded in the EPUB format that the pupil will need to touch the point at which they are leaving the book, then the Bookmark icon (on top toolbar) to ensure the book reopens at the same point).
- If you are looking for a newly assigned book, from the bookshelf go to RNIB Bookshare to find it in a reading list
Tips
- Make finding RNIB Bookshare easier by managing your libraries. In the ‘Manage Libraries’ section, touch the green addition button, and turn off all libraries except RNIB Bookshare.
- Customise the screen by using the options in the ‘A’ menu. Here you can change spacing, the font (change it to a ‘open sans’ for a clear text), text colour and background colour.
- Turn off the sentence and word highlighting colours by choosing white (or your background colour).
- If reading a PDF, touch the three dots (… additional options or more) button and ‘switch to text view’ to enable clearer large print access. However, you will not get any pictures. You can switch between PDF and text view without losing your place.
Troubleshooting
If you can’t find a new book or ‘Reading List’, close the app down and reopen. You won’t need to log in again (unless you have logged out!).
Please contact your child or young person’s advisory teacher for additional help.