Lucknow: Visually impaired students at Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University (DSMNRU) will now have access to more than 3,500 audiobooks and recorded lectures through the university’s upgraded Talking Book Studio at the Swami Vivekananda Central Library. University officials said the facility, which earlier housed only a few hundred books, has been significantly expanded to support students in accessing academic material and literature through listening. The audiobooks have been recorded by teachers and scholars of the university. The collection is not limited to visually impaired students. Other students at the university can also borrow the audiobooks on pen drives and listen to them at their convenience. DSMNRU spokesperson Yashwant Virodai said the studio has become an effective medium for learning, especially for students with disabilities. He said students can access well-known literary works such as Gunahon Ka Devta and Godan, along with textbooks linked to the curriculum. Plays, short stories and novels have also been included in audiobook format. Officials said the university also provides customised support to students who need a specific title in audio form. “If a student requests a book, the university arranges for it to be converted into an audiobook using specialised software, making it easier for the student to study and understand the material through listening,” said Virodai. Vice-Chancellor Prof Sanjay Singh said the Talking Book Studio marks an important step in making education more inclusive. He said the university is using modern technology to ensure that students with visual impairments and other disabilities have easier access to knowledge and equal opportunities in education. The upgraded studio is expected to strengthen learning support services at the university and widen access to educational resources for a larger number of students.
