Calibre aims to improve the quality of life for people who are visually-impaired, dyslexic or have another disability which prevents them from reading printed books. Our subscription-free, nationwide library service of audio books by post enables print-impaired people to enjoy all the pleasure and benefits other people gain from reading. Our main activities are selecting, buying and recording audio books, duplicating them on to cassettes, CDs and memory sticks and distributing to our members.

People with visual impairment are often lonely and isolated. Calibre's audio books help to fill many empty hours and our service is described by many as their "lifeline". Our Young Calibre service for Under 16's often helps with learning and enables visually impaired or dyslexic young people to keep up with their peer group.

The impact of our work is best described by our beneficiaries:- "I don't know how I could have coped with life without books now that I can no longer read the printed page.Your audio books have kept me sane." "I find reading a nightmare as I am dyslexic. Calibre has opened up a whole new world for me." "Calibre is my lifeline especially as my local library is threatened with closure" "The constant flow of CDs make life so much richer now that I can do so little computer work or even TV watching"