We focus on materials that can be fruitfully used by ministry
personnel - commentaries, tools for language study, theology and liturgical resources,
etc. We also have Bibles and devotional resources that will be helpful to
anyone wishing to enhance their study of the Bible.
We do not charge a fee for our services. However, because there is
always some cost in producing and sending materials out, we would be thankful
for a donation of $10
to help defray expenses.
We are always looking for donations of books that can be added to
our library - the kind of books that will benefit those who wish to study the
Bible and serve as leaders in Christ's church, such as commentaries and other
Bible study resources. (We reserve the right to decide which resources we will
include in our library.)
As an IRS approved nonprofit corporation we also welcome financial
contributions and will provide a receipt to the giver.
The Chafee
Amendment to the U.S. Copyright code allows a nonprofit organization, whose
primary purpose is to serve the needs of those with visual disabilities, to
produce this material in an alternative format (but not large print). We have
chosen to limit ourselves to materials in digital format that can be
effectively used by computer users who have screen reading software.
Because we are operating under the Chafee Amendment of the U.S.
Copyright code only those who have a visual disability or some other disability
that necessitates use of materials in alternative format may receive our
resources. We require that our users affirm their disability and thus their
eligibility to receive materials from us.
No. According to the law, users may not even share with other
persons with visual disabilities. We have taken the necessary steps to ensure
that we can legally distribute this material to users who qualify for our
services. According to the law, this can be done only by a non-profit
organization whose primary purpose is to serve the needs of the blind and those
with other disabilities.
However, please direct qualifying persons to us and we will be
glad to serve them.
We provide all our documents in RTF format to make them available
to as wide a variety of computer users as possible. Bible versions are
available in HTML or txt format. A database for indexing resources is also
available, using Microsoft Access.
You can receive the Optasia Library on two CD ROM discs or on a
single DVD disc.
For those who wish to receive books from our library, we will send
out a CD ROM disk with our entire library on it. Please send us your mailing address.
For those who wish to have only a Bible version, for example, we
will meet specific requests and send them out on a CD ROM disk, or possibly by
e-mail or download.
We provide the New International Version in a form that works well
on a desktop computer or a Braille notetaker. We have
tested it extensively on a PC, a Mac and a PAC Mate (Freedom Scientific).
We offer a similar form of Today's New International Version, the
New Living Translation, American Standard Version, King James Version and New
American Standard Version.
In other formats we offer The Message, New International Reader's Version,
the English Standard Version, Today's New International Version in Braille
format, and Holman Christian Study Bible.
A number of other versions are available on request. See the Optasia Library
for a complete listing.
Anyone who works with scanners knows that errors and extra
characters creep in during the scanning process. We have found that what we
offer is very readable, and allows users to access the available material in a
very helpful way. If our users find
crucial portions of the text that are not readable, we will make every effort
to correct the errors.
We are thankful to Zondervan Publishing
for providing us with a number of books.
These will be fre of the errors due to
scanning.
Since the Bible versions are received from downloaded text, these
are as accurate as the original source.
Greek and Hebrew text cannot be recognized by the scanning process
available to us. Such text will turn into gibberish. We have, however,
concentrated on materials that will allow serious students of Scripture to
access some material that is rarely available to those with visual
disabilities. Note in the library listing we offer the "Theological
Dictionary of the New Testament", as well as the "Theological
Wordbook of the Old Testament." Because these books use transliterated
text, and because of the form in which we offer it, we believe our users can
gain great benefit from these resources as they do biblical studies.
Please contact
us if you are unable to understand or read portions of the material. We
will make every effort to correct significant problems in our offered
materials.
We will continue to add resources to our library and invite our
users to send us commentaries and other ministry resources that we can add, and
share with others. Some materials already in our library will continue to be
edited.
We reserve the right to decide what will be added to our list of
resources.
When significant updates are made to our library we are willing to
send a new version of the library to those who have already received it.
What do I need to do to receive resources from Optasia Ministry?
Send
us your name and contact information along with a statement affirming that you
have a visual disability that necessitates the use of the alternative format
resources that Optasia Ministry offers.
Use this Contact us link.
We will need your name and mailing address, and your preference
for receiving the library on two CDROM discs or a single DVD disc.
Copyright 2007 Optasia
Ministry. All rights reserved.