Books and Magazines—National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS)
A division of the Library of Congress, NLS circulates books and magazines in braille or audio formats through a national network of cooperating libraries, including ours. Resources include:
- BARD: Download braille or audio digital books and magazines. Learn more about signing up for BARD on our website.
- Book Lists: Browse accessible books by genre and interest if you’re looking for inspiration about what to read.
- Collections Connections: Sign up for an e-newsletter that highlights books and other materials available through BARD.
- Directory of Producers of Reading Materials (New York): A list of organizations, groups, and individuals who produce materials on request for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have a physical or print disability.
- Magazines: Find magazines and periodicals available through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS).
- Resources for Children: Lists of accessible books for children and teens.
Books and Magazines—Other Sources
- Bibles for the Blind and Visually Handicapped: Provides the Bible in braille to people who are blind around the world.
- Book Angel Program: This Seedlings program gives children with vision loss the opportunity to get one order of five free braille books per calendar year.
- Bookshare.org: Access a huge collection of ebooks and read your way. Schools and students can sign up for free.
- Braille Books Program: A program from the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults that provides children who are blind with a free braille book every month.
- Electronic Texts: A list of e-text resources we’ve compiled based on their quality and accessibility.
- Free World Book Encyclopedia Articles in Braille: This program, facilitated by the Rose Project, allows students with vision loss in grades 1-12 to request World Book Encyclopedia articles in braille for free.
- Louis Database of Accessible Materials: A site from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) that has information on educational materials in braille, large print, audio, and electronic materials produced by over 60 organizations throughout the country.
- The Poetry Archive: A collection of poets reading their work.
News
- Gatewave: A not-for-profit around-the-clock audio service for listeners who are blind, visually impaired, or reading disabled in New York City and beyond.
- NFB-NEWSLINE: A free audio news service from the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) that offers access to more than 500 publications, emergency weather alerts, job listings, and more.
- Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service: Available online 24/7, this service gives people throughout Western New York and beyond free access to dozens of local and national print publications.
- RISE: WMHT's 24-hour radio information service for the blind and print disabled in New York's Capital Region and the Hudson Valley.
Textbooks
- American Printing House for the Blind: Sells recorded textbooks, braille materials, large print texts, and other educational products for students who have visual impairments.
- Educational Vision Services: Provides specialized services, including textbooks, for blind or visually impaired students in New York City.
- Learning Ally: A source for recorded textbooks. A paid membership may be required.
- Library Reproduction Service: Produces large print school books and other large print educational materials. If you can’t find a title in their collection, they can enlarge any book.
- New York State Resource Center for the Visually Impaired: Schools outside of New York City can get help buying or borrowing textbooks.
Other Materials
- Audio Description Project: This site by the American Council of the Blind (ACB) builds awareness of audio description to people who are blind or have low vision and the general public.
- Calendars in braille, print/braille, or large print: The NLS provides braille and print/braille calendars to its patrons, but this page also includes other sources for calendars, paid and free.
- U.S. Currency Reader: Any U.S. citizen who is blind or visually impaired can request a free currency reader from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
- Voting Resources: A nonpartisan National Federation for the Blind (NFB) site that provides voting information and materials in accessible formats.