Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail.
The Library of Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped launched a major outreach campaign to educate the public about the free services it provides to U.S. residents and American citizens abroad with visual impairments and other disabilities. The television commercial describes NLS Talking Book Program. For more information, visit Book Program.
Explore BARD: Braille and Audio Reading Download
- BARD Mobile for iOS devices - access braille and talking books from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
- BARD Mobile for Android - access talking books from your Android smartphone or tablet.
- BARD Mobile for Fire tablets - access talking books on your Amazon Fire tablet.
Explore National Library Service
What is the NLS?
The Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States through a national network of cooperating libraries.
Are you eligible to register?
The free library service for the residents of the United States or American citizens living abroad who are unable to read or use regular print materials as a result of a temporary or permanent visual or physical limitation may receive service.
Individuals who do not have a visual or physical handicap are not eligible to use the service. Public libraries are an excellent source of information about local literacy and English-language programs.
Registered patrons may download digital talking books and magazines from the Internet through the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD). Once these materials are downloaded and transferred to a digital flash cartridge they may be played on the digital talking-book machine or on one of several third-party players. Patrons must have access to a computer with high-speed Internet connection to use BARD.
Explore NLS Kids Zone
- Kids Catalog
Find audio, braille, and print/braille books for preschool through grade 8 in the NLS catalog - Bibliographies
Children's Classics
Select Bibliography of Books by and about Native Americans - Selected series
The Chronicles of Narnia book series
Harry Potter book series
Redwall Abbey book series
Swallows and Amazons book series - Magazines
Information about magazines for kids - Library of Congress sites
Discover what's new at Kids and Families, Library of Congress - Network Library Sites for Kids
State Listings
Explore California Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL)
- Residents of San Francisco County should contact the Library for the Blind and Print Disabled in San Francisco
- Residents of Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties may contact the Fresno Talking Book Library for the Blind
- Southern California residents may contact the Braille Institute Library in Los Angeles.
Explore Collections at the Open Library
Books for people who don't read print
- One web page for every book.
Open Library is a project of the non-profit Internet Archive, and has been funded in part by a grant from the California State Library and the Kahle/Austin Foundation.
These books are in BookReader, PDF and ePub formats (and Daisy for the print disabled). You can choose which format you prefer as you complete the borrowing process. - What is the DAISY format?
The DAISY digital format helps people who have challenges using regular printed media. DAISY digital talking books offer the benefits of regular audiobooks, with navigation within the book, to chapters or specific pages.
More information at daisy.org - How do I find DAISYs on Open Library?
In addition to loads of open DAISYs, the Open Library lists a smaller selection of protected DAISY titles accessible to those with a Library of Congress NLS key. These titles are brought to you by the Internet Archive.
Looking for a specific title? The best way to find it is to search for it.
