Residents of the District of Columbia who are blind and visually impaired or who cannot read print because of a physical disability can receive braille or audio books and magazines through the mail, free of charge.

People who cannot see to read a regular print book or who cannot manipulate a book because of arthritis, paralysis, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome or other physical disabilities, or who have a reading disability such as dyslexia, qualify for services. They may borrow audio Talking Books or braille books through special libraries that are part of a Library of Congress program called the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS).

All kinds of books are available through the national collection, from mysteries to fantasies to biographies to cookbooks to children's books. Thousands of titles are in the collection for every reading taste. Magazines are also available in braille and on tape.

The patron calls the Talking Book Library and requests books, or a reader advisor selects books for him. Books are sent through the mail free of charge, and when the patron is finished with them, they are returned, again postage-free. Magazines are also sent through the mail, but do not need to be returned.

In addition to the national collection, the DC library may have volunteer-produced books about the district or use interlibrary loan to make audiobooks and other commercially-produced materials available to their patrons.

Saturday Technology Training Sessions are held on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. The meetings are a chance for people who use Adaptive Technologies to get together and share information, learn about technologies like the JAWS ScreenReader and ZoomText Screen Magnifier which make the computer accessible to people who are blind or have low vision, and hear demonstrations of new adaptive technologies and services. Some examples of demonstrations from past sessions include accessible cell phones, Dancing Dots music software, PeaPod online grocery ordering service, and Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind.

Recorded books are housed on-site, and braille books are borrowed on behalf of patrons from the Massachusetts library.

To find out more and request an application, call the library (see contact information below). Request and complete the application and start reading today!


Adaptive Services Division
DC Public Library
901 G Street NW
Room 215
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: (202)727-2142 and (202)727-2270
TDD: (202)727-2255
FAX: (202)727-1129
Email the DC library or visit their website