ABLS Brochure Accessible Formats
Welcome!
Here you can find links to our brochure in audio and digital braille. Read on below for all the text!
Library of North Carolina’s Accessible Books & Library Services
Books for People of All Ages with Visual, Physical, or Reading/Learning Disabilities
Eligibility for Services from Accessible Books & Library Services
- Any North Carolina resident who meets one of the following criteria is eligible.
- You are legally blind, your vision in the better eye is 20/200 or less with corrective eyewear.
- You cannot see well enough or focus long enough to read standard print material.
- You are unable to handle print books, turn pages or track words on a page as a result of a physical condition even if this is temporary.
- You have a reading/learning disability that prevents you from reading standard print.
- Typical conditions meeting eligibility: blindness, macular degeneration, retinal issues, MS, Parkinson’s, arthritis, TBI, stroke, to name a few.
- Schools, nursing homes, public libraries, and other institutions serving people with disabilities also qualify for the service.
Free Services to eligible patrons of all ages.
The library has in excess of 160,000 titles available in Audio, Large Print, or Braille formats, and a variety of magazines available in Audio and Braille formats. Books, magazines, and the National Library Service (NLS) provided reading devices are delivered right to your door, postage paid. Mailing costs are covered by the US Postal Service’s “Free Matter for the Blind and or Handicapped” system.
Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD)
BARD provides over 160,000 audio and eBraille book titles and about 78 magazine titles for download from the NLS. This service is free to eligible patrons and available 24/7. BARD Mobile apps are available for Apple, Android, and Kindle devices.
NLS -Provided Reading Devices
Audio and ebraille books and magazines mailed to you may be read on NLS compatible devices. NLS devices are also provided at no cost.
Requesting Materials
To request materials, you can call the library and speak with a reader advisor, email, chat, mail in a request, or order online. Our reader advisors are happy to discuss your reading interests with you to tailor your service to your preferences.
How you can help
Volunteers are always needed to help with mailings, narration of books and magazines, and a wide range of special projects. Please call our Volunteer Coordinator at 984-236-1100 or 1-888-388-2460 for more information. slnc.info/volunteer26
How to apply
Fill out an application for service. An application can be sent to you by calling the library. You can also download the application at slnc.info/ablsapp.
If you need further assistance in filling out the form, call our library and a reader advisor will help you through the process.
The application must be signed by a competent authority
“Competent authority” includes staff of public or welfare agencies (such as librarians, educators, case workers, counselors, rehabilitation teachers, certified reading specialists, school psychologists, or superintendents), medical professionals (such as doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, ophthalmologists, optometrists, psychologists, registered nurses, therapists, and professional staff of hospitals). slnc.info/ablsca
Contact Us
Address: 1841 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27635
Local Phone Number: 984-236-1100
Toll Free Number: 888-388-2460
Email Address: ncabls@dncr.nc.gov
About Us
Accessible Books & Library Services is a section of the Library of North Carolina, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and a Regional Network Library of the Library of Congress's National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
Listen to the Library Brochure
Braille Version
Download a brf version of the brochure and read it on a refreshable braille display.