Braille Library Services: Free Books in Braille and Audio

Braille Institute Library Services has been named one of 10 recipients of the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries. The annual award, made by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) since 1994, recognizes institutions for outstanding social, educational, environmental, or economic contributions to their communities. Braille Institute Library Services will receive the National Medal at a ceremony held later in Washington, D.C., and a $10,000 award in recognition of their extraordinary contributions.“For over 90 years, the Braille Institute has served as a vital resource center and true beacon of light for the visually impaired throughout Southern California. Every year the hardworking staff and volunteers of the Braille Institute touch the lives of tens of thousands of people with visual impairment by offering a whole host of services, resources, and cultural events geared toward their needs. I am pleased to see this pillar of the community receive the national recognition that is so justly deserved,” said U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31).

Many who are blind or visually impaired—or who have reading or other physical disabilities—often cannot use printed materials, depriving them of reading materials that most take for granted.

Braille Institute's Library Services—the Southern California branch of the National Library Service (NLS), a network coordinated by the Library of Congress—has solved this problem for more than six decades by providing free books, periodicals and other texts in braille and recorded formats. With a Reader Advisor's help, choosing books is easy; patrons select from more than 100,000 titles and 1.2 million volumes accessible from the Library's collection.

As a result, tens of thousands each year use the Library to fill all of their reading needs, ranging from serious books for school or work to recreation and leisure.

Please choose from the following links for more information about Braille Institute's Library Services:

Become a Patron: Learn more about how to sign up for our free services.

What's Available: Learn more about what is available to you as a patron of Braille Institute Library Services.

Our Locations: Access to all of our regional branches as well as depository libraries throughout Southern California.

Using the Library: All the facts about how to use our free Library Services.

Special Programs and Services: Clubs, committees and programs unique to our Library.

For Our Patrons: A listing of catalogs, magazines, resources and events designed especially for our patrons to help them get the most out of our services.

About the Braille Institute Library: The history and statistics about our award-winning Library.

Braille Institute Library Online Catalog: Search our collection of books in braille and recorded formats and place orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through our online catalog.