Library of Congress - National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

If someone with disabilities is in need of assistance and is unsure where to start researching they can visit the official site of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). The site provides information of library services such as equipment to read, to listen and where they can find these services.  If you are unsure of what services your local library offers, you can input your location details and you will be provided all that information.

The NLS does circulate some items on their own, but only to eligible users.  They do have an application one must fill out to qualify.  If someone does qualify they can receive the items to borrow at no charge, so in some cases people may not even have to leave the house to use some of the offered assistive technology. One thing that I found very interesting offered by the NLS is "overseas services." If you are a United States citizen, but are currently out of country, you can still benefit from these services!! This process does take a bit longer, but it is such an amazing service.

Those who work in libraries truly do want to do all they can for the public, including those who may require some additional help.  As I have seen with all posts on this blog, libraries and staff have come a long way.  They do what they can to offer FREE services that only benefit lives.  For people who have disabilities, they just need the right information so they can take advantage of all that is offered to them.  One thing I have learned, by visiting various library websites, is that information regarding disability services is not always evident.  Library websites need to have an area that is clearly marked, so users do not have to go searching high and low to see what the library can offer to them.


If you would like to see more information regarding assistive technology, please visit the official page of the NLS provided by the Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/nls/