The NLS has a tag line that touches me: That all may read. It’s a worthy goal.
NLS, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is a program of the Library of Congress that serves people with low vision, blindness, or physical disabilities that prevent them from reading or holding the printed page. Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS offers books in braille or audio formats, mailed to your door for free, or instantly downloadable.
The NLS BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) service offers downloadable digital audio books and magazines to eligible NLS patrons. There are more than 20,000 digital books and over 40 magazines available for download, with new titles being added regularly. A big advantage of BARD over library e-book services is that there are no wait lists, limits, or due dates.
In addition to BARD, NLS offers guidance on magnifying devices, braille embossers, braille displays and notetakers, accessible mobile reading apps, and audiobook players.
In Oregon, where I live, the NLS program is administered locally by the Talking Book and Braille Library at the State Library in Salem. You can find links to all the state programs on the NLS website.
If you or a loved one are eligible for NLS, I encourage you to learn more about this excellent service.
