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National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled

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National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled

A free, accessible library service providing audiobooks and braille materials or its territories or are U.S. citizens living abroad.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) (formerly National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, provides braille and talking books and magazines to eligible readers, who live in the U.S. Individuals may be eligible for the program if they are blind, visually impaired, or have a physical disability that prevents them from reading regular print. Library materials are distributed through a network of cooperating libraries, where they are circulated by postage-free mail. Braille and talking books are also available for download through the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) website and the BARD Mobile app.

10/14/2026

It may be a blustery day in the Hundred Acre Wood, but it’s a happy one nonetheless, because there’s a birthday. A birthday that will be celebrated far beyond the woods, its habitants and characters, and the bedroom of a certain Christopher Robin: Winnie-the-Pooh is 100!
Published in 1926, “Winnie-the-Pooh (BR02182, DB13967)” was born from the imagination of English author and playwright A.A. Milne, whose son, Christopher Robin Milne, had taken a liking to a black bear at the London Zoo named Winnie and gave his teddy bear the same name.
Loyal but slow, thoughtful but a little foolish, the stories of honey-loving Pooh and his best friend Christopher Robin have comforted children around the world in over 70 languages. The serenity of the Hundred Acre Wood and its cast of characters, introduced to the world between the end of the first World War and the start of the second, was of particular comfort to those who experienced the worst of the first half of the 20th century.
The other characters in “Winnie-the-Pooh,” from Piglet and Rabbit to Eeyore, Roo and Tigger, were dreamt up in a similar fashion. Each character generally represents a feeling, giving young readers an opportunity to see — and better understand — the feelings they were experiencing themselves.
Now 100 years old, the stories of “Winnie-the-Pooh” have unfolded into television franchises, movies, toys and memorabilia, as children find new ways to relate to these old friends. After all, “A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.”
The NLS catalog has more than just the original “Winnie-the-Pooh.” With books like “Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie the Pooh (DB82668)” by Sally Walker, “A.A. Milne: The Man Behind Winnie-the-Pooh (DB32774)” by Ann Thwaite and “Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear (BR21353)” by Lindsay Mattick, you can keep exploring the Hundred Acre Wood and its creator.

[Image: Christopher Robin’s original stuffed toys. Photograph by Bernard Gotfryd. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division,.]

10/12/2026

Lucille Ball already had a long resume as a model, Broadway chorus girl, radio performer and B-movie actress when she and her husband, Cuban American bandleader Desi Arnaz, created “I Love Lucy.” The show was built around Lucy and her neighbor Ethel Mertz’s wacky schemes – which Lucy’s husband Ricky (Arnaz) and Ethel’s husband Fred typically had to unwind. It debuted on CBS 75 years ago this week and ran for six seasons, making history not just for its hilarity but also its pioneering production techniques. Thanks to cable TV and streaming, it’s never been off the air since, according to the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum.
You’ll find several biographies of Lucille Ball in the NLS collection, including “Ball of Fire (BR15132, DB57093)” by arts critic Stefan Kanfer and “A.K.A. Lucy (DB117750)” by pop culture historian Sarah Royal. “Lucy in the Afternoon (DB32057)“ is actor/playwright Jim Brochu’s account of his friendship with Ball late in her life. And “The Queen of Tuesday (DB100412)” by Darin Strauss, a critically acclaimed bestseller, mixes fact and fantasy in its account of Ball’s life at the height of her fame.
[Image: A mural in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, New York, depicting a scene from the “California, Here We Come!” episode of “I Love Lucy,” which aired on January 10, 1955. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Collection.]

10/06/2026

NLS has a full schedule of free patron-focused online events in October. All begin at 7 p.m. eastern time; get details and register at the links below
First up, this Thursday, October 8, the Many Faces of BARD will offer tips on advanced navigation on the BARD Mobile app. After the presentation and demonstration, NLS staff members will take questions about all things BARD for the remainder of the hour. www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/many-faces-of-bard?loclr=fbnls.
On Tuesday, October 13, the quarterly Patron Corner will continue the celebration of BARD’s 20th anniversary. The program will feature a panel of NLS colleagues and patrons who were the first users of BARD in a 2006 beta test. There also will be an opportunity for audience members to express what BARD has meant to them as patrons. www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/patron-corner?loclr=fbnls.
On Thursday, October 22, the NLS Music Section will present a Q&A with Noah Tobias Carver, a tenor soloist, disability rights activist and NLS patron who won the 2026 Eastman School of Music Concerto Competition. You can read more about Carver in an NLS Music Notes Blog post at https://blogs.loc.gov/nls-music-notes/2026/09/reader-spotlight-on-noah-tobias-carver?loclr=fbnls. Find a link to join the webinar at www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/music-service-and-materials?loclr=fbnls.
Finally, the topic for That All May eRead on Tuesday, October 27, will be Care and Use of the eReader: Troubleshooting and Other Miscellany. www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/that-all-may-eread?loclr-fbnls.
[Image: Noah Tobias Carver, who will be the special guest at the October 22 NLS Music Notes webinar. Photo courtesy of Noah Tobias Carver.]

10/05/2026

“Reading Rainbow” host Mychal Threets and disability activist Jonathan Mooney spoke from personal experience at the recent NLS national conference about libraries’ role in providing a safe, supportive space for people with disabilities.
“My autism, my ADHD, my bipolar, my anxiety, always knew they were welcome at the library,” Threets said.
“I didn’t feel like I had a place in school,” Mooney said. “But in that library, I felt seen. I felt accepted. I felt included.”
Read more from Threets and Mooney in the latest issue of NLS News — which also includes stories about “Brailled It,” a documentary film that goes behind the scenes at the 2024 Braille Challenge, and Florence Pugh’s visit to the Library of Congress in connection with a new streaming adaptation of John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden.”
Find it on our website at www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/quarterly-newsletter-news/news-july-september-2026?loclr=fbnls.
[Image: A collage of three pages from the July-September 2026 issue of News.]

10/04/2026

Last month, NLS partnered with the Braille Institute to host an exclusive screening of “Brailled It,” a groundbreaking documentary that follows three blind and low-vision students competing in the Braille Challenge, an international academic competition. Afterward, NLS Director Jason Broughton discussed "Brailled It' with Dr. Maria “Conchita” Hernandez Legorreta, the film's impact producer; David Grabias, who led the production team; and Christopher Morgan, one of the Braille Challenge competitors. A recording of the event’s opening remarks and the panel discussion is available on the Library of Congress' website for everyone to enjoy, at: www.loc.gov/item/video-12816?loclr=fbnls.
Don’t worry if you weren’t able to join us in person. You can still catch a virtual screening and panel discussion sponsored by the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled! The on-demand movie showing runs this Wednesday, October 7, through October 13, and the panel discussion is October 13 at 7 p.m. eastern. Register for the screening and panel discussion at https://msla.maryland.gov/Pages/Brailled-It.aspx.

[Photo: The "Brailled It” panel at the Library of Congress on September 14 with, from left, Dr. Maria “Conchita” Hernandez Legorreta, the film's impact producer; David Grabias, who led the production team; and Christopher Morgan, one of the Braille Challenge competitors.]

10/02/2026

This World Blindness Awareness Month, we wanted to share with you some of the ways that the Library of Congress makes its treasures accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired.

Any blind or visually impaired visitor to the Library can pick up a tactile map of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, produced by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), at the Information Desk on the ground floor.

The Library also offers Touch History tours by appointment! Contact the Visitor Engagement Office to learn more about how to schedule a tour. Just go to loc.gov/visit and click “Contact Visitor Engagement” on the lefthand menu.

You can also find a link to a self-directed, audio-described tour at loc.gov/visit.

Find out more about NLS, the nation’s free audiobook and braille library, at www.loc.gov/nls.

Note: The docent featured in this video, Norman Philion, passed away unexpectedly shortly after it was filmed. He volunteered at the Library for nearly eight years, and touch tours were a specialty of his. He is missed. ❤️

10/01/2026

Today is the first day of Dyslexia Awareness Month, observed worldwide every October. Dyslexia is an invisible disability, affecting an estimated one in five Americans, so there is a good chance you know someone who is dyslexic. Throughout October we encourage you to help spread the word about resources — such as NLS — that are available to individuals with dyslexia and other reading disabilities. Printable and shareable NLS information can be found at www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/outreach-materials/?loclr=fbnls.
If you work with children who have dyslexia or other learning disabilities, our friends at public broadcasting station WETA’s Reading Universe also have a free resource collection for you; find it at https://readinguniverse.org/essential-support/dyslexia-other-learning-disabilities?utm_medium=social&utm_source=Partner&utm_campaign=NLS. It has printable classroom activities, lesson plans, expert articles, videos featuring real teachers and more. WETA has won three Library of Congress Literacy Awards for its Reading Rockets and Colorín Colorado programs.
Every resource shared is a step towards a more accessible world. Join NLS and WETA this month and all year ‘round in helping readers feel confident and enjoy reading!

[Photo: Students from Siena School, a school for students with dyslexia, participating in a sound workshop at the Library of Congress. Photo by Shawn Miller, Library of Congress.]

09/28/2026

It’s been said that good fences make good neighbors — but we think good books make even better ones. You may have already shared a cup of sugar or exchanged friendly waves with the folks next door, but have you told them about NLS? On , the ultimate way to be a good neighbor is to tell your neighbors about our free service!
If you also want to provide them with some neighborly recommendations, books about America’s favorite neighbor, Mister Rogers, are sure to please. “The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers (BR22929, DB92214)” by Maxwell King celebrates the creator and star of the children’s TV program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers (DB96626)” offers lyrics to 75 songs from Fred Rogers’ show, presented as a treasury of poems narrated by actors Kate Mulgrew and John Lithgow. Fred Rogers answers letters he received from children and adults through the years in “Dear Mister Rogers: Does It Ever Rain in Your Neighborhood? Letters to Mister Rogers (DB45482).”
“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor.” NLS is looking forward to meeting your neighbors today!

[Photo: Mister Rogers with puppet Lady Elaine Fairchilde and children. Photo by Robert Lerner, LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection, Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division.]

09/25/2026

Pow! Bang! Zap! It's National Comic Book Day! And we honor the artwork and storytelling of comics and graphic novels. Over the years, NLS has painted pictures with words by audio describing art while narrating the "lettering" — the text on a page. An early NLS audio description is "The March Trilogy (DB87098)," the autobiographical graphic novel by John Lewis that traces the congressman's firsthand account of the civil rights movement, from his first meeting with Martin Luther King Jr. to his commitment to nonviolent demonstrations to end segregation. A more recent addition to the NLS collection is "Daredevil: The Man Without Fear (DB136784)" by Frank Miller, which follows Matt Murdock, a blind attorney and mysterious superhero known as Daredevil. Also of interest are books about comics, such as "Marvel Comics: The Untold Story (DB75699)" by former Entertainment Weekly editor Sean Howe, which details the history of Marvel Comics — the home to Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers and other superheroes from the early 1960s to the 21st century. To find comics and graphic novels, search using the "graphic novel" genre on https://nlscatalog.loc.gov?loclr=fbnls.
[Image: An eager comic book reader. iStock image]

09/23/2026

Born in 1926, John Coltrane remains one of the most revered musicians in American history for his blend of technical ability and raw emotion in performances that span decades and jazz movements.
Coltrane rose to prominence in the mid-1950s after years of playing in the Philadelphia jazz scene as saxophonist for Miles Davis, playing on “Steamin’” and “Kind of Blue,” and with Thelonious Monk at Five Spot Café in New York City.
During this period, Coltrane also worked on solo recordings “Coltrane” and “Blue Train.”
By the time Coltrane released his magnum opus, “A Love Supreme,” in 1965, he’d been around the block as a band leader and developed his own modal jazz sound. In 2015, “A Love Supreme” was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry due to its artistic and cultural significance.
The NLS collection is hopping with books about Coltrane and other jazz artists, including “Coltrane: The Story of a Sound (BR17755, DB66428)” by Ben Ratliff, “A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane’s Signature Album (DB93193)” by Ashley Kahn and “Three Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool (DB119773)” by James Kaplan.
And if you cats want to start your own jazz band, NLS can help your chops with audio instructional materials like “John Coltrane Quartet (DBM00117),” “Miles & Trane as Living Ancestors (DBM04246)” and “The Ultimate Jazz Fakebook (BRM34938).” Can you dig?

[Photo: A quote from John Coltrane, featuring his image. 1963. Dutch National Archives.]

Address

Library Of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE (mail Stop #4960)
Washington D.C., DC
20540

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4pm
Friday	8:30am - 4pm

Website

http://www.loc.gov/nls

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