Welcome to NLS, the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, part of the Library of Congress! Below are links to pages on our website where you can learn about our history, organization, services, and other aspects of the program.
Jason Broughton became NLS’s eleventh director in September 2021. His director's welcome message provides a brief introduction to our program and the services we provide.
A more detailed overview of NLS has information about eligibility, the collection, the equipment and accessories we provide patrons, and more.
Here is a closer look at our responsibilities and how NLS is organized. You can also learn about the laws and regulations that govern NLS, including the Marrakesh Treaty, which has allowed us to rapidly grow and diversify our foreign-language collection. And if you’re curious about how NLS decides which books to add to the collection or our strict specifications for production and distribution of braille and talking books (our name for NLS audiobooks), you can find answers on our Guidelines and Specifications page.
You can also take a deep dive into the history and evolution of NLS. Learn about the historical figures our conference rooms are named after, such as Helen Keller and Thomas Edison, or explore our history at-a-glance on a timeline.
Did you know NLS was a pioneer in popularizing the 33⅓ rpm record? Read about that and more—including the role that blinded World War I veterans played in our founding—in the special content we produced for our 90th anniversary in 2021.
Most NLS patron services are provided through our nationwide network of cooperating libraries. The original network of 19 libraries has now grown to more than 90, serving every state and US territory. Find out more about NLS network library.
NLS audiobook narrators have been called the “rock stars” of the program, and patrons have been known to choose a book as much for its narrator as for its content. Meet our NLS studio narrators and explore some of the reference materials they use to ensure the correct pronunciation of words and names.
College students and recent graduates who are legally blind can apply for a summer internship at NLS. The internship is named in honor of its creator, Erica C. Vaughns, who died in 2023.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible gift or leave a bequest to support the mission of NLS, find out how to donate. Donors to NLS and other Library of Congress programs can become Friends of the Library of Congress.
Have questions about NLS? You might find the answers in our list of Frequently Asked Questions. Or Contact Us if you have questions about, or problems with, a particular NLS service.