Equipment for NLS Materials

Young patron pressing Play on a free NLS talking book player

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) provides equipment free of charge to those patrons who need devices to play NLS audiobooks and magazines or read electronic braille materials. NLS also provides information for patrons who want or already have their own mobile devices or commercial equipment for using NLS materials. Network libraries circulate NLS playback equipment through the mail for free and can offer some assistance to patrons using their own mobile devices and other equipment.

On this page, learn more about NLS equipment for talking books and braille:

Obtaining Free Equipment

NLS equipment and accessories are available, free of charge, only to individuals who cannot read or handle regular print materials because of a disability and are NLS patrons.

All NLS players for audiobooks (sometimes called talking books) provide high-quality sound, offer variable speed controls and have built-in audio instructions. Advanced players offer enhanced navigation and bookmarking. Accessories, provided by NLS free of charge, for the players include adapters for commercial cartridges and USB drives, breath switches and remote controls. NLS patrons with significant hearing loss may request a high-volume player and headphones.

Eligible patrons may obtain NLS digital equipment by contacting the NLS network library closest to where they live. To locate your NLS library, visit Find Your Library and select your state.

NLS digital audio and braille materials are circulated free of charge through the mail and are also available online through the BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) service.

NLS equipment and materials are available only to individuals who cannot read or handle regular print materials because of a disability and agree to the End User License Agreement (EULA), available as a Word document or as the EULA audio recording [MP3 8MB].

For help with any NLS equipment, visit Find Your Library. Patrons can also learn more about how to use equipment through patron services and online events.

NLS Digital Advanced (DA2) Player

The free DA2 is the newest player from NLS and offers built-in Wi-Fi for connecting to BARD, Bluetooth connectivity, 28GB internal storage, embedded Text-to-Speech (TTS) engine with TTS voice options, buttons with high-contrast color, braille and print labels for keypad controls, sleep timer, built-in audio instructions, bookshelf feature and audio playback from NLS cartridges and USB thumb drives.

NLS has limited quantities of DA2 units available right now, but eligible patrons may contact their network library to ask about DA2 availability. To locate your NLS library, visit Find Your Library and select your state.

Name: Digital Advanced Player 2 (DA2)
Producer: HumanWare
Price: Free of charge for NLS patrons
Supports: NLS Digital Talking Books
Supported file formats: AMR-WB+, DAISY 2, PDTB1, PDTB2, MP3, WAV, OPUS, AAC, ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2002 and ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2005
Media: Internal storage, USB-A thumb drive, NLS flash cartridge
Features: Embedded Text-to-Speech (TTS) Engine, TTS Voice Options, Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz, Bluetooth v4.2, 28GB internal storage, buttons with high-contrast color, braille and print labels for keypad controls, sleep timer, built-in audio instructions and the bookshelf feature to manage titles from the internal memory, connected cartridge, and connected USB drive. Keys for enhanced navigation and bookmarking.
Operation: When the battery is fully charged, you will have well over twenty hours of play time.
Size: 8.3" × 7.8" × 1.6"
Weight: 2.5 lbs.
Distributor(s): NLS network libraries

A DA2 Getting Started page and a DA2 User Guide are available to help patrons use the new machine. The DA2 User Guide in braille [BRF] is also available.

Using Software Update Feature

To obtain the latest software or check if an update is available on the DA2 using its Software Update menu:

  1. Press and hold the Info button to get into the menus.
  2. Press the right arrow to get to Settings.
  3. Press Info to confirm.
  4. Press the right arrow to get to Software Update and press Info to confirm.

The Info button is square, the only orange button and has a letter I in braille on the actual button. The right arrow is to the right of the Info button. It has a raised filled triangle pointing right, is white and has a letter r in braille to the right of the button.

The following choices are present:

  • Automatic check (on by default; press Info to turn this off)
  • Check for update (this will initiate a manual connection to the update server)
  • Back (will return you to the previous menu level)

NLS Digital Talking-Book Players

NLS provides two models of digital talking-book players, free of charge, to its network of cooperating libraries for distribution to its readership. Both models—digital standard (DS1) and digital advanced (DA1)—are compatible with the ANSI/NISO Z39.86 and DAISY 2.0 standards for digital talking books. The players have rechargeable batteries and offer readers high-quality sound, advanced navigation and variable speed controls. NLS players are available only to individuals who cannot see to read regular print or handle print materials and who are registered patrons.

Name: Digital Standard Player (DS1)
Producer: NLS
Price: Free of charge to NLS patrons
Supports: NLS digital talking books, Learning Ally
Supported file formats: AMR-WB+, DAISY 2.02, MP3, MPEG, RIFF, WAV
Media: Flash memory
Features: Large buttons, braille letters alongside the controls, sleep timer, built-in audio instructions and the bookshelf feature for navigating a digital cartridge that contains more than one book or magazine
Operation: Rechargeable battery
Size: 6.2" × 8.8" × 1.7"
Weight: 2.52 lbs.
Distributor(s): NLS network libraries

Name: Digital Advanced Player (DA1)
Producer: NLS
Price: Free of charge to NLS patrons
Supports: NLS digital talking books, Learning Ally
Supported file formats: AMR-WB+, DAISY 2.02, MP3, MPEG, RIFF, WAV
Media: Flash memory
Features: Large buttons, braille letters alongside the controls, sleep timer, built-in audio instructions and the bookshelf feature for navigating a digital cartridge that contains more than one book or magazine. Additional buttons for enhanced navigation and bookmarking.
Operation: Rechargeable battery
Size: 6.2" × 8.8" × 1.7"
Weight: 2.52 lbs.
Distributor(s): NLS network libraries

A Library Manual [PDF] and a Service Manual [PDF], as well as a Library Manual in braille [BRF], are available to the public for operational and technical information on the standard (DS1) and advanced (DA1) digital talking-book players. Patrons can also learn more about how to use equipment through patron services and online events. Updates for your player’s firmware are also available.

NLS Braille eReader

Braille eReaders, also known as refreshable braille displays, are devices with small pins that electronically move up and down through holes representing a braille cell. Users move their fingers across the cells as if they were reading braille on paper.

The two models of NLS Braille eReaders — manufactured by Zoomax and the HumanWare—allow NLS patrons to read electronic braille files (BRFs) as well as Word files, HTML files, DAISY files and PDF files. NLS patrons can obtain NLS Braille eReaders free of charge. Both units have 20 braille cells, Perkins-style keyboards, internal memory and the ability to use an SD card and a USB drive for external storage. They can connect to Wi-Fi so braille files can be downloaded directly from BARD and have Bluetooth capability so patrons can connect directly to a smartphone and read the info on the screen in braille.  Both can connect to a computer so that the information on the screen will be displayed on the braille display. Other features include a braille translation application and settings to display files in uncontracted and contracted braille. Both can connect directly to NFB-NEWSLINE. The eReaders’ navigational capabilities include searching for a passage and moving by sentence, paragraph and volume. Interested NLS patrons should ask their network library about the availability of these devices. To locate your NLS library, visit Find Your Library and select your state.

Name: Zoomax eReader
Producer: Zoomax
Price: Free of charge to NLS patrons
Supports: NLS Digital Talking Books, Bookshare, NFB-NEWSLINE
Supported file formats: BRF, TXT, PEF, Word, PDF, EPUB2
Media: Internal storage, USB-A thumb drive, SD card
Features: 20-cell refreshable braille display, Perkins-style keyboard, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 8GB internal storage, bookshelf feature for navigating content that contains more than one book or magazine. Keys for enhanced navigation and bookmarking.
Operation: 8.5 hours on rechargeable battery (when power save mode is activated)
Size: 8" × 5" × 1.4"
Weight: 1.12lbs
Distributor(s): NLS network libraries

Name: HumanWare Reader
Producer: HumanWare
Price: Free to NLS Patrons
Supports: Braille materials from NLS BARD, Bookshare, NFB-NEWSLINE
Supported file formats: BRF, BOPF, PEF, TXT, HTML, DOCX, RTF, PDF
Media: Internal storage, USB-A thumb drive, SD card (SD, SDHC, SDXC up to 2TB)
Features: 20-cell refreshable braille display, Perkins-style keyboard, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 16GB internal storage, bookshelf feature for navigating content that contains more than one book or magazine. Keys for enhanced navigation and bookmarking.
Operation: 13 hours on rechargeable battery (with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned off)
Size: 7.2" × 3.7" × 1.0"
Weight: Less than 0.9lbs
Distributor(s): NLS network libraries

If you are interested in beta testing the new software (version 3.0) for the HumanWare eReader, please contact [email protected].

NLS provides help for those wanting to learn all about their eReaders.

For help with or more information about the Zoomax eReader, access the NLS Braille eReader Zoomax Getting Started or NLS Braille eReader Zoomax User Guide and NLS Braille eReader Zoomax Frequently Asked Questions. How-To videos are listed below.

NLS Braille eReader Zoomax How-To Video Series

For help with or more information about the HumanWare eReader, access the NLS Braille eReader HumanWare Getting Started or NLS Braille eReader HumanWare User Guide and NLS Braille eReader HumanWare Frequently Asked Questions. How-To videos are listed below.

NLS Braille eReader HumanWare How-To Video Series

The Patron Engagement Section has launched a new monthly program called That All May eRead on Zoom. This program, scheduled monthly for the last Tuesday night of each month, focuses on using the NLS Braille eReaders. Each session begins with a brief demonstration of a feature or use case. The rest of the hour is spent answering patron questions about any aspect of the Zoomax or HumanWare Braille eReaders.

Commercial Players Compatible with NLS Materials and Additional Products

The items listed on the Commercial Players Compatible with NLS Materials and Additional Products page are not provided by NLS to patrons. Their listing does not imply endorsement by NLS. Availability and model names and numbers frequently change, and all technical and pricing information should be verified with the supplier before ordering.

Download Reading Materials to Your Own Device!

The Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) is a web-based service that provides access to braille materials (including music scores), audiobooks and audio magazines available from NLS. The service is available to registered NLS patrons through their local network library. BARD audio materials can be downloaded onto cartridges and USB flash devices to be used on a talking-book player. If you have a PC, you can use BARD Express to download materials onto cartridges and flash drives for a simplified transfer to your player, or to play audiobooks and magazines directly from your PC.

BARD Mobile for iOS devices External delivers braille and talking books to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. BARD Mobile for Android External delivers braille and talking books to your Android smartphone or tablet. And BARD Mobile for Fire tablets External delivers braille and talking books on your Amazon Fire tablet.

Braille books and magazines downloaded through the BARD Mobile app may be read on a refreshable braille display, such as the NLS Braille eReader, via a Bluetooth connection.

My Talking Books is an Amazon Alexa skill that NLS patrons can use to access and stream English language audiobooks from BARD. Using the skill’s voice-only interface, you can search the BARD catalog, manage your wish lists, book lists, bookshelves, bookmarks, preference settings, sleep timer, reading speed, jumping in time and book-specific volume setting, as well as find book descriptions and review your streaming history.

For information on other mobile apps that can play NLS talking books and other audio materials, consult Accessible Mobile Reading Apps.

Returning NLS Equipment

Playback equipment and accessories are supplied to eligible persons on extended loan. If this equipment is not being used for reading recorded or braille material provided by the Library of Congress and its cooperating libraries, please return it to the issuing agency. NLS equipment and materials are the property of the Library of Congress and should not be sold, reproduced and/or copied.

In the event you find NLS property, such as machines or accessories, that are not being used, please return them immediately one of two ways:

  • Bring items to a local network library; a list of these libraries can be found on our Find Your Library page.
  • Package items in any securely sealed box and send through the US Postal Service to the address: Equipment Control Officer, The Library of Congress, NLS, Washington, DC 20542. This package may be marked FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND and sent with no postage.

Back to top

Skip to content