Congress created NLS in 1931 largely out of concern for veterans who were blinded in World War I. Over the years, the free national program has expanded to include children and people with physical and reading disabilities that make reading regular print difficult. Veterans still receive priority service—whether or not their blindness or disability is service-related. NLS also maintains partnerships with various groups in the Department of Veterans Affairs, including the VA’s Blind and Visual Impairment Rehabilitation Services program, and with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.
The NLS collection rivals any library’s in size and scope, with accessible books for readers of all ages and interests: Bestsellers. Biographies. History. Mysteries. Westerns. And more.
NLS also has materials you won’t find anywhere else in audio or braille. Like how-to guides on fishing, gardening, card games, and other pastimes. Books on federal benefits for veterans, personal finance, home repair, and other useful topics. Travel guides. Music scores and instructional materials. And, of course, books and resource materials by, for, and about people living with disabilities.
In addition, many of our 90-plus cooperating libraries throughout the country circulate large-print books and descriptive videos, sponsor book clubs, and run technology tutorials and other programming.
If you have a smartphone or tablet you can start downloading books and magazines as soon as you enroll via BARD—the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download website—and the BARD Mobile app. Or you can receive books and magazines through the mail, postage-free, from the NLS library that serves your state or community. They’ll send you a talking-book playback machine, too.
NLS equipment and services are designed to meet the needs of our patrons. Talking-book playback machines have large buttons for ease of use, and our easy-to-handle talking-book cartridges can hold multiple books to keep you reading through those winter storms and summer beach trips. All NLS talking books can be navigated by chapter, section, or page and played at varying speeds with no loss of clarity. And BARD and the BARD Mobile app are meant to work seamlessly with screen readers.
As a veteran, you served your country and protected our freedom. Now NLS is ready to serve you.
Have questions? Ready to apply? Call 888-NLS-READ (888-657-7323) and follow the prompts to be connected to your local NLS network library. Or complete a short online form to request more information.
NLS provided an opportunity for me to learn things I’d like to learn and travel to places through reading that I’d otherwise never get to see. It’s also been a tremendous source of pleasure for me.
— Veteran and NLS patron
NLS also produces resource materials on a variety of topics related to blindness and disabilities. Below you’ll find links to some of them that have contact information for organizations and programs that help veterans with employment and rehabilitation, financial and legal matters, physical and psychological health, and more.
Resources for Disabled Veterans lists information and organizations to assist disabled veterans, as well as their families or other caregivers.
BARD Access page shares steps to begin using the Braille and Audio Reading Download service and lists information on how to begin using BARD Mobile and BARD Express.
Veterans History Project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service.
Blind Rehabilitation Services External assists eligible Veterans and active-duty service members with a visual impairment in developing the skills needed for personal independence and successful reintegration into the community and family environment.
Veterans' Benefits minibibliography lists general guides that discuss the needs and challenges facing veterans and their families, provide specific information about programs, and covers the history of those programs.
Explore the variety of NLS Informational Publications on issues related to blindness, visual impairment, or physical disabilities, as well as compilations of current resources on many topics of interest to NLS readers and those who provide services to them.