Collections: Large Print, Braille and Talking Books

Large Print

Photograph of a braille book, pages open.Large print books are printed in at 14 pt type and larger for the visually impaired, and a small collection of these books will be found at every branch library. Large print books can be ordered in advance by "placing a hold" in the Catalog. To see if a particular book is available in large print, limit your catalog search to "Large Type Books" only.

Braille and Talking Books

NYPL's largest collection of braille and talking books is at the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. You are welcome to visit the library, and if you meet our eligibility requirements you may have braille and/or talking books sent to you, postage-free along with the special player needed to play these non-commerical cassettes.

The braille and talking book program is:

  • open to residents of all ages; who
  • reside in New York City and Long Island; and
  • who have difficulty reading standard printed materials because of
  • blindness
  • a visual impairment
  • a physical disability that limits their ability to hold a book or turn pages
  • a reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction

Applications for the Andrew Heiskell Books by Mail program are available at your neighborhood library, or by phone at 212.206.5400. Please visit our website at http://talkingbooks.nypl.org.