Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services

Georgia Library Service (GLS) for the Blind and Print Disabled is a free braille and talking book library service for individuals who are blind or whose physical abilities require the use of books and magazines in audio, braille or other adapted formats. Could someone you know benefit from reading materials in an accessible format?

Who is eligible for the service?

• Anyone who is unable to read or handle standard printed materials as a result of temporary or permanent visual or physical disability.
• Persons who are legally blind or cannot see well enough or focus long enough to read standard print, even with glasses.
• Persons who are unable to hold or turn pages of print books.
• Persons who are certified by a medical doctor as having a reading disability.

What is available?

• Books: Recorded and braille books from a national collection that includes a variety of popular interest writings such as bestsellers, classics, mysteries, biographies, westerns, children's books, and foreign language materials. Search the catalog for books
• Magazines: Library patrons can also subscribe to over seventy popular magazines such as Good Housekeeping, Sports Illustrated, and National Geographic. Search the catalog for magazines
• Equipment and Accessories: Special playback equipment is needed to listen to the books and magazines produced by NLS. This equipment is lent to eligible users free of charge for as long as the individual is a user of the reading material provided by NLS and its cooperating libraries. Accessories are available which will help readers with limited mobility or hearing impairment use the equipment.
• Book Reviews and Catalogs: Registered borrowers learn about new books added to the collection through two bimonthly publications, Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review. These are available in large print, recorded or braille format.
• Music: Recorded music is not available through the NLS library program. However, such material is often available from local public libraries. A collection of musical scores in braille and large print; textbooks and books about music in large print and braille; and elementary instruction for voice, piano, organ, guitar, recorder, accordion, banjo and harmonica are available in recorded form directly from NLS.

If you are interested in the services offered by GLAS or would like to know more about the program, click here to find out more and to fill out an application. You can also ask your local library for assistance.

BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download)

Access to the BARD website is restricted to eligible readers. You must first be a patron of GLS. If you're not, review the eligibility requirements and submit an application to GLS. Once you're a GLS patron or institution you can apply for BARD. An email address is required. Your login information will be sent to this email address.

If you're downloading to your computer, you can find BARD books through the GLS catalog or the NLS catalog. You can then download BARD books using a computer. While BARD books can't be played on a computer, you can download them to a flash drive or cartridge.

Using the BARD mobile app, you can download books directly to your smartphone or tablet (Fire tablet requires 2nd generation and up).