Obtaining Braille Books

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated June 18, 2025
​The following resources can help families, educators, and students access or purchase braille materials:

​State & School Programs

  • State Instructional Materials Centers (IMCs)
    Contact your state’s IMC (or media center) to borrow transcribed textbooks, reading series, and instructional materials through your school district.

​National Nonprofit & Library Services

  • American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
    Offers a central catalog of braille titles and materials. Eligible students can order books and tactile graphics directly through APH. www.aph.org
  • Library of Congress – National Library Service (NLS)
    Free braille and audio books loaned through regional libraries for the blind and physically handicapped. Materials are available by mail or digitally via the BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) app. www.loc.gov/nls
  • American Action Fund for Blind Children & Adults
    Maintains a lending library of dual-format “TWIN-VISION” books for grades PreK–12. www.actionfund.org

​Affordable Book Providers

  • Seedlings Braille Books for Children
    Low-cost (often free) braille books, with over 1,100 titles and a loan club—Book Angel and Rose Project. www.seedlings.org
  • National Braille Press (NBP)
    Publishes and sells braille books and hosts a Children’s Braille Book Club.z www.nbp.org
  • Braille Bookstore
    Offers a variety of leisure and educational title sets in braille. www.braillebookstore.com
  • Great Expectations (NBP)
    A multisensory series that brings picture books to life with tactile aids, audio descriptions, and music. https://www.aph.org/great-expectations

​Gift and Literacy Programs

  • APH & Dolly Parton Imagination Library
    Free print, braille, or audio books mailed monthly for young children via APH partnership. www.aph.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library
  • Seedlings Book Angel Program
    U.S. & Canada: free 3–4 books per year to blind children 0–21.
  • Seedlings Rose Project
    Free encyclopedia articles in braille for K–12 students. 

Additional Resources to Consider

  • Braille Institute Library (SoCal)
    Offers a free braille book loan service and literacy programs.
  • Future Reflections (NFB)
    A free quarterly magazine for parents of blind children.
  • Hadley School for the Blind
    Provides free braille books and literacy education through mail and online programs.
  • Perkins School for the Blind Library
    Accessible braille titles and tactile materials available for loan.
  • Bookshare
    A digital library offering accessible ebooks; not embossed but valuable for braille readers with tactile devices or audio support. www.bookshare.org
  • Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (Vision Resource Center)
    A strong braille lending collection—many regional public libraries have similar services.

​Pro Tips & Care Guidelines

  • Book storage: Store braille books upright on shelves—avoid stacking to preserve dot height.
  • Early planning: Some titles require lead time—order summer reading selections before school ends.
  • Digital options: Pair embossed books with refreshable braille displays or audio players (e.g., BARD, Bookshare).
  • Collaborate: Work with your child’s TVI to select appropriately leveled, interest-based titles.

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