NLS offers a variety of braille materials in hard copy by mail and by download. The collection includes a variety of book titles and magazines. Music appreciation and instructional materials are also available. Registered borrowers learn of booktrs added to the NLS braille collection through a bimonthly publication, Braille Book Review. This publication, like the braille books, is sent by postage-free mail. Users also may search the online catalog, Voyager, to locate braille materials.
Users may download books and magazines via the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service on the Internet. With the BARD Mobile app, readers may access braille titles using a braille display with a Bluetooth connection.
NLS provides braille certifications, which is required to transcribe books in braille for the Library of Congress. Operating through a contractor, the program offers certifications in UEB, mathematics and technical areas, and music as well as proofreading certifications for each of these.
Unified English Braille
As of January 2016, all NLS braille materials will be produced in Unified English Braille UEB. UEB is an updated braille code being used by all English speaking countries. This code removes 9 braille contractions, adds several new punctuation symbols, and simplifies some rules to enable more accurate automated braille translation and back translation.
Frequently used UEB Symbols [braille (.brf)]
Provides a list of the most common new UEB symbols arranged by category
Music Materials
Patrons may access a collection of braille, large-print, and recorded instructional materials about music and musicians. They may also obtain free subscriptions to magazines produced in audio, braille, and large print. All materials are circulated postage free, and some digital audio and e-braille materials are available for download over the Internet. Machines needed to use the audio cartridges are provided to eligible users without charge. Musical recordings intended solely for listening are not included in the music collection as they are readily available commercially and from public libraries.
Braille Basics and Literacy
provides a brief explanation of the braille reading and writing system and contains a tactile representation of the braille alphabet.
includes a more detailed description of braille, its history, the structure of the braille alphabet, and information on how braille is produced.
Braille Literacy: Resources for Instruction, Writing Equipment, and Supplies:
lists resources to assist sighted individuals who are interested in learning braille or want to transcribe print materials into braille, instructors who teach braille, persons with visual impairments who are interested in learning to read and write braille, and family members, friends, and professionals who desire information about braille literacy. This document also includes information on sources of braille code books, braille translation software, and other resources to assist with the production of braille.
The directory Sources of Custom-produced Books: Braille, Audio Recordings, and Large Print, lists volunteer groups, individual transcribers, and nonprofit and commercial organizations who produce braille, recorded, and large-print material for readers who are visually and physically handicapped.
Print and embossed copies are also available. Order form for general information about Braille
Download Braille Materials
Learn how to access braille materials online.
The Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) is a web-based service that provides access to thousands of braille and encrypted audio books, magazines, and music scores available from NLS. The service is available to registered users of the braille and talking book program through their local braille and talking book library.
Braille books and magazines may be also downloaded through the BARD Mobile app, which requires connection to a refreshable braille display via a Bluetooth connection. The BARD website and mobile app are password-protected, and all files are in an electronically downloadable form of compressed audio or formatted braille. BARD is available to registered users of NLS through their local braille and talking book library.
Braille Transcription and Certification
Learn how to become a certified braille transcriber
Information for Prospective Braille Transcribers
NLS has awarded a contract to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to conduct NLS braille certification programs. The Librarian of Congress and the NLS director will continue to authorize and issue certifications for braille transcribers and proofreaders. Current training is provided in Unified English Braille (UEB). Braille transcribers certified before 2016 may contact Jennifer Dunnam to start the process to earn a UEB Letter of Proficiency to bring their previous certification current.
All inquiries related to the literary, mathematics, and music transcribing and proofreading courses should be addressed to:
Jennifer Dunnam
Manager of Braille Programs, Jernigan Institute
National Federation of The Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: (612) 767-5658
Email: [email protected] 
Website: www.nfb.org/transcribers
Information for Students and Teachers
Learn what benefits NLS offers for student braille readers
NLS supports braille literacy and offers eligible preschool to adult students a variety of recreational reading materials. Students who are blind, have low vision, or have difficulty reading printed materials because of a physical disability will find the braille and talking book program an incredible resource.
Braille and talking books allow students to read many of the same books that their peers are reading. Whether they want to read the latest bestseller or that classic needed for a classroom assignment, their local network library can help; materials are sent and returned by postage-free mail.
Participants in the program also may download braille and audiobooks through BARD (the Braille and Audio Reading Download online service) or through the BARD Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. For braille books, a device with a Bluetooth connection to a refreshable braille device is necessary.
Braille Publications
Explore publications available in braille, about braille, and by braille providers
Braille Magazines
The following is a list of braille magazines in the Library of Congress program. Readers may obtain free personal subscriptions to these magazines. For information on the availability of specific magazines, consult the library that sends you braille materials.
Boys’ Life (for children and teens, monthly)
Braille Book Review (bimonthly)
Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly)
Braille Music Magazine (British monthly)
Conundrum (British monthly)
Cooking Light (12 issues)
ESPN: The Magazine (biweekly)
Harper’s (literary; monthly)
Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter; monthly)
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine (monthly)
Martha Stewart Living (home and entertaining; 11 issues)
Muse (for children; 9 issues)
The Musical Mainstream (NLS quarterly)
National Geographic (monthly)
The New York Times Book Review (weekly)
The New York Times Large Print Weekly (weekly)
News (NLS quarterly)
Parents (monthly)
PC World (personal computing; monthly)
Playboy (monthly)
Poetry (11 issues)
Popular Mechanics (10 issues)
Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular)
Rolling Stone (popular culture; 24 issues)
Science News (26 issues)
Seventeen (for teens, 10 issues)
Short Stories (British monthly)
Spider: The Magazine for Children (9 issues)
Stone Soup (children’s writings; 6 issues)
Schedules for the following sports leagues are also available:
Major League Baseball Combined Schedule by date
National Basketball Association
Women’s National Basketball Association
Resources about Braille
Braille Alphabet Card (electronic representation):
provides a brief explanation of the braille reading and writing system and contains a tactile representation of the braille alphabet.
includes a more detailed description of braille, its history, the structure of the braille alphabet, and information on how braille is produced.
Frequently Used Unified English Braille Symbols:
Provides a list of the most common new UEB symbols arranged by category
minibibliography that presents the English-language uncontracted braille titles produced by NLS. Included are numerous short works—like Flash Fiction, a collection of very short stories, none more than 750 words—and anthologies of myths and legends, novels, nonfiction, and children’s books.
Braille Displays and Notetakers
discusses devices used to access and represent information in braille, and provides a list of available models. It also lists the sources to purchase these items and a selection of references and resources on the subject.
Braille Displays and Notetakers (2014) [ebraille (.brf)]
provides an alphabetical list of braille embossers and the vendors that offer them. It also discusses specialized braille paper, braille translation software, and sources to purchase these items. A selection of references and resources is provided as well.
Braille Embossers (2014) [electronic braille (.brf)]
Braille Literacy: Resources for Learning and Reading (2014)
intended to assist individuals who have an interest in braille as a literary medium, including sighted individuals who are interested in learning braille or want to transcribe print materials into braille; instructors who teach braille; persons with visual impairments who wish to learn to read and write braille; and family members, friends, and professionals who desire information about braille literacy.
Sources of Custom-produced Books: Braille, Audio Recordings, and Large Print
lists volunteer groups, individual transcribers, and nonprofit and commercial organizations who produce braille, recorded, and large-print material for readers who are who have a visual or physical disability.