By Dr. Kanu A. Nagra
Overview:
On the morning of the June 12th,2025, A group of ACRL/NY, LACUNY and METRO library members visited the New York Public Library location, the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library which is located at 40 West 20th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), New York, NY 10011-4211.The speaker of the event was Supervising Librarian Ashley Dalle and event is organized and moderated by me from ACRL/NY Professional Development Committee! The objective of planning this event is to know the availability of resources; and how academic libraries at the NYC area collaborate and utilize National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS, Library of Congress) to develop assistive technology courses and/or to foster community engagement.
Braille Collections: a typical Braille book is very large – one novel might be several volumes
Anyone who is Blind, Legally Blind, Low Vision, Physically Disabled or Limited in Mobility, Print Disabled, or have any other disability, whether permanent or temporary, that may preclude them from accessing traditional printed material is eligible for service at Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. This library is part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled – they refer to it as NLS. Serves all five boroughs (Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens) as well as Nassau and Suffolk Counties in Long Island. Patrons receive Talking Book Service through the United States Postal Service. Postage to and from Andrew Heiskell is FREE. Patrons are welcome to return materials to their local NYPL or BPL branch if they are unable to access a post office, or post office corner drop box
Snapshot of Services:
- 165,000+ titles of digital talking books for Children, Teens, and Adults, ranging from BRAND NEW releases to out of print classics, in ALL genres, read by human narrators, available in 60+ languages – with no holds, available the SAME day
- 13,000 volumes of print Braille, to check out same day
60+ audio and braille magazines
Periodical: Braille edition of The New York Times
- Mailed directly to your patron’s door with a free audiobook player, or downloadable from the BARD website, with our free app – BARD Mobile.
Display of Braille eReader -1
Refreshable Braille Display (Braille eReader) available, for free
Display of Braille eReader-2
- One on one assistive tech coaching with our Assistive Technology Department, in English and Spanish for students, educators, and anyone else interested in learning about assistive technology
- Virtual and in-person Group workshops on accessible & adaptive coding and robotics, 3D model design and making, 3D pen art, tactiles creation lab, research databases, career prep, or anything else you would like us to tailor for your staff or patrons!
Example 1 : 3D Printing
Tools 3D printing
Example 2: 3D Printing
- The Talking Books service is always free, for all patrons
Recording Studio:
If you have colleagues or students who are interested in volunteering at the recording studio, or are interested in recording accessible college materials, academic press publications, email Studio Manager, James Langton jameslangton@nypl.org
Recording Studio
Audiobooks – deep dive
As per librarian Haruko Yamauchi, one of the attendees, the NLS and their branches operate “outside of copyright” because of the services they provide in making materials accessible. So, for instance, if there is a book that does not exist in audio form, they do not have to seek permission before recording their own version of it and making it available to patrons.
James Langton explaining the technicalities of recording the audio narrations of the book
Brochures:
Library Brochures are available in variety of languages– English, Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic, Bengali, or Chinese brochures to distribute to patrons and families, email the library at talkingbooks@nypl.org with your request!
You can visit the NYPL Talking Book Library or Invite them!
Supervising Librarian Ashley Dalle said they encourage hosting tours and visits. Further she mentions this is the largely the most impactful way to connect organizations and clients, it really makes a lasting impression – please send email and/or Invite us to your community fairs, library resource fairs, tabling events, city council member sponsored events – anywhere we are visible in the community, is great for us!
