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The Library and Resource Center is currently closed to the public. However, we continue to provide services and support from the National Library Services and American Printing House for the Blind. We are continuing to send out talking books, braille, large print and descriptive videos. Braille textbooks and APH materials for students are still being shipped out to assist in meeting the academic needs of students with visual impairments.

Library and Resource Center

Frequently Asked Questions | Register for Library Service | BARD System | Special Collections | Adaptive Equipment | Resources | Contact Information

 

Library Resource Center logoThe Library and Resource Center (LRC) is a component of the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) from which two fundamental programs are administered. Library services are offered to persons who are print disabled. The Library and Resource Center service is provided to local school divisions to support the education of visually impaired and blind children.

Library services are provided free of charge to those eligible, through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) network of the Library of Congress. DBVI works with affiliated subregional libraries in public libraries in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Roanoke, Staunton, and Virginia Beach. The books and equipment are provided free to the affiliated libraries from The Library of Congress, and services are administered at the state and local level. Currently, 8,000 people who are print disabled are patrons of a lending collection of 80,000 titles recorded on digital cartridge, Braille, large print and descriptive movies. The library collection includes books and magazines covering a wide range of topics and reading levels. Required playback equipment and accessories are also furnished. Books and equipment are mailed to and from eligible persons using the “free matter for the blind” mailing privilege.

Braille NotetakerA variety of Resource Center services are provided to blind, deafblind and vision impaired students pre-K-12 in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The services are provided to school divisions, home-school students, private school students, infants and toddlers, and teachers of the blinad and visually impaired in the Commonwealth. The Resource Center houses an inventory of adaptive equipment that is distributed to eligible children and students throughout the state. Inventory items range from technology such as Braille note-takers and specialized software, to Braille paper. The Resource Center also provides Braille textbooks, workbooks, instructional packets and arequired novels for use by blind, deafblind and visually impaired students in their local school districts. Orders for books in adapted formats are placed through the Virginia Department of Education’s statewide ordering system, AIM-VA, located at George Mason University. The LRC receives automated copies of orders for Braille. Textbooks that are produced by the LRC or purchased from an outside vendor and loaned for the school year. Expanding methods of Braille production continues to be a major focus of this program.

Hours of operation are 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Frequently Asked Questions

All services are free of charge

Residents of Virginia who are visually impaired, blind, or have a physical disability or learning disability that prevents reading regular print qualify for this service. Applications must be certified by a professional who can verify the disability. Institutions that serve individuals who qualify for the service may also register, so they can provide onsite services.

Individuals who have some useful hearing and one of the qualifying disabilities may apply for an amplifier or headphones, which work with some equipment.

The National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Print Disabled of the Library of Congress provides the audio and Braille books and the playback equipment to the Library and Resource Center. The Agency is obligated to follow the rules and regulations of NLS, which was established and is federally funded to provide service to persons who have a print disability. The mission continues to be the same.

The process is relatively easy. You must complete the application (Word - External Site) for service Spanish application (PDF - External Site), and have a qualifying professional certify your disability. NLS requires certification of blindness, visual handicap, or physical handicap, by doctors of medicine, osteopathy, ophthalmologists, optometrists, registered nurses, therapists, professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or welfare agencies (e.g., social workers, caseworkers, counselors, rehabilitation teachers, and superintendents). In the absence of any of these, certification may be made by professional librarians or by any person whose competence under specific circumstances is acceptable to the Library of Congress.

Administrators, librarians, and recreation staff at schools, retirement communities and assistive living centers may also apply for service. You may complete the application or call the Library and Resource Center for more information.

Books are now available on loan using the National Library Services catalog by providing digital books on cartridges based on the patron’s interests. The collection of digital titles is growing weekly. In addition, there are more than 18,500 Braille book titles, 4200 large print books, and 560 descriptive videos and DVDs.

Service can be established within two days after the LRC receives the application. Playback equipment will be sent once your application is reviewed for completion and type of service.

You can select your own reading materials by going on to the NLS website (External Site) and search the catalog (External Site) to select from everything to which we have access. The catalog does not contain large print books.

https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/online-catalog-search/

One of the Library’s Reader Advisors can assist you with selection of books. Call the LRC at 800-552-7015 for assistance. The LRC will assign a reader advisor to assist you by the first letter of your last name. Please contact the LRC to request the name of the reader advisor assigned to assist you.

The digital books and/or braille materials are on loan for a period of 45 days. The books should be returned to the LRC. However, if you require additional time to read your materials then contact the LRC to renew the requested books.

Books and equipment are mailed through the United States Postal Service, using the Free Matter for the Blind privilege. Books are returned to us the same way.

We welcome visitors and walk-in patrons. We are located at 395 Azalea Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227. Our phone number is 800-552-7015 or 804-371-3661.

Register for Library Service

A woman reading a braille book

Complete the application for service or the Spanish application and return to the LRC.

If you need assistance, contact one of our Reader Advisors:

 

The BARD System

The BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) system is a service of NLS that allows individuals to download their own books. The system houses more than 20,000 titles and magazines.

BARD for Subregionals from Roanoke Public Libraries on Vimeo.

BARD Application Instructions

This application is intended for use only by patrons or institutions in good standing of The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Fill out this form if you are a registered user or have already contacted the library and were instructed to do so. If you are not currently receiving service from The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, please contact them at NLSDownload@loc.gov.

Fill out this application completely. Library staff will check your information against their records. If you are approved to participate, you will receive an e-mail message with sign-on information. If there is a problem you will receive a message explaining the problem.

If you are planning to use a purchased digital talking-book player, you must register it once you have access to the BARD site.

Please note that the information you provide will be shared with the National Library Service, Library of Congress, and with the manufacturer of your purchased digital talking-book player (if necessary). For more details, please read NLS's privacy policy.

BARD application for individuals.

If you are a representative of a institution in good standing of The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, then use the following application. BARD application for institutions.

For support, please e-mail NLSDownload@loc.gov.

Adaptive Equipment

Procedures for Ordering and Returning Equipment and Materials

  1. Equipment and materials may be ordered anytime during the year. The Adaptive Equipment Order Form should be used, and can be mailed or emailed. In order to ensure that adaptive aids and supplies are in place when school begins, the LRC suggests that orders and requests be submitted before May 15th if possible.
  2. Items are on loan to the School Division for use by students who are blind, visually impaired or deafblind, and teachers of the visually impaired. Education Coordinators may order materials for home schooled or private school students enrolled in a formally organized public or private, nonprofit educational program of less than college level. AE equipment may also be loaned to DBVI Education Coordinators and/or infant/toddler program service providers for eligible infant and toddlers for their educational program. These materials should be transferred to the child’s school system upon their arrival in a school age setting. The student must have an APH consent to exchange information form on file
  3. All AE (Adaptive Equipment) items are provided to the school system for a specific student, care of a Teacher of the Blind and Vision Impaired. The LRC presumes that all consumable AE items will be “consumed” when provided so it oes not expect these items to be returned. Each “tracked” AE item remains on loan to the school system for the student until it is returned to the LRC or reassignment of the item is requested by submitting an AE Reassignment Form by email to LRCaeRequests@dbvi.virginia.gov. The loss or theft of any “tracked” AE item must be reported to the LRC.
  4. “Tracked” AE items may be returned to the LRC throughout the year, as students no longer need them. The item should be returned in the original box using the original special Styrofoam inserts where applicable, with a completed AE Return and Repair/Replacement Form should be enclosed with the return. If you do not have the original box/inserts, contact the AE Department and they will be provided if available. LRC Consumable items should not be returned to the LRC unless in unused or in pristine condition. No form is needed for a consumable item return.
  5. Broken “tracked” AE items must be sent to the LRC. The item should be returned in the original box using the original special Styrofoam inserts where applicable, with a completed AE Return and Repair/Replacement Form enclosed with the item. This form can also be emailed to LRCaeRequests@dbvi.virginia.gov to speed up the request. When the form is emailed, the replacement item will be sent in advance of the broken item being received at the LRC.
  6. Periodically, an inventory of all “tracked” AE items on loan is conducted by the LRC. Printouts of items on loan are distributed to each school system for Teachers of the Blind and Vision Impaired to verify, update and return to the LRC for reconciliation.

Library and Resource Center's Special Collections

Library Services Resources

Find other resources and websites for the Library Resource Center on the Resources page.

Contact Information

We welcome visitors and telephone inquiries.
Hours of Operation: 8:15 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday
Address: 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 800, Richmond VA 23228
Telephone: 804-371-3661
Telephone - Toll Free: 800-552-7015

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