Summary
Most people take reading for granted. But for those with print disabilities, access to books, news, and learning materials can be life-changing. The Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library transforms that access into reality, offering free talking books, Braille materials, digital downloads, and personalized tech support for anyone who can’t process standard print. Through tactile arts labs, assistive technology coaching, and inclusive programming, the library empowers patrons to read, create, and connect on their own terms. They prove that literacy is about freedom.
This article is based on Chancey Fleet and Shane Smith‘s “Literacy Beyond Print: Accessible Reading, Tech and Graphics at the New York Public Library” talk at A11yNYC.They explain the purpose of the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library, who it serves, and how tech and tactile graphics expand literacy beyond print for blind, low-vision, and print-disabled readers.
Most people never think twice about reading. You pick up a book, scroll a screen, scan a label, and move on. But for millions of Americans, those simple acts are blocked by barriers that have nothing to do with interest or intellect. They’re blocked by print.
The Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library removes those barriers and reimagines what literacy looks like when access is the starting point, not the afterthought.
This isn’t a story about accommodations. It’s about infrastructure. From tactile maps and talking book players to long-term loan Braille e-readers and personalized tech coaching, Heiskell’s model centers dignity, autonomy, and joy. It’s a blueprint for inclusive design that works for every institution trying to serve with respect.
When print becomes a barrier
Reading is often treated as a universal skill as something everyone can do, given time, interest, or education. But that assumption erases a critical reality: Millions can’t access printed text at all because the format is inaccessible. This is known as a print disability.
A print disability isn’t a diagnosis. It’s a functional barrier. It means someone can’t read standard print due to blindness, low vision, mobility disabilities that make it hard to hold or turn pages, or cognitive and learning disabilities that affect how text is processed. These barriers show up in everyday moments: Trying to read a prescription label, follow a recipe, fill out a form, or enjoy a book. And they’re often invisible to those who don’t face them.
The consequences are far-reaching. When reading is inaccessible, so is education, employment, civic participation, and leisure. That’s why literacy must be understood as infrastructure and a public right. And that’s where the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library comes in.
In addition to offering books in alternative formats, Heiskell reimagines the entire reading experience. This includes everything from tactile design and digital access to personalized support and community programming. It’s a case study in what happens when access is the foundation.
A library engineered for access and equity
While The Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library is a branch of the New York Public Library, it’s also a designated regional library for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). NLS is a Library of Congress program.
That dual identity gives it a rare kind of reach. It serves local patrons while also supporting readers across all five boroughs and Long Island through its NLS designation.
Although the five boroughs are in NYC, not all are served by NYPL. Heiskell bridges that gap by functioning as both a local and regional provider. That’s what makes it unique. It’s not just a neighborhood library, it’s a regional hub for accessible literacy.
It provides free access to talking books, Braille materials, digital downloads, and assistive technology for anyone who can’t use standard print. That includes people who are blind, low vision, mobility disabled, or who have reading disabilities that affect how they process text. And it’s not limited to individuals. Schools, senior centers, service agencies, and other institutions can register to support their communities directly.
What makes Heiskell stand out is how it delivers. Materials are mailed postage-free, devices are loaned long-term, and digital access is barrier-free. Patrons can personalize their preferences, download books instantly, and receive tech coaching without gatekeeping. It’s a model built on dignity, not bureaucracy.
And it’s scalable. Every state has at least one NLS-designated library. But Heiskell’s approach, blending tactile creation, community programming, and personalized support, offers a blueprint for what inclusive public services looks like when they’re designed with users at the center. The library is an infrastructure for equity.
Tools that redefine how we read
At the Andrew Heiskell Library, access is tactile, audible, and personal. Patrons receive free talking book players that are designed for ease of use: with large tactile buttons, built-in speakers, and no internet required. Books arrive by mail on cartridges, and users can listen at their own pace, with no due dates and no penalties.
For Braille readers, the library offers long-term loan Braille e-readers based on a major shift made possible by a change in federal law. These devices allow patrons to download books directly from Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) and read them on refreshable Braille displays to provide patrons with autonomy. They choose what to read, when they read it, and how they read it.
Patrons can also set genre preferences and receive automatic shipments of new titles, removing friction from the reading experience. Whether it’s tactile, digital, or audio, the tools are built around the reader instead of the system.
Digital access without the digital divide
Patrons at the Heiskell Library can download thousands of titles through BARD, the Braille and Audio Reading Download service from the Library of Congress. It works on mobile devices and computers. Use can choose their own books, download them instantly, and read at their own pace. There are no due dates and no limits.
Staff walk patrons through the setup process, help them install the app, and make sure they’re ready to use it independently. For those who prefer desktop access, BARD Online offers the same collection through a web browser.
Heiskell also connects users to Bookshare and NFB Newsline. These platforms provide access to newspapers, magazines, and academic texts in formats compatible with screen readers and Braille displays. All services are free to eligible users and designed to meet a range of reading needs. Every tool is chosen for usability. Every step is supported.
Coaching, creation, and community
At Heiskell, support starts with conversation. Staff offer one-on-one tech coaching to help patrons navigate BARD, Bookshare, screen readers, and mobile apps. The goal is practical independence by getting readers to the point where they can choose, download, and enjoy content without barriers.
The Dimensions Lab expands that mission into tactile creation. Its purpose is to give people a place for tactile creation for accessibility, such as tactile graphics, raised line drawings, and 3D prints.
Patrons collaborate with staff to produce custom tactile graphics, maps, and educational tools. These aren’t off-the-shelf solutions. They’re built to meet specific needs, from classroom diagrams to museum layouts. Blind makers and designers also use the space to prototype their own projects, with support from staff.
Workshops and meetups bring people together across disability and design communities. Whether it’s building a tactile voting guide or exploring 3D printing, the focus is on shared problem-solving. The library is a place where people build tools, skills, and relationships that last.
What you can do
Talk to readers using audiobooks or large print, teachers, and groups about the library services for people with print disabilities. If you work in education, healthcare, tech, or public service, you already serve people with print disabilities. The question isn’t whether they’re in your audience. It’s whether your systems let them in.
Audit your materials. Are your forms, flyers, and digital content accessible to someone who can’t see, hold, or process standard print? If not, you’re creating barriers. These can be fixed with the right tools and mindset.
Refer eligible individuals and institutions to the Andrew Heiskell Library. Help them apply for free access to talking books, Braille materials, and tech coaching. Consider having a talking book player at your institution.
If they live outside NYC or Long Island, connect them to their state’s NLS regional library. NYPL’s virtual programs are open to anyone joining from anywhere virtually. Out of town visitors are welcome to stop by.
Support the model. Volunteer, donate, or advocate for tactile creation labs, long-term device loans, and friction-free digital access.
Video highlights
- What qualifies as print disability
- About Andrew Heiskell library
- Digital collection
- From image poverty to tactile empowerment
- Q&A with Chancey and Shane
Watch the presentation
Resources
- Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library
- NewsLion Newsletter
- Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD)
- NLS
- Bookshare
- NFB Newsline
Frequently asked questions
What is a print disability?
A print disability is any condition that prevents someone from reading standard printed text. This includes blindness, low vision, and mobility disabilities that make it hard to hold or turn pages, and some cognitive or learning disabilities.
Who qualifies for services at the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library?
Anyone who is a New York City or Long Island resident with a print disability, whether due to vision, physical mobility, or reading challenges, can apply. Institutions like schools, senior centers, and service agencies can also register to support their communities.
What kinds of materials are available?
The library offers talking books, printed Braille, digital Braille, and access to over 160,000 audio titles. Materials can be mailed or downloaded, and patrons can personalize their preferences for genre, format, and delivery.
How do I apply or refer someone?
Individuals and institutions can apply online at talkingbooks.nypl.org. Certification can be provided by a wide range of professionals, including doctors, educators, social workers, and librarians.
What is BARD and how does it work?
Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) is a free app and web platform that gives eligible patrons access to the library’s digital collection. Users can download books to mobile devices or specialized players, with no due dates or limits.
What is NLS?
NLS stands for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, a division of the Library of Congress. It runs a free national library program that provides Braille and audio materials to people who can’t read standard print due to visual, physical, or reading disabilities.
Here’s what makes NLS valuable.
- It partners with a network of regional libraries across all 50 states, including the Andrew Heiskell Library in NYC.
- Materials are mailed postage-free under the United States Post Office (USPS) “Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped” designation. (This is the official term.)
- Materials are mailed postage-free under the federal designation “Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped,” a term used by USPS, though many organizations now prefer more inclusive language like print disabilities.
- Patrons can also download books instantly using the BARD mobile app or web platform.
- All content is exempt from copyright restrictions, so users can keep books as long as they want.
It’s not just a library. It’s a national infrastructure for accessible literacy.
Can I volunteer or support the library?
Yes. Volunteers help record audiobooks, assist with tech coaching, and support events. Tech professionals, educators, and accessibility advocates are especially encouraged to get involved.
