About Braille and Talking Book Library Services
The Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services provides information and reading materials needed by Florida residents who are unable to use standard print as the result of visual, physical, or reading disabilities. Since 1950, the bureau has been designated by the Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) as the regional library for Florida. The Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services loans Braille and recorded books and magazines to all eligible residents of the state. In addition, 11 subregional libraries provide local talking book services to residents of metropolitan areas. Reading materials are sent to and from customers via postage-free mail, and all services are provided for free.
As the largest library of its kind, the bureau currently has more than 2 million books in Braille and recorded formats available for loan to individuals with print disabilities.
Under the requirements of the American Library Association's Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (1995), the Bureau must maintain "a comprehensive long-range plan designed to develop, coordinate, maintain and improve services and programs and to make optimum use of resources (8.1)."