In 1837, the first Braille book was published. Since then, slowly but prominently, the collection has been built to the point of multiple libraries, bookstores, and websites to make Braille more accessible for visual- and print-impaired individuals. Even then, it still takes some digging to find promising companies to help with Braille needs. To help with your search, here is a list of the ten best bookstores and libraries that contain Braille books and services.
Bookstores
Beulah Reimer Legacy
Beulah Reimer Legacy has a variety of new and gently used print and Braille books for children.
Located in Des Moines, Iowa, it was created in honor of April Enderton’s grandmother, who believed literacy is the key to success for everyone: blind and sighted. Along with their collection of books they also provide a variety of materials such as flash cards, puzzles, games, and more. You can visit them online to find their collection.
Seedlings: Braille Books for Children
Founded in 1984, Seedlings has produced over 750,000 books since it started.
Located in Livonia, Michigan, it’s a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing opportunities for literacy and education for children with free and low-cost Braille books. Along with their books, Seedlings sells flash cards, alphabet blocks, and gifts and offers a free program for those who need it. You can visit them online or at their location in Michigan (14151 Farmington Rd, Livonia, Michigan 48154) from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
National Braille Press
Established in 1927, the National Braille Press has a collection of over 2,000 titles for all ages, offering library books and books to own.
Located in Boston, Massachusetts, it’s a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Braille literacy through programs, materials, and technology. Along with their bookstore, they also provide kids’ programs to make reading fun and provide business and educational services. You can visit them online or at their location in Massachusetts (88 St Stephen St., Boston, Massachusetts 02115).
The Braille Superstore
Established in 1999, Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore, has thousands of quality Braille books for all ages.
Located in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, it’s a family-owned business dedicated to supplying items for the blind at affordable prices without sacrificing their quality and service. Along with their bookstore, they also provide toys and games, workshops, greeting cards, gifts, and more. You can visit them online or at their location in Washington (31835 E. Main Street, Sedro-Woolley, WA, 98284-9097).
Free Books
Share Braille
From the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, Share Braille has a collection of over 8,900 titles.
Located in Baltimore, Maryland, it’s dedicated to promoting literacy among the blind to help blind people succeed. Their services work collaboratively as they connect people who need Braille books with others willing to give away their own. You can share your own Braille books to be shipped around the country and Canada, along with browsing the titles they currently hold. You can visit them online or at the Braille Book Fair at the National Federation of the Blind’s National Convention.
Temple Beth El Braille Bindery
Established in 1952, Temple Beth El Braille Bindery has given thousands of books to children.
Located in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, it’s dedicated to providing the elements necessary for literacy. In their collection, they provide books for K–8 children along with story books with contracted and uncontracted Braille. They also accept special requests if you contact them. You can visit them online or at their location in Michigan (7400 Telegraph Rd, Bloomfield Twp, MI 48301).
Seeing Hands
Seeing Hands contains over 170 books, along with Braille dictionaries in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Only online, it’s a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of independence, education, and employment for blind individuals. Along with their books, they also provide audio materials and information for newspaper services and transcribing services and will produce some educational materials by request if needed. You can visit them online to find their catalog and information.
Libraries
Braille Institute of America
Established in 1919, the Braille Institute of America has a collection of over 120,000 books for all ages, offering a variety of audio, large text, and Braille literature.
Located in Los Angeles, California, the Braille Institute is a non-profit organization that works to help individuals with blindness and low vision positively transform their lives. Along with their library, they also provide free classes, workshops, and services to all ages. You can visit them online or at their seven centers for individuals around Southern California.
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
Established by an Act of Congress in 1931, The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled has a collection of over 34,000 titles of hard-copy Braille.
With 55 regional libraries, 26 sub-regional libraries, and 13 advisory and outreach centers, it’s funded by Congress and dedicated to ensuring that disability is not a barrier to any individual’s reading experience. Along with their library, they also provide music materials, audio, and digital services in English and multiple other languages. You can visit them online or at their various library locations.
Braille Library & Transcribing Services
Established in 1931, Braille Library & Transcribing Services has a collection of over 2,000 titles for all ages, offering library books and books to own.
Located in Madison, Wisconsin, it’s a non-profit organization dedicated to providing print materials for visually or print-impaired individuals because everyone should have the opportunity to read. Along with its library, it also provides transcribing services for most written works, including reading books, school materials, cookbooks, instruction manuals, and more. You can visit them online or at their location in Wisconsin (6501 Watts Rd Suite 149, Madison, WI 53719) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
Everyone deserves access to literacy and everyday materials, and these bookstores help accomplish that goal with their books, services, and other products. Many of these bookstores take donations and volunteers, so check them out and see what you can do to make reading accessible for everyone.
Want to learn more about Braille and its history? Click here to read another article.
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