Washington Talking Book & Braille Library

Mission

The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library builds community and provides equitable access to information and reading materials for Washington residents unable to read standard print.

Description

The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) is a program of the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, and a regional library of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress. Located in Seattle, WTBBL provides library services statewide to any Washington resident unable to read standard print material due to blindness, visual impairment, DeafBlind, physical disability (cannot hold a book or turn pages), or reading disability.

WTBBL's collection includes audiobooks and magazines on digital cartridge with playback equipment and accessories for reading, braille books and magazines, and a youth large print collection. Audio and electronic braille titles are also available for download via the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) site or by mobile app for iOS, Android or Kindle platforms. WTBBL produces audio and braille books onsite to add to the national collection and offers readers' advisory services, training and technology support, outreach, a youth services program including summer reading, a pen-pal program, weekly multisensory storytimes, and more.

Washington Talking Book & Braille Library receives support from the ALL Foundation of Washington. For more information visit www.sos.wa.gov/charities.

WTBBL is participating in GiveBig this year with a goal of raising $10,000 to support our Training & Assistive Technology Program. With a new librarian and goals for increased programming opportunities, additional demonstration equipment, assistive technology training and testing devices for audio and braille reading, and an upgrade to our patron computer lab, we have much to look forward to and contributions can help bring these goals to life, increasing library patrons’ access to technology and independence in accessing information and reading materials.