Talking Books and Braille Center

Talking Books And Braille Center - 2nd Floor

Open Now
Address

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

Phone

Hours

Sun 12 - 6
Mon 9 - 6
Tue 9 - 8
Wed 9 - 8
Thu 9 - 8
Fri 12 - 6
Sat 10 - 6

Catalog

BARD login

Our Newsletter


The newly renovated Talking Books and Braille Center (TBBC) is part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, and provides free library service to San Francisco residents who cannot access printed reading material due to a visual impairment or print disability. Registered patrons are welcome to check out talking books, braille books, and audio-described DVDs. A variety of access technology (AT) including computers, desktop video magnifiers, scanning and reading software, and a Braille embosser are also available for use. Every month, the TBBC hosts book clubs, a writer’s salon, a Spanish-language music appreciation group, personalized technical help, and other community events. Listen to our newsletter, The Voice, and stay updated with all the latest TBBC happenings. Contact us for the latest issue of the Tech Corner highlighting new technology, training opportunities and more. 

TBBC Applications

  • If you live in San Francisco and would like to receive NLS talking books, please fill out an application.
  • If you live outside San Francisco, we can put you in touch with your network library.

Collections and Services

Access Technology

  • Braille Displays and Embosser Read Braille digitally and print Braille documents
  • Video Magnifiers Enlarge printed text with text-to-speech capability 
  • Accessible Scanning and Reading Scan printed material and read the text in a computer voice
  • AT Software Software for screen reading, magnification, scanning, learning differences, and Braille

Insightful Blind and Low Vision Resources