Resources for Persons with Disabilities

The Norfolk Public Library offers materials in large print and audiobook formats, which may be useful for persons who are blind, unable to read standard print, or who otherwise cannot use standard books.

Additional free services are available for persons who are physically disabled, visually disabled, hearing impaired or reading disabled. For further information on these services please see below.

To see our most recent audiobooks, click here. You'll also find this link on our main catalog page, in the lower left under "Selected Item Lists," as "New Audiobooks." To search for specific audiobooks, go to our main catalog page and change the "Type" drop-down box to "CD Audiobook" or "Cassette Audiobook," then perform a search.

To see a list of our large print books, go to our main catalog page and, on the lower-left under the heading "Selected Item Lists," click on "Large print books." This will bring up a list of all of our large print books, with the most-recently cataloged titles listed first.

To search for a specific large print book:

1. Go to our main catalog page and type in the title of the item along with the words "large print" in the search box
2. Change the type of search from "Title/series" to "Keyword" with the drop-down box just to the right of the search box
3. Click on "Search" or push "Enter" on your keyboard
4. To search for all large print books by a specific author, substitute the author's name for a title.

Books in large print format have the words "large print" in their title in a hitlist of items. For example, the large print edition of Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen appears as "Shadow man [large print] / Cody McFadyen." In item records, large print books will have a location of "Large Print."

Free Services for Persons Who Are Physically, Visually, or Reading Disabled, or Hearing Impaired

Free, enhanced library services for persons who are physically disabled, visually disabled, hearing impaired or reading disabled are available through the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired. The department administers a federal program whose services are provided through state libraries. Applications for services are required, but can be filled out at home and mailed in. Books and equipment are mailed to and from eligible persons using the "free matter for the blind" mailing privilege. Titles are available in digital talking-book cassettes, audio cassettes, Braille, large print, and electronic text. Required playback equipment and accessories are also furnished.

Norfolk residents are served by the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired in Richmond. For more information and the application, go to their web page by clicking here. You can call them toll-free at (800) 552-7015 (voice), and their toll-free TDD number is (877) 222-2234. You can send the Library email at Barbara.Mccarthy@dbvi.virginia.gov.

Their address is:
Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
395 Azalea Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23227
www.vdbvi.org/LRCServices.htm

This facility also serves residents of Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk, Franklin, Williamsburg, Southampton County, Isle of Wight County, Accomac County, Northampton County, James City County and York County.

Virginia Beach residents (only) are served by the Special Services Library at the Bayside Branch of the Virginia Beach Public Library. For further information on services and eligibility visit the Special Services Library website or contact the Special Services Library at (757) 385-2684 (voice) or (757) 385-2690 (TDD). You can send the Library email at LibSSBH@VBgov.com.

Their address is:
Bayside Special Services Library
936 Independence Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23455

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