Wake County residents who qualify for accessible reading services can now receive books and devices delivered directly to their homes, following a new partnership announced on Mar. 19 between Wake County Public Libraries and the Library of North Carolina.
The initiative aims to support North Carolinians who are unable to read standard print due to low vision, blindness, or other physical, perceptual, or reading disabilities. The service is free for users, allowing them to download titles or have materials mailed directly to and from their residence. The Library of North Carolina – Accessible Books & Library Services operates as part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Safiyah Jackson, vice chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, said, “This partnership helps to ensure that a person’s physical condition or location never limits opportunities for lifelong learning. We aren’t just delivering packages—we are delivering a gateway to the world.”
The program offers more than 175,000 large print, braille, and audiobook titles along with over 100 braille and audio magazines. Materials can be chosen by genre, author, title, series or subject. Reading preferences may be updated at any time.
Catherine Rubin, director of Accessible Books & Library Services, said, “This project opens doors for many qualified North Carolinians to thousands of books and other accessible materials. We’re delighted to collaborate with Wake County Public Libraries in providing access to our free services.”
Library staff in Wake County have been trained to certify eligibility and guide patrons through the application process. Residents can visit any library branch for assistance. Once approved, a Reader Advisor from Accessible Books & Library Services will contact patrons to set up their accounts.
Materials are available in audio, braille, large print and video with descriptive audio formats. Items are sent at no cost via the U.S. Postal Service; returning them involves simply reversing the mailing card and dropping it back in the mail.
More information about this program is available at all Wake County Public Libraries locations.
