Darien Library is Now a Hub for Accessible Books

​Darien Library is proud to announce a new and exciting collection of accessible items for people with visual, reading, and physical disabilities. 

As of February 21, Darien Library is officially a hub for the Connecticut State Library, CT Library for Accessible Books (CTLAB). The CTLAB is a network library of the Library of Congress’ National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Print Disabled. The NLS collection includes non-fiction, fiction, bestsellers, magazines, and music for all ages in a variety of world languages. 

CTLAB lends books and magazines in audio and braille formats to any Connecticut resident who is unable to read print due to a visual, perceptual, reading, or physical disability. 

Patrons of Darien Library and neighboring communities are encouraged to complete an individual application for the service. Applications are available at Darien Library along with a display of selected adult fiction, non-fiction, young adult, and children’s titles available for checkout in cartridges as a demo of the service. Find them on the First Floor of the Library by the Large Type books.

After an application is approved, CTLAB will mail materials directly to the registered patron’s residence as the primary method of delivery. Patrons may also opt to have items delivered directly to and from Darien Library. CTLAB patrons may also elect to use the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service to download materials using a computer or the BARD mobile app. 

The CT Library for Accessible Books is funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Connecticut State Library. ​