Talking Books/Special Needs Library

Do you or does someone you know have difficulty holding, handling or reading a regular print book because of a visual or physical disability? You or your friend may be eligible to receive free services from the Talking Books / Special Needs Library.

The library’s collection of books on cassette includes mysteries, westerns, romances, biographies, travel, current events, how-to, children's and young adult books, and even books in foreign languages. You can select your reading materials from a large print or recorded catalog at home.

Readers may subscribe to over 40 different popular magazines.

Talking Books materials are mailed to readers postage free and return postage is free. The special equipment needed for this service is lent to customers at no charge.

The Florida Braille and Talking Book Libraries Catalog.

Customer Services

Online Catalog

The Online Catalog of the Florida Braille and Talking Book Libraries.

Closed Caption Movie Series

The Talking Book/Special Needs Library will be showing a movie in Closed Caption for the deaf, hearing impaired, their friends and family on the second Saturday of each month. Movies will start at
1 p.m. and be shown in the Auditorium on the Conference Level of the Main Library.

The Insight: The Talking Books Newsletter

Want to get the latest news from TBL? Click below:

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• Text-only version

News Updates

Adult, children's and association newsletters with local and national information and resources of interest to the visually and physically impaired. Available in large print and on cassette.

Descriptive Videos

Great movies in VHS or DVD format with narration during pauses in the dialogue for people with visual impairments.

Disability Resource Collection

Print books, pamphlets, periodicals, videotapes and other materials related to disabilities.

Interlibrary Loan

We can borrow Braille and recorded materials not owned by our system from another library for your use.

Information and Referral Files

Information about community and national resources for people with disabilities.

For further information about our service, please consult the Florida Regional Library website.

Technology for Customer Assistance

The Talking Books/Special Needs Library has many technologies available to assist the visually or hearing impaired.

For the visually impaired:

• JAWS for Windows is available at the Talking Books/Special Needs Library and on the 2nd floor of the Main Library. Both locations provide Kurzweil 1000 and scanning technology for customers using JAWS. (To use this software, the customer should get trained at the Independent Living for Adult Blind or an equivalent school, as staff will be unable to train visitors.)
• OpenBook is available at the Talking Books/Special Needs Library.
• Kurzweil3000 is available at the Talking Books/Special Needs Library.
• Zoomtext is available at Main and all branches at the ADT compatible workstations. Windows has accessibility features on all the other computers. Call your nearest location for more information.
• VideoEye substantially magnifies print or any object. It is available at the Talking Books/Special Needs Library and at the Highlands Branch Library.
• A Closed Circuit Television Magnifier is available at the Beaches Branch Library.
• Hand-held magnifying glasses are available throughout the Jacksonville Public Library system.

For the hearing impaired:

Sorenson Video Relay System is available at Main and all branches for people who want to use American Sign Language. The Florida Relay Service (711) is available on all standard telephones.

How to Apply

Application forms and additional information are available by calling our office at (904) 630-1999. You may also stop by our location in the Main Library at 303 N. Laura St. Please call for walk-in service.

If you prefer, you may download a printer-friendly application form here.