Libraries play a vital role in providing access to essential services and resources, whether it’s the internet, ebooks, movies, computers, printers, books or a host of other technologies. One way libraries ensure everyone can access these resources is by providing accessibility tools like large print books.
What Are Large Print Books?
Large print books have large font sizes designed to help visually impaired readers. Instead of using the standard font size for printed books, typically between 10 and 12 points, large print books are usually published with a font size between 16 and 18 points. Aside from the increased font size, large print copies of a book do not differ from the original printed copy.
Why Use Large Print Books?
While some may think about large print books as tools for elderly patrons, the larger font size these books provide makes reading accessible for those who have disabilities or vision impairments that make it difficult to read smaller fonts.
Large print books are an essential accessibility tool because they allow patrons with vision impairments to read without being limited by their eyesight. But they are also helpful in other ways. Reading books with larger font sizes is excellent for language learners. According to research by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, large print books help improve Lexile reading levels and reading comprehension while reducing anxiety surrounding reading, making them a valuable tool for beginning readers.
Whether it’s by helping readers feel less anxious or allowing readers with vision impairments to enjoy literature, large print books are an accessibility tool that makes a significant difference.
Where Can I Access Large Print Books?
Our new catalog makes searching for large print books easier than ever! Simply search in the bar at the top of the page for "large print," and the catalog will automatically filter the collection and show you the best search results. Use filters to narrow your search down even more. Large print books are available at all branch locations.
Other Accessibility Tools for Visually Impaired Patrons
In addition to large print books, the Library offers other accessibility tools and services for visually impaired patrons:
- Ebooks and Audiobooks - Millions of library patrons nationwide use Libby to download ebooks from their local libraries. This resource allows patrons to check out ebooks on their e-readers, which enables them to change the size and style of a font so that books are easier to read. Patrons can also check out audiobooks so interested readers can listen to books without needing to read them physically. This resource is especially helpful for patrons who are blind or those experiencing visual impairments that make it difficult to read large print books.
- Braille - Besides large print books, the Library has several braille books available to check out.
This article is published under Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International by EveryLibrary. Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
