In most libraries, it will not take you long to run through their selection of audio and large print books , and we all know how quickly you can go broke buying new books. Luckily, there are many organizations that offer lending library services through the mail, and most provide this service free or at minimal cost.

• Bahá'í Service for the Blind
  P.O. Box 463
  Ludington, MI 49431
  
  Provides religious materials on the Bahá'í faith in Braille, large print, and on cassette tape. There is a charge for these items. They also operate a free lending library with books in Braille and on cassette. They also offer a free subscription, on 4-track tape, to the monthly newspaper The American Bahá'í. Subscriptions to the newspaper is only available to Bahá'ís.
  
  
• JBI International (aka The Jewish Braille Institute of America)
  110 East 30th Street
  New York, NY 10016
  
  In addition to the wide range of services that the JBI provides, they also have a free lending library that offers thousands of braille, taped, and large print books of Jewish interest.
  
  
• Lutheran Library for the Blind
  3558 South Jefferson
  St. Louis, Missouri 63118
  
  The Lutheran Library for the Blind operates a free lending library of large print books. Most are religious in nature. However, they also have a nice selection of wholesome large print fiction books, for adults and children. In addition to the large print books, this library also offers a wide selection of recorded (Lutheran) magazines, and braille books.
  
  
• National Association for Visually Handicapped (NAVH)
  
  The NAVH is a phenomenal, non-profit, organization that provides a variety of services to individuals with visual impairments. One of their many services is a lending library. Books are sent through the mail, and you can return them to the library at no charge.
  
  
• National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
  
  By far the most widely know lending library is the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), which is run under the auspices of the Library of congress. Unfortunately, the NLS does not loan large print books, but they do offer a wide selection, currently over 325,000 titles, of audio (talking) and braille books and magazines. In addition to offering these books, free of charge, they also provide the equipment that you need to play the tapes.

  To qualify for these services you have to fill out a short application that needs to be signed by someone (librarian, doctor, social worker, etc.) that can attest to your visual impairment. Once you are approved they will begin sending you books/tapes through the mail. When you are finished with a book, you simply return it in the postage-free envelope that they provide. This is a wonderful program and I encourage you to take advantage of it. The application can be found on the NLS website, or, in most cases, you can also get an application at your public library.
  
  

• Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
  
  The Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic organization operates a lending library of recorded material. Tapes are loaned to qualified individuals with print disabilities, such as visual impairments and, learning disabilities. Titles offered are primarily geared towards students from kindergarten through post-graduate studies. (fee)
  
  
• Xavier Society for the Blind
  
  The Xavier Society is a Jesuit run Catholic lending library that provides free, English language books and religious material in large print, braille, and audio formats. They also offer a variety of Catholic magazines on audio cassette. In addition, they also offer the Catholic Review and the Sunday Mass Propers in large print and in braille.
  
  The Xavier Society does not have a website, but they can be reached by conventional means at:
  
  Xavier Society for the Blind
  154 East 23rd Street
  New York, NY 10010
  Phone: (212) 473-7800
  Toll-free: 1-800-637-9193