6 Best Large Print Guides To Library Services Most Patrons Overlook

Your local library is far more than a quiet building filled with books; it’s a dynamic hub of information, entertainment, and community connection. Yet for many, navigating its vast offerings can be challenging if the signs and guides are too small to read comfortably. Fortunately, a set of powerful, accessible tools exists to unlock these resources, ensuring your library remains a cornerstone of an engaged and independent life.

Friendly Disclaimer : This content is for educational & general research purposes only. Please consult healthcare providers or other qualified professionals for personalized medical, caregiving, or health-related advice.

Friendly Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!

Rediscover Your Library with Accessible Guides

You’ve been a lifelong reader, but lately, the tiny print on spine labels and event flyers feels like a barrier. It’s a common experience. As our eyes change, the standard-issue signage and brochures that once served us well can become sources of frustration, subtly discouraging us from exploring all the library has to offer. This isn’t a signal to step back; it’s a cue to seek out better tools.

Proactive planning means identifying these small friction points before they become genuine obstacles. Just as you might install better task lighting in your kitchen, seeking out accessible guides at your library is a simple modification to your daily habits. Large print guides are the key to unlocking services you may not even know exist. They empower you to navigate the library’s physical and digital spaces with confidence, transforming it from a place of potential challenges into a world of opportunity.

NLS BARD Mobile App: Your Audio Book Guide

Many people assume the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) is only for those with a formal diagnosis of blindness. This is a significant misunderstanding. The NLS serves a broad audience, including anyone with a reading disability or a physical limitation that makes holding a book difficult, often requiring only a simple certification from a doctor, librarian, or other professional.

The jewel of the NLS is BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download), a free digital service providing access to hundreds of thousands of audiobooks, magazines, and music scores. It’s a truly incredible resource. To make this technology approachable, the NLS and its partner libraries provide detailed, large print user guides for the BARD Mobile app.

These guides aren’t just a list of features. They are step-by-step instructions, written in clear language with large, high-contrast text and helpful screenshots. They walk you through everything from initial registration to downloading your first book and navigating the audio player’s controls. This guide ensures that a powerful digital tool doesn’t feel intimidating, giving you the freedom to listen to virtually any book you desire, whenever you want.

Thorndike Press Catalog for New Releases

Have you ever waited months for a new bestseller to come out in large print, only to find your library didn’t order a copy? You don’t have to leave your reading list to chance. The key is to get ahead of the curve by using the publisher’s own materials as your guide. Thorndike Press is one of the world’s leading publishers of large print books, and their catalog is your secret weapon.

Most libraries have a copy of the Thorndike Press catalog at the reference desk, and it’s also available online as a PDF that you can zoom into for comfortable reading. This catalog lists all their new and upcoming releases, often months in advance. It’s essentially a large print preview of the books that will soon be available.

By reviewing the catalog, you can see what’s coming and place a hold or a purchase request with your librarian long before the book hits the shelves. This simple, proactive step puts you in control of your reading list. It’s a perfect example of how a little inside knowledge can dramatically improve your access to the materials you want most.

Libby App Guide to Digital Large Print Books

The Libby app, which connects your library card to a massive collection of ebooks and audiobooks, is a marvel of convenience. But its default settings aren’t always optimized for visual comfort. Many patrons use it without ever realizing they can customize the reading experience to perfectly suit their needs. This is where a dedicated large print guide becomes invaluable.

Your library likely offers a printed or digital guide specifically for Libby, and you should ask for it. A quality guide will go beyond the basics of borrowing a book. It will show you exactly how to:

• Adjust text size: Make the font as large as you need.
• Change the background: Switch from a bright white to a gentle sepia or a high-contrast night mode.
• Increase line spacing: Create more white space between lines for easier tracking.
• Filter your searches: Show only "Large Print" editions of ebooks, which are formatted for readability from the start.

This guide transforms Libby from a simple app into a personalized reading tool. It gives you the power to check out and read books from your home, 24/7, in a format that is comfortable and strain-free. It’s the ultimate fusion of independence and accessibility.

WorldCat Guide to Interlibrary Loan Services

What happens when the book you want—perhaps an older title from a favorite author or a specific non-fiction book—isn’t available in large print at your local library? You might assume you’re out of luck. However, your library is connected to a global network of other libraries, and the key to that network is a service called Interlibrary Loan (ILL).

The tool that powers this is WorldCat, a massive online catalog that lists the holdings of tens of thousands of libraries worldwide. It can feel a bit complex at first, which is why a large print guide to using WorldCat and the ILL process is so important. This guide demystifies the system, showing you how to search for the exact edition you need (specifying large print) and how to fill out the request form.

Think of the ILL guide as a passport. It allows you to borrow materials from far beyond your town’s borders, dramatically expanding your reading options. You are no longer limited by what your local branch owns. With this knowledge, you can track down and request almost any large print book in existence, delivered right to your neighborhood library for pickup.

ALA’s ‘Books by Mail‘ Program Service Guide

For many active adults, the biggest barrier to using the library isn’t finding a book, but simply getting to the building. Whether due to transportation challenges, temporary mobility issues after a surgery, or just a busy schedule, a trip to the library isn’t always feasible. This is why "Books by Mail" or "Homebound Services" are so vital.

Guided by standards from organizations like the American Library Association (ALA), many library systems offer a mail-order service. Patrons can request books, audiobooks, and even movies over the phone or online, and the library mails them directly to their home in a reusable pouch with prepaid return postage. It’s a seamless and often free service.

To get started, ask your library for their large print guide to the Books by Mail program. This document will clearly explain eligibility, how to register, how to browse the catalog and make requests, and how the mailing process works. It’s a service that ensures your connection to reading and learning is never severed by logistics.

Your Library’s Large Print Events Calendar

A library offers more than just borrowing privileges; it’s a center for community life. It hosts author talks, technology workshops, book clubs, and local history lectures that provide crucial social and intellectual engagement. But if the calendar of events is printed in a tiny font on a glossy flyer or buried on a cluttered website, you might miss out entirely.

This is why you should always ask the staff if they produce a large print version of their monthly or quarterly events calendar. Having a clear, easy-to-read guide to upcoming programs allows you to plan your social calendar with confidence. You won’t have to squint at a bulletin board or ask someone to read a brochure to you.

This simple request for an accessible calendar is a powerful act of self-advocacy. It ensures you have the same opportunity as every other patron to participate in the vibrant life of your community hub. It’s about more than information; it’s about inclusion.

Advocating for Better Access at Your Library

What if you ask for these guides and discover your library doesn’t offer them? Don’t be discouraged. See this as an opportunity to help your library better serve its community. Librarians are champions of access and are almost always receptive to constructive feedback from the people they serve.

Start by speaking with the Head of Adult Services or the library’s Accessibility Coordinator. Frame your request as a helpful suggestion, not a complaint. You can say something like, "I find the Libby app incredibly useful, but I think a large print guide on how to adjust the font settings would help many of your patrons."

By making a specific, actionable request, you become a partner in improving the library for everyone. You can even point to neighboring library systems that already offer these resources as a model. Your advocacy can be the catalyst that leads to the creation of guides that will benefit hundreds of your fellow residents, strengthening the library’s role as a truly accessible resource for all ages.

Your library is a powerful ally in maintaining an active, independent, and enriched life. By seeking out and using these large print guides, you are not just a passive user; you are taking deliberate command of your access to information and community. These simple tools ensure the world of reading and learning remains wide open, on your own terms.