Updated as of July 1, 2024.
Check out these sources of FREE hard-copy braille books!
Free Braille Books to Keep
Seedlings’ Book Angel Program for Children with Vision Loss
Through this program, blind/low vision U.S. children ages birth through 21 may order up to FIVE (5) free braille books per year. Please note that this is limited to books with only one or two volumes, and all Seedlings books use Unified English Braille (UEB) except for the EBAE category (noted below). Check out these great categories of braille books available:
Print-Braille-and-Picture Books in Uncontracted Braille (62 titles available)
Print-Braille-and-Picture Books in Contracted Braille (102 titles available)
Print-and-Braille Books in Uncontracted Braille (46 titles available)
- No pictures, but the Uncontracted Braille and print words are matched line for line to assist in the learning process.
Print-and-Braille Books in Contracted Braille (100 titles available)
- No pictures, but the Contracted Braille and print words are matched line for line to assist in the learning process.
Contracted Braille (“braille only” – no print or pictures) (553 titles available)
Contracted Braille Books in EBAE (262 titles available)
Temple Beth El Braille Book Bindery
Individuals may choose from many Braille books in either contracted or uncontracted Braille. The volunteers of Temple Beth El Sisterhood provide these books at no cost, but they welcome donations of Braille paper, Braille binding supplies, and money to support this mission. Please also note these limitations: “Limit of 8 titles per order. Orders may take up to 4-6 weeks. Multi-volume books may take an extended period of time to produce. Due to postal regulations, we can only fulfill orders within the United States.”
Check out Temple Beth El’s Book list webpage, where you’ll find many choices:
- Contracted Braille (titles available in both UEB and EBAE) at the following grade levels:
- K-1
- 2-3
- 4-5
- 6-8
- Uncontracted Braille (all UEB; some titles available in either single-spaced or double-spaced braille)
- Beginner Readers with Print
- Storybooks with Print
- K-1
- 2-3
- 4-5
- 6-8
Braille Institute’s Special Collection
Blind/low vision children in the U.S. and Canada may order up to 2 Dots for Tots® kits two times per year (targeted at ages 2-5, but open to all—might be great books to read to younger family members, neighbors, etc.).
Free Braille Books Program from the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults (AAF)
Hard copy braille books. Remaining 2024 books include:
- July: Would You Rather Game Book – Travel Edition by Archie Brain
- August: Magnificent Makers #5: Race Through Space by Theanne Griffith
- September: Magnificent Makers #6: Storm Chasers by Theanne Griffith
- October: Magnificent Makers #7: Human Body Adventure by Theanne Griffith
- November: Magnificent Makers #8: Go Go Green Energy by Theanne Griffith
- December: The 100 Best Brain Teasers for Kids: A Mind-Blowing Challenge of Wordplay, Math, and Logic Puzzles by Danielle Hall
ShareBraille
From the ShareBraille.org website: “ShareBraille.org works by connecting those who want Braille books with those who want to give Braille books away. After you register and log in, you can share your own Braille books or browse our growing catalog. If a user requests a book that you’ve offered to share, it can be shipped at no cost within the United States and Canada using Free Matter for the Blind.”
- Link to Register for ShareBraille
- Link to Log Into ShareBraille
- Link to Browse currently available books in ShareBraille
Free Braille Books on Loan
Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD) branch of the National Library Service (NLS)
Choose from thousands of braille book titles and over 30 magazines in Braille and electronic Braille formats. Books & magazines can be mailed or downloaded for FREE.
If you are not yet registered as a Library patron, you can complete an English LBPD application or a Spanish LBPD application and email it to the LBPD at reference.desk@maryland.gov.
If you are not certain whether you are registered as a patron of the Library, please contact the Library at 410-230-2424 or 800-964-9209 (toll-free in Maryland).
Contact the Bridges Helpdesk for More Information
- Our Accessible web form
- Email: Helpdesk@imagemd.org
- Text: Send to: (410) 357-1546
- Voice mail: Call (410) 357-1546, leave a voice mail message, and we will return your call
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.