Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Library and Resource Center

"The Library and Resource Center is a component of the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) from which two fundamental programs are administered. Library services are offered to persons who are physically disabled, visually disabled, hearing impaired or reading disabled. Resource Center services are provided to local school divisions to support education of visually impaired and blind children.

Library services are provided free of charge to eligible visually, physically and reading disabled persons by the DBVI Library, which is a member of the National Library Service for the Visually and Physically Handicapped network of the Library of Congress. DBVI has seven affiliated sub regional libraries in public libraries in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Roanoke, Staunton, and Virginia Beach. The books and equipment are provided free to the affiliated libraries from The Library of Congress. Services are administered at the state and local level. In Virginia, 10,000 persons with print disabilities are patrons of a lending collection of 85,000 titles recorded on cassette and disc, Braille, large print, and electronic text. The library collection includes books and magazines covering a wide range of topics and reading levels. Required playback equipment and accessories are also furnished. Books and equipment are mailed to and from eligible persons using the ""free matter for the blind"" mailing privilege.

A variety of Resource Center services are provided to blind and visually impaired children and vision professionals in the Commonwealth. The Center houses an inventory of adaptive equipment that is distributed to blind and visually impaired infants, children and youth throughout the state. Inventory items range from technology, such as Braille note-takers and software, to folding canes and Braille paper. The Resource Center also provides Braille textbooks and novels for use by blind and visually impaired students in their local school districts. Textbooks are produced or purchased from another state, and loaned for the school year. Services also include Braille transcription of special materials, and the provision of resource and reference services for instructional materials. Materials are loaned to Virginia's blind and visually impaired students and educators for as long as they are needed."

Toll Free TDY: (877) 222-2234