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Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

300 N.E. 18th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Office: (405) 521-3514
Toll Free: (800) 523-0288
TTY/TDD:(405) 521-4672

Email OLBPH

For more information, visit the OLBPH website

The Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped provides free services to Oklahomans who are blind or visually impaired and those with reading disabilities or physical limitations that make it difficult to use standard print.

Thousands of books, textbooks and periodicals in recorded and braille formats, and playback equipment are available to library patrons at no charge.

The Library provides textbooks and other instructional materials in braille and other accessible formats for students with visual impairments in kindergarten through grade 12, as long as funds are available to meet the requests. For more information visit the Accessible Instructional Materials Center page.

The Library, operated by Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, is part of the national network of libraries affiliated with the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.

Oklahomans for Special Library Services is an active organization which supports the work of the library.

Read about Benny Meier who is a patron of the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. “I encourage people to try the library’s program and see if you like it,” Meier said, “ You don’t have to stay seated. You can take your player with you wherever you go.”
Read about library patron Benny Meier

Female Voice Over: You love to read and can’t imagine a world without books. And you don’t have to. Even if you have a vision impairment or disability that makes reading difficult. You can still tame the west with Louis L’Amour -- fall madly in love with Romeo and Juliet – and help a young wizard named Harry explore a magical world. The Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has thousands of free audiobooks to loan. To find out more, call 1-800-523-0288. Brought to you by the Oklahoma Department for Rehabilitation Services.

Video Description: A teenage girl opens a book with large print and imagines animated images that leap off the pages, including a rocket, sheriff’s badge, magical wand, and walking cowboy boots with spurs. She smiles. The pages of an open book grow larger until printed words fill the screen. The words get blurry. A man imagines an illustration of a cowboy with a rifle on a horse on the range. The illustration turns into video and the cowboy cocks the rifle. A young woman imagines an illustration of a young man and woman in medieval costumes. The illustration comes to life as he gives her a rose. A teenage boy imagines an illustration of a boy wearing a wizard’s robe with a magic wand in an old library with historic architecture. The video comes to life as the boy in the robe shoots sparks from his wand. A digital book player and cartridge appear with the words The Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Twenty-five digital cartridges appear with the words 1,000 X 1,000 X 1,000 of Free Audiobooks. DRS logo. Opening Doors to Opportunity, Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, 1-800-523-0288.

How to Apply

Step 1: Call the OLBPH and request an application, or go to www.olbph.org/apply and download and print application.

Step 2: Complete application. Be sure to include obtaining authorized signature verifying disability.

Step 3: Mail, fax or email completed application to the library for processing. Within three business days, OLBPH will send out your Digital Talking Book player and first two books.

Step 4: Begin enjoying your free library services.

Key to Success

  • If you wish to receive more books in the mail, change reading preferences or have any other questions regarding your library service, please call the OLBPH and ask to speak to a librarian.
  • Remember to flip address card over to mail back to the OLBPH so a new book can be sent to you.
  • If you indicated on your application that you wish to download books, you will receive further instructions via the email address you provided.

Eligibility

The following Oklahoma residents are eligible for OLBPH services:
  • Persons whose visual acuity, as determined by competent authority, is 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses, or whose widest field of vision is no greater than 20 degrees.
  • Persons whose visual disability, with correction and regardless of optical measurement, is certified by competent authority as unable to use standard print material.
  • Persons certified by competent authority as unable to use standard print material due to physical limitations.
  • Persons certified by a doctor of medicine or osteopathy as having a reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction and of sufficient severity to prevent reading standard print material in a conventional manner.
Institutions such as nursing homes, libraries, hospitals and schools may borrow equipment and reading materials for use by eligible patrons in either a group setting or for individual use.