Accessibility at NYPL

Two women using an iPad together at a table in a room with shelves in the background Woman in a dim room wears headphones and looks at a computer with sound vibrations visualized on the screen Photograph of a red and silver assistive listening device with a neon green piece of paper next to the device with the following text: Trouble reading text? Trouble holding books?

The New York Public Library strives to ensure that everyone is welcome and has access to the full range of information, services, and programs offered in our neighborhood branches and research libraries.

Accessibility at NYPL Locations

The New York Public Library strives to ensure its buildings are fully accessible in support of our mission to provide valuable resources and services to all New Yorkers. This commitment includes making every effort to improve accessibility in older branches with architectural challenges (NYPL has branches over 100 years old), and working to acquire the funding necessary to make key improvements.

Browse our directory of locations to find branches that are currently fully or partially accessible. If you have questions about accessibility at a particular branch, please contact Ask NYPL.

Language Access Assistance

The Library is committed to helping people whose first language is other than English navigate our array of free services and resources for all ages. For more information, please visit Multilingual Resources at The New York Public Library.

The Library’s website can be translated into over 100 languages using Google Translate. Visit translate.google.com, enter nypl.org in the “websites” tab, and follow the Google Translate link to the Library’s website to select your preferred language.

If you have questions about language assistance, including Limited English Proficiency (LEP) at NYPL, or would like to request a language access accommodation (e.g., interpretation for a program), please contact us at lawg@nypl.org.

Accommodations & Resources

For more information or for an accommodation, please email accessibility@nypl.org. To learn more about the accessibility of NYPL websites and mobile applications, see our Web & Mobile Accessibility Policy.

Find programs and services below for our community members with disabilities:

Print Disabilities or Visual Impairment

  • Talking Books, Bookshare
  • Videos and DVDs with descriptive text
  • JAWs screenreading software, ZoomText screen magnification software, and personal reading machines such as SIBL's Da Vinci video magnifier with Text-to Speech and an "Eye-Pal Solo" reading machine
  • Technology workshops, braille study groups, and more

Learning, Cognitive, or Developmental Disabilities

  • Movie screenings, art workshops, computer classes
  • Sensory-friendly storytime and playtime for children
  • Online resources for video storybooks and animated picture books
  • Free talking books and players
 

Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  • ASL interpretation and CART real-time captioning
  • Assistive listening devices, hearing loops
  • Captioned videos and DVDs

Physical Disabilities

  • Books by Mail
  • Talking Books
 

Featured Location: Andrew Heiskell Library

All residents of New York City who are blind, visually impaired, physically disabled, or who have a reading disability are eligible to enroll in Andrew Heiskell Library's free services.
 

Featured Program: Braille Study Group

Staff, peers, and volunteers help with braille study plans and assignments, as well as recommend strategies for taking braille proficiency to the next level.

 

More Information

Please contact Ask NYPL with any questions.