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Oklahoma Library For The Blind & Physically Handicapped

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Purpose

The Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (OLBPH) offers library services for Oklahoma citizens who are blind or have a visual and/or physical disability that prevents them from using standard print materials. Reading disabilities may also qualify individuals for services. Thousands of books and periodicals are available in audio and braille formats. The Digital Talking Book (DTB) players are loaned at no cost and the digital cartridge books circulate to and from a patron’s residence via free matter postage.

Patrons desiring hard copy braille books are signed up through the OLBPH to receive books from the western regional Braille library in Utah. The OLBPH is the regional network library for Oklahoma within the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), an extension of the Library of Congress. A huge benefit of being part of a national network is the ability to download books from the national site. From BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) patrons can access approximately three times the amount of reading materials instantly for playback either on the DTB players or other reading devices such as Apple, Android and other products.

Contact

Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
 300 NE 18th St.
 Oklahoma City, OK 73105
 (405) 521-3514
 (800) 523-0288
 (405) 521-4672 (TDD)
 FAX: (405) 521-4582
 Email:  olbph@okdrs.org
 www.olbph.org

Eligibility

The following US/OK citizens are eligible for this free service:

  • blind persons whose visual acuity, as determined by the competent authority, is 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses, or the whose widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance 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 because of a physical limitation; or
  • persons certified by a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy as having a reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction and of sufficient severity to prevent reading regular printed material in a conventional manner.

AT Services Provided/Covered

  • Information & Referral
  • Loan of audio and Braille books
  • Oklahoma Telephone Reader: an OLBPH-operated newspaper reading service whereby local articles, ads and other content are made available to patrons via telephone access
  • NFB NEWSLINE: National Federation of the Blind’s telephone reading service providing national and international periodicals, TV listings and job listings. The OLBPH serves as a certifier for this program. For program details call (866) 504-7300.

AT Devices Provided/ Covered

  • Playback machines (DTB Players) for reading/talking books are loaned.

How to Get the AT

  • To request an application for library services either call the OLBPH to have one mailed or go to olbph.org, click on the apply tab and download the form.
  • Return the completed application to the OLBPH via mail, FAX or scan/email to olbph@okdrs.gov

Pieces to the Puzzle

  • The OLBPH is also home to the Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Center. The AIM Center loans braille and large print textbooks, assistive technology devices and developmental aids for children birth through twelfth grade with qualifying visual, physical or learning disabilities. For more information call (405)522-0523 or go to the library website www.olbph.org and click on the AIM Center tab.