Our library is one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest talking book libraries for people living with blindness, vision impairment or a print disability.
The collection currently contains more than 70,000 audiobook titles, which are available free of charge*.
We are continually adding titles and you can submit requests for a specific book to be converted into an alternative, accessible format (eg. DAISY, large print or Braille) if we do not currently have it available.
How to join the VisAbility Library
* Membership to the Library and borrowing audiobooks is free of charge for anyone who is a resident of Australia and who has a print disability.
You are considered to have a print disability if you are:
- Living with blindness or vision impairment.
- Unable to hold printed material, eg. books or turn pages due to a physical limitation, such as arthritis.
- Living with a perceptual disability such as dyslexia.
Register for our talking book library services online today (opens in new window).
Download our Easy English factsheet about the VisAbility Library (PDF, 988kb)
Downloadable audio books
Once registered as a user, you are able to download individual audiobooks directly from the Library website onto a smart device, computer or memory stick.
Some popular genres include:
Children’s fiction (opens in new window)
Cookbooks (opens in new window)
Detective (opens in new window)
Science Fiction (opens in new window)
Popular authors and series:
Dan Brown (opens in new window)
Patricia Cornwell (opens in new window)
Anna Jacobs (opens in new window)
Harry Potter (opens in new window)
Postal lending service
If you are unable to download from the website, up to five talking books can be preloaded onto USB cartridge and posted, free of charge, through Australia Post. There are no limits to the number of cartridges you can receive.
The cartridge is then played through a DAISY player, a specialist machine, which is able to play multiple formats.
Once you have finished the book(s), they are returned by post and reloaded with a further selection of your chosen books, taken from your recommended reading list.
Once registered as a postal user, choose your preferred genres, authors or even specific titles. The recommendations tool will then create a list of suggested books for you to read if you choose.
Braille Books
The VisAbility braille library (opens in new window) contains a selection of books written in Braille that you are able to download directly, or contact us if you would prefer an embossed copy posted directly to you.
Each individual embossed book may consist of multiple volumes, due to the space required to print Braille books. If you are interested in learning Braille, we run weekly Braille classes.
More about the VisAbility Library
Each talking book is recorded in our own professional recording studios by our team of dedicated volunteers. Braille books are produced by our team of Braille Specialists but other formats are available.
How to get support
If you have a diagnosis of vision impairment, please contact our friendly team using the form below to find out what low vision services and support we can provide to you both now and into the future.
There are also a number of low vision support groups within Perth and across the state, which can connect you with like-minded people to build friendships and offer support.
If you are a provider and wish to refer a client, please use our low vision medical certificate (online referral form) to make your referral.