New Mexico Blind, Visually Impaired, & Physically Handicapped Resources

New Mexico Library for the Blind & Print Disabled (formerly the LBPH)

The LBPH serves those with Visual Impairments, Physical Disabilities preventing use of print books, and Reading Disabilities resulting from organic dysfunction.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) was established by an act of Congress in 1931, and placed under the jurisdiction of the Library of Congress. Subsequent legislation expanded the program in the 1950’s and 1960’s. From a start of 19 libraries in 1931, the network has grown to 56 regional and 65 sub-regional libraries throughout the United States. The New Mexico program was established in 1967.The program in New Mexico is administered by the New Mexico State Library, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. The New Mexico network consists of the regional library in Santa Fe and a number of depository libraries located throughout the state.

The LBPH is responsible for meeting the reading and information needs of nearly 3,000 New Mexico citizens who are blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped, or reading disabled. Patrons are issued playback equipment that allows them to utilize books, magazines, and other material in alternate formats (digital cartridge, cassette, Braille, and electronic text). The collection focuses mainly on recreational reading, and contains more than 60,000 titles in a variety of genres.  Patrons may also download titles directly from the NLS through BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download).

Eligibility Requirements

Any United States resident or citizen living abroad who is unable to read standard print materials because of a temporary or permanent visual, physical, or reading disability may receive service through a network library of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.

Individuals that qualify:

1. Blind persons whose visual acuity, as determined by a competent authority, is 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses, or whose widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees.
2. Persons whose visual disability, with correction and regardless of optical measurement, is certified by competent authority as preventing the reading of standard printed material.
3. Persons certified by competent authority as unable to read or unable to use standard printed material as a result of physical limitations.
4. Persons certified by competent authority as having a perceptual or reading disability of sufficient severity to prevent their reading printed material in a normal manner.
5. Persons eligible for service (falling into any of the above categories) who are now living as residents of the United States (including its territories, insular possessions, and the District of Columbia), or are American citizens eligible for service who are now living abroad, or dependents of active military personnel or diplomats.

This includes individuals who have had a qualifying disability from birth, individuals who are disabled because of medical conditions or trauma, and individuals who become disabled as they age. The NLS serves individuals of all ages.

Institutions that qualify:

1. Schools for the Blind
2. Nursing homes
3. Hospitals
4. Rehabilitation Centers
5. Public/Private schools*

Institutions that serve the qualifying individuals outlined above are also eligible to apply for services as an Institutional account. Once established, Institutions receive one or more digital players depending on the size of their clientele, a collection of digital books, and/or online access to the BARD website. *Public or private schools may also apply, however, the students in these schools must be certified as eligible on an individual basis and must be the direct and only recipient of the materials and equipment.

Who is a competent authority?

Regarding NLS eligibility, “competent authority” is defined to include:

• Doctors of medicine
• Doctors of osteopathy
• Ophthalmologists
• Optometrists
• Registered Nurses with an active license
• Therapists
• Professional staff of hospitals, institutions, public or private welfare agencies, such as:
  • Educator
  • Social worker
  • Case worker
  • Counselor
  • Rehabilitation Teacher
  • Certified Reading

In the absence of any of these, certification may be made by professional librarians or by any person whose competence under specific circumstances is acceptable to the Library of Congress. Direct family members of interested individual cannot be a certifying authority.

Full details on eligibility requirements can be found at this link

Contact Information for the LBPH

Phone: 505-476-9770 or 1-800-456-5515
Fax: 505-476-9776

Address: 1209 Camino Carlos Rey
                Santa Fe, NM 87507

E-mail:  sl.lbph@state.nm.us

Resource Links & Documents