Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library
🏢 The New York Public Library · New York, New York
Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library
The nation's busiest braille and talking book library, Andrew Heiskell serves blind, visually impaired, and print-disabled New Yorkers from a six-story Flatiron District building with over 160,000 accessible titles, a tactile Dimensions Lab, and assistive technology coaching — all free of charge.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–5pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–7pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011
Phone: (212) 206-5400
Website: nypl.org
Plus Code: 87G8P2R4+6M (New York, NY)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library
The Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library traces its roots to 1895, when Richard Randall Ferry founded the New York Free Circulating Library for the Blind — among the first institutions in the United States to circulate accessible-format books to the public. After decades on Sixth Avenue in SoHo, the library moved in 1991 to its current six-story home at 40 West 20th Street in the Flatiron District, where it was renamed to honor Andrew Heiskell (1915–2003), the longtime Time Inc. chairman who chaired the New York Public Library board from 1981 and championed its revitalization. Today, as a branch of The New York Public Library and a regional library in the Library of Congress National Library Service (NLS) network, it distributes braille books, digital talking books on cartridge, audio magazines, and adaptive equipment by mail to patrons across New York City and the surrounding region — logging roughly 500,000 annual circulations. In-house visitors can use Kurzweil scanners, JAWS screen readers, CCTV magnifiers up to 60×, and the Dimensions Lab, which produces tactile graphics and 3-D models free of charge.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 160,000+ talking-book and digital braille titles lent free by mail through the NLS network — one of the largest accessible-format collections in the country
- Dimensions Lab: free facility for creating tactile 2-D and 3-D images, with equipment, materials, and hands-on workshops for patrons and educators
- Audio Book Recording Studio where volunteer narrators (including theater professionals) record New York-interest titles uploaded to the national BARD catalog
- On-site adaptive technology suite: Kurzweil computers, JAWS/MAGic software, refreshable braille displays, CCTV magnifiers (up to 60×), and braille embossers — plus free individual coaching appointments
- Named for Andrew Heiskell (1915–2003), former chairman of Time Inc. and chair of the NYPL board, whose advocacy helped reshape and stabilize the library system in the 1980s
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Registered patrons and New York cardholders can read, listen, and research free through NYPL's and New York State's shared digital collections:
📚 Services
- Free braille books, talking books (cartridge & digital), and audio magazines lent by mail through the NLS network
- Talking book player and refreshable braille display loans to eligible patrons
- Dimensions Lab — tactile image and 3-D model creation, free and open to the public
- Audio Book Recording Studio with trained volunteer narrators
- Assistive technology suite: Kurzweil, JAWS, MAGic, CCTV, braille embossers
- Individual adaptive technology coaching appointments
- Institutional deposit collections for nursing homes, schools, and agencies
- NFB-Newsline access for print-disabled patrons
- Music scores and instruction through NLS Music Services
🎸 Programs
- Annual Accessible Technology Conference
- Technology workshops (screen readers, iOS/Android accessibility, coding)
- Dimensions Lab workshops for tactile creation
- Children's storytimes (Little Movers Storytime, Sensory Storytime)
- Teen Lounge and Play Club
- Writing and art workshops
- Guide dog user meetups and support groups
- The Weekly Reader discussion group
- Community Advisory Council meetings
📍 Nearby Libraries in Manhattan
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Andrew Heiskell, and why is this library named after him?
Andrew Heiskell (1915–2003) was chairman and CEO of Time Inc. from 1960 to 1980, and one of the most consequential civic philanthropists in modern New York history. He chaired the New York Public Library board from 1981, helping stabilize the institution during a difficult fiscal period and spearheading the restoration of Bryant Park. The Braille and Talking Book Library was renamed in his honor in recognition of that service.
Do I need an NYPL card to borrow braille or talking books?
No — the talking book and braille mail-lending service is run through the Library of Congress National Library Service (NLS) and has its own separate registration. Any New York resident who is blind, visually impaired, or has a physical disability that makes reading standard print difficult can apply directly through the library at (212) 206-5400. There is no cost to register, borrow materials, or return them by mail.
What is the Dimensions Lab, and who can use it?
The Dimensions Lab is a free, publicly accessible facility inside Andrew Heiskell that provides equipment and materials for creating tactile 2-D images and 3-D models — making visual content accessible to patrons who are blind or low-vision. Anyone can use the lab; workshops are offered regularly and no registration is required to drop in during open hours.
When is the library open, and is it open on Saturdays?
Yes — Andrew Heiskell is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10 am–5 pm; Tuesday and Thursday 12 pm–7 pm (with extended evening hours); and Saturday 10 am–5 pm. The library is closed on Sunday. Phone service hours may differ slightly; call (212) 206-5400 to confirm.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.