Bookshare is an online library free to qualified U.S. students.  A wide variety of books are available through Bookshare - everything from bestsellers to children’s books! 

Most valuable to students, however, is that there are also many textbooks available.  (Any of you who are current students - or have recently been students - know how difficult it can be to find accessible textbooks!)  Books are provided in DAISY format (synthesized speech), or Braille Refreshable Format (BRF). 

How Do I Qualify for Free Books from Bookshare?
Bookshare is currently free for qualified students, as a result of a 2007 U.S. Department of Education award. 

To qualify for Bookshare’s free book access, students must be unable to read standard print.  This includes individuals with visual or physical disabilities, as well as those with certain reading disabilities. (If a person qualifies for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Talking Books program, he or she will generally qualify for Bookshare.) 

Students can qualify for free membership regardless of age, and the program supports students in college as well as those pursuing other adult education options. 

How Does Bookshare Get New Books?
Books become part of the Bookshare library as they are scanned by members and volunteers.  This means members can scan and submit their own books to share with the Bookshare community (assuming they are approved to do so by Bookshare and follow Bookshare’s guidelines for submitting a book). Once a book is scanned in Bookshare, it is available for any Bookshare member to read. 

How Can I Join Bookshare?
If you are new to Bookshare or just want to learn how it works, you can check out the free webinars on the Bookshare website, explaining Bookshare and how to use the service.  You can search Bookshare’s library online, even if you are not a Bookshare member.  Individual memberships and school/organizational memberships are available. 

Even if you do not qualify for free Bookshare membership, you can join as a paid member for $50 a year, plus a $25 initial registration fee.  However, even as a paid member, you must meet the eligibility requirements described earlier, which means you are unable to read standard print due to a disability.

What Else Can Bookshare Do for Me?
One of Bookshare’s coolest features is its list of favorite downloads for the previous seven days, which provides a great starting place for finding popular books you might enjoy.  You can also listen to newspapers at Bookshare through their partnership with the National Federation of the Blind's (NFB) Newsline.

Check out more information about Bookshare.org’s free textbook program.

See Jaime Prideaux's Disaboom member profile.

See Related Articles
For more information on a book program for those with physical, visual and reading disabilities, see Free “Talking Books” - Delivered Right to Your Home.

For tips on downloading free audio books, see Download Free Audio Books and eBooks From Your Library.