• 5,000 library members
• over 11,000 books
• 25,000 books delivered annually
• Access to books worldwide

Who we are

NCBI is a not for profit charitable organisation which offers support and services nationwide to people experiencing difficulties with their eyesight.

NCBI Library Services

Bringing the joy of reading to people with sight problems.

The talking book service at NCBI unlocks the worldof books to people experiencing difficulties with their sight and helps them to rediscover, or continue to enjoy reading. NCBI’s talking book service is Ireland’s largest library of professionally recorded audio books. Talking books are loaned to people who are blind or vision impaired.

What does NCBI’s talking book service offer?

• Ireland’s largest collection of unabridged audio books for readers to choose from
• Books that are digitally recorded by actors and broadcasters – sometimes the author!
• Borrow as many titles as you like
• You can choose books yourself or we can help you decide
• Bestsellers as well as old favourites
• Easy to use talking book players for loan
• Full support in choosing books and using the players
• Books delivered straight to your door

With over 11,000 titles there is something for everyone, from romance to biographies, science fiction to thrillers, as well as books for children and young people. Last year we delivered 25,000 talking books directly to over 5,000 people with sight loss.

Braille books

As with our talking books, we specialise in the production of Irish interest titles in Braille. In addition to the 3,500 Braille titles that are available in our library, we have access to many Braille titles from libraries around the world.

Educational books

Every year, NCBI library produces audio recordings of selected textbooks from the second level curriculum. These books are made available on audiotape or digital format called DAISY. DAISY stands for Digital Accessible Information SYstem.

DAISY books are digital talking books which allow the reader to navigate around a book with much greater ease through the use of chapters and page number search options.

Large print books

Our library holds the largest collection of large print novels for children in Ireland. We also have a wide variety of titles in our adult collection.

DAISY books for children

The Library now offers DAISY players and DAISY leisure audio books for children. DAISY books are digitally recorded and presented on CD.

Magazines and newspapers

NCBI’s professional readers read extracts from a wide range of newspapers and magazines, which are recorded in our modern studios. Library members can also subscribe to this service.

A place in history

NCBI Library services began over eighty years ago with a modest collection of Braille books. In the late 1980’s, the talking book service was established and the four-track cassettes became the method for recording and delivering talking books. In 2005, the NCBI Library service moved to our upgraded premises in Finglas, Dublin. Today, NCBI Library service is Ireland’s foremost audio, large print and Braille book library for people who are blind or vision impaired.
If you or someone you know would like to join our library, please call us on 01 864 2266.

NCBI Library and Media Centre,
Unit 29,
Finglas Business Centre,
Jamestown Road,
Finglas,
Dublin 11

Tel: 01 8642266
Locall: 1850 334353
Fax: 01 8642280
Email: library@ncbi.ie

If you or someone you know has problems with their sight, contact NCBI on LoCall 1850 33 43 53.