Our collection

Magazines

A wide range of popular magazines are available in audio format including:

• Australian Geographic
• Australian Women’s Weekly
• Choice
• Gardening Australia
• New Scientist
• Reader’s Digest
• Rolling Stone 
• Time Australia
• Wheels
• Woman's Day

In partnership with Zinio, new magazines will continue to be added to the collection.

Newspapers

Hundreds of newspapers including all the national daily papers, and regional and local newspapers, are available as library subscriptions and also via the online reference and research databases.

Braille

Whether you are an accomplished braille reader or just starting out, we have a collection of braille to suit your reading needs.

• 8000+ braille and ebraille titles
• 1200+ music braille pieces
• Children’s picture books with clear braille overlays

Ebraille titles can be downloaded from i-access catalogue. Embossed braille titles can also be requested through the i-access catalogue, or by contacting the library team at [email protected].

To request embossed braille through the i-access catalogue:

• Search for any ebraille title.
• In the search results click on Request.
• Choose the option ‘Email the library’.
• An embossed copy of the title will be loaned and posted to you via BlindPost when available.

Sport fixtures

Fixtures are available in DAISY audio as subscriptions through i-access online library catalogue or the VA Connect app, and are also available in braille as a subscription.

• AFL
• NRL

Language books and magazines

Books are available in a number of languages including: Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Polish, Russian, Spanish and others.

Language instruction books are also available.

The following magazines are available in languages other than English:

• Greek – Ellinis
• Italian – Focus
• Polish – Focus
• Mandarin - Du zhe wen zhai (Readers Digest)

Podcasts and Vision Australia updates

Dozens of regular podcasts are available, covering general interest topics as well as Vision Australia updates.

You can subscribe to podcasts through the i-access online library catalogue or directly through the Vision Australia Connect app. They can also be accessed directly on the Vision Australia Radio Podcasts page.

Online reference and research tools

Library members can access additional audio books, ebooks, magazines, reference materials and research from Australia and overseas providers through EBSCO Host. Content on EBSCO Host is not available via the Vision Australia Library i-access online catalogue.

EBSCOHost allows you to search concurrently across all EBSCOHost databases available through your Vision Australia Library membership including Australia and New Zealand Reference Centre plus, CINAHL and MasterFILE Premier.

Collection guidelines

• Read the collection Guidelines (Word, 164KB) (March 2013)

Suggest a book

If there is a title you would love but we don’t have it, email [email protected] and we will do our best to source it for you. 

Your suggestion must include the author, specific titles (“any books by” is not sufficient) and preferred format eg. DAISY, embossed braille or ebraille. Include your name (or the name of the library member you are assisting) and suburb of residence, so that we can locate your library record. Your suggestion will receive a response within seven working days. 

Contact the library

Members can log in to the i-access online library catalogue.

For more information on Vision Australia’s Library service call 1300 654 656 or contact the Library. You can also connect with our services here.

Personal support and transcription services

Did you know that Vision Australia's Alternate Format Production team can produce requested content in the format of your choice? Each year you can request up to 360 pages of content in braille, audio, large print or e-text formats. To find out more about transcription and personal support services tune into this Podcast with Jason Gipps from Vision Australia Radio and Ria Andriani one of Vision Australia's transcription staff.