Established in 1969, the Accessible Reading Service (ALDV) is the National Library of Portugal’s specialist unit dedicated to ensuring equitable access to reading, information, culture and knowledge for people with visual impairments. For more than five decades, it has played a pioneering role in the production, preservation and dissemination of accessible-format materials, enabling users to engage with information and literature with greater independence and autonomy.

At the core of its mission lies the conviction that access to reading is a fundamental right and a prerequisite for full participation in education, professional life, culture and society. The Service develops a wide range of accessible resources, including Braille books, audiobooks, Braille music and accessible digital texts, thereby both expanding access to knowledge and safeguarding Portugal’s heritage in accessible publishing.

The ALDV is supported by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in library and information science, accessible publishing, information management and user services. It also relies on a long-standing network of volunteer readers whose contribution has been essential to the development of its audiobook collection. By donating their time and voices, these volunteers have helped build a diverse corpus of recordings reflecting a sustained commitment to civic engagement, solidarity and inclusion.

Its holdings constitute one of Portugal’s most significant collections of accessible publications. The Braille collection comprises more than 4,160 titles in 15,479 volumes, covering a wide range of subjects including literature, philosophy, psychology, chess, children’s and young adult literature, and educational materials. A key highlight is the first book ever printed in Braille in Portugal, a landmark in the country’s history of accessible publishing. The Service also provides access to 1,505 digital books, further broadening the availability of accessible reading materials.

The periodicals collection includes around 50 Portuguese and international titles, approximately half of which remain in active publication. Among the most notable are Poliedro, Rosa dos Ventos and Ponto e Som.

The Braille Music Collection comprises approximately 4,000 titles, including educational materials and classical scores for voice and a range of instruments, with particular emphasis on the piano. It features works by composers such as Mozart, Beethoven and Mendelssohn.

Audiobook production has long been a core area of expertise of ALDV. From its earliest analogue recordings to contemporary digital formats, the National Library has developed a substantial collection primarily intended for readers who do not use Braille or are unable to read in that format. It currently comprises approximately 2,505 titles, totalling nearly 24,800 hours of recorded content, and spans Portuguese and international literature, history, biographies, essays and other subject areas. Among its most significant recordings are those narrated by distinguished literary and cultural figures such as Paul Claudel, Albert Camus and Paulo Quintela, whose voices confer notable literary, historical and documentary value on the collection.

In recent years, technological innovation has further strengthened the accessibility of the Service through the creation of the National Repository of Alternative Format Resources (RNOFA), launched in 2018. This initiative represents a major milestone in the modernisation of accessible reading services in Portugal by bringing together, within a single digital environment, resources produced by the National Library and a wide range of national organisations. By centralising these collections, it has significantly expanded access to alternative-format materials while reinforcing cooperation among institutions engaged in accessible publishing.

RNOFA fulfils a dual role, functioning both as Portugal’s national union catalogue for accessible resources and as a digital repository for organisations lacking their own infrastructure for the storage and dissemination of accessible content. By fostering resource sharing and institutional collaboration, it reduces duplication of effort while broadening the range of materials available to readers nationwide. Open to both public and private organisations producing or holding accessible-format materials, it provides a collaborative framework that strengthens Portugal’s national network for accessible publishing.

Registered users may search the catalogue, download digital resources directly or request printed Braille books by post, benefiting from faster, simpler and more comprehensive access to accessible reading materials.

The significance of RNOFA extends beyond the national context. The platform is connected to the Accessible Books Consortium (ABC), an international initiative established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) following the adoption of the Marrakesh Treaty. Through this partnership, Portuguese accessible publications become part of a global network dedicated to the expansion and cross-border exchange of accessible books, contributing to a world in which reading, information and knowledge are genuinely accessible to all.

Drawing on more than fifty years of experience, the expertise of highly specialised staff, the invaluable contribution of volunteers, outstanding collections and a sustained commitment to technological innovation, the Accessible Reading Service continues to play a leading role in promoting accessible reading, preserving cultural heritage and ensuring that access to knowledge remains a universal right. Through its enduring commitment to inclusion and cooperation, it expands opportunities for equitable access to culture and information, reaffirming the National Library’s mission to make knowledge available to all.