Welcome to the CNIB Digital Library

Not being able to read print does not mean giving up the pleasure of reading, life-long learning, and your independence. Whether you want instant access to a thriller, the headlines in your local newspaper, or help with your homework, the CNIB Digital Library delivers.

Sections on this Page

Who is eligible for service?
How to sign up for service
How to assist someone who is signed up for service
What does the CNIB Digital Library have for me?
Protect your rights – acceptable use
Before you get started – basic computer skills
Quick site tour
Tutorial lessons
Help with the CNIB Digital Library
Keep up to date
Contact us

Who is eligible for service?
The CNIB Digital Library is open to people living in Canada with a print disability. A print disability prevents a person from reading standard print. It can be the result of vision loss, a physical disability, or an impairment relating to comprehension (dyslexia, for example).

How to sign up for service
If you have a print disability, there are three ways to sign up for CNIB Digital Library service:

1. If you already receive library or other services from CNIB, call Reader Services at 1-800-268-8818 or email reader.services@cnib.ca.

2. If you have vision loss but do not receive CNIB services, contact CNIB in your community. Our toll-free line at 1-800-563-2642 can help direct you. During your initial assessment, say you would like to receive library service.

3. If you have another type of print disability, contact your local public library and ask if they are a CNIB Library partner (Visunet Canada Partner). If they are, you can ask them to sign you up for CNIB Digital Library service. You can also use this option if you have vision loss but prefer not to receive CNIB services.

How to assist someone who is signed up for service
Guests can explore the CNIB Digital Library. On the Login page, select Search the library catalogue as a guest. As a guest, you will be able to access the catalogue and most other pages - just not the content, which is password protected. If you would like to place holds on books on behalf of another person (an older relative, for example), please copy and paste your list of search results into an email and send it to reader.services@cnib.ca.

What does the CNIB Digital Library have for me?
The CNIB Digital Library has something for everyone. Learn about what it has for you:

- Kids (6 to 14 years old): The Children’s Discovery Portal is just for you! Read cool books from fantasy to true stories, play accessible games, chat with other kids, and get help with school work.

- Teens: Get help with school stuff, download a great book for free – from horror to humour – and read about a new band in Rolling Stone or your favourite star in Teen People.

- Adults: Check today’s papers, learn about personal finance or careers, and find something to read just for fun.

- Older adults: The Discovery Guide: 60 Plus gives you easy access to the best books and magazines. Then, share your thoughts with other readers in our online book club!

Protect your rights – acceptable use
When you log in to the CNIB Digital Library, you agree to use the materials for your personal use only. Please do not share the material or your account information with others. The materials in the CNIB Digital Library are made available through agreements with publishers and through an exception in the Copyright Act for the exclusive use of persons with a perceptual disability. Illegal use of the service jeopardizes your right to access. Please review the Terms of Use for the CNIB Digital Library.

Before you get started – basic computer skills
When you sign up for the CNIB Digital Library, we expect that you already have basic skills in using your computer and adaptive technology. Specifically, you should know how to use a keyboard (or another input device), save and manage files, use email and access the Internet. If you don’t have these skills or want to review them, read our tips about training options for computers and adaptive technology.

Quick site tour
Our quick 6-minute tour of the CNIB Digital Library and Children’s Discovery Portal will give you an overview of the main features of the service:
Open the tour in Windows Media Player 9 or above

Accessible transcript of the presentation

Tutorial lessons
There are tutorial lessons to help you learn how to use the CNIB Digital Library. Each of the 14 lessons introduces you to a different feature and provides step-by-step instructions for you to follow. At the end of each lesson there is a hands-on exercise and a question. You can check your answers to the questions in the Answer Key. Here are some of the things the tutorial lessons will teach you:

- Log in or get a new password
- Set your profile and preferences
- Find books and choose the right format for you
- Read books and newspapers online
- Order a book for delivery by mail
- Get help and discover more on your own

Download the tutorial lessons in Word

Download the answer key in Word

A bilingual service
The CNIB Digital Library is available in both English and French. The service has different content in English and French (newspapers, for example), so if you are bilingual we recommend using the website in both languages. You will need to switch your language preference under Your Profile and Preferences on the CNIB Digital Library to access the service in the other language.

Help with the CNIB Digital Library
If you have trouble using the CNIB Digital Library, please check the online help pages before contacting us. In addition to the tutorial lessons, there is a link to Help at the top of every page for the features on that page. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions page.

Keep up to date
Every time you log into the CNIB Digital Library, make it a habit to check the Announcements section on the Home page. We post important notices about service interruptions and changes to the website there. It is also where you’ll find our quarterly online newsletter, Digital Times.

Contact us
If you have a question about the CNIB Digital Library or would like to make a suggestion, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at digital.library@cnib.ca or by phone at 1-800-268-8818.