The Library of Congress is seeking the return of United States Government property consisting of audiobooks and audiobook players for the blind that find their way to brick-and-mortar stores and to online commercial sites.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (“NLS”) is a program of the Library of Congress. NLS produces audiobooks and audiobook players (cassette and digital) for the use of blind and other print-disabled persons who are registered for the NLS program. These items are distributed through a nationwide network of libraries. The audiobooks and players are produced under Federal law, and they are, and remain, the property of the United States Government. Please refer to the United States Code, 2 U.S.C. 135a and 2 U.S.C. § 135b.
Items may include digital talking book players; cassette players; cassettes; digital cartridges; record players; and accessories. Images of some of the items are available through the NLS website.

These items may be labeled “Property of U.S. Government” and may also feature the official seal of the Library of Congress.

Sellers should be advised to return these items to the Library of Congress or to the local network library. There are a couple of options for returning these items

1. The items may be placed in a box of any sort and sent through the U.S. Postal Service as FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND to Equipment Control Officer, The Library of Congress, NLS, Washington, DC 20542.

2. A shipping box may be requested from one of the local network libraries. A list of libraries by state is available via the NLS website. This box is then mailed back to the local library.

Please direct questions about shipping to Shana Osborne, Equipment Control Officer, phone (202) 707-0324, email [email protected].