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The Homai Special Formats Library

The Homai Special Formats Library is a national library service for younger readers. Its collections include:

  • Collage books. Sturdy, hard-covered picture books with large print and braille text and bright, bold collage illustrations.
  • Braille books. Fiction, non-fiction and textbooks for all ages. Many are illustrated with thermoform pictures.
  • Twin vision picture books with clear plastic braille over the original print or with clear plastic braille pages inserted between the original print pages.
  • Talking books recorded on audio cassettes. Fiction, non-fiction and textbooks for all ages.
  • Large print books in 18 point font. Mostly fiction for ages 9 to 16.

Borrowers use the Library to obtain material that supports the school curriculum or titles for leisure reading. The Library offers a reference service that can help its users obtain sources of information needed for homework and assignments. It also advises on the resources that are available through school and public libraries.

Photograph showing collage books with tactile pictures of animals, talking book containers, two volumes of braille and one of the zippered canvas bags used for posting braille books.
Homai Special Formats Library collections include talking books, braille, large print, tactile picture books, and collage books for young readers.

Who can use the library?

If you are a member of the RNZFB or enrolled with a Visual or Sensory Resource Centre, you can borrow books from Homai Library. If you are not sure if this includes you, please contact one of the librarians and ask - we are happy to help.

How do I find out which books are available?

  • You can search for books using the online library catalogue.
  • You can phone or email one of the librarians and ask about particular books, subjects, authors or kinds of stories.
  • You can read Bookworm online. Bookworm is a fortnightly list of new and interesting books in braille, audio and large print.
  • You can receive Sound and Touch, the RNZFB's library newsletter, which describes new braille and talking books which have recently been added to the Foundation's library collections.

Borrowing and returning books

Books are loaned for 3 months but you can return them sooner. Textbooks are loaned for one year. There are no overdue fines, but people who don't return books may be asked to pay for them, or may lose their library service.

Some clients use our collage exchange service. They are sent two books, and when they return them, we automatically send them two more.

You can choose a number of braille, large print or talking books for us to enter on your library computer record. The computer will then select another from your list to send to you when one is returned.

There is no charge to you for postage. Braille, collage, and twin vision books are sent in red bags. Talking books, in yellow plastic boxes. Both have labels on the front. To return the books, turn the address label over so that it shows the library address and drop the bag or box into your local post office. Large print books are sent with a stamped addressed envelope for you to return them.

Library Hours:

Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 4.30 pm, including school holidays (subject to change).

For more information:

  • Phone: 09 268 3215
  • Fax: 09 268 3216
  • Tollfree: 0800 24 33 33 option 5.
  • Email: homailibrary.
  • Mail: Homai Special Formats Library
    c/- BLENNZ, Homai Campus
    131 Browns Road
    Private Bag 75 801
    Manurewa
    Manukau 2243