RNIB’s catalogues
RNIB has music collections in both its leisure and education catalogues:
- Its leisure collection – RNIB Library – includes braille music scores. Blind or partially sighted people based in the UK can register for RNIB Library for free.
- Its education collection – RNIB Bookshare – includes PDF copies of music books that have been contributed by publishers. If you live in the UK, you can access RNIB Bookshare though your school, college, university or educational organisatoin. If you are learning an instrument as an adult, then you should be able access RNIB Bookshare through your local Music Hub.
Personal Transcription Service
Transcription from a standard print or PDF score to large print or braille is free for individuals. Please see the following link: https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/reading-and-books/transcription-services/
Update May 2025: RNIB’s Personal Transcription service will remain free for eligible customers for the next year, with RNIB covering the costs incurred where the service is provided via an external provider, A2i Transcription Services, an organisation steeped in accessibility for more than 20 years.
Although RNIB is no longer providing transcription directly, we are focused on addressing gaps where transcription is not available at the source.
Please call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk for further advice and information on how to place an order for your personal transcription work. We’ll work with A2i to fulfil your order as quickly and efficiently as possible.
