Statement on closure of RNIB’s Giant Print Library

The RNIB Giant Print Library and Moon Library in Peterborough will close on 31 January 2021, with customers being notified by letter, week commencing 2 November 2020.

David Clarke, RNIB Director of Services, said:

“The shift in the way our library users now access books through mainstream devices such as the iPad and Amazon Kindle, where font sizes and colours are easily adjustable, has meant that operating a traditional giant print and Moon library is no longer sustainable.

“We understand the decision will disappoint some customers who still use the service, however borrowing numbers have been steadily falling, and the cost to run the service has continued to rise.

“We know reading is important to our customers and large print formats will still be available from our free Personal Transcription Service, which will produce books in bespoke large print for customers on request. We will also continue to offer accessible books and reading materials in other formats. These are available through RNIB’s own free Online Reading Library, which is the largest of its kind in the UK, our braille library and Talking Books service. Our Library and Tech for Life Teams will also be on hand to support and guide customers through the transition.

“We will be offering customers, including schools, the opportunity to keep books that they order from now on until the service is finally closed. Any books that are not gifted to customers will be donated overseas to a number of organisations that RNIB has sent books to over many years.”