Government Shutdown Affects NLS Services
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Summary
The federal government shutdown has affected some of the NLS services, but all services should be restored once the shutdown ends.
Due to the current federal government shutdown, all Library of Congress buildings, including the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), are closed as of October 1, 2025. This means that inquiries and requests to the NLS website will not be received or answered until government shutdown ends.
The government shutdown affects NLS services in the following ways:
- Physical locations are closed. All Library of Congress buildings, including NLS facilities, are closed.
- Web services are suspended. The NLS website and related web services are not updated. Staff cannot respond to online requests.
- Book and magazine access is limited. The online BARD service, which offers downloadable audiobooks and magazines, is affected. Users may not be able to download new materials or request items.
- Staff assistance is unavailable. Non-essential NLS staff members are furloughed and cannot respond to inquiries.
- Social media updates are paused. The Library of Congress, including NLS, is not posting updates on social media.
For the most current information, check the official Library of Congress website at loc.gov. However, the site may not be regularly updated during the shutdown.