Who We Are

The Massachusetts Accessible Instructional Materials Library (AIM Library) acquires, maintains and distributes accessible textbooks and specialized instructional materials to assist LEAs and TVIs in providing equal access to the curriculum and to support and improve the quality of education for K-12 students who are blind or visually impaired.

The AIM Library serves as an additional resource for school districts seeking to borrow materials on a per-school-year basis. The AIM Library is not equipped to respond to all of the needs of the Commonwealth’s students with visual impairments and print disabilities. Therefore, school districts cannot rely upon the AIM Library solely to meet their obligations to provide any and all specialized materials deemed essential for student learning and that are identified in the student’s IEP.

The AIM Library provides on a first come first serve basis. We reserve the right to limit textbook requests and consider workbooks and recreational reading materials a low priority. The student’s school district is responsible for securing items that the Library is unable to provide.

In addition to large print and braille textbooks, the AIM Library is able to offer: core curriculum educational materials, assistive technology devices for braille and low vision learners, braille writers and embossers, handheld and desktop magnifiers, pre-braille and braille literacy kits, tactile tools, CVI instructional/teaching materials, early childhood learning manipulatives, adaptive sports equipment, balls and games, expanded core curriculum kits, orientation and mobility teaching materials and many other products/resources for students who are blind or have low vision.  The AIM Library also provides the previous year’s MCAS release test items from DESE in braille for use as a practice test.

The AIM Library can refer districts to specialized sources nationally to purchase materials not available through the AIM Library. Resources in this area are very limited; public school districts are encouraged to use local resources for transcription and enlargement of textbooks to facilitate access to these materials for the students in their district.

The AIM Library is also an Authorized User (AU) of the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) and utilizes NIMAS files in the production of accessible textbooks for eligible students.