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    Tips & Tricks
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    5 min read 6 stepsMay 9, 2026Verified May 2026

    Reading at 75 and Older with Low Vision

    Large print books, Kindle and Kobo and Apple Books font tricks, audiobooks through Libby, and library options for low-vision seniors.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Tips & Tricks
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    5 min read
    Steps
    6
    Topics covered
    reading
    large-print
    audiobooks
    libby
    kindle
    kobo
    low-vision
    seniors

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.Borrow large print books from the public library
    2. 2.Set up a Kindle, Kobo, or Apple Books with huge fonts
    3. 3.Install Libby and borrow free audiobooks from the library
    4. 4.Add Audible or Hoopla for more audiobook titles
    5. 5.Slow down or speed up audio for comfort
    6. 6.Try Bookshare for full library access at very low cost
    1

    Borrow large print books from the public library

    ~22s
    Visit the local public library and ask the reference desk for the Large Print section. Most libraries keep these books separate, with 16- or 18-point font, often on cream-colored paper that reduces glare. Library staff will order titles from sister branches at no charge. Many libraries also deliver books to homebound readers — ask about the Books by Mail or Homebound Services program.
    2

    Set up a Kindle, Kobo, or Apple Books with huge fonts

    ~39s
    On a Kindle, open any book, tap the top of the screen, tap Aa, and drag the font size slider to the largest setting. The Kindle Paperwhite supports up to 14 different sizes. On a Kobo, tap the page, tap the Aa icon, and choose any font and size combination. In Apple Books on an iPhone or iPad, tap the AA button at the top right of any open book to change size, font, page color, and brightness. A tan or sepia page color often reads easier than pure white.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: The OpenDyslexic font, available on Kobo and on Kindle through the Bookerly menu, helps some readers with low vision even though it was designed for dyslexia.

    3

    Install Libby and borrow free audiobooks from the library

    ~23s
    Download the Libby app on a phone or tablet. Enter the library card number and PIN. Search for any audiobook in the library catalog, tap Borrow, and tap Open in Libby. Borrowed audiobooks play directly inside Libby with adjustable speed, sleep timer, and chapter navigation. Most libraries lend audiobooks for 14 or 21 days at a time. Returns happen automatically so there are no late fees.
    4

    Add Audible or Hoopla for more audiobook titles

    ~24s
    Audible costs about 16 dollars a month and gives one audiobook credit plus unlimited access to a rotating catalog. Hoopla is free with a library card and offers a set number of borrows per month, usually four to eight. Both apps let an audiobook play in the background while the phone screen is off, with playback controls on the lock screen and the home screen for quick pausing.
    5

    Slow down or speed up audio for comfort

    ~21s
    Every audiobook app supports speed control. In Libby and Audible, tap the playback speed icon and pick between 0.5x (half speed) and 3.0x (triple speed). Many readers prefer 0.85x to 0.95x for a relaxed listening pace, while others like 1.2x to 1.5x to finish more books. The voice still sounds normal at those speeds, not chipmunk-like, because of pitch-correction technology.
    6

    Try Bookshare for full library access at very low cost

    ~23s
    Bookshare is a service from Benetech that lends digital books to people with print disabilities, including AMD, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. After a quick application with proof of vision impairment from an eye doctor, members get unlimited downloads of more than one million books for 50 dollars a year, or free for students. Books can be read with synthesized voice, large print, or braille displays.

    You Did It!

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    Need more help? Book a TekSure tech

    Many people who loved reading their entire life feel cut off from books when low vision sets in. The good news is that reading is one of the activities where assistive technology has advanced furthest. Between large-print books from the public library, adjustable fonts on e-readers, and a flood of free audiobooks from apps like Libby, almost every reader can keep reading. The choice often comes down to what feels most familiar — paper, screen, or listening.

    Large-print paper books, printed at 16-point font or larger, have been around for decades. The American Library Association requires public libraries to stock them. Most county library systems have a separate Large Print section, and the librarian will happily order specific titles from another branch. The Library of Congress runs the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, which mails free large-print and audio books to anyone who qualifies.

    E-readers solved a problem that paper cannot. On a Kindle, Kobo, or Apple Books app, the same book can be set to any font size, the screen can be lit at any brightness, and pages can be turned with a tap. The Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra have e-ink screens that look like paper and do not strain the eyes the way a phone screen can.

    Audiobooks may be the biggest win. Libby, the free app from public libraries, lets a library cardholder borrow audiobooks from the home library — no driving, no late fees. Apps like Audible (paid) and Hoopla (free with library card) add more titles. Many seniors with severe AMD say audiobooks restored a daily joy they thought was gone. Sources include the National Library Service at loc.gov/nls, Libby by OverDrive at libbyapp.com, and Bookshare at bookshare.org.

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    reading
    large-print
    audiobooks
    libby
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    kobo
    low-vision
    seniors

    Official Resources

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