Library

“What a school thinks about its library is a measure of what it feels about education.”

~Harold Howe

Our MSDB Library, also known as the Instructional Materials Center (IMC), is the hub of our Bitterroot building. The Library/IMC provides a variety of books, resources, and services for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deafblind, as well as their families, professionals in the field, and communities who serve our students and families.

School Library

The MSDB School Library/IMC can be accessed through the online catalog. One of our main goals is to promote reading and literacy at all levels. The library provides appropriate fiction and non-fiction reading materials for students ranging in age from preschool through high school, including titles for beginning readers and those who struggle with reading.

Books in the general school collection typically are not available for checkout outside of MSDB students and staff, since many are already on-hand in local school or public libraries statewide. Exceptions can be made, but please check your local library before making a request.

The MSDB Library/IMC also houses special collections (see below) that are available for statewide checkout by families of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deafblind, as well as professionals who serve these students. To view these special materials, go to the online catalog and in the “Search for” box type any of the following categories:

  • Large Print Books (books for students who need increased font size, these books tend to be geared toward 4th grade reading level and up, with some exceptions at lower grades)
  • Interpreter Materials (sign language materials and texts for interpreter/educator use)
  • Print Braille (picture books that combine print, illustrations, and braille)
  • Audiobooks (sound recordings on tape/CD, some are kits that contain book + audio)
  • Shared Reading Project (sign language kits that contain a picture book & DVD for practice)
  • Indian Education (Indian Education for All materials – generally in regular print)
  • Braille (includes all braille books – also try searching for an individual title to limit results)

Professional & Outreach Library

Our professional collection of comprehensive materials is available to families and professionals throughout the state. These can be accessed through our online catalog and are available for loan. Professional resources include:

For more information about our Library, please contact us at 406-771-6000 (voice), 406-205-0016 (videophone), 1-800-882-MSDB, or email info@msdb.k12.mt.us

Other Materials and Resources

  • American Printing House for the Blind
    MSDB orders accessible materials statewide for school districts for students with a qualifying vision loss through the American Printing House (APH) for the Blind using Federal Quota Funds. To learn more about this program, contact your local Outreach Consultant for the Visually Impaired.
  • Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP)
    The Described and Captioned Media Program provides premium media designed to be accessible to students with disabilities. See their website for more information and to create a free account: https://dcmp.org/
  • Montana Talking Book Library (MTBL)
    The Montana Talking Book Library is a program of the Montana State Library system. Materials from the MTBL can be checked out by Montana residents who are unable to use standard print materials due to visual, physical, and/or reading disabilities. See their website for more information and to apply for an account: http://tbl.msl.mt.gov/