Most people don't know how many free large print options exist in Canada. Between federal accessibility programs, provincial library systems, and digital platforms, a significant library can be built without spending a dollar. Here's where to look.
Large print books at Canadian retailers run $25–$40 each. That adds up fast. But there are well-funded federal programs specifically designed to provide free reading materials to Canadians with print disabilities — and most eligible readers have never heard of them.
CELA and NNELS together have over a million titles available at no cost to eligible Canadians. These aren't obscure government databases — they include current bestsellers, Canadian authors, and a genuinely broad selection. The barrier is that no one tells you they exist.
If you're not sure whether free large print, an e-reader, audiobooks, or a magnifier is the right next step, start with the Reading Format Chooser. If the real problem is figuring out whether to try Libby, CELA, NNELS, interlibrary loan, or a used copy first, use the Readable Copy Route Planner. It gives you the order instead of another generic resources list.
celalibrary.ca
CELA is Canada's national library for people with print disabilities. It's funded by Employment and Social Development Canada and operated in partnership with Toronto Public Library. The collection includes over 800,000 titles in accessible formats — DAISY audio, accessible EPUB (ebooks that can be enlarged or read aloud), and braille.
Many of these titles are in accessible EPUB format, which means you can read them on a Kobo e-reader at whatever font size you need. The DAISY audio format is specifically designed for accessibility — it has chapter navigation, bookmarks, and speed control that standard MP3 audiobooks don't have.
CELA serves all of Canada. You apply through your local public library — they process the eligibility registration and give you access credentials.
What's available: Bestsellers, Canadian authors, genre fiction, biography, non-fiction, children's and YA titles. Selection has grown substantially in recent years with accessible ebook licensing.
Cost: Free to eligible Canadians. No subscription, no per-book charge.
nnels.ca
NNELS is a Canadian non-profit that provides an accessible ebook repository for public libraries. If a title exists and you need it in an accessible format, NNELS will create it — they have a production team that converts books into accessible EPUB or DAISY format on request.
This makes NNELS especially valuable for books that aren't commercially available in accessible formats. If you want to read a specific Canadian author's backlist, a regional history book, or a title that was never given a large print edition, NNELS can often help where commercial sources can't.
NNELS is accessed through your provincial or regional library system. Not every province has the same level of integration, but BC, Manitoba, and several others have strong NNELS partnerships.
Cost: Free to eligible Canadians with a print disability.
Every public library in Canada has a physical large print collection. Most have been growing these collections for years, and the selection is better than many people expect. Major libraries like Toronto Public Library, Vancouver Public Library, and Calgary Public Library maintain thousands of large print titles.
You can borrow them for free with a library card. Waiting lists exist for popular new releases, but for backlist titles and authors you want to explore, availability is usually immediate.
If your local branch doesn't have a specific title, ask about inter-library loan. Canadian public libraries have well-developed networks that allow them to borrow from each other.
A title not at your branch can often be brought in from another library in the system — or from another system entirely — within a few weeks. This service is free.
Digital borrowing: Most libraries also let you borrow large-text ebooks through OverDrive/Libby and cloudLibrary. Kobo users get native access to these directly on their device. See our guide on library ebooks in Canada for setup details.
libbyapp.com · overdrive.com
Libby is the app interface for OverDrive, the digital lending platform used by most Canadian public libraries. You sign in with your library card and borrow ebooks and audiobooks — the same way you borrow physical books, but instantly and from home.
The ebooks aren't specifically "large print editions" — they're standard ebooks, but you can make the font as large as you need in any compatible reading app or device. On a Kobo, the font is fully adjustable. On a phone or tablet, the same control exists in the Libby app itself or in other reader apps.
Selection varies by library but is generally strong for bestsellers and popular fiction. Non-fiction, specialty topics, and older backlist can be hit or miss. Most titles have wait times for popular new releases, similar to physical holds.
Cost: Free. You need a library card for a participating library. Most Canadian public libraries participate in OverDrive.
cloudlibrary.com
cloudLibrary is a second digital lending platform used by many Canadian libraries — especially in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. Some libraries use only OverDrive, some use only cloudLibrary, and some use both. It's worth checking which platforms your library supports, because the title overlap isn't complete and each has unique titles.
The cloudLibrary app works on iOS, Android, and as a dedicated reader on certain e-reader devices. Setup is similar to Libby — library card, PIN, done.
Cost: Free with a participating library card.
gutenberg.org
Project Gutenberg has over 70,000 free ebooks in the public domain — works whose copyright has expired. For large print purposes, this is most useful for classics: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and thousands more.
You download these as EPUB files and read them on a Kobo (or any ebook reader) at any font size you want. There's no "large print edition" as such — you simply set your own size. For readers who love classic literature, it's an extraordinary resource.
The Canadian mirror of Project Gutenberg ensures the service works reliably. The selection is limited to public domain works, so you won't find books published after roughly 1928.
Cost: Free. No registration required. Download and read.
bookdepot.com
Book Depot is a Canadian remainder bookseller based in Thorold, Ontario. They carry overstocked and remaindered books at significant discounts — including a large print section that frequently has titles at $5–$10 CAD instead of the usual $30+.
The selection is unpredictable — you're buying clearance stock, so what's available changes constantly. But for readers who want physical large print books and want to spend as little as possible, checking Book Depot monthly is worth doing.
They ship across Canada, and the shipping costs are reasonable for orders over a certain threshold. Not free, but $7 for a large print novel is a very different proposition than $35.
cnib.ca/en/programs-and-services/cnib-library
CNIB operates a free library service for Canadians who are blind, partially sighted, or have another print disability. The collection includes digital talking books (DAISY format), braille books, and other accessible formats. It's similar in scope to CELA but operated independently.
CNIB's library is accessible to anyone who qualifies — you don't need to be a CNIB client or have previous involvement with the organization. Registration is straightforward through their website or by calling their national service line.
Cost: Free for eligible Canadians.