Experienced Bible distributer, Bible League International, weighs in on how to make Bibles available to those who are not able to purchase one in a traditional format.

While it may seem that Bibles are easy to obtain, Bible League International knows that not everyone has the luxury of owning their own copy. While many people keep a Bible in their house as a staple on their bookshelf, others view owning a Bible as a luxury. People have different reasons why a Bible is hard for them to purchase. Here are a few of the factors that make obtaining a traditional Bible difficult for certain people.

Bibles can be costly: Some lower income families may have a hard time affording a copy of the Bible. According to City Data, a Bible can cost as much as $150. While that may not seem like a lot to some, USA Today reports that same amount of money could equate to purchasing a week’s worth of groceries to feed a family of four. Families are forced to budget their dollars based upon fulfilling their needs. To some lower-income individuals, purchasing a Bible has to come second to taking care of their family and providing for their food, education, clothing and shelter.

Print bibles are not for the illiterate: For those that have a difficult time reading, a print copy Bible is not very practical. This is also the case for online and downloadable e-book Bibles. These people will require the assistance of someone to read their Bible to them or for a special Bible that caters to their needs.

The blind cannot read traditional bibles: Bible League International notes that like the illiterate, those that are blind or have difficulties with seeing clearly cannot benefit from owning a printed volume Bible.

“This can be very frustrating to someone who wants to practice their religion but can only find a printed copy of the Bible lying around,” says a spokesperson for Bible League International. They will need a special Braille Bible, which may not be easy to find in a traditional bookstore.

While print Bibles stock the shelves in most bookstores and religious shops, Bible League International recommends that distributors work to make Bibles more accessible to those that have a difficult time obtaining a traditional copy.

Aside from purchasing print copies for their stores, here are a few ways that can help make Bibles available to the general public:

Online bibles: For those that cannot afford a physical copy of a Bible, an online version is a great substitute. BibleGateway.com, for instance, provides links to Bibles in over 100 different languages, which are available for download. Bible.com offers free Bibles, which are free of ads and able to be conveniently downloaded. This is great for those that cannot afford to purchase a costly Bible but still want to be able to study scriptures on a daily basis.

Bible Applications: Android, smartphone and tablet users can download various applications that provide them with affordable Bibles they can take with them on the go. Apps like Holy Bible, Bible+ and Daily Bible Inspirations provide free downloadable Bibles and daily Bible readings. Fancier copies of the Bible can be purchased through applications for a reasonable fee such as NIV Bible ($5.99), Bible Reader ($2.99) and Bible Promises ($2.99)

Audiobook Bibles: A great solution for those that cannot read or see well is to purchase an audiobook Bible. Retailers like Amazon.com and Walmart sell a variety of Bible audiobook CDs, which can be put into a CD player at home or in a car. In addition, the iTunes and Android app store offers audiobook Bible apps, such as The Holy Bible, which is free to users. Computer users can also download a Bible audio book file onto their desktop and play it at their convenience.

Attend a Bible Study: For those who still aren’t able to purchase a Bible, Bible League International suggests joining a weekly Bible study. These are often offered by the church or are put together by parish members. In a Bible study, you will get together with a group of religious colleagues and will go through a reading on a weekly basis. Oftentimes, the group organizer will make photocopies of pages from the Bible and pass them out to be studied by the group members. In these situations, you are able to participate in the studies without owning your own copy of the Bible. If your group uses actual Bibles, you can pair up with a fellow group member and follow along on his or her Bible pages.

A Bible is something that should be accessible to everyone who wants one. While not everyone may have an easy time obtaining a Bible that meets their needs, there are ways to make owning a Bible something that everyone can achieve.

“A Bible is an important aspect of a person’s religious practice. It’s something that nobody should be denied,” says Bible League International.