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Braille Literacy Month at your library!

January is Braille Literacy Month and the library is celebrating! 

Literacy is key to being able to read, write, and count. Learning braille helps children with visual impairments and blindness develop grammar, spelling, and understand punctuation. While libraries are generally associated with printed books or printed text, modern libraries are more accessible than in the past! Not only do they provide these printed materials but libraries can also provide books to individuals who use braille or are unable to use traditional print materials.

How do we here at Taylor Community Library do this? 

The Taylor Community Library, in cooperation with the National Library Service for the Blind and Print  Disabled (NLS), provides access to Braille and Talking Books (BTB) for individuals that are unable to use print materials due to either a temporary or permanent visual, physical, or reading disability. Library users who fit this criteria are able to submit an application for service.

Now you may be wondering what a program like this could look like for eligible library users…

The BTB program provides books in both braille and audio, so eligible library users are still able to enjoy books and magazines. Individual braille books and magazines are mailed in large, safe reusable containers, while digital audio books and magazines are loaded onto plastic cartridges (about the size of a cassette tape) that can be played on specially designed machines that are provided free to BTB users.

 

A digital talking books machine on a table with 1 book cartridge inserted into the player and a second cartridge lying in its open mailing case next to the player.

Digital Talking Book Player and 
book on cartridge

blue braille book standing upright on its black mailing case with two additional braille books in mailing cases lying nearby

Braille book and
braille mailing containers

But how does the library and NLS get these books and machines into the hands of readers? 

Another unique part of the program is that the cartridges and player are delivered to participant’s homes through the United States Postal Service at no cost to the participant. For BTB users that are more technologically savvy, the Braille and Talking Book program also offers BARD Mobile, a digital application that can be used on a smart device, such as a phone or tablet. With this app, participants have instant access to NLS’s complete library! Audio and braille books and magazines can be downloaded and enjoyed immediately on a user’s device.

Your Local BTB Library

In addition to being your local NLS contact for Braille and Talking Books, TCL provides other accessibility-related in-building resources as well. The library houses two large CCTV magnifying devices for reading as well as several handheld visual aids and dexterity aids, many of which are available to checkout with a library card! TCL also houses a growing children’s collection of popular titles in braille and print/braille combo, ranging from simple nursery rhymes to classic chapter books.

 

To learn more about the Braille and Talking Book program at the library, call us at 734-287-2840 and ask to speak with a BTB staff member, or visit the BTB page on our website.