New-York tribune., 1908-01-08
READING FOR BLIND.
4 Circulating Library That Could
Use More Books to 4dUdntage.
NEW JERSEY.

The fact that sghtIess persons are able TO READ
and enjoy books no longer strikes one as remark
able. and 1t is accepted matter or course WIFI
out realizing how wonderful it is.
1t is a far cry from 1874, when blind boy named
I.eseur found on a piece of paper the letter 20
accidentally embossed. and ran to his teacher ex-
claiming that he could feel it and that 1t was the
letter 90 to 1905 when thousands of blind per-
sons read and enjoy library privileges as do their
more fortunate brothers and sisters But that ac-
cidentally embossed letter discovered by little lad
was the beginning Of printed matter for the blind
The first books to be printed In type for the
blind were textbooks and religious WORKS ana
tracts The idea of having books on general
literature and circulating them from library Is
comparatively recent. These libraries for the blind
may be found in several cities. usually conducted
in connection with the public libraries There is
large one in Philadelphia and small one in Brook
lyn In the Brooklyn Library for the Blind MISS
Beryl Clark herself blind, Is in charge.
The best equipped library for the blind, however,
with books in a great variety of types Is the LII
brarv for the Blind at No. IA Amsterdam avenue.
in the building of the St Agnes branch of the New
York Public Library. 1t is one of the regular New
York City libraries, but necessarily its rules and
regulations differ largely from those of other
libraries It is in charge of Miss Lucy Gold
thwaite and 1t is open on weekdays only from
to p. m.
BOOKS WEIGH FOUR POUNDS
1t is probably the quetest library in the city, for
It is seldom that the chairs occupied ny read
ers or the shelves disturbed by those in search or
hooks Almost the entire circulation is carried on
through the mails The chief reason for THIS Is the
inability of the blind 10 find their way 10 the
library alone, and few of them have guldeS. IN
consenuence free postal service for these books
has been esta blished, and any blind resident or
NeU York New Jersey or Connecticut can have
two volumes and current magazine sent - his
nearest postoffice at any time. AS the books for
these blind weigh four pounds or more. postmen
are not required deliver them. but usually some
friend can he found who will get the books from
the nostoftice for them. If this way is Impossible
for the vould-be reader, some other way VIII oe
found The blind no more eager TO get me
books than is the New York Public Library to send
them These hooks may be kept one month"; ana
renewed for another month If desired.
All the types for the blind represented in this
collection The Moon type, which is the Oldest and
the most easily read, is the one most used by the
older persons Those who have learned to read
since the other types were invented have not
learned the Moon and its will be gradually
discontinued There are in this type some of the
popular books, but the majority are religious.
Among the books are the Bible in sixty volumes.
hvun books. sermons. Burns's Longfellow's and
Tennyson's poems. some of Shakespeares plays,
htographies of Bunyan, Columbus. Mckinley,
Washington. Queen Victoria, etc. few histories.
.srhe Sky Pilot John Halifax" "Ivanhoe." THE
can of the Wild Mrs. Wigs of the Cabbage
Patch" and others. The Moon Magazine, a
uonthlv publication, is received there.
While the library has great many books in the
Line Letter that type is gradually going out of
use The American Braille is used to some extent,
hut the New York Point is read most in this city.
The majority of the books and most of the music
in this library arc In that type. In all other coun
tries the Universal Brale is the type most in use.
and II is said that time. doubt, 1t win be
adopted universally
The only weekly newspaper published for the
blind is the weekly edition OF THE London Daily
Nair' in the Universal Brae. The New York
library is only one in this country 10 have the
publication