The San Francisco call., 1908-08-23


are many lessons given 20 those who
come in reading, and the pupils are
eager to learn and very appreciative OF
the teachers efforts. The social life Is
not neglected IN connection with this
reading room. The directors give an
annual reception to the blind. with an
entertaining program, generally mu-
5ical, and there are frequent musical
Sunday afternoons and entertainments
on the second Friday Of each month.
And yet this work in the reading
room is only part of the work Visit
ing the blind in their homes, reading
to them and teaching those who cannot
go TO the library to read, occupy the
other days of the week when the room
is not open. AS Miss Young remarked.
blindness most frequently comes to the
adult blind with another aflictiOn in its
train, and SO many are thus cut of
from the comfort and pleasure OF get
ting out and around Then, too. the
state schools provide for the education
OF blind youth, but all those over 81
B years of age are not eligible for ad
mission to those Institutions Philan-
thropists today who are interested in
the blind have become impressed with
this condition and also with the fact
that the adult blind are vastly in the
majority as they constitute so per cent
OF the total blind population Not verv
long ago librarian of public library
in large western city stated that he
mad a quantity of books for the sight
less on his shelves. but they were rare
~ taken out or used. This was due to
the fact that the adult blind of his
city, numerous though they were. had
not been taught to read and conse-
quently there could be no demand for
DOCKS. Since so many of the adult
blind cannot leave their homes. home
teaching has become a most vital fac
tor in all work for their benefit II is
being revived by the Woman's club in
Chicago, and a recent issue of the Out
look for the Blind cOmmends the good
home teaching work going on in New
York. Massachusetts. Connecticut
Rhode Island. Cincinnati and San Fran
cisco.
Moon Types Is Easy
Some of the adult blind find it very
difficult to learn to read the New York
point or the Ameriean Braille. hut any
one who could read before losing his
eyesight can learn to read the moon
type. Many acquire the ability to read
1t in one or two lessons. This would
be cheering news to Marny. I thought.
The home teacher carries the reading
10 the blind person. and with few
words of encouragement helps him to
make successful beginning, and then
the work is half accomplished. Then
practice, and when the pupil has be-
come proficient he is ready for his
books in embossed type which he can
get at the San Francisco reading room
or from the state library Through the
oenefcent Rucker law books can be
sent through the United States mail to
the blind reader postage free.
The Books for the Blind Division Of
California
founded by the trustees of the state
library December 1904. with the in
tention of supplying books for the
home use of all blind persons in Cali
fornia Circular letters were sent out
to all the blind it SNas possible to To-
cate to find out what kind OF print they
preferred. 1t was found that the type
most requested was the New York
point the second preference being
given to the Moon type This guided
the librarian in the choice Of print, and
soon the library was in working order.
The first book was loaned June 13-1905.
Today there are 1872 blind borrowers
scattered all the way from Siskiyou
county to San Diego. Most of the read
ers are very ambitious and are learning
several different systems in order to
have greater variety Of books to
read To those who wish to learn
new print the library sends. upon ap-
plication. an alphabet and primer, and
these may be kept as long as needed.
Each borrower may take out two books
and one piece of music or one book and
one primer at a time. and each Of them,
the primer excepted. may be kept a
month with the privilege of renewal
unless it is wanted by some other
reader. The borrowing of the books
has been thoughtfully made the SIM
plest and easiest of matters for the
blind reader. An application blank.
list of books for the blind and a call
slip are mailed on request After the
borrower is enrolled in the blind di-
vision OF the library the book or piece
of music he wishes is mailed TO. him.
and at the expiration Of a month pos
tai and return postal notice are sent
him so that il he wishes the book or
music renewed he may notify the libra
rian. The library asks only that the
reader take great care to keep the
books clean: that he rest his fingers
lightly on the raised letters while read
ing. and that upon the return Of the
book he use the same wraDpings- II
came in and upon which is a la5et adj
dressed to the state library at Sacra-
mento-
Collections Of from 10 to 25 books
are loaned te any free reading room or
library in the state provided they. be
open to the public. and the express
charges are paid by the state library.
The San Francisco reading room for the
blind has been a grateful borrower
from this Books for the Blind Di-
vision
Thus in looking for little help for
our poor blind Marry, found a splen-
did movement. carried on by number
of our philanthropic women In San
Francisco. for the help Of the afflicted
blind in their midst. This is a move
ment bound to grow and one bound to
bring forth more good fruit in abun-
dance. And the state library is helping
some of the blind readers in San Fran
cisco, too. as well as those all over the
state.
When / thanked Miss Young that
Saturday morning for her generous gift
OF time and Interesting information
about her work she said nodestly, ~Oh.
1 don't talk about the work very we'll
I like to do it better.
As for Marny. she has already mas
tered the Moon system. and shall take
her her first book from the reading
room for the blind next week