Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-29
MRS. llBoRio pELFINo
On Library Work for the Blind

VII etUTaVy "OTH tUS
THE growth of library facilities for the
L blind has been one of the most con.
spicuous features Of public library work in
the last quarter of century, says Mrs.
Liborio Delfno, chief Of the department for
the blind Of the Free Library Of Philadel-
phia. who has been in charge Of this work
for long time.
The extent to which blind persons use
the books Of the Free Library Of Philadel-
phia," said Mrs. Deffino may be estimated
from the fact that we have had 3543 regis
trations since the work began in 1893, al
though 1t was one year later when the de-
Pa.tment opened as & separate sa branch.
side, with the co operation of the Pennsyl-
vania Society for Home Teaching, and later
we administered the library Of that organi-
cation and still continue to do SO.
Most of the books which are used by
blind persons are taken for reading at home.
The Philadelphia Library was the pioneer
in this work so far as public libraries are
concerned. and when we began We had two
large round tables and about two dozen
chairs put in the department. But we soon
found that there was 80 little use made Of
these facilities that we used them for other
' MespS Extra Cost
1.-THE reason for this Is probably that
when a person deprived Of his sight wants to
read at q library, 1t usually means the car
fare and the time of another person who
must serve as his guide at least to bring
him, and then either wait or return for him.
We early found that practically all the
reading of these people is done at home. and
that has been our experience up to the pres
ent time. Even the mere matter of coming
to the library to exchange books means
another persons time and fare.
"Nevertheless, those blind persons who
4 Ia AL~,> kA.
come to the library to get acquainted with
the books which we have, and We are always
glad to welcome them.
'The public generally does not know per-
haps that there are several kinds Of printing
for the blind. The Moon type, SO called
after its inventor, William Moon. is the
largest, and 1t is especially adapted for
elderly persons whose sense Of touch is no
longer delicate. The matter of books for the
blind had Its origin In Philadelphia with
the Pennsylvania Bible Society, and the
Bible was the first book embossed. The very
general reading of this created demand
for other books. and the number of them
year until at this time there Is a large liter
nture in the various systems.
Some Other Systems
"In Philadelphia the work was practically
started by Mr.. Rhoads. The funds Of the
Bible Society were not available for any
purpose except the publication and distrlbu-
ton of Bibles, and Mr.. Rhoads raised
sum by his own efforts and bought other
hooks for the blind. AS tho work grew the
Free Library of Philadelphia was asked to
take 1t over.
The system now most generally used is
called the Braille improved. The Moon sys-
tenn is what is called line type; that is the
character representing the various letters of
the alphabet are made of raised lines, either
straight or curved. They are not identical
with the printed letters OF the alphabet The
Brnille is called q point type; that is, the
letters consist of a series Of raised dots,
vnriously arranged. This is practically the
universal type now. There is also the New
York point. Most blind persons who can
read can use all of them.
'The Braille system has series of abbre-
yiations or contractions by which a certain
set Of raised dots represent a whole word
instead of simply n letter. In Europe there
nre three grades Of Braille: No. l. having
no cOntractiOns each word being fully
spelled out by letter; No. 2 having n few
| authorizations and No. 3 having n preat
many. In the United States we generally
use what we call No. IN that is, it has
more contractions than the European No. /
but not so many as the European No. 2.
Pennsylvania the First
"The Pennsylvania Institute for the
first book of its kind In this country. As I
said, it was the Bible. The literature has
grown in volume and in diversity Of char