Evening star., 1935-03-17

in the National Library are hand
copied. In our own country the Fed
eral appropriation last year printed
approximately rs new titles, while VOL
unteer transcribers gave to the blind
over 600. 1t is true that large per-
centage of the latter were in single
copy, while the former were in dupli-
cate, being distributed among "a
libraries. The Federal appropriation
has been used to a very large extent
in the printing of books of recognized
literary value, and often of preten-
tious size, books hitherto found too
expensive for Braille printing and too
long for tranScribing. A few examples
are: Plutarch's Lives" "a volumes;
Victor Hugo's LES Miserables," Is
volumes and Europe Since Waterloo"
by William Stearns Davis, IL volumes
These and many other high-grade
books are welcomed by students and
thoughtful readers. and are laying
the foundation for a we'll balanced
Braille literature. A certain per cent
of the appropriation is being used to
print outstanding works of fiction.
On the other hand, the volunteer
transcriber is free to cater to the
popular demand for light fiction and
for the special needs of individuals
and small groups. There is no COM
parison or conflict between the two
kinds of effort. Both are needed, if
the blind are to be helped through
Braille books to acquire higher edu-
cation. culture. success in business
81
venture into the world of thought
which books alone can give.
Back in June, 1917, the American
Association of Workers for the Blind
voted the adoption of form of raised
Braille for universal use in America.
It is now known as Revised Braille,
grade ~. For the first few years
after it's adoption the problems of
changing it to the new type were
MANY. But during 1918-19 the coun-
try's printing presses began printing
the new uniform type on fairly
large scale. At about the same time
the American Printing House for the
Blind followed suit.
TODAY in this country there is
fairly cohesive system for taking
care of the blinds reading matter
and while many of the interested or
ganizations are private. they cooper
ate in extremely helpful and friendly
fashion with the Federal and State
governments. Perkins Institute, in
Boston, and Overlook, just outside
PHILADELPHIA, are endowed privately.
PENNSYLVANIA has its State school at
Pittsburgh, and New York has two
such. the one in New York City and
the other in Batavia.
In addition some % good-sized IL
braries are maintained throughout the
country exclusively for the sightless.
Frequently they form an important
adjunct to the main libraries. and in
general makeup they are quite similar
to the service" room at the Library
of Congress.
Something Of the librarys tremen-
dous burden of responsibility has now
been removed from its work among
the unseeing The American Library
Association has greatly enlarged its
committee on projects for the blind
and now maintains a regular chair
man, Edward M. Peterson of the Chi
cago Public Library. whose distinct
work on the committee is the selection
of finest books for the adult blind.
Thus every school and library for the
blind today has an adviser thoroughly
grounded in Braille craftsmanship.
Lately, too, there has come an op-
portunity, though not as yet fully
realized. to meet and serve the voca-
tional interests of the sightless. For
instance. the Directory Of Activities