Braille and Talking Books Archive for Wayne County, Michigan

Dublin Core

Title

Subject

Digitized versions of original paperwork, photographs, printed matter, and other items documenting the work and workings of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Impaired (NLS) in Wayne County, Michigan

Description

In 1931, the Pratt- Smoot Act became law, and the Congress of the United States began the Books for the Adult Blind Project, to provide library service to people who are blind or visually challenged. The first available books were in New York point, Moon type, and Braille, all of which are raised (or embossed) signs that can be felt with fingers. In 1933 vinyl records were added to provide Talking Books. As the service developed, children and those with physical challenges to reading were added. The service changed its technology to keep up with needs and make use of available resources. Cassette tapes were adapted to a four track system for national distribution. Now users can receive Braille and audio books by mail or download.

Among the original 19 libraries established for the Books for the Adult Blind project in 1931, were two in Michigan: one in Detroit, and one in Saginaw. This archive contains some of the letters, documents, and other paperwork involved in maintaining that service in Wayne County, Michigan.

The service is provided today, in part, under the name of Braille and Talking Books, which is serviced by staff here at the Taylor Community Library. There are also an advisory service in Detroit, 9 others in various Michigan counties, and the state headquarters, the Braille and Talking Book Library in Lansing. There has been a tradition of library service of this kind in Wayne County, Michigan, including Detroit, for over 90 years.

The information in this Description section is available in more detail on the NLS (National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled) Laws and Regulations web page [https://www.loc.gov/nls/about/organization/history/], and the Library of Michigan's History of the Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped web page. [https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,9327,7-381-88857_89599-79831--,00.html]

Creator

Staff of the Detroit Public Library; staff of the Wayne County Library, specifically the Library for the Blind in Detroit, Michigan.
Staff of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Impaired and its antecedents, in Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan, and in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, and Washington, D.C.