Users of Braille who are served by the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking
Book Library in New York City, (please note the name change), might be
interested in the following information.

The Good News: The Braille collection on the second floor of the library
has been rearranged. You can now find books by author in Fiction, and by
Dewey Decimal category in Nonfiction. Now when you visit in person or when
you order books in Braille, it will be much easier for both you and the
librarians to find what you want.
Now, here comes the bad news. The Braille collection which used to
comprise two floors of our library is being cut by half. In other words,
the only Braille remaining is that on the second floor, two small shelves
on the first floor and a few books in the children's area. The
justification for cutting the collection is that circulation of braille
material is very low.
What Can We DO? Three things! First of all, order, order, order. Find
things you like in the Braile Book Review and ask for them. Scond, write
to the director of the library and let him know how much you likeBraille
and how important it is to maintain a Braille collection in one of the
world's largest cities. Third: Visit the library in person.Give input as
to what you want in the Braille collection. Perhaps you use Braille for
reference bookks and plays. Perhaps you only use Braille when you want to
curl up in bed with a good mystery novel. Whatever your thoughts, this is
the time to expres them.
Contact the director of the library at the following email address:
[log in to unmask]
Speak about Braille literacy; speak about the times when tapes are no use
e.g., when there are a million words you can't spell or when you need to
read along with others in a class or work situation.
Do wha you can but do it soon. This problem is not going away but the
braille certainly will.
Call for books at:
212 206-5400
Thank you.
Catherine


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-Catherine Thomas
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