Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library: An Insider Look

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[Library for the Blind, Braille reading.]
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I love working in different locations of NYPL and learning about different libraries and clientele, so I was thrilled to get an opportunity to work at the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library in NYC for a day. The library serves the blind, visually impaired, physically disabled, and reading disabled. The customers are print-disabled, meaning that they have difficulty holding a book, turning the pages, or seeing the words. The library looks like a research library, and it is part of the New York Public Library and also part of the National Library Service, which is part of the Library of Congress. This library provides services for blind customers in all five boroughs of New York City and Long Island.

Books by Mail

The branches of NYPL cater to their homebound clientele in their neighborhoods by sending books via the postal service. Sometimes, the patrons request specific titles, and sometimes they submit subject areas of interest that the librarians use in order to select items of interest for them.

The Andrew Heiskell Library sends out thousands of books every day. Only audio (digital or cassette) and braille books are sent out for the customers. There is a suggested loan period of four to six weeks, but there are no late fees. Every patron who would like the use of a free playback device can borrow it for as long as they need it. There are children's, teen, and adult audiobooks in English and Spanish. Every day, the staff ensures that the flash drives and the cases are matched up with the same titles, and then the books are checked in. Large print books placed on reserve for customers must be picked up at one of the NYPL branches. 

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Library for the Blind, "Home lesson in touch reading being given by a Blind Teacher," 1926 [actually taken in studio].
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Braille 

Most people who have been blind since childhood know braille, but not all of the people who become blind later in life can read braille. Some people think that braille is challenging to learn, but it is like the alphabet in that there are a series of dots to designate each letter, in six cells. A dot before a letter indicates that it is capital. Braille is written from right to left because the dots are poked out the other side of the paper. It is read from left to right. There is a braille tutor that is available for free sessions to learn the language. Unfortunately, in the schools, there is a decline of focus on teaching braille in favor of utilizing audio books. It is helpful to know braille for independence and also access to more information.  

Audio Studio

Amazingly enough, they record some of their audio books right at the library! They are narrated by 25 volunteers, some of whom are actors, and most of whom hold advanced degrees and a knowledge of literature. They avoid best-sellers, since the Library of Congress converts them to audio. They take recommendations from librarians, and they record about 25 books per year in sound-proof studios. (Another 2,000 are made available each year by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.) They have sound proofreaders, and they call back the volunteers in order to do "pick-ups." If customers listen to the flash drives on a device, they are able to speed up the sound. This allows them to read the book faster, just as sighted individuals can read print faster than people speak, and people can type faster than they can write by hand. 

One of the books that they made into an audio book was Two Seeing Eye Dogs Take Manhattan!: A Love Story.

Children's Room 

The children's room houses large print juvenile books, standard print books, braille books, giant picture books, and a tactile activity board for small children. There are picture books with a braille overlay so that blind caregivers can read to sighted children. They have summer reading activities and access to all of the services that NYPL provides. There is a children's librarian who visits schools and classes to talk to the kids about library services for the blind, braille and disability awareness.

The library caters to blind, visually impaired and disabled users, but it also assists sighted patrons. The majority of in-person customers are sighted. However, people with impaired vision do come in, sometimes with canes or guide dogs.

The circulation desk is on the first floor. Computers with JAWS and MAGIC software are available. (JAWS is screen-reading software, and MAGIC is screen-enlarging and contrast-adjusting software.) 

Laptop docking stations for computers are available, and a relaxing plush seating area is in the center of the public area. Braille typewriters are also available.  

Technology Classes

Technology classes are available on a wide range of topics, from typing teaching software for the visually impaired to iOS Apps for independence, blind cooking, and navigating the city. JAWS is screen reading software, and MAGIC is screen enlarging and contrast adjusting software. Special high-contrast keyboards are available for the classes.

There is also a beautiful reading terrace with greenery and vines that is available for customers to sit in. Digital books, braille books and laptop docking stations are available on the second floor.

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Library for the Blind, Wrapping Books
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Reference

Mostly, the information staff answers telephone reference queries, processes book requests, and does outreach to the community. There is also voicemail and email to respond to on a daily basis. 

There is no teen section in the library because there has not been a need in the community.