What Can You Do? Some Reflections on Library Services for Blind Children

What Can You Do? Some Reflections on Library Services for Blind Children

Future Reflections Spring/ Summer1989, Vol. 8 No. 2
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WHAT CAN YOU DO?
SOME REFLECTIONS ON LIBRARY
SERVICES FOR BLIND CHILDREN
by Barbara Cheadle
There has been a steady increase within the past
four or five years in the emphasis and attention
given to library services for blind children. Not
coincidentally, it was about five years ago that
parents of blind children began to speak up at
NFB national conventions about library services
and books for blind children. Mr. Frank Kurt
Cylke, Director of the National Library Service
for the Blind (NLS), fielded our questions and
listened to our recommendations. Sometimes he
agreed with us, and sometimes he didn't. But he
always listened. (National Federation of the
Blind Conventions are great places to buttonhole
top officials in work with the blind. The
directors and administrators from the Social
Security Administration, the Department of
Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration,
the Library for the Blind, etc. who attend
Federation conventions as guest speakers, come
to listen as well as to speak.)
NLS has responded to our concern for quality
children's services in a number of ways in recent
years. For example, in 1985 NLS commissioned
and published a book about reading and library
services called, R is for Reading. The book raised
many issues and pointed out several deficiencies
in library services to blind children around the
country. NLS then formed an internal committee
Yes, we are making progress. But, as always, how
far and how fast we advance depends upon individuals
who make a personal commitment and
who get out and do what needs to be done.
If you would like to do something to improve
library services for blind children, but just aren't
sure where to begin, here are some suggestions:
1. Join the National Federation of the Blind in your state and find out what your NFB affiliate is
doing to improve library service. You may be
asked to write letters, testify at hearings, or serve
on a committee. If your affiliate is not doing anything
regarding library services at the moment,
find out why and volunteer to work on a library
improvement project. Sometimes our affiliates
are so swamped with problems and issues that it
is not possible to work on everything that needs
to be changed. But if even one more person joins
the chapter, then the affiliate may be able to take
on another project that needs doing.
2. Learn how to use your regional library for the blind and then teach your child how to use the
library independently. Your child should know
how to use the equipment properly and should be
responsible for returning books promptly and in
good condition. On the other hand, he or she
should also learn from you what to expect from
the library. At the minimum the library should
provide prompt, courteous, and professional service.
It is not acceptable, for example, for
librarians to discuss what books a patron reads
with anyone (including your child's teacher) but
the patron, or, in the case of a blind child, with
the blind child's parents.
3. Encourage your library for the blind to get involved
with community projects which highlight
the importance of literacy, reading, library services,
etc. In Maryland the library for the blind
has participated for two years in a Read-AThon
held in one of the city's most popular malls.
Along with sighted men, women, and children,
blind adults and children read aloud to passing
shoppers. This project helps the public understand
that although the method of reading is different
(Braille instead of print) for the blind, the
end result--literacy--is the same. (Please note
that this project wouldn't be possible if blind
adults and parents of blind children did not participate.
In this case the library asked the local
NFB chapter to help recruit adults and children
to read, and we did.)
4. Encourage your library for the blind to set up special programs for young blind readers, such as
the summer reading program described in the article
"Washington Library Initiates Children's
Reading Program" on page 19 of this issue.
Again, be prepared to support the program by
seeing to it that your child and others participate.
NOTE: The NFB contact person regarding
library services for blind children is Barbara
Cheadle. If you have questions, comments, or
recommendations regarding those services that you
would like to share, you may contact:
Mrs. Barbara Cheadle
1800 Johnson Street,
Baltimore, MD 21230;
(301) 659-9314 or (301) 747-3472.
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