The Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services
Welcome to the Florida Division of Blind Services, Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services Page. If you or someone you know has trouble reading print because of an eye problem or reading disability, or has difficulty holding a book because of arthritis, a stroke, or an accident, the Braille and Talking Book Library can help keep you in touch
Florida Celebrates Louis Braille's Birthday and National Braille Literacy Month!
The Bureau of
Braille and Talking Book Library Services is celebrating both World Braille Day and Braille Literacy Month.
World Braille Day is to honor Louis Braille's birthday. He invented Braille and was born on January 4th, 1809. This year is especially exciting because it is the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille's birth.
Because Louis Braille was born in January, the United States recognizes January as National Braille Literacy Month. To commemorate this important month, Governor Charlie Crist proclaimed January as Braille Literacy Month in Florida. You can celebrate Braille Literacy Month also.
- Read Florida's Braille Literacy Month Proclamation
- Read a short biography of Louis Braille
- Learn information about Braille
- Decode Riddles - Using Grade 1 Braille (for the sighted)
- Read why Braille is important
- Use our suggested Braille bibliography to find more detailed information to read. All books are available through our Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services.
- If you are a teacher, parent or caregiver of a child who is blind, a person who works with people who are blind, or just want to know more about Braille consider learning Braille on line. Braille through Remote Learning is an online instructional program with a series of three integrated online courses for people who wish to become Braille literate.
- If you are a Braille reader but have not read a Braille book in quite some time, consider reading a Braille book this month. Our Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services has a large collection of Braille reading material. You can browse available Braille books online at http://www.klas.com/flbtbl. Be sure that Braille is selected as the media type.
Also, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has a wonderful site called the Braille Bug. The Braille Bug has lots of information about Braille (the man and the code), Helen Keller, and games and ideas for people who are sighted or visually impaired.
Library Services
To better understand what we have available:
- Take a short video tour of Braille and Talking Book Library Services;
- View the Library's Frequently Asked Questions; or
- Read Braille and Talking Library Services at a Glance.
Facts about the Library
The Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services serves more than 39,000 Florida residents who cannot use standard print reading materials as the result of a visual, physical, or reading disability. It is the largest library of its kind in the U.S., with a collection of more than 2.4 million items in Braille or on cassette, and annual loans exceeding 1.6 million items.
News and Hot Topics
Keep up with news about talking books or library services
The National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) is working on a project to provide readers with a digital format of reading materials. Learn more by following these links: