The Beginnings
1919
Robert Atkinson started the Universal Braille Press, later to become Braille Institute, in the converted garage of his house in Los Angeles.
1924
The first King James Version of the Bible printed in revised Braille (21 volumes) by the Universal Braille Press. This project was the forerunner of the Library’s book collection.
1925
Sixteen U.S. libraries supported by the Library of Congress authorized to distribute Braille books.
1931
After the Pratt-Smoot Act was signed into law, as of March 3rd, funding established through the Library of Congress for raised-print literature for blind people. Atkinson is credited with initiating the lobbying of the bill.
Braille Institute rented space on Vermont Avenue close to Melrose Avenue for its library of 250 titles that comprised 1,250 volumes.
1933
The Library moved to 741 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029.
The Early Years
1934
The Library of Congress designated Braille Institute of America the Southern California Regional Library and Machine Lending Agency for the Blind.
Library services extended not only to the 10 southern counties for California, but also to the State of Arizona.
1938
Braille Institute leased space at 656 North Vermont Avenue to accommodate the expanding Library.
Braille Institute published the first braille Merriam-Webster Student Dictionary, comprising 32 volumes.
1940
Librarian Eleanor Syminton appointed the regional library’s first administrator.
1943
Property leased at 721 North Vermont Avenue for Library expansion, and services extended to 1,522 patrons.
1944
In its 25th anniversary year, Braille Institute purchased the leased Vermont Avenue property
1954
The Braille Institute Library was expanded to occupy 6,500 square feet.
Years of Growth
1966
Congress passed PL 89-522, giving people with physical handicaps access to the talking-book service.
Installed a 24-hour answering service for the convenience of Library patrons.
1969
On the 50th Anniversary of Braille Institute, the construction of a new library building began. It was completed a year later.
1970
With the exception of Braille readers, service to residents of Arizona was transferred to the new Arizona Regional Library in Phoenix.
1971
The Orange County Regional Center opens in Anaheim at 527 North Dale Avenue.
1976
The Library Advisory Committee formed with Gerard Rossi as the first elected chairperson. The committee comprised eight representatives of the patron population and four members of statewide organizations.
1977
The National Library Service introduced books on four-track cassette.
1978
The State Legislature passed SB1565, appropriating $166,000 to provide partial support for library services to blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped and reading-disabled residents of Southern California.
1980
A PDP II computer installed and the Library operation automated, one of the first changeovers among network libraries.
1981
Discontinued Thrift Shop activities at 100 South Western Avenue to provide annex space for supplementary Library storage.
1984
The Library purchased its first voice-indexed cassette dictionary for the reference section of the collection that consisted of 400,000 units of Braille and talking books.
1986
Braille Institute acquired 1.7 acres of land from Los Angeles City College on which to build new Library and conference facilities.
1989
The new facility for the Desert Center opened in Rancho Mirage to meet the needs of people in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Years of Challenge
1990
The Library began production of bibliographies series in large print.
In September, the new 100,000-square-foot Library and Conference Center facilities were dedicated.
1991
Work Team Achievement award was established. The first winner was the Public Library Workshop Team.
A pilot plan was launched to establish the first of four branch libraries in the Desert Center at Rancho Mirage.
1992
The Library was selected to be the test site for the new version of the NLSNET software by NLS.
The first expanded Summer Reading Program for children and young adults was completed.
Branch Libraries in Santa Barbara and Orange County Centers were added to the system.
Descriptive videos were added to the collection.
1993
San Diego Center was dedicated and the fourth Branch Library started its operation.
Sub-Regional Library software was installed at the Sight Center for communicating with Branch Libraries.
Arizona Braille readers were transferred to the Utah Regional Library.
1994
“Take a Talking Book” Public Education Campaign, funded by NLS to reach senior community in Southern California was successfully completed.
1995
Annual library circulation figure hit ONE MILLION books for the first time.
The Library’s Machine Quality Program was ranked number one in the nation according to the NLS findings of the National Machine Repair Quality Study.
1996
The Copyright Law Amendment, known as the Chafee Amendment, was signed into law by President Clinton on September 16th as Public Law 104-197 of the United States Code. The new law exempts nonprofit organizations that produce specialized formats of books and magazines for the blind from requesting permission from the copyright holder.
NLS joined the Library in honoring the Telephone Pioneers of Southern California for its contributions to the national talking-book program. Over the past two decades more than 100,000 machines had been repaired.
Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan presented the Library with a Certificate of Commendation
Internet access acquired and Web browsers and e-mail utilized to conduct the daily operations of the Library.
Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS Director, was keynote speaker at the Library’s Annual Open House, with a record-breaking crowd of nearly 800 patrons and visitors in attendance.
1997
Entry to on-line information sources became available via the Internet, allowing staff’s access to the Library of Congress. Branch Libraries were connected to the Main Library using TELNET protocol on the Internet.
Pioneer Verdugo Life Members presented 14,000th repaired cassette machine to the library.
1998
The first Braille Institute Web site was established.
The Library workshop “Living with Limited Vision” drew a record 150 Activity Directors from healthcare facilities throughout Southern California.
1999
On March 25th, the San Diego Branch Library relocated to the new 28,000- square-foot Regional Center in La Jolla.
National Library Week celebration featured two-time Grammy-winning artist, composer and Library patron Diane Schuur.
The Library conducted a comprehensive user survey. Findings showed that user satisfaction rate reached 99 percent. The first survey of Spanish-speaking patrons solicited information pertinent to the collection.
Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan was keynote speaker at the Library Open House. Headlining the program were Comedian Don Knotts and Actor/Narrator Joe Campanella.
The Library produced the 832-page Spanish catalog in English and Spanish and distributed it throughout the NLS network libraries.
Years of New Technology
2000
For the first time in Network Library history, the National Conference of Librarians Serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped was held in Southern California.
The Braille Institute Library awarded a grant by the California State Library to implement a Telephone Reader Program, providing news and advertisements for local grocery stores, drugstores, department stores and discount stores free of charge through any touchtone telephone.
The first Golden Cassette Award in recognition of outstanding service and dedication presented to long term Library volunteer Sister Ruth Kent.
2001
The Library Web Site, www.braillelibrary.org, was established.
On May 23rd, the Telephone Reader Program launched, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Braille Institute Board of Directors.
Annual Open House attended by special guest speaker First Lady of California Sharon Davis, who was named Honorary Chair of the Braille Institute Library Talking Book-of-the-Month Club.
A record-breaking monthly book circulation of 121,155 achieved in October.
2002
The Library of California Board approved our full membership affiliation with Arroyo Seco Library Network, part of the Library of California, formed by passage of state legislation to facilitate resource sharing among libraries throughout California.
2003
Began the Kids’ Book Club at Frances Blend Elementary School in Los Angeles.
The Library IT function was consolidated with the Braille Institute IT Department. As a result, two IT Library staff members were transferred.
2004
The Library launched a new project of a monthly listing of new library books to patrons with e-mail addresses. Initially, 550 patrons receive the book list via e-mail.
On May 11th, the Santa Barbara Branch Library relocated to the new Regional Center that replaces an older building on the same site.
Library Patron Marion Higgins was honored at our 70th anniversary celebration of the Library Open House as the oldest person in California, 15th oldest in the nation and 35th oldest in the world.
The Keystone System (KLAS) conversion was completed in November 2004 which replaced the old DRA system.
2005
In June 2005, the Braille Institute Library Services, represented by the Director, received the first “Network Library of the Year” award from NLS at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. at the Library of Congress Jefferson Building, in recognition of the Library’s excellence, mission support, patron satisfaction, creativity and innovation.
A Spanish language feature of the Telephone Reader Program began in May 2005.
2006
The Library Open House was held on October 19th with guest speakers State Librarian Susan Hildreth, California State Senator Sheila James Kuehl, and Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti. Senator Kuehl presented the library with a Certificate of Recognition.
A new Digital Conversion Library Committee was established to guide planning for the digital talking book transition and to prepare the staff for the conversion in 2008.
An On-Line Public Access Catalog (Web-OPAC) was launched to allow library patrons Internet access to search for books in the Library’s collection and order books to their Library account.
2007
The Library received a grant from the California State Library to subscribe to a new service called Unabridged whereby patrons are provided Internet access to digital audio books.
The Library won the ASCLA/KLAS/National Organization on Disability 2007 award in recognition of the Braille Institute’s significant accomplishments in service people with disabilities, particularly the Southern California Telephone Reader Program which offers telephone access to a human voice reading newspapers, advertisements and other library information. The national award was presented at the annual American Library Association conference in Washington D.C.
2008
The Telephone Reader Program added Old Time Radio Shows to the options on the system. This new feature became popular very quickly and has over 3,000 episodes.
On March 28th, actress Shelley Long came to the Library to record articles for the Telephone Reader Program’s Guest Voice Series.
NLS Network Division Chief Dr. Carolyn Sung, author Michael Patrick MacDonald and actress Mariette Hartley participated in the 2008 Library Open House Program. The theme of the program was “A New Day – The Digital Way,” marking the early stages of the network library transition from analog to digital.
2009
The Library hosted the 2009 annual KLAS Conference from April 21-23 at the Braille Institute’s San Diego Regional Center. Regional and subregional library representatives from 44 network libraries in the nation came to San Diego to participate in the annual program.
The Library was selected as one of eight libraries in the NLS Network to participate in the Digital Prelaunch Project. This project was launched to test the new digital players and get patron feedback. From May through July, 544 new Digital Talking Book Machines (DTBMs) were sent to a select number patrons and a sampler catalog of 54 digital titles were available for their book selections.
The 2009 Summer Reading Program featured a record-breaking number of young participants, with 274 signing up. Puddlejumpers authors Chris Carlson and Mark Jean attended the award celebration and gave a book reading.
The Telephone Reader Program added a new recording booth, bringing the total number of recording booths to five. All of the booths were updated to improve sound quality on the system. TRP also added restaurant menus to the system.
The Library received its first official shipment of Digital Talking Book Machines in August.
2010
Braille Institute Library Services was one of five library recipients of the 2009 IMLS National Medal, the highest honor in the nation for libraries and museums. The National Medal is awarded to only five libraries and five museums each year. On February 23rd, Library Director Dr. Henry C. Chang traveled to Washington, D.C. for the IMLS National Medal Award Ceremony.
The Library was one of four libraries selected in the NLS Network to participate in the pilot program of the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD). BARD officially went live at the Library on January 20th and now has over 1,100 BARD subscribers.
On October 22nd, the Library held its annual Open House Program. NLS Director Frank Kurt Cylke was in attendance for the first time since 1996. The Library unveiled the new Frank Kurt Cylke Digital Platinum Award that was named in his honor and presented the first awards to recipients Karen Arcos-Moreno and Vern, Jim and Jarod Laub. Other special guests included award-winning actress Joan van Ark, motivational speaker and Library patron Nancy Solari, 8-year old pianist Emily Bear and Emmy-winning comedian and TRP volunteer Ed Driscoll.
2011
After 80 years, the NLS network with 113 regional libraries in 50 states successfully completed the technological transition from analog to digital with the distribution of digital players and books.
Software vendor Flash Attractions delivered the first beta version of the TRP app towards the end of December 2011.
2012
Library Open House featured NLS Director Karen Keninger. There was also a Tech Fair to alert patrons to new technology.
2015
The Patron Centric Cartridge project was launched in February 2015. It allowed KLAS to process high capacity cartridges with multiple titles in order to meet our patron needs.
For National Library Week, the Library hosted a “Meet the Author Day” program on Wednesday, April 15th in the Library Browsing Area. identified author A. J. Harris, MD as the keynote speaker annual Library Open House, held Friday, October 16, 2015 welcomed 435 guests. Grammy award-winning singer, actress and author Debby Boone and visually impaired author Sue Wiygul Martin delivered words of inspiration to the audience. Both speakers shared and talked about their writing experiences.
2016
The library was approved by NLS to begin recording books that would be made available to patrons throughout the network for download via BARD. The library started with recording five titles.
2017
The library received a $25,355 grant from the State Library for the “Braille Literacy through the Next Century” project. The project began in July 2017 with an initial list of 40 participants who received Orbit 20 refreshable braille devices for loan.
2018
In April 2018, the annual Open House featured a poetry contest. Guest speaker was NLS Narrator Jill Fox, narrator of over 1,000 books. There was also a Resource Fair as well as a Kids Day program for younger guests.
The library continued and ultimately completed the Refreshable Braille project with a group of participants using the Brailliant 17 device.
The Next Century
2020
In March 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic forced Braille Institute and the Library to shut down on-site operations and operated remotely. Library staff continued to provide patrons with books from their homes.
During the pandemic closure, the library began working on a plan to refresh the library space and enhance services for patrons.
2021
Due to the extended COVID-19 Pandemic, the library held its first remote National Library Week celebration in April featuring NLS narrators Laura Giannarelli and Mare Travathan.
2022
The library worked with Youth Programs to hold a remote Summer Reading Program called the “Summertime Storytellers Club.” The program featured weekly online activities including a creative art workshop and a reading by award-winning storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston.
2023
The “Library Reimagined” plan was completed and included a refreshed library, new technology, a recording studio, and a sensory mural created by artists Megan Whitmarsh and Carla Tome. The library welcomed patrons back onsite with an in-person Library Open House event in April. Over 250 guests came to the event with guest speakers author/patron Jeff Moyer, and LA Poet Laureate Lynne Thompson.
