National Braille Press Celebrates Louis Braille's 200th Birthday

National Braille Press, a non-profit braille publisher, has produced a 20-panel traveling exhibit to celebrate Louis Braille's 200th birthday. The exhibit, in print and braille, takes a viewer through the highlights of Braille's life, the braille production process, and why braille remains important today. It will be on display in the lobby of Middleton Library from June 18-July 12, 2009. This is one of only 20 appearances across the U.S.

Louis Braille, born in France on January 4, 1809, became blind in an accident when he was three years old. The bright, creative student earned a scholarship the Royal Institution for Blind Youth in Paris. At age 15, he devised what is now known as braille, a tactile reading system using six raised dots to correspond to written language. Braille proved so flexible, that it has been adapted for virtually every language, as well as music, mathematics, and the sciences. Worldwide celebrations will be held all year to recognize his unparalleled contribution to literacy.

Several complementary exhibits will highlight resources from the LSU Libraries collections. Education Resources will focus on library services to patrons with disabilities through a variety of books, games, and equipment. Emphasis will be on services for the visually impaired, but resources for patrons with other disabilities will also be included. Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at the State Library of Louisiana is a major purveyor of library services for the disabled, and will also contribute materials and equipment for this display.

Government documents issued in braille will be on display in the Government Documents Department. Publications include lists of books in braille as well as those on human resources and social security. Of related interest are patents issued for equipment for the visually or physically impaired.

Special Collections in Hill Memorial Library will display braille materials from several archival collections. This shows its importance in a historical context.

Middleton Library hours, beginning June 8, are Monday-Thursday, 7:15 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Friday, 7:15 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:00 noon-10:00 p.m. Hill Memorial Library hours are: Monday ,8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Tuesday, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Wednesday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

For additional information, please contact Peggy Chalaron, pchalar@lsu.edu, 225-578-7068 or Mitchell Fontenot, mfonten@lsu.edu, 225-578-7374..