Los Angeles, April 1, 2021 – April is “Library Month” and Braille Institute’s Library is hosting a special “Welcome to Your Library” free livestream event featuring guest speakers, musical performances and more on April 7, 2-3pm PT, during National Library Week. The organization is also offering several free online educational and interactive workshops on topics related to reading and literacy in April.

Braille Institute has offered thousands of free braille books and audiobooks to those who are visually impaired, and print disabled in Southern California for more than 100 years.  More than 12,000 individuals utilize Braille Institute’s library annually. The Library service has been especially important to the visually impaired community in Southern California during the COVID-19 pandemic as mandates related to the pandemic have further isolated those who are visually impaired and they have turned to Braille Institute’s Library services to keep them connected to the world of reading.

“Welcome to Your Library” Event

The event will broadcast live on Braille Institute’s YouTube Channel and will be an entertaining and educational hour featuring:

  • A special guest speaker from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), who will share exciting news and updates about the service;
  • Readings by two popular audiobook narrators;
  • A special musical presentation celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month;
  • A poetry reading celebrating National Poetry Month;
  • and more!

Full Schedule of Library Events & Workshops

Braille Institute will also support Library Month with content on their website and social media channels.

Through Braille Institute’s Library services, those who are blind or visually impaired, have difficulty reading or have other disabilities that prevent them from holding a book in Southern California can get more than 100,000 titles and 1.2 million volumes of free books, periodicals and other texts available in braille and audio formats.

Braille Institute Library leadership, Library program staff, and Library patrons are available for interviews to discuss Library Month, the Library program and how it has uniquely benefitted those who are visually impaired during the COVID-19 pandemic.