N.C. Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped celebrates with open house March 22

March 16, 2011 - PRLog -- RALEIGH, N.C. – The N.C. Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NCLBPH) is celebrating 80 years of service by the National Library Service with an Open House Celebration on Tuesday, March 22, at 3:30 p.m.  

A chorus from the Governor Morehead School for the Blind will perform at 11:30 a.m., and local author Clay Griffith will read at 2 p.m. Tours, refreshments and prizes will be shared.

Gov. Bev Perdue has endorsed the salute with a proclamation   (http://www.governor.state.nc.us/NewsItems/ProclamationDetail.aspx?newsItemID=1723).

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), the Library of Congress’ audio book and Braille program, for 80 years has helped visually impaired and physically handicapped individuals enjoy reading their favorite books and magazines. The free program brings digital audio and Braille format books to the homes of patrons. The Braille books and digital audio books are sent to preschoolers to centenarians via the U.S. Postal Service at no cost to users, who also can download books and magazines over the Internet.  

The N.C. Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is part of a network of 113 cooperating local libraries in the United States and its territories. Congress appropriates funds annually for NLS to the Library of Congress. Regional and sub-regional libraries receive funding from local, state and federal sources.

“Across North Carolina the 11,000 members of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped receive the same type of services that residents find in public libraries by using audio books, described videos, Braille and other free services to those who qualify,” says State Librarian Mary Boone.

For more than 50 years, NCLBPH (http://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/lbph/) has served those unable to read regular print. For a lifetime membership fee of $20, the library’s Descriptive Video Club offers videos and DVDs that describes on-screen action when there is no dialogue. The Friends of LCLBPH underwrites this program and the popular book recording program. Volunteers who record books are the base of the library’s program.  The library also produces Braille books for its collection and Braille documents for many organizations.

For additional information, call (919) 715-6667. The State Library of North Carolina works in partnership with communities to develop library service, coordinates statewide programs for all types of libraries, and offers direct library service to state employees, genealogy researchers and people who have visual and physically handicaps.

The State Library is a division of the Department of Cultural Resources is the state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history and culture, podcasting 24/7 with information about the Department of Cultural Resources, all available at www.ncculture.com.

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The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities, and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural and economic future. www.ncculture.com