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Dear Emma, I am just so glad that you have put this message on the newsgroup because it highlights a fact that has just been so well hidden from the public by the RNIB. You mention that, On Reveal, it says that the books are supposed to be in Braille, and yet, when you ask, RNIB say that they aren't. Well, almost certainly the reason for this is because the RNIB had a secret cull of their Braille stocks about two years ago, and that wasn't the first one either. They APPARENTLY looked at what books were and weren't being borrowed on a regular basis from the library, and used that as a measure by which to decide to destroy a great deal of the stock. I actually saw--although I wasn't supposed to--a list of books that were being chucked, and it was very depressing indeed. I think that there were a few, like me, who argued that even if a book hadn't been borrowed for the last twenty years that didn't justify its destruction, quite simply because, the fact that the RNIB have practically given up bothering to Braille any serious educational books any more means that once a book is chucked it has very little chance of ever being Brailled again. I simply cannot see the justification for ever getting rid of a book which someone has once taken the trouble to put into a medium like Braille. It's just criminal. Sadly, I have a feeling that the NLB (National Library for the BLind) also had a very similar cull, and the fact that they are to be taken over anyway by the RNIB makes the future look very bleak indeed for those of us who care passionately about Braille. I'm sorry to say it but Braille really seems to have become the second-class medium for serious study purposes, and organisations who ought to care about this most important of all inventions for the blind do nothing whatever to help in this matter. RNIB are interested in one thing and one thing alone: Brailing things like bank statements and telephone bills, simply because they can make so much money out of these from the multi-nationals. Brailling BOOKS for people to actually READ, now scarcely features on their agenda at all. Do you have printed copies of these books? If so, excuse the obvious question, but what about just scanning? Is it a time factor? I could possibly help you if you wish. Write to me off list if that would be of help. Paul. Paul Jarman, Disability Support Officer, 2.39 Francis Bancroft Building, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, LONDON. E1 4NS Tel.: +44 (0)20 7882-2757, Fax: +44 (0)20 7882-5223, E-Mail: [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Uden, Emma L Sent: 06 February 2007 10:36 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Books in Braille I am trying to locate several books in Braille: The Two Executioners-Fernando Arrabal (London: John Calder 1962) The Bald Prima Donna, trans.-Antonio Ionesco (Donald Watson (London: Calder, 1977.) I have checked on reveal web and although it says they are available via RNIB or NLB the student has contacted them and they are not available. We have tried the publisher but they do not have them in electronic as they are very old texts. What do I do now? Do I need to get the books transferred into electronic, then into Braille can anyone suggest a company, how expensive is this likely to be? Any answers/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Emma Uden Disability Adviser Student Enabling Centre University of Wolverhampton www.wlv.ac.uk/sec Tel: 01902 321353 Fax:01902 321021