ABOUT US
MILESTONES:
1951
Following the War of Independence, the Ministry of Defense
was confronted with the problem of rehabilitating soldiers who had been
wounded in the eyes. Dr Ludwig Cohn, a blind man from Rotterdam in Holland,
was consulted for advice on the rehabilitation of these soldiers. One
of his recommendations was the foundation of a library for the blind.
The late Haya Bem took up the challenge together with a group of volunteers.
With great devotion they learnt to write Braille and began copying books
for the blind.
1955
The Library is established in Harav Kook Street, Netanya.
1959
With the encouragement of Dr Friedman from Geneva, the Library began
to record books. The recorded book, which could be listened to on a
tape recorder, consisted of a number of tapes. The recordings were made
in the Ulpanim Meuchadim recording studios in Tel-Aviv. The outstanding
title recorded during that period was The Tanach, narrated by the late
actor Shlomo Bertonov.
1972
The Library began duplicating recorded books onto cassettes.
1977
Mrs Haya Bem, the first Director of the Library, retires, and is replaced
by Uri Cohen.
1980
The Library's first recording studio is established in 7, Smolinsky
Street, Tel-Aviv.
1986
With the cooperation of the then Minister of Education, Mr Yizhak Navon,
the dedication of the Library's modernized building takes place, with
an additional floor, an elevator and complete renovations to suit changing
working methods.
1987
The first book is transcribed to Braille by means of computer.
1989
The raised graphics department is established.
1990
The Large Print department is established.
1993
Dedication of the Tel-Aviv branch at 76, La Guardia: a lending library,
reference rooms and sophisticated recording studios.
2001
Acquisition of a "Braillo 400" machine for the duplication
of Braille books.
2004
The establishment of the digital CD library. The Tanach is duplicated
onto four compact disks, and The Youth Encyclopedia Britannica is recorded.
2005
The establishment of a department for receiving digitally typed books
through e-mail, and their duplication into Braille - the end of the
era where books are copied manually using a Perkins machine.