This unique library houses 10,200 Braille books and 20,200 tapes. Of the former, 3800
are translations by the Kiryuu Braille Cultural Association (chairwoman Nakako Fukazawa,
43 members, established 1959), a volunteer group that began translating major novels,
current affairs and local publications, etc. into Braille in 1959.
17,500 of the story tapes are the work of the Kiryuu Voluntary Reading Group (chairman
Ikuo Handa, 120 members, established1965). Thanks to both groups the library's collection
continues to grow year after year.
In 1913, a private school for the blind was founded in Kiryuu and, when the
prefecture's first association for the blind was established in 1950, the Municipal
Library too started to collect Braille books. The Braille Library was founded in 1991.
There is only one other similar facility in Gunma, the Prefectural Braille Library,
founded in 1973 in Maebashi. |
