From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now he's your host, Sam calling.

From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now he's your host, Sam calling.

Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness and low vision. Welcome to this special, well, Braille day edition of Talking Vision and Celebration of the Day on January 4th, which was inaugurated to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means for communication and the full realization of human rights for people who are blind or have low vision. This week, we've got an action packed show for you in celebration of the day as Stella catches up with Braille music pioneer Dorothy Hamilton, who tells us all about the impact that Braille has had on her life, both personally and professionally. Tess Herbert is on the show as well. Off to Dorothy to chat with Georgia Parsons, then a career start graduate from Vision Australia this year to share her experiences about coming to Braille later in life as a teenager. And finally, Stella is back and she's chatting with Timothy from the library about the selection of Braille books available to all Vision Australia Library members. I hope you enjoy this week's World Pilot episode of Talking Vision. And now his Stella glory with Dorothy Hamilton.

Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness and low vision. Welcome to this special, well, Braille day edition of Talking Vision and Celebration of the Day on January 4th, which was inaugurated to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means for communication and the full realization of human rights for people who are blind or have low vision. This week, we've got an action packed show for you in celebration of the day as Stella catches up with Braille music pioneer Dorothy Hamilton, who tells us all about the impact that Braille has had on her life, both personally and professionally. Tess Herbert is on the show as well. Off to Dorothy to chat with Georgia Parsons, then a career start graduate from Vision Australia this year to share her experiences about coming to Braille later in life as a teenager. And finally, Stella is back and she's chatting with Timothy from the library about the selection of Braille books available to all Vision Australia Library members. I hope you enjoy this week's World Pilot episode of Talking Vision. And now his Stella glory with Dorothy Hamilton.

We are dedicating talking vision today to Braille in general, and when I think of Braille and Braille music, I always think of Dorothy Hamilton, who is with me now to discuss Braille. Thanks for your time today, Dorothy.

We are dedicating talking vision today to Braille in general, and when I think of Braille and Braille music, I always think of Dorothy Hamilton, who is with me now to discuss Braille. Thanks for your time today, Dorothy.

It's a pleasure. I should.

It's a pleasure. I should.

Actually. Let's give the listeners a little bit more context. So you, I. Braille music teacher or just a music teacher in general, I should say.

Actually. Let's give the listeners a little bit more context. So you, I. Braille music teacher or just a music teacher in general, I should say.

Yes, I'm a music teacher and I have taught brown music as well.

Yes, I'm a music teacher and I have taught brown music as well.

And you are also the first blind woman in the southern hemisphere to get your Bachelor of Music.

And you are also the first blind woman in the southern hemisphere to get your Bachelor of Music.

Yes, I believe so.

Yes, I believe so.

So you wouldn't have done it without Braille? I understand.

So you wouldn't have done it without Braille? I understand.

I just could not have done anything. Couldn't have coped in life without Braille. I use it every day of my life.

I just could not have done anything. Couldn't have coped in life without Braille. I use it every day of my life.

Let's talk a little bit about Pat. You were a big fan and you used of the frame and stylus.

Let's talk a little bit about Pat. You were a big fan and you used of the frame and stylus.

Yes, When I went to school right back in 1932, that's when we learned our Braille with using the Braille frame and stylus. The frame represented it was a wooden board with holes down the side, and it had a guide which had six dots. It was still 25 cells in a line, and there were two lines. So when you finished writing in the one line and one set of lines, you moved the guide down to the next set of holes so that in the end then we had a whole page. The little cells in the guide had six little niches. Now called one, two, three, four, five, six. But we called them top right, middle, right, bottom right, top left, middle, left, bottom left. And that's with. So we dotted each little letter. Each dot to make a letter, for example, we would do .145 for the letter D or perhaps .12, three, four L. And in fact, of course, we'd say top right, middle, right, bottom right.

Yes, When I went to school right back in 1932, that's when we learned our Braille with using the Braille frame and stylus. The frame represented it was a wooden board with holes down the side, and it had a guide which had six dots. It was still 25 cells in a line, and there were two lines. So when you finished writing in the one line and one set of lines, you moved the guide down to the next set of holes so that in the end then we had a whole page. The little cells in the guide had six little niches. Now called one, two, three, four, five, six. But we called them top right, middle, right, bottom right, top left, middle, left, bottom left. And that's with. So we dotted each little letter. Each dot to make a letter, for example, we would do .145 for the letter D or perhaps .12, three, four L. And in fact, of course, we'd say top right, middle, right, bottom right.

When you're saying this, do you think there's people listening, nodding their heads to this? Oh, frame in stylus users.

When you're saying this, do you think there's people listening, nodding their heads to this? Oh, frame in stylus users.

Oh, maybe summer.

Oh, maybe summer.

But you said you used the frame and stylus up to 1977. So all the way through university. And something happened when the Perkins Braille was in Australia in the 1960s. But you weren't using it, but you were kind of pushed into using the Perkins Braille. Can you tell us that story?

But you said you used the frame and stylus up to 1977. So all the way through university. And something happened when the Perkins Braille was in Australia in the 1960s. But you weren't using it, but you were kind of pushed into using the Perkins Braille. Can you tell us that story?

Yes. So the said I used to frame in style right up to 1977. I had no need to use anything else. In 1976, George Finley, who was a well known Braille musician and he did all the Braille music transcribing, said to me one day, You know, you have to learn to use this, this Perkins everybody else's. So he showed me how to use it. Then he gave me one and he said, Now put your frame and soul away and you use only the Perkins. So he went out the door and I thought, that's what he thinks. So I put the Perkins away and it's used to frame and sell. I was very comfortable with that. 12 months later, the phone rang one night and it was his, Rita, who said to me, George is very, very ill. And we're in the midst of doing a very important piece of music because I come around dictated to you. I said Yes. But my heart sank because I'd forgotten have to leave and put the paper into the Perkins. So I quickly rang a friend and said, Hilda, Hilda, how do I put the paper in? Madge came the next day and read the music to me. I will remember it forever.

Yes. So the said I used to frame in style right up to 1977. I had no need to use anything else. In 1976, George Finley, who was a well known Braille musician and he did all the Braille music transcribing, said to me one day, You know, you have to learn to use this, this Perkins everybody else's. So he showed me how to use it. Then he gave me one and he said, Now put your frame and soul away and you use only the Perkins. So he went out the door and I thought, that's what he thinks. So I put the Perkins away and it's used to frame and sell. I was very comfortable with that. 12 months later, the phone rang one night and it was his, Rita, who said to me, George is very, very ill. And we're in the midst of doing a very important piece of music because I come around dictated to you. I said Yes. But my heart sank because I'd forgotten have to leave and put the paper into the Perkins. So I quickly rang a friend and said, Hilda, Hilda, how do I put the paper in? Madge came the next day and read the music to me. I will remember it forever.

So Marge was your reader?

So Marge was your reader?

Was it her? Well, she was George's reader. And so she read this piece to me, and I had to. It was a massive. Undertaking or continue to just use the Perkins because it was. Everything was turned around whereas we had on the right hand side of of using the frame and so was one, two, three and that and then the left hand side of the so four, five, six when you use the Perkins it was reversed. So one, two, three was on the left and four, five, six on the right. So I can tell you it was not an easy undertaking, but it taught me a lesson.

Was it her? Well, she was George's reader. And so she read this piece to me, and I had to. It was a massive. Undertaking or continue to just use the Perkins because it was. Everything was turned around whereas we had on the right hand side of of using the frame and so was one, two, three and that and then the left hand side of the so four, five, six when you use the Perkins it was reversed. So one, two, three was on the left and four, five, six on the right. So I can tell you it was not an easy undertaking, but it taught me a lesson.

Well, what lesson did.

Well, what lesson did.

It take to give me a lesson when I'm taught something? Use it. Yes. And so of course, the frame install, if I can explain it was more like using a pen and pencil and the Perkins was like using the typewriter.

It take to give me a lesson when I'm taught something? Use it. Yes. And so of course, the frame install, if I can explain it was more like using a pen and pencil and the Perkins was like using the typewriter.

Do you feel like you've got a fond affection for the frame and style?

Do you feel like you've got a fond affection for the frame and style?

Yes, it.

Yes, it.

Is. And a bit of a love hate relationship with the Perkins.

Is. And a bit of a love hate relationship with the Perkins.

Well, yes, it's a bit noisy, but of course I was of a frame. And so and of course, if you remember, when I went to university, I had to take the frame and start of the lectures and just about everything. Wow. So that, that I'm very pleased that I've experienced all systems.

Well, yes, it's a bit noisy, but of course I was of a frame. And so and of course, if you remember, when I went to university, I had to take the frame and start of the lectures and just about everything. Wow. So that, that I'm very pleased that I've experienced all systems.

Now, we do need to talk about, Oh, I really want to talk about your music, Breitling. Like, what do you use to.

Now, we do need to talk about, Oh, I really want to talk about your music, Breitling. Like, what do you use to.

When I when I first learned the piano, we all learned piano at school and the teacher would tell us what the notes to play and also play them on the other piano. So it trained our ear very well because we were we learnt by rote, we learned Braille music, but we didn't really put it to practical use, we just learnt it. It was wasn't till I was a vet, it was 14 and went to a sighted teacher at the Conservatorium and he said, We so much work to do that I couldn't rely on somebody just playing it to me and learning it by rote. So I had to learn it and learn it well and correctly, everything correctly. And that got me really moving and using my brown music. And I can tell you, I use it every day just about certainly use Braille every day. And I have had enormous amount of use as Braille music, not only learning it myself, but teaching it to others.

When I when I first learned the piano, we all learned piano at school and the teacher would tell us what the notes to play and also play them on the other piano. So it trained our ear very well because we were we learnt by rote, we learned Braille music, but we didn't really put it to practical use, we just learnt it. It was wasn't till I was a vet, it was 14 and went to a sighted teacher at the Conservatorium and he said, We so much work to do that I couldn't rely on somebody just playing it to me and learning it by rote. So I had to learn it and learn it well and correctly, everything correctly. And that got me really moving and using my brown music. And I can tell you, I use it every day just about certainly use Braille every day. And I have had enormous amount of use as Braille music, not only learning it myself, but teaching it to others.

What would you say to someone who's perhaps considering either a a young person or an older person who might have recently lost their vision? Would you say to them about learning Braille? They might think so.

What would you say to someone who's perhaps considering either a a young person or an older person who might have recently lost their vision? Would you say to them about learning Braille? They might think so.

For it really not to have the Braille skill means that you can't really be literate, you can't read, you need you can't see a word, you don't know how it's spelt. You need it really. And I think you can't comprehend things much better if you've been able to read it yourself. That's how I find it.

For it really not to have the Braille skill means that you can't really be literate, you can't read, you need you can't see a word, you don't know how it's spelt. You need it really. And I think you can't comprehend things much better if you've been able to read it yourself. That's how I find it.

Dorothy Hamilton, it's always a pleasure having you on the program. It's been a long time since you were on last, and Dorothy Hamilton, who is a musician in her own right and also a Braille music teacher and a Braille transcriber. Thanks for your time today.

Dorothy Hamilton, it's always a pleasure having you on the program. It's been a long time since you were on last, and Dorothy Hamilton, who is a musician in her own right and also a Braille music teacher and a Braille transcriber. Thanks for your time today.

Thank you. It's been a pleasure.

Thank you. It's been a pleasure.

I'm Sam Kelly and you're listening to Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio. Associated stations of our H and the Community Radio Network. I hope you're enjoying this special World Braille Day episode of Talking Vision. You just heard from Stella with Dorothy Hamilton, a favorite of talking vision. They're talking about Braille music and the impact that Braille has had on her daily life. And now, please enjoy. Tess Herbert with the Georgia Parson Sun.

I'm Sam Kelly and you're listening to Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio. Associated stations of our H and the Community Radio Network. I hope you're enjoying this special World Braille Day episode of Talking Vision. You just heard from Stella with Dorothy Hamilton, a favorite of talking vision. They're talking about Braille music and the impact that Braille has had on her daily life. And now, please enjoy. Tess Herbert with the Georgia Parson Sun.

Today is World Braille Day, and I'm delighted to be speaking to Georgia Parson. Georgia is a career stock graduate at Vision Australia, working in the communications team, and she's also a Braille user. So we have a bit in common because that's actually where I started my career at the in the comms team and I'm also a Braille user. So I think we're going to have a really interesting chat. Georgia, thank you so much for joining me. Thank you for having me here. It's a real pleasure. And now, Georgia, tell me about your experience as a Brown user. Have you been using it for long and when did you start? I started learning it when I was 14, 15, And then when my vision started to deteriorate, I was really reluctant to start learning because at the time it felt like I was being forced to accept something I wasn't really ready for in terms of vision, loss and being vision impaired. So my Braille teacher at the time and I compromised that. I would learn grade one Braille, and that was it. So I learnt grade one Braille in high school, and that's kind of where I left it until I was about 21, 22. And then at that point, I'd had a lot of time to come to terms with my vision loss. And so learning grade two is the start of like moving forward so that you could use it more in your everyday life and quickly. Yeah, For the benefit of our listeners, Grade one Braille is just the letters and numbers that your fingers make, and grade two Braille is where you learn different contractions. So for example, there's a contraction, a short form where you can write t h or i n g this little thing accommodations that can make those contractions. So that's a little bit more complicated and that's grade to Braille. Now, Georgia, how has Braille come to impact your day to day life? I'm a writer. I do a lot of writing for the comms team, but also just for fun. And I find it useful editing mostly. Also just with reading, I sometimes it's just to switch off all the text to speech and the screen and the audiobooks and just have to listen to something. You use a screen reader, is that right? Yeah. So I'm sure our listeners already know this, but a screen reader is a software program that can convert text to speech, and I think it can go the other way around. I'm also a screen reader user, and I can imagine that it is quite difficult if you're writing professional work and proofreading it. It's not always possible to see all the grammatical errors or typos by reading with a screen reader. So I can imagine that reading with Braille could be very, very useful. Is that right? Yes. Yeah, extremely simple. Yeah. Do you use a Braille display or some other form of technology to do that? Yeah. I have a mantis that's got the Braille display, but it also has a aquatic keyboard. So that's my preferred display. Excellent. And what are some of the challenges that come with being a Braille user member? The contracted Braille was what I really struggled with and then just improving my reading speed. So Georgia, I think both of our experiences of Braille are a little bit different. I started reading it when I was about four or five and I didn't have a browser, but I had what is called a Perkins Braille. I think it's named after the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston. So vivid, like a typewriter, quite a pretty piece of machinery. And I would read Braille books that had been embossed. So it was actual paper by Braille paper. So that was a bit different. So I mean, as a teenager starting the Braille process, as a teenager, especially feeling reticent about it, what was that like having not had to do it before? Dreadful, to be honest. So my lessons were in my school library and I was also using a Perkins. So it was clunky and it was loud and I was just not thrilled about it at all. But yeah, I also learnt from the hardcopy books and yeah, I got asked a lot if it was like learning a new language, but it was just I've only recently learnt how to explain it in a way that it's a lot like Morse code where it's the same language but just in a different way. So yeah, as you say, a bit like Morse. There's just different ways to interpret and communicate in the language that you were born with. So you didn't really like that experience. Did you find that you got asked about it quite a lot by your friends, or did they find it a bit novel that you were learning this new thing? I don't recall. But then I don't think I really talked about it much because it was all part of that whole all these things I didn't really want to acknowledge. So rail and using my cane and so on. Yes, of course. I'm guessing it would have been quite different because when I Braille was all I knew when I started school. But before that you would have been using print. Am I right? Standard, standard print. Wearing glasses, but using print? Yep. So this being a whole new way of doing things. What was that like after not only losing your vision, not having it, but then having to do things in a whole other way from the way you'd been doing it for the last ten years? Well, it took a while for my fingertips to adjust. I found they got kind of overly sensitive after reading Braille for a while. I didn't really struggle with the Braille itself. Early on, I would in my head I was kind of translating it, so to speak, into print. Like I have this mental image of print letters. I don't really do that anymore. But yeah, so it's now become more part of how you understand letters and words. You don't feel so much that you're converting it into what it used to be. That's right, yeah. So, Audrey, you talked about being embarrassed about Braille as a teenager, but then using it again when you were in your early twenties. So how did you come to be more comfortable with that and with this new way of doing things? I had lessons over the phone through Vision Australia. My instructor was based out of Saba. She had the same book as me. So we'd go through pages together and then still with the check ins, but it was at home, so I wasn't like the only one hearing it with me. But then I wasn't really embarrassed at that point anyway. Well, Jorja, my final question for you is what do events like World Braille Day mean to you? I think it's great that there is a day and an event and events that acknowledge Braille. I feel like Braille has had such a profound impact on the blind and the low vision community when it was first invented, so to speak. You know, having that access to a means of communication and accessing information, I just think that opened up a whole new world of opportunities. And I'm not sure the blind and low vision communities would be where it is today without that. You're quite right. It does make you wonder, doesn't it, where we would all be if it's Louis Braille. Having come up with the concept, things would have been very different. Well, Jorja, it's been a real pleasure having a chat to you. And thank you for being with us today. Thank you for having me.

Today is World Braille Day, and I'm delighted to be speaking to Georgia Parson. Georgia is a career stock graduate at Vision Australia, working in the communications team, and she's also a Braille user. So we have a bit in common because that's actually where I started my career at the in the comms team and I'm also a Braille user. So I think we're going to have a really interesting chat. Georgia, thank you so much for joining me. Thank you for having me here. It's a real pleasure. And now, Georgia, tell me about your experience as a Brown user. Have you been using it for long and when did you start? I started learning it when I was 14, 15, And then when my vision started to deteriorate, I was really reluctant to start learning because at the time it felt like I was being forced to accept something I wasn't really ready for in terms of vision, loss and being vision impaired. So my Braille teacher at the time and I compromised that. I would learn grade one Braille, and that was it. So I learnt grade one Braille in high school, and that's kind of where I left it until I was about 21, 22. And then at that point, I'd had a lot of time to come to terms with my vision loss. And so learning grade two is the start of like moving forward so that you could use it more in your everyday life and quickly. Yeah, For the benefit of our listeners, Grade one Braille is just the letters and numbers that your fingers make, and grade two Braille is where you learn different contractions. So for example, there's a contraction, a short form where you can write t h or i n g this little thing accommodations that can make those contractions. So that's a little bit more complicated and that's grade to Braille. Now, Georgia, how has Braille come to impact your day to day life? I'm a writer. I do a lot of writing for the comms team, but also just for fun. And I find it useful editing mostly. Also just with reading, I sometimes it's just to switch off all the text to speech and the screen and the audiobooks and just have to listen to something. You use a screen reader, is that right? Yeah. So I'm sure our listeners already know this, but a screen reader is a software program that can convert text to speech, and I think it can go the other way around. I'm also a screen reader user, and I can imagine that it is quite difficult if you're writing professional work and proofreading it. It's not always possible to see all the grammatical errors or typos by reading with a screen reader. So I can imagine that reading with Braille could be very, very useful. Is that right? Yes. Yeah, extremely simple. Yeah. Do you use a Braille display or some other form of technology to do that? Yeah. I have a mantis that's got the Braille display, but it also has a aquatic keyboard. So that's my preferred display. Excellent. And what are some of the challenges that come with being a Braille user member? The contracted Braille was what I really struggled with and then just improving my reading speed. So Georgia, I think both of our experiences of Braille are a little bit different. I started reading it when I was about four or five and I didn't have a browser, but I had what is called a Perkins Braille. I think it's named after the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston. So vivid, like a typewriter, quite a pretty piece of machinery. And I would read Braille books that had been embossed. So it was actual paper by Braille paper. So that was a bit different. So I mean, as a teenager starting the Braille process, as a teenager, especially feeling reticent about it, what was that like having not had to do it before? Dreadful, to be honest. So my lessons were in my school library and I was also using a Perkins. So it was clunky and it was loud and I was just not thrilled about it at all. But yeah, I also learnt from the hardcopy books and yeah, I got asked a lot if it was like learning a new language, but it was just I've only recently learnt how to explain it in a way that it's a lot like Morse code where it's the same language but just in a different way. So yeah, as you say, a bit like Morse. There's just different ways to interpret and communicate in the language that you were born with. So you didn't really like that experience. Did you find that you got asked about it quite a lot by your friends, or did they find it a bit novel that you were learning this new thing? I don't recall. But then I don't think I really talked about it much because it was all part of that whole all these things I didn't really want to acknowledge. So rail and using my cane and so on. Yes, of course. I'm guessing it would have been quite different because when I Braille was all I knew when I started school. But before that you would have been using print. Am I right? Standard, standard print. Wearing glasses, but using print? Yep. So this being a whole new way of doing things. What was that like after not only losing your vision, not having it, but then having to do things in a whole other way from the way you'd been doing it for the last ten years? Well, it took a while for my fingertips to adjust. I found they got kind of overly sensitive after reading Braille for a while. I didn't really struggle with the Braille itself. Early on, I would in my head I was kind of translating it, so to speak, into print. Like I have this mental image of print letters. I don't really do that anymore. But yeah, so it's now become more part of how you understand letters and words. You don't feel so much that you're converting it into what it used to be. That's right, yeah. So, Audrey, you talked about being embarrassed about Braille as a teenager, but then using it again when you were in your early twenties. So how did you come to be more comfortable with that and with this new way of doing things? I had lessons over the phone through Vision Australia. My instructor was based out of Saba. She had the same book as me. So we'd go through pages together and then still with the check ins, but it was at home, so I wasn't like the only one hearing it with me. But then I wasn't really embarrassed at that point anyway. Well, Jorja, my final question for you is what do events like World Braille Day mean to you? I think it's great that there is a day and an event and events that acknowledge Braille. I feel like Braille has had such a profound impact on the blind and the low vision community when it was first invented, so to speak. You know, having that access to a means of communication and accessing information, I just think that opened up a whole new world of opportunities. And I'm not sure the blind and low vision communities would be where it is today without that. You're quite right. It does make you wonder, doesn't it, where we would all be if it's Louis Braille. Having come up with the concept, things would have been very different. Well, Jorja, it's been a real pleasure having a chat to you. And thank you for being with us today. Thank you for having me.

I. And now Stella's back again, This time with Timothy from the library.

I. And now Stella's back again, This time with Timothy from the library.

Thanks, Sam. And a very happy world Braille diary to all our listeners. And of course, we can't really talk about Braille and not talk about books. And of course, the Vision Australia Library, which includes the Braille Library. And joining me now is Timothy from the Vision Australia Library, whose official title is taking care of the Braille books. Thanks for your time today, Timothy.

Thanks, Sam. And a very happy world Braille diary to all our listeners. And of course, we can't really talk about Braille and not talk about books. And of course, the Vision Australia Library, which includes the Braille Library. And joining me now is Timothy from the Vision Australia Library, whose official title is taking care of the Braille books. Thanks for your time today, Timothy.

You're welcome. Good to be here.

You're welcome. Good to be here.

So tell me as part of your will librarian role of taking care of the Braille books, what does that involve?

So tell me as part of your will librarian role of taking care of the Braille books, what does that involve?

So every single day I'm in the office, I'll head down and check our allocated loans and returns. So anyone who's returned a book that gets returned and then they get new books sent out straight away. And anyone who's requested any books who is a member of the library, they get books sent out daily as well.

So every single day I'm in the office, I'll head down and check our allocated loans and returns. So anyone who's returned a book that gets returned and then they get new books sent out straight away. And anyone who's requested any books who is a member of the library, they get books sent out daily as well.

How many titles in the Braille library?

How many titles in the Braille library?

So our current collection is approximately 13,000 Braille titles.

So our current collection is approximately 13,000 Braille titles.

It's a lot of books, and I understand that what's in the collection is actually almost completely member driven.

It's a lot of books, and I understand that what's in the collection is actually almost completely member driven.

Absolutely. Lately, especially, there has been a lot of suggestions and requests coming through. And what that means is any books that we're able to source or we already have in audio electronic version will embossed and put through production and get made into a Braille book and sent out to that member straight away.

Absolutely. Lately, especially, there has been a lot of suggestions and requests coming through. And what that means is any books that we're able to source or we already have in audio electronic version will embossed and put through production and get made into a Braille book and sent out to that member straight away.

And you've been embossing a lot of new titles lately. What's on the Zeit guys? What's trending in Braille books at the moment?

And you've been embossing a lot of new titles lately. What's on the Zeit guys? What's trending in Braille books at the moment?

It's a bit of a mystery seller and I mean, like really quite literally, the mystery and thrillers are without a doubt the most popular. And I have some fantastic new titles ready to recommend.

It's a bit of a mystery seller and I mean, like really quite literally, the mystery and thrillers are without a doubt the most popular. And I have some fantastic new titles ready to recommend.

Yep. Hit us with them.

Yep. Hit us with them.

There's some three very obviously, very popular new John Grisham titles. We've got a Book of Bones by John Connolly. Blunt Force by Lynda La Platt The Good Parents by Joan London and State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. They're brand new over the last couple of weeks.

There's some three very obviously, very popular new John Grisham titles. We've got a Book of Bones by John Connolly. Blunt Force by Lynda La Platt The Good Parents by Joan London and State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. They're brand new over the last couple of weeks.

It's really interesting because they are sort of mysteries and thrillers and then you get to the end. Patchett. Now, forgive me, but I am Patchett's not known for her mysteries and thrillers.

It's really interesting because they are sort of mysteries and thrillers and then you get to the end. Patchett. Now, forgive me, but I am Patchett's not known for her mysteries and thrillers.

Absolutely true. So I did find that quite interesting myself. But it is a fantastic, great.

Absolutely true. So I did find that quite interesting myself. But it is a fantastic, great.

Yeah, because our library members as a whole, they love their crime and their mystery, and I think Australia does in general. So you're saying that it's member driven then how are people finding out about the books and then go, I want that in Braille? Where are they getting their recommendations from?

Yeah, because our library members as a whole, they love their crime and their mystery, and I think Australia does in general. So you're saying that it's member driven then how are people finding out about the books and then go, I want that in Braille? Where are they getting their recommendations from?

We have a variety of book clubs, which seems to stem a lot of suggestions as well as just general members of the library sort of emailing in their suggestions and requests. Maybe it's word of mouth. Maybe we've all we've all had a book chat with someone that we know over a coffee or whatnot. Have you read this? Have you read that? And we try to make sure that the members of our library get a little of both sort of books as well. All they have to do is ask and we'll get it done.

We have a variety of book clubs, which seems to stem a lot of suggestions as well as just general members of the library sort of emailing in their suggestions and requests. Maybe it's word of mouth. Maybe we've all we've all had a book chat with someone that we know over a coffee or whatnot. Have you read this? Have you read that? And we try to make sure that the members of our library get a little of both sort of books as well. All they have to do is ask and we'll get it done.

And how long does it take? What's the turnaround time?

And how long does it take? What's the turnaround time?

We're looking to make that as quickly as possible. That way a new book is new. So at the moment, approximately, depending on how many requests we have going through production, it's between two and four weeks.

We're looking to make that as quickly as possible. That way a new book is new. So at the moment, approximately, depending on how many requests we have going through production, it's between two and four weeks.

That's not too bad, is it?

That's not too bad, is it?

I don't think so. One thing that is easy to forget, and I forget myself sometimes is that when we pick up a book, it's a single book. However, because of the size of a Braille volume, a single book might be 1011 volumes. And the biggest book in that collection is actually Lamers, which is the 45 volumes. Wow. It takes up an entire shelf on its own.

I don't think so. One thing that is easy to forget, and I forget myself sometimes is that when we pick up a book, it's a single book. However, because of the size of a Braille volume, a single book might be 1011 volumes. And the biggest book in that collection is actually Lamers, which is the 45 volumes. Wow. It takes up an entire shelf on its own.

And has that been requested recently? Till we know.

And has that been requested recently? Till we know.

It goes out occasionally. I think in terms of the mail and moving it around, it's probably a good thing. It's not in and out every single day, but it is still quite a popular read.

It goes out occasionally. I think in terms of the mail and moving it around, it's probably a good thing. It's not in and out every single day, but it is still quite a popular read.

Wow. Now, Timothy, you are a librarian and this is your first year at Vision Australia Library and the first time in a broad library. And how has that been for you? What are some of your key takeaways or what have you enjoyed or what stood out to you in particular?

Wow. Now, Timothy, you are a librarian and this is your first year at Vision Australia Library and the first time in a broad library. And how has that been for you? What are some of your key takeaways or what have you enjoyed or what stood out to you in particular?

I can think of three main things. I've actually reflected on this recently. The first, the main thing is I think it adds a very new element to the argument of physical books versus audio books where some people sort of like to hold a book and read a book. And some people like to listen to books, But I've always said, you know, as long as you're reading, who cares the way that that book is delivered. And I find that really interesting, that Braille is not is not is but hands. It's a it's a completely new and different and alternative way of reading a book, yet it's still reading a book. And our Braille the members of the library who use our Braille collection are very passionate about it. And even when suggested would you like to try audio for a different sort of access to the collection? No, I like holding books. I like physical books. So I found that they're very passionate about having that Braille book.

I can think of three main things. I've actually reflected on this recently. The first, the main thing is I think it adds a very new element to the argument of physical books versus audio books where some people sort of like to hold a book and read a book. And some people like to listen to books, But I've always said, you know, as long as you're reading, who cares the way that that book is delivered. And I find that really interesting, that Braille is not is not is but hands. It's a it's a completely new and different and alternative way of reading a book, yet it's still reading a book. And our Braille the members of the library who use our Braille collection are very passionate about it. And even when suggested would you like to try audio for a different sort of access to the collection? No, I like holding books. I like physical books. So I found that they're very passionate about having that Braille book.

So there's not much crossover there.

So there's not much crossover there.

They don't usually, but no, I found that the members of the library to access the Braille are very loyal to it. We have a small percentage who do both, but I've found that a larger percentage of our Braille members stick to Braille.

They don't usually, but no, I found that the members of the library to access the Braille are very loyal to it. We have a small percentage who do both, but I've found that a larger percentage of our Braille members stick to Braille.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I've also learned how to read Braille.

I've also learned how to read Braille.

Which has.

Which has.

Been an amazing.

Been an amazing.

Experience. This is pretty fascinating. So what made you decide to go ahead and start learning Braille?

Experience. This is pretty fascinating. So what made you decide to go ahead and start learning Braille?

Honestly, I felt that it was important for me to be able to communicate in any way possible with, you know, our library members and being sighted. It's not something that I would have initially thought that I'd ever be able to do. But having this being my first year at Mission Australia and working with the library team, it's another way to communicate and it's another way to convey information. And that really is my job as a librarian.

Honestly, I felt that it was important for me to be able to communicate in any way possible with, you know, our library members and being sighted. It's not something that I would have initially thought that I'd ever be able to do. But having this being my first year at Mission Australia and working with the library team, it's another way to communicate and it's another way to convey information. And that really is my job as a librarian.

And the third thing.

And the third thing.

It really struck me as very interesting, and I was a little taken aback at first, but now, having understood the process and learning Braille, how what we might sort of as sighted people have a normal book. So let's say the Harry Potter book, The Philosopher's Stone, the first one, the first one that popped into my head. We have that in our collection. Of course, that's a single quite small book. Fits in your hand easily. That's 14 volumes. So 14 sort of books per say. If you look at it as physical front cover pages in the middle as a book, it's 14 parts. And that's just amazing. The difference between what Hold in our Hand regular book to what a Braille book is and just the differences between them.

It really struck me as very interesting, and I was a little taken aback at first, but now, having understood the process and learning Braille, how what we might sort of as sighted people have a normal book. So let's say the Harry Potter book, The Philosopher's Stone, the first one, the first one that popped into my head. We have that in our collection. Of course, that's a single quite small book. Fits in your hand easily. That's 14 volumes. So 14 sort of books per say. If you look at it as physical front cover pages in the middle as a book, it's 14 parts. And that's just amazing. The difference between what Hold in our Hand regular book to what a Braille book is and just the differences between them.

Yeah, it's not like you can throw one in your suitcase when you or in your carry on and then jump onto a plane with it. So absolutely. And people can get their Braille books a two ways.

Yeah, it's not like you can throw one in your suitcase when you or in your carry on and then jump onto a plane with it. So absolutely. And people can get their Braille books a two ways.

That's correct. We do offer if they are local, I personally make sure that books are available for pick up. I just need 24 hours notice and they'll be there ready and waiting to be picked up and also sent through the post. And that post is free. Basically, they go out. Once the books have finished being read, they put back in the post bags sent to the post office and the post office takes care of it. That's all handled on the arm.

That's correct. We do offer if they are local, I personally make sure that books are available for pick up. I just need 24 hours notice and they'll be there ready and waiting to be picked up and also sent through the post. And that post is free. Basically, they go out. Once the books have finished being read, they put back in the post bags sent to the post office and the post office takes care of it. That's all handled on the arm.

And I have been speaking with Timothy, who is the Vision Australia Library member Engagement Officer, talking about the Vision Australia Library, a Braille collection. Happy Braille day to everyone and thanks so much for your time today, Timothy.

And I have been speaking with Timothy, who is the Vision Australia Library member Engagement Officer, talking about the Vision Australia Library, a Braille collection. Happy Braille day to everyone and thanks so much for your time today, Timothy.

Happy Braille Day and thank you so much for having me.

Happy Braille Day and thank you so much for having me.

And that concludes our special World Braille Day episode of Talking Vision. Talking Vision is a production of Vision Australia Radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the program together. And remember, we love your feedback and comments. You can get in touch with us by email on Talking Vision at Vision Australia dot org. That's talking vision a one word Vision Australia dot org. But until next week, it's bye for now and Happy World Braille Day.

And that concludes our special World Braille Day episode of Talking Vision. Talking Vision is a production of Vision Australia Radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the program together. And remember, we love your feedback and comments. You can get in touch with us by email on Talking Vision at Vision Australia dot org. That's talking vision a one word Vision Australia dot org. But until next week, it's bye for now and Happy World Braille Day.

You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during business hours on one 300 8474w6. That's one 300 847466 or by visiting Vision Australia dot org that's Vision Australia dot org.

You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during business hours on one 300 8474w6. That's one 300 847466 or by visiting Vision Australia dot org that's Vision Australia dot org.