[NFB-Seniors] The Blind History Lady - early talking book services

[Robert Leslie Newman]

Hi You All

 

Here is another great installment from the Blind History Lady 

 

Hello Blind History Lady Fans;

 

Library service for the blind in the United States did not start with the
National Library Services we know today. Each state has a unique history.
New York had many libraries for the blind by 1900, some came and went while
others thrived.  Some library services began with the state schools for the
blind, while others began in a public library, Boston being the first
library to offer reading material for the blind as early as 1868. Some were
formed and supported by a charity. What just about everyone had in common
was a blind person who was an essential part of its earliest history. 

 

In my book The Blind History Lady Presents; Karsten Ohnstad; I Wanted To Be
A Teacher Just Like My Dad, I told of some of the early history of Library
services through the Minnesota State School for the Blind to adult blind
Minnesotans before becoming a circulating library for the blind. You can
download a copy of my book at www.smashwords.com and read more. 

 

Today, I will focus on the first librarian of the Library for the Blind in
Hawaii. 

 

Library service for the blind began in the territory of Hawaii in 1926. The
Education Department of the Library of Hawaii had a few books in a raised
reading form that could be circulated to blind people living on Oahu. Due to
the unfamiliarity of the reporters to the state on the topic of raised
reading formats, we cannot be sure if the books were raised print, New York
Point or Braille. 

 

In 1931, the Governor of Hawaii granted a request from the State Library to
become an official library for the blind under the Federal Pratt-Smoot Act
passed that year. Little happened to enhance the collection for blind
patrons for several year. Some talking books did make their way across the
ocean in 1935. It was not until September of 1936 when a room in the
Basement of the Department for the Blind was designated as the official
Hawaii Library for the Blind. This room soon became the hub for activities
for the blind in the Honolulu area. 

 

The man who brought the library to life was a blind man. Thomas Hioki.

Who was Thomas Hioki? 

 

Thomas Hioki was born on June 16, 1896 on the island of Oahu.  He graduated
from the Territorial School for the Blind. Although he had some sight the
school insisted, he learn braille. To read print, he needed a powerful
magnifier, good lighting and quality print in order to use his vision to
read. So, Thomas wrote in Braille and read as much in braille as he could. 

 

He was taught how to write in print at the school for the blind. A skill
that came in handy, even if he had immense difficulty reading his own
handwriting. 

 

After graduating, Thomas took many jobs to support himself. His father had
died when he was young. His mother remarried and had a new family. Thomas
was pretty much on his own as an adult. Some of his occupations included
gardening, fertilizer man and sailor. He signed on board ships that sailed
between California and Hawaii. 

 

He was also a musician. Some years, when times were good, he could support
himself on his music. Other times, it was a side business. He wrote music
that was published and frequently performed on the radio with other
musicians.

On October 15, 1936, the Library for the blind opened in Honolulu.   It was
in the basement of the Bureau of Sight Conservation that also hosted the
territorial workshop for the adult blind. Although in the basement, the room
was not crowded. It was bright and airy. 

 

Thomas began to set up the room as he thought it would make the best sense
and encourage usage by his fellow blind. He saw to it that a section of the
room was put aside for students. They could work with their readers at the
table in the back and not disturb others. 

 

The Library of Congress was pleased to open library services through
specialized libraries to the blind of the country. However, they assumed
that a sighted person would be the librarian.  Being a blind librarian,
Thomas had twice as much work when new books came in. Volunteers would read
to him the titles. He transcribed in braille the index cards that came with
each book from the Library of Congress. The cards were meant to be used by
the librarian for identification. Thomas attached a braille card to each
catalog card before placing it into the card catalogue. 

 

Thomas wanted a blind person to be able to run the library by themselves.
The funding included money for a sighted staff person for six months to help
Thomas get the library set up. After that, Thomas would be the only staff.  

 

Thomas labeled the shelves in braille so that each blind person coming in to
browse the collection could find books themselves, just as a sighted person
used the public library. 

 

The library had several talking book machines and headphones. Patrons could
locate independently a talking book, sit down at a desk and read their book
on the Talking Book Machine. Many patrons did not yet have their own record
player, (Talking Book Machine) in their own home yet to enjoy a book. 

 

Each patron had a library card.  When checking out a book, the patron would
place their card on a metal plate where the library card was slid into and
had an opening for the librarian to stamp the return date of the book. On
the patron's card, Thomas wrote in pencil the title of the book checked out
from the library. He had enough vision to read the stamp date on the card to
be sure it was not late when a book was returned.

He also encouraged and arranged for the Adult Blind Association to hold its
meetings in the reading room. Other events such as teas, sing-a-longs and
holiday events were held there to encourage the usage of the library amongst
the blind. 

 

The library was part of the Works Progress Administration, WPA, that brought
money to the library for transcription services. Thomas worked with the Red
Cross volunteers and found blind volunteers to transcribe books to advance
the collection of the library. 

 

But when WWII was over, so was his position with the library. Thomas found
work at the Workshop, first as a salesman and then later in the shop itself
as a winder and machine operator. 

 

He played guitar and performed with many other Hawaiian artists. He played
on the radio with the SS Maui Quintet over KGU radio. The group performed on
many of the tourist ships.

Although he left the library in the mid 1940's, his system of braille index
cards in the file cabinet remained and continued for almost five decades
until the library prepared for the computerization of its catalogue. 

 

Thomas died on New Year's Eve, 1967. 

 

 If you would like to schedule a presentation contact me at
theblindhistorylady at gmail.com

 

You can read more of my Books at  https://www.smashwords.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.theblindhistorylady.com

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