[Ohio-Talk] Hawaii library

Mon Sep 2 10:46:02 UTC 2019

Subject: Hawaii library

Hawaii LIbrary 

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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  <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00120arrHGnOWvSE4ks7DIqeNGY_wM22Nqjmdz1pxPHk4fMf6EeEL-4GgKdwuXE3q2vu65nYzRP9KyisJ3CHAxnCSS5DqktP9ejOYZE8Wb-KqAlRu5maE7Sd9R6Fl23sAt7j5bmyKgSH1d98NuifJT3tw==&c=pmPR8wqAkg4zGSBVC1McicvtUUg_32wAJfownsRAGbIZucv8vIkioA==&ch=4n4AXV1n7Ec_MvyGavjI6U5UwSAGHHbLWtpmvDxyHmMzrVumWc3vUA==> 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 <mailto:theblindhistorylady at gmail.com> 

You can read more of my Books at   <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00120arrHGnOWvSE4ks7DIqeNGY_wM22Nqjmdz1pxPHk4fMf6EeEL-4Gq1U_fbyZu5tdQbMc2Joq8SA2YQtOYu4k6Fb5rdMtSeptOeo3g-jv5t6T_gJTw8OM9HdvYJESapfH23H7tSwhPVFzqtCZMiXfijXvcf-2Fr5xPEqUGZBy4IRgHgq4KPpUA==&c=pmPR8wqAkg4zGSBVC1McicvtUUg_32wAJfownsRAGbIZucv8vIkioA==&ch=4n4AXV1n7Ec_MvyGavjI6U5UwSAGHHbLWtpmvDxyHmMzrVumWc3vUA==> https://www.smashwords.com 

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