Help Promote Braille Literacy

Louis Braille, (1809 - 1852), invented the reading and writing system that brought literacy to the blind when he just was a teenager. The year 2009 is his 200th birthday. To celebrate the genius of Louis Braille, Friends is conducting a campaign to purchase state-of-the-art movable electronic shelving for the library.

The library adds new Braille books to its collection each year, and shelving is needed to store each additional book. A print book, such as Harry Potter, consists of 10 volumes of Braille that must be stored on a shelf. Other popular series, like Stephen King books, require lots of space because each book in print can equal 4-5 volumes of Braille.

The estimated cost for this shelving is $80,000. State and Federal funds are not available for this type of purchase. You can help promote Braille literacy by purchasing a section of shelves for the library. Make an online donation below or download and mail the donation form.


In celebration of Louis Braille’s birthday, I wish to support the purchase of shelving for the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
  • $1000 Marquis Sponsor(125 volumes or, shelving to store 83 Danielle Steele novels)

  • $500 Platinum Sponsor (62 volumes or, shelving to store two copies of the Bible)

  • $250 Gold Sponsor (30 volumes or, shelving to store two sets of War & Peace)

  • $100 Patron Sponsor (10 volumes or, shelving to store two sets of a Nora Roberts novel or 20 childrens' books)

  • $50 Supporting Sponsor (5 volumes or, shelving to store one Stephen King novel)

  • $ Other Amount: Please use the donation form if you wish to donate an amount not listed here.

Thank you for your generous support of this vital program.