BOOKS FOR THE BLIND.
[To THE EDITOR OF VIE " SPEOTATOE."1 SIB,—In reference to the correspondence in the Spectator on -the subject of "Books for the Blind," may.1, through the medium of your journal, draw attention to the existence of a Lending Library for the Blind, which, set on foot in 1882 on the most modest scale, now numbers considerably over two hundred members, and has more than eight hundred different works, .representing some seventeen hundred odd volumes in all, on its shelves P These are mostly in the Braille type, and include many standard works, four French books, and a few small magazines, besides which there are over• one hundred pieces of music.
With a view to making the library as self-supporting as possible, and yet extending its advantages to the poor blind, -who are so terribly shut out from all means of mental culture and self-improvement, the subscription is 10s. 6d. annually for all who can afford it, of which the number is steadily ,increasing, and 4s. 4d. (1d. a week) to those who cannot pay the larger sum ; while, to enable the very poor to share in the benefits of the library, there is a separate fund for the carriage of books to or from members of this class.
The rapid growth of the library and the testimony of its -members prove that it is satisfactorily meeting a deeply felt -want of the blind; still, it is not self-supporting. It owes its :success greatly to the generous help of a growing circle of subscribers and donors, as well as to the devoted services of a Jew, who carry on the onerous work of the library as a labour of love. Of course, my first object in writing is to spread the knowledge of this institution more widely among the blind themselves ; but I need hardly add how gratefully help from -others will be welcomed. Reports of the library and all other :information will be gladly supplied by Miss Arnold, 114 .Belsize Road, London, N.W.—I am, Sir, &c., 143 King Henry's Road, N.W. ELLEN ' B. DREWRY.
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