West German hearing library for the blind
| West German hearing library for the blind | |
|---|---|
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West German hearing library for the blind
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| founding | Fall 1955 |
| Duration | 32,000 |
| Library type | Library for the blind |
| place | Muenster |
| Website | www.wbh-online.de |
The Westdeutsche Blindenhörbücherei e. V. (WBH) was founded to make books and magazines accessible to the blind and the severely visually impaired . As the largest library of its kind in Germany, it is primarily responsible for North Rhine-Westphalia , Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland in the nationwide network of libraries for the blind , but also supplies its listeners in other federal states and abroad. Physically handicapped people who cannot handle a book can also be supplied. The chairman of the WBH is Siegfried Volkert.
Procedure
The texts are recorded by trained speakers in their own recording studios and sent to the users. Technically, this was done on tapes until the 1970s and then on compact cassettes. Since 2004, production has only been carried out digitally, then saved and sent as a so-called DAISY audio book in MP3 format on CDs. Currently there are around 32,000 DAISY audio books available; the originally around 18,500 titles on audio cassettes were only loaned out until December 30, 2009, after which all audio libraries in Germany stopped supplying cassettes. Most of the analogue recorded titles could be digitized later and are also available for loan as DAISY titles. Around 8,000 listeners are provided with literary works from all areas of literature as well as newspapers and magazines . The audio books are sent free of charge for the blind in lightweight plastic boxes or envelopes, both of which can also be used for returns.
Registration, membership in the WBH and the purchase of audio books are free of charge, subscriptions to audio magazines are chargeable. Proof of the visual impairment or blindness is always required, for example by means of a copy of the severely handicapped ID (BL sign), an informal medical certificate, a certificate from the local blind association. In many places, the local blind association also helps with registration. The proof for physically handicapped users must also be clear, as in these cases the dispatch from the WBH to the user is chargeable (postage).
Legal Entity and Organization
The WBH is an institution of "blind self-help". Accordingly, the associations and associations of the war and civil blind in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and the Saarland are the sponsors. The operating costs of the WBH are financed by membership fees of the supporting associations and by donations from the users themselves. There are also public grants.
The WBH is a member of the "Medibus eV (media community for blind and visually impaired people)" and the German Parity Welfare Association . It is recognized by the tax office of Münster-Außenstadt as non-profit.
The WBH employs 17 full-time employees in the areas of listening advice, book selection, cataloging, copying and repairing, shipping, control, booking back, administration and around 25 freelance speakers.
literature
- Siegfried Volkert and François Van Menxel (eds.): Reading for hearing in Münster: 50 years of the Westdeutsche Blindenhörbücherei eV 1955–2005. West German hearing library for the blind, Münster 2005.
Web links
Coordinates: 51 ° 55 ′ 26 ″ N , 7 ° 33 ′ 43.5 ″ E