Miami, Fl – The Miami-Dade Public Library System, in partnership with the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired, recently teamed up for the benefit of STAR (Summer Training & Recreation) Program participants. Thirty children, ages 6-13, took part in numerous activities that included storytelling, reading and discussing their favorite books in cassettes, Braille, and large print. They visited the Coral Gables Branch Library for a multimedia presentation and toured the library and butterfly garden. The summer reading program concluded with an award ceremony and certificates proclaiming the children “Reading Winners”.

An Outreach Service of the Miami-Dade Public Library System and a network library of the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the Talking Books Library serves all of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, by loaning books and magazines on cassette tapes or in Braille FREE by mail to persons who have difficulty seeing or using standard small print. As a service, referrals are available to other Talking Books libraries nationwide. Any resident of any age unable to see small print because of blindness or a visual disability (including large print readers) is eligible, as well as anyone unable to hold a book or turn pages because of a physical disability. Individuals with learning disabilities such as dyslexia also qualify.

Learning to read and write Braille is considered the key to literacy for children who are blind or who have very low vision. For additional information and an application form: call the Talking Books Library at 305-751-8687 or 1-800-451-9544 from Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Library is located at 2455 NW 183 Street in Miami, and is open M-F, 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Those interested can find out more and print an application form on the Miami-Dade Public Library System’s website: www.mdpls.org

Media Contact:
Marivi Prado, Public Affairs Officer
Tel. (305) 375-5180
pradom@mdpls.org