Braille preservation: recognising and respecting archival materials produced by and for the blind

Lisa J  Sisco

doi:10.1080/01576895.2014.993408

Lisa J Sisco

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01576895.2014.993408

Keywords: accessibility, braille preservation, braille transcription, digitisation, unique context

Abstract

There is a noticeable gap in the archival literature concerning the preservation of braille and other tactile print formats that, since the eighteenth century, have been produced by and for blind and visually impaired persons. Based on the insights gained from interviews with information professionals and additional research conducted by the author into the historical usage and production of braille, this paper aims to highlight factors that may affect the preservation and accessibility of braille in archives. While this article will not generate specific preservation guidelines, policies and procedures for braille – measures to be created in a future study – the purpose of this article is to draw an initial awareness to the issues that influence the preservation of and access to these archival records.

Author Biography

Lisa J Sisco

Archivist Lisa Sisco has worked in a variety of non-profit settings in the United States since graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a MLIS and specialization in Archives, Preservation, and Records Management. Since graduation she served as an archival consultant for PEN American Center in New York City, which is known as the oldest literary and human rights organization in the world. In her most recent appointment Ms Sisco worked as the sole archivist at a notable natural history museum where she preserved and provided responsible access to digital and physical scientific records of all formats. Currently, Ms Sisco is consulting for the Farming Rust Foundation (FRF) and will work with her husband, the founder, to conduct oral histories with coffee farmers who are experiencing the devastating effects of coffee leaf rust around the globe. Lastly, as the daughter of a talented man who is permanently blind, she is greatly interested in the preservation of records produced by and for the visually impaired - specifically braille collections. She looks forward to continued collaboration with other archivists, librarians, and preservation professionals to ensure long-term access of these archival materials.