The Estonian Library for the Blind produces, collects, stores and lends audio and Braille literature, tactile books and other materials in the available form for the print disabled people. Estonian Library for the Blind is the department of the National Library of Estonia being administered and funded by the Estonian Ministry of Culture.
Historical background
The Estonian Library for the Blind, set up in 1947 in Tallinn, is the largest library to serve blind and other print disabled people in Estonia.
In Soviet times the library functioned as part of the blind people’s enterprise and in 1994-2003 as a foundation.
In 2004 it became the branch of the Repository Library of Estonia.
Since 2010 it is the department of the Repository Library of Estonia.
Library production
The Estonian Library for the Blind is the biggest publisher in Estonia which produces audio and Braille materials for the print disabled persons.
In 2006 the digital audio book production in mp3 format was started. Since May 2009 audio books, newspapers and journals are produced both in Estonian and Russian according to the DAISY (Digital Accessible Information SYstem) standard. Old audio books are also restored and digitized as DAISY books.
Braille production includes mainly fiction for adults, children’s literature and popular science literature.