Clive Braillist receives volunteer of the year award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               Contact: Shoshana Hebshi

April 25, 2011                                                                                                        515-281-1338       
 
 
DES MOINES—During the past 35 years, Angela Graham has enriched many blind Iowans’ lives by producing books in Braille. Graham, a volunteer Braillist for the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, was given the Elizabeth Perowsky Award for her dedicated service during a volunteer recognition luncheon April 8 at the Iowa Department for the Blind.
 
Graham, who started transcribing printed materials into Braille for the Library—a division of the IDB—when her son was in preschool, said she was very honored to receive the award, which is given out annually to an outstanding volunteer. The Library has about 100 volunteers who do many tasks to help the Library run smoothly and serve its 6,000-some users across the state. “It was nice to be recognized for something I truly enjoy doing,” said Graham, who lives in Clive.
 
Graham and her family moved around a lot during her time as a volunteer, and she said Braille transcription was something she could do from wherever they lived at the time. She added that she also benefits from her volunteer work. “There have been times when I've known something and couldn't figure out how I knew it.  Then I'd think, ‘Hmm, maybe it was in a book I Brailled.’ So, in many instances, I also have gained the same benefit from the books I've done as the Braille reader has,” she said.
 
Graham was one of several volunteers to receive awards during the luncheon. Florence Grannis Library Service Awards were given to:

• Charlotte Zeman of Cedar Rapids, Braille transcription
• Tim Gracey of Des Moines, audio book narrator
• The Pioneers (Jan Bartelt, Eunice Coppens, Ethel Kolenz, Marilyn Markway, Sandy Mitchell, Raymond Putz and Martha Swigart all of Des Moines), talking book repair

 
About the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
The ILBPH serves Iowans who cannot read standard print by sending books and magazines in large print, Braille and audio formats through the mail. The library ships about 1,000 units of material through the mail each day to library users throughout the state.
 
The Library was founded in 1960 as a regional branch of the Library of Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.
 
For more information about the award, the Library or the Iowa Department for the Blind, contact Shoshana Hebshi, communications specialist, at (515) 281-1338 or Shoshana.Hebshi@blind.state.ia.us.