a remarkable initiative

Today, María García Garmendia introduces a remarkable initiative: the Clube do Livro em Braille.
A well-conceived and inspiring project that demonstrates how international literary engagement and inclusion can go hand in hand.
It’s a concept worth sharing – and one that could serve as a model for similar initiatives elsewhere.
Many thanks dear María for this interesting insight!

Braille Book Club (Clube do livro em Braille).

This initiative was created by the Benjamin Constant Institute, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is one of the most important Brazilian institutions dedicated to training blind people and, in particular, to teaching and promoting the Braille system. I was lucky enough to learn about this initiative a few months ago, thanks to Jeni de Abreu, one of the organizers, who invited me to participate. Anyone who is blind, from anywhere in the world, who loves literature (especially Portuguese-language literature), and who is proficient in Braille and Portuguese can participate. Registration for new members opens every three or four months. To participate, simply contact them by email and fill out a registration form. You can stay in touch with Clube do Livro by email and WhatsApp, as well as visiting their website and social media pages. They also have a YouTube channel and a podcast on Spotify, which can be accessed by clicking on the link, even if you are not registered on that platform. In general terms, it works as follows: Every three or four months, the Benjamin Constant Institute proposes several books from its catalog of books in Braille. Participants choose one through a survey posted in a closed WhatsApp group, where only the administrators can send messages. The book with the most votes is the chosen book. This book, along with the one voted for by the individual, is sent to each participant in Braille format to their home address, whether in Brazil or anywhere else in the world. A period of 3 to 4 months is allowed, after which a “conversation circle” is held to discuss the book. In addition, during these months, the group administrators send information about the author, their main works, etc. to those who are part of the WhatsApp group. Those who do not wish to join the WhatsApp group can also participate, as important communications are also sent by email, but in this case, they will not be able to vote to choose the book for each “conversation circle.” As mentioned above, the selected books are sent in Braille format to all participants, whether they live in Brazil or abroad. However, if they do not arrive on time, which is common in the case of European participants, it is always possible to obtain them by other means in digital format, for example, through the various libraries in Portugal (Vila Nova de Gaia Library, Viana do Castelo Library, National Library of Portugal, Coimbra Library, etc.), or in Brazil. Although here in Europe, the idea of sending books in paper format may seem strange to us, they have chosen this system because in Brazil there are many blind people who do not have access to Braille, and in this way, they ensure that all participants have the opportunity to read in Braille. However, some of us have suggested that, for those who wish, they should also offer the option of sending the books digitally. Personally, I think it is a wonderful initiative, and very useful and interesting for promoting both Braille and literature. I love the Portuguese language and Lusophone literature in general, and Portuguese in particular, and I had been looking for something like this for a long time, so I am delighted that this initiative has been created and that I have found out about it. Therefore, I encourage all of you who speak Portuguese to participate, and those of you who do not yet know the language of Camoes, I invite you to give it a try, as it is a wonderful language with a rich culture and literature, and one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Below is a presentation of the Clube do Livro em Braille, written by the organizing team, as well as their contact information.

LETTER OF INTRODUCTION

A pioneer in Brazil, the Braille Press Division (DIB) of the Benjamin Constant Institute (IBC) produces books, magazines, and printed materials, providing an important means of educational and cultural access for people with visual impairments.
Through the DIB, the IBC plays an important role in adapting, transcribing, revising, and printing textbooks and supplementary materials for free distribution to public schools throughout Brazil.
The DIB is also responsible for editing, printing, and distributing the IBC’s Braille magazines—Revista Brasileira para Cegos (RBC), Pontinhos, and Superbraille—all of which are distributed free of charge, both nationally and internationally. In this way, these publications have contributed to the inclusion of people with visual impairments in the world of reading, providing entertainment, leisure, culture, and education.
DIB always seeks to innovate in its projects. The creation of the Braille Book Club (CLB) – IBC aims to directly serve individuals who use the Braille system, expanding access to reading.
Every quarter, we will send books printed in Braille and hold virtual meetings – conversation circles – to promote culture and information for people with visual impairments.
The CLB’s mission is to encourage reading and bring Braille through literature to all those who seek to see the world with their hearts.
How the Braille Book Club (CLB) – IBC came about
It came about during a conversation between two members of the DIB’s braille transcription and revision team about the possibility of creating a braille reading club. The aim would be to encourage blind people to read by receiving, free of charge, books of various genres to broaden their knowledge and provide entertainment.
The idea was passed on to management and, after some time studying the possibility, the important news came: the effective creation of the Braille Book Club (CLB) – IBC, with its launch at the 1st Inclusive Literary Fair (FLI) of the Benjamin Constant Institute, on October 18, 2024.
To the members of the Braille Book Club – IBC
Given the reception our initiative has received, we would like to emphasize how essential you are to our continued efforts to build ever better experiences.
Thank you!
CLB – IBC Team

Links & EMail

Club del libro en Braille (Clube do livro em Braille).

Es una iniciativa creada por el Instituto Benjamin Constant, situado en Río de Janeiro, Brasil, el cuál es una de las instituciones brasileñas más importantes dedicadas a la formación de los ciegos y, muy especialmente, a la enseñanza y promoción del sistema Braille. Tuve la suerte de conocer esta iniciativa hace algunos meses, gracias a Jeni de Abreu, una de las personas del equipo de organizadores, que me invitó a participar. En él, puede participar cualquier persona ciega, de cualquier parte del mundo, amante de la literatura (especialmente la literatura lusófona), que domine el sistema Braille y la lengua portuguesa. Las inscripciones para nuevos miembros, se abren cada 3 o 4 meses, y para participar, únicamente hay que ponerse en contacto con ellos a través de correo electrónico, y rellenar un formulario de inscripción. Los canales para estar en contacto con el Clube do Livro son el correo electrónico y el WhatsApp, además de poder visitar su página de Internet, y sus redes sociales. Cuentan además con un canal de YouTube y con un pódcast en Spotify al que se puede acceder pinchando en el enlace, aunque la persona no esté inscrita a dicha plataforma. En cuanto a su funcionamiento, en en líneas generales es el siguiente: Desde el Instituto Benjamin Constant, cada 3 o 4 meses, se proponen varios libros de los presentes en su catálogo de libros en Braille, los participantes, a través de una encuesta colocada en un grupo de WhatsApp cerrado, en el que sólo envían mensajes las administradoras, eligen uno, y el que obtenga un mayor número de votos, es el libro elegido. Este libro, junto con el votado por la persona, son enviados a cada participante en formato Braille papel, a su domicilio, tanto si éste está en Brasil, o en cualquier parte del mundo. Se deja un período de entre 3 o 4 meses, y tras ello, se realiza una érueda de conversación», en la que se comenta el libro. Además, durante estos meses, los administradores dr grupo, para quien forme parte del grupo de Whatéapp, envían información sobre el autor, sobre sus obras principales, etc. Para quien no desee formar parte del grupo de WhatsApp, también es posible participar, pues las comunicaciones importantes también son enviadas por correo electrónico, pero en este caso, no podrá votar para elegir el libro de cada «Rueda de conversación». Como ya indicamos más arriba, los libros elegidos, son enviados en formato Braille papel a todos los participantes, tanto si viven en Brasil como en el extranjero, pero si no llegan a tiempo, cosa habitual en el caso de los participantes europeos, siempre es posible obtenerlos por otros medios en formato digital, por ejemplo, a través de las diferentes bibliotecas existentes en Portugal (biblioteca de Vila Nova de Gaia, biblioteca de Viana do Castelo, biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, biblioteca de Coimbra, etc.), o en Brasil. Aunque aquí en Europa, la idea de enviar los libros en papel nos pueda parecer extraña, han elegido este sistema, porque en Brasil hay muchos ciegos que no tienen acceso a poder tener una línea Braille, y por eso, de esta forma, se aseguran de que todos los participantes puedan tener la oporrtunidad de poder leer en Braille. No obstante, algunas personas hemos propuesto que, para quien lo desee, puedan dar también la opción de poder enviar los libros de manera digital. Personalmente me parece una iniciativa magnífica, y muy útil e interesante para la promoción tanto del Braille, como de la literatura. Amo el idioma portugués y la literatura lusófona en general, y portuguesa en particular, y desde hacía mucho tiempo había estado buscando algo así, por lo que estoy encantada de que hya sido creada esta iniciativa, y de haberla conocido . Por tanto, os animo a participar a todos aquellos que habléis portugués, y a los que aún no conozcáis la lengua de Camoes, os invito a acercaros a ella dado que se trata de una lengua maravillosa, con una cultura y literatura riquísimas, y de las más habladas como idioma nativo, en todos los rincones del mundo. A continuación, os dejamos una presentación do Clube do Livro em Braille, redactada por el propio equipo organizador, así como sus datos de contacto.

CARTA DE APRESENTAÇÃO

Pioneira no Brasil, a Divisão de Imprensa Braille (DIB) do Instituto Benjamin Constant (IBC) produz livros, revistas e impressos, possibilitando importante via de acesso educacional e cultural às pessoas com deficiência visual.
Por meio da DIB, o IBC tem um importante papel adaptando, transcrevendo, revisando e imprimindo livros didáticos e paradidáticos para distribuição gratuita às escolas públicas de todo o Brasil.
A DIB é responsável também pela edição, impressão e distribuição das revistas em braille do IBC – Revista Brasileira para Cegos (RBC), Pontinhos e Superbraille, todas com distribuição gratuita, nacional e internacional. Desse modo, essas produções têm contribuído para a inserção das pessoas com deficiência visual no mundo da leitura, proporcionando entretenimento, lazer, cultura e educação.
A DIB busca sempre inovar em seus projetos. A criação do Clube do Livro em Braille (CLB) – IBC tem o propósito de atender diretamente pessoas físicas, usuárias do Sistema Braille, ampliando o acesso à leitura.
Trimestralmente, enviaremos livros impressos em braille e realizaremos encontros virtuais – rodas de conversa – a fim de promover cultura e informação às pessoas com deficiência visual.
O CLB tem como missão estimular a leitura e levar o braille por meio da literatura a todas as mãos que buscam enxergar o mundo com o coração.
Como surgiu o Clube do Livro em Braille (CLB) – IBC
Surgiu em uma conversa entre dois membros da equipe de transcrição e revisão braille da DIB sobre a possibilidade de criar um clube de leitura em braille. O objetivo seria incentivar a pessoa cega a ler, recebendo, de forma gratuita, livros de variados gêneros para ampliar conhecimento e auxiliar no entretenimento.
A ideia foi repassada à supervisão e, depois de algum tempo estudando a possibilidade, veio a importante notícia: a criação efetiva do Clube do Livro em Braille (CLB) – IBC, com lançamento na I Feira Literária Inclusiva (FLI) do Instituto Benjamin Constant, no dia 18 de outubro de 2024.
Para o sócio do Clube do Livro em Braille – IBC
Pela recepção que tivemos em nossa iniciativa, ressaltamos o quão fundamental você é para que continuemos construindo experiências cada vez melhores.
Obrigada!
Equipe CLB – IBC