University of Virginia Library

3,900 Volunteers

Nationally, 3,900 volunteers, including
readers, monitors, raised-line
drawers, clerical and library
workers contribute of their time to
Recording for the Blind. Readers
are carefully selected for the
service, and must pass a 15-minute
recording exam. Last year only
one-third of those taking the test
were chosen to record.

Mrs. Ralph Miller said that
"very few student volunteers" were
lost by the Charlottesville unit
when it moved from its Madison
Lane location out to Arlington
Boulevard in June, 1967, but added
that "the demand for more volunteers
always exists. Where we have a
great need is in biology, chemistry,
and mathematics," she said, explaining
"we only put scientists on
science books, lawyers on law
books. There are some things a
layman would not understand."

In addition to the 31 students,
Mrs. LaSauce said, "The ideal thing
is for them to come at least once a
week to read or to monitor."

The national organization now
operates on a budget of $389,000
annually, with all its funds contributed
voluntarily. Charlottesville's
unit of the RFB was originally
supported by contributions specifically
for that purpose, but five
years ago it became a part of the
local United Givers' Fund cause.

The local unit obtains all its
major equipment through the New
York headquarters, while it supplies
its own tapes and brailling equipment
from its UGF budget. "For
best recording conditions." Mrs.
LaSauce commented, "it would be
the ideal set-up in a building that
has nothing in it but Recording for
the Blind."