'Harry Potter' Braille Edition Released Simultaneously with Print Edition
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Joan Oleck -- School Library Journal, 7/25/2007
The Braille version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (National Braille Press) was distributed to readers at the same time as the printed version—a first in publishing history for a popular children’s book.
J. K. Rowling’s U.S. publisher, Scholastic, Inc., gave an advanced copy of the final book in the hugely popular series to the National Braille Press two weeks early, reports the Associated Press (AP). Employees then worked overtime to get the Braille version ready for its midnight July 20 release—with most of that work performed by hand.
At least one school librarian for the blind was exultant. "For those of you who don't know, this is a BIG DEAL," Elizabeth Hart, a library technical assistant at the Fremont-based California School for the Blind, wrote on LM_NET, an online discussion board for media specialists. "It's almost unheard of to have the Braille edition available at the same time as the print edition."
Although the Braille version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Scholastic, 2005) was finished at the same time as the print edition, it was not received by mail until several days later. The quick Deathly Hallows turnaround was made possible by a major fund-raising effort by the National Braille Press.
"Blind kids want to be like everyone else," Hart said when asked about the importance of the Braille effort. "They want to be up on the story. This gives blind kids the opportunity to be like everyone else."
Most blind or visually impaired children prefer the audio version of the Harry Potter books, Hart said, noting that, "Five percent or less of what's put into print is published in Braille" and that not everyone who is blind even reads this special code comprised of six raised dots.
To appreciate the feat that the National Braille Press accomplished is to look at the facts: the Braille edition of Deathly Hallows is 1,100 pages and stretches to 10 volumes, standing more than a foot high and occupying 15 inches of shelf space. Weight? Twelve pounds. The price tag is $63, but kids can buy the books at a price comparable to the general print edition.
"This is the largest press run we've ever done for a book," says Diane Croft, vice president of publishing and marketing for the National Braille Press. Croft says that 1,400 Braille editions of Deathly Hallows were printed, compared to the 200 to 300 the company usually prints for a book.
