VIENNA — January is National Braille Literacy Month, and the Heartland Regional Library System (HRLS) is spotlighting the Wolfner Library, a specialized state service for Missourians who cannot use standard print materials. People who qualify for the service include those who are blind, visually or physically impaired or have a reading disability.

The goal of Wolfner Library is to provide accessible materials in a variety of formats including braille, audio and large print so individuals with print-related difficulties can still access library content. The main programs through the Wolfner Library are the Talking Book and the Braille Library. The Talking Book is a collection of audio materials that allow users to listen to content rather than read it. The Braille Library offers a collection of materials in the tactile writing format.

HRLS Director Lisa Garro said many people may know of Wolfner Library through its association with visual impairment, but its services extend beyond offerings for people who struggle with sight.

“Individuals who lack the physical capability to turn the pages of a book due to various health issues can equally benefit,” she said. “This service is a lifeline for those who have experienced the loss of a hand or arm, as well as for those who have endured a stroke resulting in the loss of arm functionality. The inclusivity of this service makes it a crucial support system for diverse challenges.”

According to the Missouri Secretary of State’s website, the service began in 1924 when Arthur Boswick formed a department in the St. Louis Public Library system that offered services to blind people. Edward F. Endicott, a blind man, was the head of the department at the time of its founding. Within nine months, he had increased the library’s braille circulation by 2,500 percent. During his time as the department head, Endicott visited many of St. Louis’ blind residents to let them know about the library’s services.

In 1931, the Pratt-Smoot Act provided $100,000 (more than $2 million today, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics) to Congress to provide books for blind adults. The funding established the Books for the Blind program, which made books available to an initial wave of 19 libraries nationwide, including the St. Louis Public Library.

In 1936, eye specialist Dr. Meyer Wiener led a fundraising group to establish a separate building in St. Louis to serve as a library for blind people. The new location opened two years later, and Wiener named it after a fellow eye specialist, Henry L. Wolfner, who had died a few years before the library opened. The original library site is now part of the National Register of Historic Places.

Eventually, the Wolfner Library’s services expanded to include the entire state. After the Missouri State Library took over the library’s administration in 1977, it moved to Jefferson City in the 1980s. Since the early 1990s, the Office of the Secretary of State has served as the administrator of the state library.

The Wolfner Library is located in the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center Interpretive Center at 600 W Main St. in Jefferson City. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information about the library is available on the Secretary of State’s website at sos.mo.gov/wolfner.