World Braille Day is observed every January 4 to raise awareness on the importance of braille, the means of communication for the visually impaired.

The United Nations describes braille as “a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols.”

It was last November 8 when the UN declared the observance, calling it “recognition [for] promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of access to written language.”

Last year, the Iloilo City Public Library (ICPL) revealed plans to provide second floor accessibility for patrons with disabilities.

According to ICPL head Marion Aguirre, the second floor is where learning materials are located and said access to such information will allow those with disabilities to “increase their knowledge.”

She noted, the library currently offers books in braille, along with audio books./WDJ