About the M.C. Migel Memorial Collection and Library
Mission
The APH Migel Library promotes research, education, and social and cultural awareness by collecting and providing access to non-medical materials related to blindness and visual impairment.
The APH Migel Collection is the largest known library of materials related to blindness and visual impairment in the world. The Library currently houses approximately 22,000 print and audio/visual items. Our digital collection at Internet Archive and Open Library numbers over 9,000 items. Material ranges in scope from manuscripts to published fiction.
Limited physical access to the collection is provided in accordance with our usage policies, and APH is dedicated to making digital versions available at its Internet Archive page - https://archive.org/details/aphmigel
- Collection Development and Acquistions Policy
- Library Usage Policy
The Migel Collection contains a vast historical retrospective of non-medical materials related to blindness and visual impairment. Future acquisitions will remain dedicated to research, education, and social and cultural awareness materials that are not duplicated within the scope of The APH Museum and Archive or The APH Barr Library missions. APH is dedicated to digitizing materials and providing open access and accessible formats within the allowances of copyright law.
The Library
The M.C. Migel Memorial Collection is the largest known library of materials related to blindness and visual impairment in the world. The collection currently houses approximately 22,000 print and audio/visual items. The material ranges in scope from mauscripts to published fiction materials.
The M.C. Migel Collection is primarily a historical collection. It is intended as a complement to the current professional materials housed in the APH Barr Library. While the main inventory of the collection is historical, this fact is not intended to prevent the collection of relevant current materials that support the M.C. Migel Collection mission.
Substantive non-English language materials are maintained. (Note: There are many items within the non-Enslish language materials that are related-to or written-by Helen Keller.) The Migel also contains a core video and audio collection. The Migel contains a vertical file of pamphlets, articles, and other items of interest. The Blind Musicians Collection, the only known collection of its kind, is also housed within the M.C. Migel Collection Library, with a listening station in the Barr Library reading room.
Digital Collection
An ongoing digitization effort means that APH will continue to make materials available through at https://archive.org/details/aphmigel. The digitized texts are available in a variety of accessible formats, including DAISY, Kindle, EPUB, PDF, and read-aloud. Library staff will prioritize materials that are requested, or are anticipated to provide the greatest research value or cultural interest while following the letter of copyright law.
Gifts
Gifts to the Migel Library are welcomed, providing they match our overall collection development philosophy. Potential donors should contact the Migel Library Staff at 800-223-1839 ext. 705 to discuss the proposed gift.
return to top
Access
The M.C. Migel Memorial Collection and Library is a closed collection. Due to staffing restrictions, it is recommended that appointments to use the collection be made in advance. Appointments may be made by calling 1-800-223-1839 ext. 705 or emailing resource@aph.org.
Materials in the APH Migel Library do not circulate and must be used on-site in our Reading Room located in the APH Barr Library at the American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206. Requested materials are retrieved by the staff for use in the Reading Room.
1. All personal belongings must be placed in the designated secure area.
2. Only pencils and paper or laptops may be used.
3. All materials are kept in closed stacks and are brought to researchers by staff.
4. Materials may not be taken from the Reading Room.
5. Absolutely NO food or beverages are allowed in the Reading Room.
6. The researcher is responsible for the careful handling of all material.
7. Photocopies will made by staff in accordance with copyright, and will not constitute permission to publish.
Copyright Notice The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. abides by U.S. Copyright Law. Items in the APH Migel Library may be protected under the U.S. copyright law (Title 17 of the U.S. Code). The user of the work is responsible for determining lawful uses. Users are fully responsible for any copyright infringement.
return to top
|