Braille Circulating Library

Dear Friends of the Braille Circulating Library,

"Are you open?" That was the question I heard as I answered the phone at the Braille Circulating Library. It was just after 5pm. It had been a very difficult day. I was discouraged. I had received five rejections from various foundations that I had requested financial support from to help fund the operating budget of the BCL. I thought for a moment to not answer the phone, but I picked it up. I am so thankful that I did. The lady who was calling was from northern California. She told me she was blind and that she had been a patron of the BCL years ago. She said that in 1999 she was told that the BCL was closing down and was going out of business. She said that for the past 12 years she had been so discouraged because she was not able to get the good quality Christian books that she was only able to get from the BCL. She said she decided to call to see if the BCL just might be open. She was so excited when I told her that the BCL was indeed still open. I was able to send her a new BCL Braille book catalog and she has since sent a list of over 50 Braille books that she wants to read. That phone call lifted me out of my discouragement. What a blessing it was to be able to bring encouragement into the life of that dear lady. That phone call reaffirmed to me the need for the ministry of the BCL, but it did not however relieve the financial needs of the BCL. I am not aware of any other ministry that could meet the need of that wonderful blind lady, and hundreds of others just like her. The need for the ministry of the BCL is certain, but so are the financial needs of the BCL. The operating budget of the BCL is $90,000 a year, however the operating budget has never been fully funded. Despite this fact, the BCL remains debt free and continues to provide its services to the blind, free of charge, by cutting expenses every way possible. Many, many requests for funding have been sent to foundations all across the country, but the recent common response has been, "I regret to inform you that your grant request was not funded at our recent meeting... I hope that your funding needs can be met during these continuing tough economic times." The economic times are tough. The future is uncertain. I confess that my faith has been stretched. But, as did David, I must learn to trust God during difficult times. Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." This verse is David’s song of trust despite difficult times. It is an expression of faith that God acts on behalf of His children. Since 1925, the Lord has seen fit to keep the ministry of the BCL open. Foundations are wonderful philanthropic organizations, but more than ever, I am praying that the Lord will touch the hearts of His people to help the BCL. How wonderful it would be to have Pastors and churches across the country standing with and helping to sustain the BCL. Please join me in this prayer. I am also requesting that you will please consider sending a financial gift to the BCL at this time. Thank you. As I lift up my song of "trust in the name of the Lord our God", my hope and prayer is that the answer will always be "Yes" if the question is ever asked again about the ministry of the Braille Circulating Library, "Are you open?".

Serving Him,

Rev. Brian J. Barton, Sr., Executive Director

The Braille Circulating Library for the Blind, Inc.

2700 Stuart Ave

Richmond, VA 23220