[Athen] Community embossers

[D Krahmer via athen-list]

Cornell has an old Blazie tech embosser that's open to everyone, including
the public. It was abandoned for about 5 years before I was hired and
worked to get it fixed and create documentation. Some students use it for
zines, but its mostly staff making braille alts for programs and art
exhibits. Student textbooks and tests are handled by a new embosser in
student disability services, or big projects are sent to a local printer.

I'd love to get a new one that supports image embossing for the public, but
it won't be happening for a while due to budget cuts. I'm just happy the
old beast is chugging along still.

Thanks,
D.

On Fri, Oct 31, 2025, 2:47 PM John Gardner via athen-list <
athen-list at u.washington.edu> wrote:


> Mark, some interesting history about community embossers: The Oregon State

> University library bought one of the original Tiger Advantage embossers

> about 25 years ago. They made it available to pretty much anybody, but it

> was too far ahead of its time. At that time there was no supporting

> infrastructure allowing one to send print jobs. Nor was there very much

> good content available. Ron Stewart and I made it more useful when we began

> developing a group doing “Access Technology”, a name that Ron coined as far

> as I know. End of history lesson!

>

>

>

> I am pleased to hear about the Canadian community embosser, and I would be

> delighted if US libraries would add a ViewPlus embosser to their computer

> rooms. The Inclusio project should soon be providing high quality content,

> graphics in particular, so community embossers could become very valuable

> resources. I sure hope so.

>

>

>

> John

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Mark Weiler via athen-list

> *Sent:* Friday, October 31, 2025 11:07 AM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Community embossers

>

>

>

> I haven’t heard back from anyone about awareness of community embossers.

> I wanted to try one more time. See below for more details.

>

>

>

> *From:* Mark Weiler

> *Sent:* October 27, 2025 4:40 PM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Community embossers

>

>

>

> I attended a talk by some librarians from Kwantlen Polytechnic University

> in BC, where they have a community embosser

> <https://www.kpu.ca/library/braille-printing>.

>

>

>

> It can be used by anyone, whether from the university or the wider

> community.  It’s set up like a regular self-serve printer and public

> workstation.  People can send a print job to the embosser like they can

> send a job to a laser printer.  There are supports to learn how to print it.

>

>

>

> What I find interesting was a how the community is using it. They told a

> story of how someone from the community learned about the embosser and came

> in to have a wedding invitation embossed.

>

>

>

> Does anyone know of other examples of community embossers?

>

>

>

> Mark

>

>

>

>

>

> Mark Weiler, PhD (he & him)

>

> JAWS certified and Web Accessibility Specialist

>

> Web & User Experience Librarian

>

> Wilfrid Laurier University

>

> Waterloo, Ontario

>

> 548-889-5056

>

> Notices

>

> *Upcoming* Laurier Library workshops & events

> <https://library.wlu.ca/events>

>

>

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