Braille Codebooks for English Speaking Nations

This is a public webpage of a private resource from Duxbury Systems. Duxbury Systems is making this information public to help the world know more about braille. We are not making public certain resources which allow the direct generation of braille since these contain our intellectual property. Feel free to pass around the URL of this page.

We hope this increases your confidence in DBT, which is available for Windows and Mac. Feel free to e-mail us at languages@duxsys.com with additional resources not present here. Duxbury System, of course, offers no guarantee that this list is complete or up-to-date.

This is a companion page to our webpage on non-English languages.

Codebooks in Braille Formatted Files

Over 60 Braille Volumes: Code Books as Braille Formatted Files

Unified English Braille (Literary)

Unified English Braille was adopted by seven nations: South Africa (May 2004), Nigeria (February 2005), Australia (May 2005), New Zealand (November 2005), Canada (April 2010), the UK (October 2011), and the USA (November 2012).

Rules for UEB literary:

• Rules of Unified English Braille [Second Edition, 2013] (uses internal links for navigation) || (without internal links)
• Rules of Unified English Braille [First Edition, 2010]
• Unified English Braille: Australian Training Manual (2013)

Differences between pre-UEB and UEB:

• The ABC's of Unified English Braille (USA) (short guide on UEB for those familiar with the pre-UEB braille code)
• Unified English Braille (UEB): Summary of changes for ordinary braille (British) (intended for the UK)
• Overview of Changes from pre-UEB to UEB (BANA)

Formatting UEB Braille:

• 2016 Braille Formats (specific for USA and Canada)
• Braillists Manual -- UEB Edition (2016) RNIB formatting guide for the UK

Foreign Language Material:

• Transcribing Foreign Language Material in UEB (UK, 2014)
• Provisional Guidance for Transcribing Foreign Language Material in UEB (USA and Canada, 2015)

Issues for Australia and New Zealand:

• UEB in Australia and New Zealand (numerous manuals)

Current Technical Braille

The US allows Nemeth Code to be an option for technical braille. All other English speaking nations use only UEB for their technical code.

UEB Technical Braille:

• UEB Guidelines for Technical Material (2014)
• Table of UEB mathematical signs with Unicode References (2019)
• Hitchhiker's Guide to UEB Mathematics
• UEB Symbol Table (mostly math symbols)

Nemeth Code is for those parts of the USA where straight UEB math is not used:

• Guidance for Transcription Using the Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts
• The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science notation, 1972 revision || Contents
• An Introduction to Braille Mathematics - Helen Roberts, Bernard Krebs, and Barbara Taffet
• Learning the Nemeth Code, A Manual for Teachers by Ruth Craig

Current Codes Not Related to UEB

• Braille Music and UEB (for the UK) 2017
• New International Manual of Braille Music (1996)
• IPA (International Phonetics Alphabet) final rules
• A Unified Braille IPA (International Phonetics Alphabet)
• Braille Chess Code and Layout (UK)

British Braille: Literary and Formatting

This is current:

• Braillists Manual -- UEB Edition (2016)

These are obsolete codes, pre-UEB.

• RNIB Braillists Manual (2010)
• RNIB Braillists Manual (1998)
• British Braille, 2004 (pre-UEB code)
• RNIB Guide to using Duxbury DBT (2011)
• List of Changes to British Braille 2004
• List of Changes to British Braille 2004 (shorter edition)
• Standard English Braille (a revision of the 1934 book)
• Standard English Braille in Twenty Lessons by Madeleine Loomis, 1934

British Braille: Math, Science, Languages, and Chess

These are obsolete codes, pre-UEB.

• British Math Notation (2005)
• British Science Notation (2008)
• Braille Computer Notation (2006)
• British: Braille Chess Code and Layout (2001)
• British: French Braille Code (1995)
• British: German Braille Code (1995)
• British: Spanish Braille Code (2000)
• British: Welsh Braille Code (2006)
• British: Welsh Braille Code (2006) (in Welsh)

USA: BANA Braille Formats (old and new)

BANA (Braille Authority of North America) produces manuals on braille formatting for textbooks.

This is current:

• 2016 Braille Formats (Current Code)

The previous editions can be examined for historical context:

• 2011 Braille Formats
• 1977 Braille formats
• 1965 Braille formats (revised in 1970)

USA: EBAE -- English Braille American Edition

BANA (Braille Authority of North America) used to produce manuals defining braille. This effort has been made obsolete by UEB.

• EBAE Update 2007 (pdf) || (brf)
• 1994 EBAE, revised 2002
• Revisions from 1972 to 1987 (revisions only, not a full document)
• Revisions from 1972 to 1980 (revisions only, not a full document)
• 1959 EBAE, revised 1972 (yellow cover)
• 1959 EBAE, revised 1970 (dark yellow cover)
• 1959 EBAE, revised 1966 (light yellow cover)
• 1959 EBAE, revised 1962 (blue cover)
• 1959 EBAE, printed in 1961 (yellow cover)

USA: Instructional Manual for Braille Transcribing

NLS (National Library Service; part of the Library of Congress) used to perform two key functions: producing the training materials for beginning transcribers and certifying transcribers (administrating and grading the tests).

• Instructional Manual for Braille Transcribing: Fifth Edition (2009)
• Instructional Manual for Braille Transcribing: Fourth Edition (2000) (red cover)
• Instructional Manual for Braille Transcribing: Third Edition (1984, revised 1987) (blue cover)
• Instructional Manual for Braille Transcribing: (revisions in 1971 and 1973) (green cover)
• Instructional Manual for Braille Transcribing: Second Edition (1961) (light brown cover)

USA: A Manual for Standard English Braille Braille

An Early co-production of the Library of Congress and APH

• A Manual for Standard English Braille Braille; First Edition (1950)
• A Manual for Standard English Braille Braille; Second Edition (1960)

Nemeth Code and Older Math Resources

• The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science notation, 1972 revision || Contents
• An Introduction to Braille Mathematics - Helen Roberts, Bernard Krebs, and Barbara Taffet
• Learning the Nemeth Code, A Manual for Teachers by Ruth Craig (pdf)
• The 1965 Nemeth Braille Code
• The 1956 Nemeth Braille Code
• The 1953 Nemeth Braille Code (exerpts)
• The Nemeth Code Tutorial for the Braille Note (500 pages) (pdf)
• Computerized Nemeth Code Tutor
• Halifax Mathematics Code (1981)
• Discussion about the Adoption of the Nemeth Code
• Taylor Math Code, Second edition (1942 pre-Nemeth math code in the United States)
• Taylor Math Code (1941 pre-Nemeth math code in the United States)

Music Braille (old and new)

• Braille Music and UEB (for the UK) 2017
• Music Braille Code - BANA 2015
• Who is Afraid of Braille Music?
• New International Manual of Braille Music (1996)
• Introduction to Braille Music Transcription - Mary Turner De Garmo 2005
• New International Manual of Braille Music Notation - 1996
• Dictionary of Braille Music Code - Bettye Krolick 1979
• Introduction to Braille Music Transcription - Mary Turner De Garmo 1970
• Revised International Manual of Braille Music Notation - 1956
• Braille Music Notation - 1928, revised in 1951

Historical Red Cross Braillist Manuals (1923-1939)

These manuals date from between WW1 and WW2. During WW2, the Red Cross had other priorities. BANA was founded just after WW2.

• Red Cross: Braille Transcribing A Manual for Volunteers -- 1923
• Red Cross: Revised Braille and How to Learn It in Ten Lessons - 1924
• Red Cross: Braille Transcribing A Manual -- 1925
• Red Cross: Braille Transcribing A Manual -- 1927
• Red Cross: Braille Transcribing A Manual; Standard English Braille; grade one and grade one and a half -- 1936
• Red Cross: Braille Transcribing A Manual; Standard English Braille; grade two -- 1937
• Red Cross: Braille Transcribing A Manual; Standard English Braille; grade one and grade one and a half -- 1939

Misc Code-related

• Code for Computer Notation - 2000
• Grade Three Manual - 1963
• 1987 Linear Braille Format (pdf) || (htm)|| (txt)
• BANA Publications List (on web)
• Tactile Graphics presentation
• Graphics book by the late Marie Porter
• War of the Dots (History of Grade II Braille)
• Additional Documents on the history of English braille can be found on this webpage