[Dtb-talk] House Subcommittee mark up of Digital Talking BookAppropriation

[Antonio Guimaraes]

Just wondering why this had to come from an ACB list, and why the NFB wasn't 
on top of this issue, providing their members with up-to-date information, 
and urging our action.

Sure, there was a press release from the NFB office, but I feel this release 
was reactionary, and not some breakthrough, or show of creativity, and 
effective leadership.

Just my thaughts.

Antonio Guimaraes

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David B Andrews" <David.B.Andrews at state.mn.us>
To: <dtb-test at sun8.loc.gov>; <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 2:09 AM
Subject: [Dtb-talk] House Subcommittee mark up of Digital Talking 
BookAppropriation


>I am passing this information along for your information.  It comes
> from an ACB list, and represents all I know about this at this
> point.  If true, and successful, it probably wouldn't kill the
> digital program but it would delay its full implementation and cause
> other problems as its effects would cascade through the system.
>
> Dave
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Melanie Brunson" <mbrunson at acb.org>
> To: <leadership at acb.org>
> Cc: <acb-l at acb.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 4:14 PM
> Subject: [leadership] House Subcommittee mark up of Digital Talking
> Book
> Appropriation
>
>
>> Hello All,
>>
>> Just wanted to give you a quick progress report.  The House
>> Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch marked up its funding
> bill
>> today.  Their recommendation to the full Committee on
> Appropriations
>> will include $7.5 million to the Library of Congress for the
>> implementation of the digital talking book program by NLS.  This
> is
>> less than half of the amount requested by NLS.  The subcommittee
>> chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, (d-fl) stated that the bill
> will
>> also include language giving the Librarian discretion to move
> some
>> funds from other sources if it is deemed appropriate to fund
> this
>> program.  However, it is not clear whether this discretion would
> also
>> allow the Librarian to take funds from NLS to fund something
>> else.  As of this writing, the actual legislative language is
> not
>> available, but this is a question we will have to look into.
>>
>> The full Appropriations Committee will probably consider this
> bill
>> within a week or so.  That means we have some work to do.
> Members of
>> Congress, especially House members on the Appropriations
> Committee,
>> need to know how important the talking book program is to the
> blind
>> community.  Please contact your representative if you have not
>> already done so.  The transition to digital talking books is not
> just
>> a nice thing to do to provide more bells and whistles that appeal
> to
>> techies.  It is a necessity because the cassette players
> currently in
>> use are no longer being manufactured.  The entire industry is
> phasing
>> out the cassette.  It is only a matter of time before something
> has
>> to be done anyway that will enable NLS to adapt to industry
>> trends.  Please help us support the continued availability of
> talking
>> books for the blind.  If you have any questions, please contact
> me
>> either by email, or by calling the ACB national office.
>>
>> Melanie Brunson
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Join the Monthly Monetary Support program (MMS) and help improve
> tomorrow
>> today in ACB.
>> For details, contact Dr. Ron Milliman, MMS Program Committee
> Chair, by
> e-mail:
>> rmilliman at insightbb.com or by phone at 270-782-9325 and get
> started making
>> tomorrow look brighter today in ACB!
>>
>> This message has come to you from the ACB Leadership List:  a
> special
>> List for use by the leadership of the American Council of the
> Blind.
>> This communication is privileged and may contain confidential
>> information intended only for the person(s) to whom it is
> addressed.
>> Any unauthorized disclosure, copying, other distribution of this
>> communication is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate
> removal
>> from the List.  If you have received this message in error,
> please
>> notify ACB immediately by writing to support at acb.org.
>>
>
>
> David Andrews
> Chief Technology Officer
> Minnesota State Services for the Blind
> 2200 University Ave. W., #240
> St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
> (651) 642-0513  Office
> (612) 730-7931  Cell
> (651) 649-5927  Fax
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.11/836 - Release Date: 6/6/2007 
> 1:10 PM
>
>