[Iabs-talk] House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the Blind

[David Andrews]

House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the Blind

Blind Americans Urge Congress to Restore Funds 

Baltimore, Maryland (June 7, 2007): On Wednesday, June 6, the House of Representatives Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee voted to substantially
underfund the Books for the Blind program of the Library of Congress.  

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Since 1931, Congress has consistently supported on a bipartisan basis a national
program of audio and Braille books for the blind, operated by the Library of Congress.  The blind of America are shocked and disappointed that a House
subcommittee has callously disregarded our literacy needs since literacy leads to independence.  By appropriating only $7.5 million of the $19.1 million
needed for transition from antiquated analog cassette tape technology to digital technology, the subcommittee has effectively voted to shut down the only public library available to blind Americans.  The audio books produced by the Library of Congress will be useless unless the digital playback technology
is provided for readers.  The Talking Book program is at a crossroads because the analog tape used for the past thirty-six years has become obsolete and
must be replaced for the program to continue.  Virtually, all government programs, except Books for the Blind, have converted to state-of-the-art digital communication technology at a cost of billions of dollars to the taxpayers.  Leaving the Books for the Blind program behind is unconscionable.  Since it is early in the appropriations process, however, Congress still has time to correct this grievous error.  We therefore urgently appeal to the full House
Appropriations Committee, the members of the House of Representatives, and the United States Senate to provide the full $19.1 million requested by the
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress to begin production of digital talking books and players.” 

The Talking Book program serves over 750,000 blind Americans, including blind children and an ever-increasing number of older Americans who are losing vision. 
The incidence of blindness is expected to increase as the baby boom generation reaches retirement age.  Therefore, the need for this essential program
will only increase. 

John G. Paré Jr. 
Director of Public Relations 
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 
1800 Johnson Street 
Baltimore, Maryland  21230 
Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2371 
Cell phone:  (410) 913-3912 
Fax:  (410) 685-5653 
Email:  jpare at nfb.org