[nfb-talk] Let's Keep The Books Talking:

[angeldn3 at aol.com]

i have to say i just got the new catalogue from talking books yesterday, and it seems they are on track for everything am i missing something also. I e-mailed all those people in washington last month. so what is the problem.


 cheryl and Maxx (Guide Dog)

skype: angeldn38















-----Original Message-----
From: Hope Hein <hmhein at verizon.net>
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Sent: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 3:58 pm
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Let's Keep The Books Talking:



Why can't they allow people to download books on to their Notetaker's and 
omputers digitally? They could have an authorization key or a password and 
tatement like Bookshare has to ensure that only the intended recipient is able 
o access the material? For people who do not use computers they could have a 
layer. The books could be in the plastic containers which would fit into the 
layers. 
I do not understand what the fuss is about. I thought NLS was in the process of 
reating these players and that they would be created by 2008. I do not remember 
here I read the creation of these players. What is happening? Have they decided 
ot to create the players?
ope 
----Original Message-----
From: "Kenneth Chrane"<kenneth.chrane at verizon.net>
Sent: 6/3/07 5:26:32 AM
To: "kenneth at myfreedombox.com"<kenneth at myfreedombox.com>, "pmsinc at juno.com"<pmsinc at juno.com>
Cc: "Multiple recipients of NFBnet NFB-Talk Mailing List"<NFB-Talk at nfbnet.org>, 
CSDB-ALUMNI at googlegroups.com"<CSDB-ALUMNI at googlegroups.com>, 
peeps-talk at yahoogroups.com"<peeps-talk at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [nfb-talk] Let's Keep The Books Talking:

Name: Kenneth Chrane
Your email address - a copy will be sent here: kenneth.chrane at verizon.net - 
Reply
Phone: (410) 486-1569 Baltimore, Maryland USA

Editorial:


The Washington Post

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Page A12

Keep the Books Talking

Congress should fund the digitization of a vital audio library for the
blind.

A half-million Americans stand in danger of losing their public library.
They are the nation's blind, and their library is Talking Books, through
which
the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the
Library of Congress (NLS) provides 500,000 Americans with free audio
recordings
of about as many books. Unlike the "books on tape" that are sold at retail
bookstores, these recordings are unabridged, extensive and diverse -- and
are
designed for people who have no other way of reading print.

Unfortunately, today's Talking Books technology is ready to meet its maker.
The program currently uses half-speed audiotapes that patrons listen to on
special
devices. These tape players, like the Talking Books record players that
preceded them, are obsolete, and are no longer even being manufactured. To
bring
the program into the 21st century, the NLS hopes to digitize its entire
library and create new players. It has spent 17 years researching, building
and
testing new products, and it is ready to manufacture a fully accessible
flash-drive player. The Library of Congress has asked Congress to
appropriate about
$76.4 million to produce the players and digitize thousands more books.

A forthcoming Government Accountability Office report, however, may derail
the NLS's plans. In a draft version of the report completed several weeks
ago,
the GAO faulted the NLS for not considering existing commercial products
such as CD players and iPods instead of creating a new device. This sounds
like
a reasonable concern, given tales of exorbitant government spending on $792
doormats and $400 hammers. But creating special, noncommercial players is
crucial
to the continued existence of Talking Books. Commercially available
products, which often use visual screens and are not labeled in Braille, are
not accessible
to the visually impaired. More important, to comply with U.S. copyright law,
Talking Books can record and distribute only audio books that cannot be
played
by commercial devices.

Should the GAO keep this misguided criticism in its final report, lawmakers
should not be swayed by it. Instead, Congress should fully fund Talking
Books'
digital upgrade, a project that will grant many disabled Americans the same
literary access afforded to the sighted.

_______________________________________________
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nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk






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nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk

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fb-talk mailing list
fb-talk at nfbnet.org
ttp://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk


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 cheryl and Maxx (Guide Dog)
skype: angeldn38
-----Original Message-----
From: Hope Hein
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Sent: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 3:58 pm
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Let's Keep The Books Talking:
Why can't they allow people to download books on to their Notetaker's and computers digitally? They could have an authorization key or a password and statement like Bookshare has to ensure that only the intended recipient is able to access the material? For people who do not use computers they could have a player. The books could be in the plastic containers which would fit into the players. I do not understand what the fuss is about. I thought NLS was in the process of creating these players and that they would be created by 2008. I do not remember where I read the creation of these players. What is happening? Have they decided not to create the players? Hope -----Original Message----- .From: "Kenneth Chrane" < mailto:kenneth.chrane at verizon.net kenneth.chrane at verizon.net
> .Sent: 6/3/07 5:26:32 AM .To: " mailto:kenneth at myfreedombox.com kenneth at myfreedombox.com
" < mailto:kenneth at myfreedombox.com kenneth at myfreedombox.com
>, " mailto:pmsinc at juno.com pmsinc at juno.com
" < mailto:pmsinc at juno.com pmsinc at juno.com
> .Cc: "Multiple recipients of NFBnet NFB-Talk Mailing List" < mailto:NFB-Talk at nfbnet.org NFB-Talk at nfbnet.org
>, " mailto:CSDB-ALUMNI at googlegroups.com CSDB-ALUMNI at googlegroups.com
" < mailto:CSDB-ALUMNI at googlegroups.com CSDB-ALUMNI at googlegroups.com
>, " mailto:peeps-talk at yahoogroups.com peeps-talk at yahoogroups.com
" < mailto:peeps-talk at yahoogroups.com peeps-talk at yahoogroups.com
> .Subject: [nfb-talk] Let's Keep The Books Talking: . .Name: Kenneth Chrane .Your email address - a copy will be sent here: mailto:kenneth.chrane at verizon.net kenneth.chrane at verizon.net
- .Reply .Phone: (410) 486-1569 Baltimore, Maryland USA . .Editorial: . . .The Washington Post . .Wednesday, May 30, 2007 . .Page A12 . .Keep the Books Talking . .Congress should fund the digitization of a vital audio library for the .blind. . .A half-million Americans stand in danger of losing their public library. .They are the nation's blind, and their library is Talking Books, through .which .the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the .Library of Congress (NLS) provides 500,000 Americans with free audio .recordings .of about as many books. Unlike the "books on tape" that are sold at retail .bookstores, these recordings are unabridged, extensive and diverse -- and .are .designed for people who have no other way of reading print. . .Unfortunately, today's Talking Books technology is ready to meet its maker. .The program currently uses half-speed audiotapes that patrons listen to on .special .devices. These tape players, like the Talking Books record players that .preceded them, are obsolete, and are no longer even being manufactured. To .bring .the program into the 21st century, the NLS hopes to digitize its entire .library and create new players. It has spent 17 years researching, building .and .testing new products, and it is ready to manufacture a fully accessible .flash-drive player. The Library of Congress has asked Congress to .appropriate about .$76.4 million to produce the players and digitize thousands more books. . .A forthcoming Government Accountability Office report, however, may derail .the NLS's plans. In a draft version of the report completed several weeks .ago, .the GAO faulted the NLS for not considering existing commercial products .such as CD players and iPods instead of creating a new device. This sounds .like .a reasonable concern, given tales of exorbitant government spending on $792 .doormats and $400 hammers. But creating special, noncommercial players is .crucial .to the continued existence of Talking Books. Commercially available .products, which often use visual screens and are not labeled in Braille, are .not accessible .to the visually impaired. More important, to comply with U.S. copyright law, .Talking Books can record and distribute only audio books that cannot be .played .by commercial devices. . .Should the GAO keep this misguided criticism in its final report, lawmakers .should not be swayed by it. Instead, Congress should fully fund Talking .Books' .digital upgrade, a project that will grant many disabled Americans the same .literary access afforded to the sighted. . ._______________________________________________ .nfb-talk mailing list . mailto:nfb-talk at nfbnet.org nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
. http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk
. . . . . . ._______________________________________________ .nfb-talk mailing list . mailto:nfb-talk at nfbnet.org nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
. http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk
. _______________________________________________ nfb-talk mailing list mailto:nfb-talk at nfbnet.org nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
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