[nfbwatlk] Closure of Web Braille?

[Mike Freeman]

I submit that writing to Mr. Cylcke is premature at this stage and 
on-line petitions are an absolute waste of time and Internet resources! 
They are an exercise in intellectual self-gratification designed to 
sooth the guilt of those idealists who think they ought to be doing 
something but can't think what!

Let's keep our cool here! (grin)

Mike

On Fri, 12 May 2006, KAYE KIPP wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Louise" <
> bookscanner at centurytel.net>
>
> To: "Louise Gourdoux" <
> bookscanner at centurytel.net>
>
> Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 11:06 PM
> Subject: Fw: Web Braille Shut Down - Please Write Immediately
>
>>
>>
>> Blind Access Journal
>> Thursday, May 11, 2006
>>
>> Web Braille Shut Down - Please Write Immediately
>>
>> By Darrell Shandrow
>>
>> Thursday, May 11, 2006 - Please read the article by Jeff Bishop below,
> then
>> write a short note to NLS director Frank Kurt Cylke at the e-mail address
>>
>>
> fcyl at loc.gov
>>
>
>> emphasizing the importance of Web-Braille and asking him to promptly
> restore
>> this service to the blind community. An online petition effort is being
>> considered. Please let us know your thoughts.
>>
>> This is just offle news. Web-Braille has been shutdown by NLS until
> further
>> notice. NLS director Frank Kurt Cylke is under the impression that only a
>> few people will care about Web Braille's shutdown, so if a lot of people
>> contact him right away, maybe something will be done. His e-mail address
> is
>>
> fcyl at loc.gov.
> Everyone, I plead with you to email him and ask for
>> Web-Braille's return. Here is more information.
>>
>> If you haven't heard yet, you will all probably be hearing from your
> patrons
>> very soon about the shutdown of Web-Braille. Any patron logging into the
>> Web-Braille site as of 5-10-06 is receiving the following message: NLS:
> That
>> All May Read Web-braille notice Because of technical and security
>> difficulties, Web-Braille will be unavailable in the near future. NLS
>> regrets the inconvenience and will provide further information as soon as
>> possible. For more information contact: Judith Dixon Consumer Relations
>> Officer
> jdix at loc.gov
> On May 11, 2006, the following Operations Alert was
>> issued from NLS: NLS Operations Alert DATE : May 11, 2006 TO : Network
>> Libraries FROM : Network Division Subject : Web-Braille Because of
> technical
>> and security difficulties, Web-Braille will be unavailable in the near
>> future. NLS regrets the inconvenience and will provide further information
>> as soon as possible. For more information contact: Judith Dixon Consumer
>> Relations Officer
> jdix at loc.gov
> Here is t!
>>  he current NLS reply coming from Judy Dixon in response to patron
>> inquiries: "Web-Braille has been removed from public access temporarily.
> We
>> apologize for the inconvenience that the removal of Web-Braille has
> caused.
>> At this time, it is not known how long Web-Braille will be unavailable but
>> we have every hope that the curtailment of the service will be
> short-lived.
>> We are making every effort to resume this service as soon as possible. In
>> the interim, all NLS-produced books and magazines are available in
> hardcopy
>> braille from your braille-lending library. If the status of Web-Braille
>> changes, information will be posted on the main Web-Braille page."
>>
>> In the 8-plus years that Web-Braille has been operational, to my
> knowledge,
>> there has never been a major technical issue. It has been run with the
>> highest degree of efficiency, and network libraries have been setting up
>> eligible readers without a problem. Now, suddenly, there is a concern
> about
>> the security of Web-Braille. Why now is NLS worried about the ability to
>> back translate BRF files, it's always been possible, but who would do it.
>> Back translation is tedious and subject to many reverse translation
> errors.
>> In all the years of Web-Braille operation, I have never heard of a
> violation
>> of the lending terms. Braille readers love Web-Braille and want to
> preserve
>> and grow it, not shut it down because of abuse. This precipitous action
>> strikes me as too harsh a response too late. There is no problem with
>> Web-Braille today, there wasn't one yesterday, and instead of removing it
>> completely, let NLS work to incorporate Web-Braille into the digital
> rights
>> management scheme of the !
>>  new digital talking books for the future. Don't penalize all Web-Braille
>> users -- braille readers of all ages using braille aware devices such as
>> BrailleNotes, Braille Senses, Braille 'n Speaks, and Packmates; deafblind
>> patrons who have such limited options for reading materials, and classroom
>> teachers embossing materials for students, just to name a few. Don't make
>> just one more protection scheme for patrons to cope with, it's getting
>> harder and harder to manage whether or not all of the incription keys are
> on
>> all of the devices that people use today. The burden of access shouldn't
> be
>> placed on the borrower, if they have computer access and a Braille aware
>> device, that should be sufficient to allow them access to Web-Braille.
>> Without Web-Braille, network libraries are going to see a significant
>> increase in their costs for handling and processing braille materials, and
>> those libraries paying for braille circulation services will pay more for
>> hardcopy braille circulations th!
>>  at would have previously been Web-Braille transactions. I urge all of
>> you to contact Frank Kurt Cylke at NLS (
> fcyl at loc.gov)
> and express your
>> extreme disappointment at this action, and urge the immediate
> reinstatement
>> of Web-Braille for all of our patrons who rely on it every day. This
> service
>> is vital and must be restored to full functionality.
>>
>> posted by Darrell at 6:55
>>
>>
> http://www.blindaccessjournal.com/2006/05/web-braille-shut-down-please-write
>> .
> html
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
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>
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