[nfbwatlk] Fw: House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the Blind

[Mike Freeman]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Wilson, Joanne
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 2:12 PM
Subject: House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the Blind


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

-------------- next part --------------
----- Original Message -----
From:
mailto:jwilson at nfb.org Wilson, Joanne
Sent:
Thursday, June 07, 2007 2:12 PM
Subject:
House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the Blind
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:  mailto:jpare at nfb.org jpare at nfb.org