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

[Kyle Parrish]

HELLO CHARLEY
  SOME MORE ABOUT THE NLS PROBLEM...

  KYLE

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 7:37 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Fw: House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the 
Blind


> ----- 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
>
>


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