News
October-December 1997, Vol. 28, No. 4
ISSN 1046-1663
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped
The Library of Congress
NISO group moves ahead
Experts in the fields of digital technology, librarianship,
service to blind and physically handicapped persons, and
other related fields met at NLS in September to continue the
process of developing a standard for a digital talking-book
(DTB) system. Under the auspices of the National Information
Standards Organization (NISO), the Digital Talking Book
Standards Committee of more than two dozen participants
shared ideas and sharpened their focus to keep pace with
fast-moving developments in technology. The group first met
at NLS in May (see News, July September 1997).
     Members also reported the findings of the four working
groups established in May. The working groups each had been
asked to concentrate on a particular area of focus: expanded
descriptions for the features list, file format for digital
talking books, the user interface, and copyright issues.
     In this second meeting of the full committee, members
continued discussion of specific features for a future DTB
but determined that the bulk of the group's activities for
the near future should concentrate on defining requirements
for the digital talking book itself, rather than the
playback device. The committee agreed that the central task
was to develop a file specification for the content of the
DTB.
File specification. The file specification will describe how
the audio and textual material of a digital talking book
should be coded; that is, what codes should be used for
given functions. For example, a digital book should be
structured so that a blind patron listening to the table of
contents could jump immediately to a desired chapter. The
file specifications will describe what codes an audio book
producer would insert in the recording to make that jump -
possible.
     Mark Hakkinen, representing The Productivity Works,
Inc., and chair of the file-specification working group, -
reported significant activity in this area among several
organizations. He explained that standards and protocols
written for the Internet are "likely to play some role in
the delivery of DTBs." The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
is facilitating the creation of specifications that allow
for the delivery of audio and text content over the
Internet. W3C is an international industry consortium that
develops common protocols for the evolution of the World
Wide Web. Last April the W3C launched the Web Accessibility
Initiative to promote Web functionality for people with
disabilities. "A major premise of the Web happens to be
open, standards-based protocols and languages," said
Hakkinen.
     He also noted that the DAISY Consortium, a
multinational effort originating in Sweden to design a
digital talking-book system, made a decision early this year
to move to an open, standard file format. George Kerscher of
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic and Thomas Christensen
of the Danish National Library for the Blind represent the
DAISY Consortium on the NISO DTB Standards Committee. Their
input in both efforts will promote an open exchange of
information and decrease duplication of effort.
Copyright. The group examining copyright protection
submitted its findings in the form of a special presentation
by Mary Levering, associate register for national copyright
programs and former chief of the NLS Network Division.
Levering gave a brief history of U.S. copyright law,
explaining its roots in the Constitution and its use in the
protection of creative expression.
     She noted that libraries for the blind use special
measures, such as producing talking books in a nonstandard
4-track format and ensuring that users meet eligibility
standards, to curb the illegal redistribution of copyrighted
works. These protections "help maintain a balance between
the rights of copyright holders and the rights of users of
those works," according to Levering.
     In the digital arena, the retransmission of copyrighted
works is a matter of great concern to copyright holders
because of the ease of making an endless number of perfect
copies of an original work. Levering outlined the activities
of international groups, such as the World Intellectual
Property Organization, to deal with digital issues. She
explained that these endeavors seek "to ensure that laws and
practice adapt to protect and support the wonderful creative
output without cutting it off at the limbs."
     Some of the technological controls under development
include digital object identification, watermarking, data
encryption, and electronic signatures for images, written
text, and sound recordings, Levering explained.
Action items planned. The committee established two new
working groups. The first group will assemble a
comprehensive list of navigation and manipulation features
for an advanced computer-based audio playback device. This
compilation will contain the full range of features
 desirable on a DTB. A second team is tasked with
crafting digital production guidelines for audio-book
producers. The file-specification group will continue its
work to create or identify an appropriate file format,
ensuring that the file structure is capable of supporting
all the features identified by the first group. Where
possible, members will try to match existing specifications
so as not to duplicate ongoing work. The working teams are
meeting separately prior to the next full committee meeting,
which is scheduled for March 1998.
(Participating agencies
American Council of the Blind
American Foundation for the Blind
American Printing House for the Blind
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind
and Visually Impaired
Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies
Blinded Veterans Association
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
DAISY Consortium
The Hadley School for the Blind
Industry Canada, Assistive Devices Industry Office
LaBarge Electronics
National Federation of the Blind
National Information Standards Organization
National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped
NCR Corporation
The Productivity Works, Inc.
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
Telex Communications, Inc.
TRACE Research and Development Center, University of
Wisconsin
VisuAide, Inc.
World Blind Union)
(photo caption: Discussing digital talking book features at
the September meeting were (left to right) George Stockton,
NLS; Mary-Frances Laughton, Industry Canada; Rosemary
Kavanagh, CNIB; Dennis DeVendra, RFB&D; Michael Moodie, NLS;
and John Cookson, NLS. (See list of participating agencies
above.) Photo by Jim Higgins.)
(photo caption: Also among the participants were (left to
right) Thomas Kjellberg Christensen, DAISY Consortium;
George Kerscher, RFB&D; Curtis Chong, WBU; and George
Brummell, BVA. Photo by Jim Higgins.)
Related technologies
AFB forms Recorded Audio Concepts
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has announced
the formation of a new division, Recorded Audio Concepts, a
digital recording and editing facility that will meet the
needs of commercial customers. AFB was instrumental in
launching the talking-books program in 1932 and has been
recording books for NLS patrons for more than sixty-five
years.
     The new state-of-the-art studio is equipped with DAT
(digital audio tape) recorders, hard disk recorders, the
highest quality microphones, a computer editing station, and
an "audiophile"-grade playback system. This
digital-recording equipment can provide the best sound,
accuracy in editing and duplication, and the capacity for
long-term archiving.
     The new facility will allow Recorded Audio Concepts to
offer its services not only to audio book publishers, but
also to CD-ROM authors and soundtrack producers.
RFB&D to develop digital audio books
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) has announced a
three-year project with funding from the National Science
Foundation to develop a technology to integrate computerized
text files with digital human-voice recording. This effort
is aimed toward making mathematics and science materials
more accessible to blind and physically handicapped persons
through fast searching and text retrieval. RFB&D is working
to develop software for the system. The next step will be
the creation of a nongraphical user interface, which would
run on a standard multimedia computer equipped with a sound
card and a CD-ROM drive.
     As a pilot project, RFB&D is producing the Microsoft
Access documentation manual on CD-ROM with synchronized text
and audio recording. The end-product is envisioned to allow
a computer user to move through selected portions of text
and to listen to the voice of the person who recorded the
material clearly speaking the words appearing on the
computer screen. A reader would be able to move easily
between chapters, return to the table of contents, or search
for specific topics or information in the book.
     The system will undergo testing with computer users
before being released to all of RFB&D's customers. According
to Ritchie Geisel, RFB&D president, the project "could
significantly enhance our consumers' educational and
professional successes."
Memory chips designed to hold more data
Samsung Electronics has announced the development of a fully
working die of a 1-gigabyte dynamic random access memory
(DRAM) chip. The company reports that the semiconductor chip
can store the equivalent of 160 print books, 8,000 newspaper
pages, or 16 hours of audio data. The DRAM is designed for
use in personal computers and workstations and is planned
for release around the turn of the century with full-scale
production forecast for 2005.
     "The 1-gigabyte DRAM with high speed and very low power
consumption is expected to play a key role in...the next
generation of portable multimedia products of the future,"
according to Y.W. Lee, Samsung Semiconductor Business
president.
National advisory group considers selections
Selecting titles for the NLS braille collection and
developments in the magazine program were issues addressed
at the annual meeting of the National Advisory Group on
Collection Building Activities, September 10 12, 1997.
     The group learned that the magazine program has been
revised to provide patrons a more current selection of
magazines (see News, July September 1997). Michael Moodie,
NLS research and development officer, told the group that
the new offerings, which will begin distribution in January
1998, are more "in tune" with reader interests. He also
noted that he expects the children's magazines to be
especially well received.
     Catherine O'Connor, NLS bibliographer, explained the
process for selecting subjects for bibliographies. She said
that most bibliographies are determined by surveying network
libraries, who survey their patrons. Some minibibliographies
have been developed in response to patron requests and
others according to needs expressed by the NLS community of
libraries and readers.
     Judith Dixon, consumer relations officer, led a
discussion of the issues involved in selecting titles for
braille production. The group cited content and "enduring
value" as major factors for considering a book. The group
also discussed selecting more nonfiction books, especially
how-to titles and cookbooks.
     Committee members recommended that more mystery,
classics, and award-winning science fiction books be added
to the collection. They also asked to see more nonfiction
books about different cultures and countries for readers in
grades 3 through 6. In addition, they recommended adding at
least one title per year in grade 1 braille; placing the
volume number, issue number, and date on the first side of
each recorded magazine (as it is on the title page of
braille magazines); and recording books written about the
Internet for children. The group also recommended that NLS
continue to withdraw outdated material and that network
librarians who are willing to share bibliographies and
minibibliographies they produce send the information to NLS.
     The committee commended NLS for establishing a policy
for interlibrary loans between the network and Recording for
the Blind and Dyslexic and for its efforts to meet the
braille-reading needs of young patrons.
(Members of the National Advisory Group on Collection
Building Activities
Representatives from consumer organizations: American
Council of the Blind, Tom Mitchell; Blinded Veterans
Association, Art Mathews; National Federation of the Blind,
Sandra Halverson
Reader-at-large representatives: Midlands Region, Edward
Legge; Northern Region, Linda Kirk; Southern Region, David
Faucheux; Western Region, Margaret Blomberg
Librarians: Midlands, Pat Klemans, Michigan; Northern, S.
Francis Woods, Vermont; Southern, Sandra Whitmer, Georgia;
Western, Henry C. Chang, California
Children's and young adult advisors: Cassie Hamm, New York;
Pamela Finley, Missouri.)
(photo caption: Discussing the magazine program and other
issues at their annual meeting were national advisory group
members (from left) librarian S. Francis Woods, consumer
group representative Sandra Halverson, and David Faucheux,
reader-at-large. Photo by Yusef El-Amin.)
NLS receives awards for PSA usage
Two certificates of excellence from the North American
Precis Syndicate (NAPS) were awarded to NLS in August 1997.
NAPS recognizes organizations that produce an "extraordinary
volume of media coverage," from public service announcements
(PSAs) run in newspapers and magazines and on radio
stations.
     "Newspapers and broadcast stations receive hundreds of
PSAs, which are essentially bids for free advertising, all
the time," says Robert Fistick, head of the NLS Publications
and Media Section. "They all represent good causes, as
indicated by the `public service' part of their name, but
the media can't respond to all the requests. The test of a
successful campaign is that the PSA is actually used--or
placed--in the newspaper or on the air."
     In conjunction with the release of two posters in 1996,
"My Books Talk" and "At Home with Talking Books," NLS had
print ad copy and radio announcer copy sent to various media
organizations. An unprecedented number of placements
resulted. The PSA coordinated with the "My Books Talk"
poster won an award for placements in newspapers, and the
PSA included with "At Home with Talking Books" received
recognition for placements on radio stations.
     NAPS normally honors those organizations whose
placements are in the top one-quarter of one percent. While
300 placements is considered exceptionally high, for "My
Books Talk" NLS achieved an extraordinary total of 921
placements in newspapers with a readership of 52.6 million
in 29 states. The cost of buying this advertising would have
been $146,505. "At Home with Talking Books" aired 2,378
times on 542 radio stations with 41.5 million listeners. The
value of this advertising is $181,135.
     The NLS success rates for these PSAs were lauded by
NAPS as "superior achievements in media relations."
NLS produces titles in grade 1 braille
Recent NLS braille-book production has included several
titles in grade 1 braille. Spurred by concerns that
beginning braille readers may find grade 2 braille too
difficult to read, the National Advisory Group on Collection
Building Activities recommended that NLS produce a limited
number of short books in grade 1 braille to meet this need.
     "Selection of the grade 1 titles required consideration
of many factors" says Ruth Foss, head of the NLS Collection
Development Section. "Librarians sought books that were
short, easy to read, and with very high appeal."
     Grade 1 braille employs the same alphabet, numbers, and
punctuation as the more commonly used grade 2 braille but
without any of the 189 contractions found in grade 2
braille. NLS is eager to learn how these books are used and
if more titles in grade 1 braille would increase reading
opportunities among those interested in learning braille.
     Currently available grade 1 braille books are The High
Graders (BR 10647) by Louis L'Amour, My Dog Skip (BR 10740)
by Willie Morris, Best of O. Henry (BR 10794) by O. Henry,
and Flash Fiction (BR 10708) edited by James Thomas and
others.
     Other grade 1 braille books are currently in -
production.
Network librarians assist with NLS exhibits
Once again, NLS will be exhibiting at more than thirty
national conferences throughout the country as part of its
public awareness program. The meetings on the NLS exhibit
schedule are selected because they present an opportunity
for the organization to reach large numbers of potential
patrons and their families, friends, and the professionals
who work with them.
     The exhibit program involves acquiring booth space and
sending staff to greet visitors, answer questions, display
materials, and distribute literature about obtaining free
library service. The effort requires both financial
resources and staff people.
     NLS is fortunate in that it has found allies in the
network of cooperating libraries. Throughout the years--
especially the past eight--these agencies have helped allay
travel costs by volunteering to staff exhibits held in their
geographical area.
     Fiscal year 1998 boasts the largest number of regional
libraries contributing assistance to the program. Thirteen
libraries will be sending personnel to exhibit halls to set
up booths and materials, greet visitors, provide
information, give out handouts, and pack up materials for
return shipping to Washington, D.C. These include regional
libraries in Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana;
Atlanta, Georgia; Cincinnati, Ohio; Boston, Massachusetts;
New York, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; Jefferson City,
Missouri; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
and Daytona Beach, Florida. Staff from some of these
libraries will be attending more than one exhibit.
     Other libraries provide staff on an informal basis to
assist the NLS person coordinating an exhibit in their area.
     The effort of all network affiliates who help NLS to
meet the people it serves is greatly appreciated. Some are
especially notable because they have consistently said "yes"
each time the exhibit coordinator has called requesting aid.
Daytona Beach, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New
York; Phoenix, Arizona; and Los Angeles, California, have
each handled three or more conferences since 1990. For
example, regionals and subregionals in Florida have handled
seven conferences for NLS since 1991. Florida regional
librarian Don Weber says he helps out because "We are all
part of one network. If we don't help each other, we are
doomed." He has also found staffing the conferences to be
worthwhile because of the number of people who need the
information.
     Barbara Perkis, the regional librarian in Chicago,
Illinois, agrees with Weber. She and Mamie Grady of the
Chicago subregional library have carried the responsibility
for six NLS exhibits. "It is so important to get the word
out about this wonderful service. So many people are
surprised to learn that the program exists," Perkis says.
She also enjoys "talking about the service to people who do
not know about it and meeting people who are already
patrons."
     "Network libraries have made a significant difference
in NLS's public awareness efforts," says Robert Fistick,
head of the NLS Publications and Media Section, which
coordinates the exhibit program.
(photo caption: Greeting a participant at the National
Student Nurses Association Convention at Phoenix, Arizona,
in April 1997 was Sandra Everett, assistant director of the
Arizona State Braille and Talking Book Library.)
NLS exhibit schedule FY98
Discovery '97 Low Vision Conference
Chicago, Illinois
October 16-18, 1997
American Health Care Association
San Antonio, Texas
October 26-29, 1997
American Public Health Association
Indianapolis, Indiana
November 9-12, 1997
National Student Nurses Association
Atlanta, Georgia
November 13-16, 1997
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Atlanta, Georgia
November 13-16, 1997
Gerontological Society of America
Cincinnati, Ohio
November 14-18, 1997
Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps
Boston, Massachusetts
December 10-13, 1997
American Academy of Optometry
San Antonio, Texas
December 10-14, 1997
American Library Association Midwinter Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana
January 10-12, 1998
Music Library Association
Boston, Massachusetts
February 11-14, 1998
Council on Social Work Education
Orlando, Florida
March 5-8, 1998
International Vision Expo
New York, New York
March 27-29, 1998
National Council on the Aging
Washington, D.C.
March 29-April 2, 1998
American Occupational Therapy Association
Baltimore, Maryland
April 3-7, 1998
Music Educators National Convention
Phoenix, Arizona
April 15-18, 1998
Council for Exceptional Children
Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 15-19, 1998
National Conference of Librarians Serving Blind and
Physically Handicapped Readers
Burlington, Vermont
May 3-7, 1998
President's Committee on Employment of People with
Disabilities
New Orleans, Louisiana
May 6-8, 1998
American Association of Retired Persons
Minneapolis, Minnesota
June 1-4, 1998
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International
Washington, D.C.
June 2-7, 1998
Association for the Care of Children's Health
Kansas City, Missouri
June 14-17, 1998
RESNA
Minneapolis, Minnesota
June 26-July 1, 1998
American Library Association
Washington, D.C.
June 27-30, 1998
American Council of the Blind
Orlando, Florida
July 4-10, 1998
National Federation of the Blind
Dallas, Texas
July 4-10, 1998
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind
and Visually Impaired
Atlanta, Georgia
July 8-12, 1998
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Tulsa, Oklahoma
July 18-22, 1998
Blinded Veterans Association
Itasca, Illinois
August 11-15, 1998
American Association of Diabetes Educators
Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 19-23, 1998
Foundation Fighting Blindness
Chicago, Illinois
August 21-23, 1998
American Legion National Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana
September 4-10, 1998
National Association of Retired Federal Employees
Orlando, Florida
September 13-17, 1998
Abilities Expo D.C.
Washington, D.C.
September 25-27, 1998
Meeting the need: Philadelphia regional library maintains
literacy program for disabled adults
Nina Washklovitch is seventy-one years old. She has multiple
sclerosis, which limits her mobility and impairs her vision.
Despite these challenges, in early 1994 she enrolled in the
Adult Basic Education and General Educational Development
(ABE/GED) program at Philadelphia's Library for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped. This program has been specially
designed to help disabled adults earn high-school
equivalency, or GED, diplomas.
     Instructors in the program use adaptive classroom
equipment--tape recorders, talking calculators, braille
writers, and magnifiers--and provide learning materials in
braille and large print and on cassettes. Computers
purchased with a grant in 1997 are outfitted with screen
enlargement software, speech synthesizers, and braille
display software. The instructors often verbalize each word
written on the blackboard, and they rely on patience,
flexibility, and individual attention to achieve success in
the classroom. Exams are administered in braille and large
print and in a recorded version, under the supervision of
the Philadelphia School District. Some students record their
answers on tape or in braille for later transcription by the
test monitors, and students receive extra time to complete
their exams, when necessary.
     In December 1994, Ms. Washklovitch achieved her fervent
goal and received her GED diploma. She remained with the
program as a special tutor for several months, and in 1997
she is employed and has become vice president of the
Philadelphia Corporation on Aging. She also keeps up an
impressive pace outside of work--she swims at least twice a
week and plays pool when she has the time. But Ms.
Washklovitch is not the only student whose life has been
dramatically altered by this unique program. Other graduates
have been accepted into computer-training programs and a
number are enrolled in college-level classes.
     About seventy adults enter the Philadelphia ABE/GED
program each year, usually after referral by one of the
city's numerous social service agencies. More than 575 have
participated since the program began in 1986; at least 250
have graduated with high-school equivalency diplomas. Others
have improved their reading skills enough to enjoy the
newspaper or to share the magic of books with their children
or grandchildren. Many have advanced their math skills
enough to balance their checkbooks, to calculate shopping
costs, and to pay their bills.
     Jill Gross is the administrator and a teacher in the
program. Two part-time instructors and a group of dedicated
volunteers also provide individualized instruction and
assistance to those who need it. The program is funded
primarily by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, with
additional assistance by The Free Library of Philadelphia,
the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and
the Philadelphia School District.
     This program has been shaped, in part, by the goal of
compliance with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), which made discrimination against disabled persons a
crime. But for the staff and volunteers in Philadelphia's
program, the goal of making adult education accessible to
Pennsylvania residents who have disabilities is not only
legally mandated, it is also the right thing to do.
(Material for this article was provided by Jill Gross,
ABE/GED program administrator at the Philadelphia regional
library.)
(photo caption: Nina Washklovitch.)
(photo caption: Jill Gross, ABE/GED program administrator
and teacher, helps student Rocco Long.)
Jacqueline Conner to direct MSCE
Jacqueline L. Conner was appointed director of the Multi-
state Center East (MSCE) in Cincinnati, Ohio, effective
November 3. The two NLS multistate centers serve as backup
storage and distribution facilities for materials including
playback machines, books, magazines, publications, posters,
forms, and other basic supplies. The Multistate Center West
is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
     Conner has been with The Clovernook Center, which
manages the MSCE under contract with NLS, for five years,
serving as director of sales and marketing and support
services. Previously she served as facilities manager for
support services with Santon & Hughes, also in Cincinnati.
She has a BA from Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts; an
M.Ed. from Northeastern University in Boston; and an MBA in
management information systems from Xavier University in
Cincinnati.
     Conner replaces Kenneth Beckel, who retired at the end
of October.
Cleveland patrons find learning is fun
Billed as "Family Fun and Learning Days," the program held
at the Cleveland, Ohio, regional library on July 17 and 18
had something for all ages and interests. The "intellectual"
part of the program (which many thought was fun) was handled
by Judith Dixon, NLS consumer relations officer, who led the
group through two days of intensive Internet training.
Participants were shown new avenues to access information.
     Concurrently, there were presentations from Nancy
Slusser and Ed Hird, Cleveland Zoo "edZoocators," who
brought animal guest stars to touch and feel; a presentation
on dinosaurs by Norwalk Library director Martin Haffey; a
talk on the Cleveland Indians baseball team by Mike Sparrow,
Cleveland Public Library (CPL) assistant; a discussion of
descriptive video tapes by Arnold McClain, head, CPL
Audio-Visual Department; and a talk on the Ohio Indians by
Don Altmus, naturalist from the Rocky River Metroparks.
     Over the two-day period approximately 100 patrons and
staff enjoyed learning and having fun.
(This article was provided by Barbara Mates, Cleveland
regional librarian.)
(photo caption: Cleveland Zoo "edZoocator" Nancy Slusser
(left) describes the emu egg in patron Esther Johnson's
hand. Looking on are Gail Morse (center), assistant head of
the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and
Stephanie Combs, library assistant. Photo by Kathy Webster.)
Children's catalog to be available on cassette
Patrons who use the catalog For Younger Readers will be able
to receive the recorded version of the 1996 1997 edition on
cassette. In the past the version that patrons could keep
was recorded on flexible disc. Young patrons who wanted the
information on cassette had to request the book on loan from
regional libraries.
     The publication of this catalog on cassette will
coincide with another milestone in early 1998: production of
all children's magazines on cassettes. Young patrons will be
able to listen to popular titles including Cricket,
Seventeen, Sports Illustrated for Kids, and Spider.
     The biennial catalog includes all fiction and
nonfiction children's titles produced during the years
named, plus young adult titles suitable for junior high
readers. It is produced in three versions for readers to
keep: large print, which contains both recorded and braille
titles; braille, which includes only braille titles; and
recorded--now on cassette--which includes only recorded
titles. The cassette version available on loan through the
collection contains both recorded and braille titles.
Because of its length, the recorded version of the For
Younger Readers catalog will require two cassettes. Until
recently this length posed shipment difficulties because of
packaging limitations. However, with the pending gradual
conversion of magazines from flexible-disc to cassette
format, a packaging system has been created for multiple
cassettes. This new packaging will make possible a recorded
version of the children's catalog in the same format as
their recorded books and magazines.
IFLA groups consider information technology
Prior to the 1997 conference of the International Federation
of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in
Copenhagen, Denmark, nearly 170 persons from around the
world met for three days in K ge, Denmark, for an "expert
meeting" on Information Technologies and Library Services
for the Visually Impaired. The meeting was coordinated by
the IFLA Section of Libraries for the Blind and hosted by
the Danish National Library for the Blind (DBB). From August
27 29 participants heard presentations from agencies serving
print-handicapped individuals in Europe, Japan, and North
America.
Presentations
Winnie Vitzansky, director of the DBB, opened the meeting
with a description of "The Danish Way--Library Services to
Blind and Print-handicapped People in Denmark," describing
how the DBB and public libraries work together to provide
special-format materials to eligible Danish readers.
     Pedro Zurita, secretary general of the World Blind
Union, presented the user's perspective on information
technology. He emphasized that blind people must not be seen
as a homogeneous group, but that the information needs of
the various subgroups must be considered independently, and
that the achievement of an international standard for
digital talking books is essential.
     Stephen King, director, Technical and Consumer
Services, Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB),
argued that in the near future we should begin a transition
to the integrated digital production of special-format
materials. That is, rather than producing one book only in
braille and another book only in audio, agencies must
develop the capability to provide the user with the -
requested information in the medium most appropriate to the
document and the user's current need, whether braille,
audio, e-text, or large print.
     Victoria Owen, director of library services for the
Library for the Blind, Canadian National Institute for the
Blind (CNIB), described the creation of the Information -
Resource Centre (IRC), which provides reference information
to blind and visually impaired users across Canada in the
format of their choice. A key element of the IRC's success
has been the partnership between the CNIB and three large
public and university libraries with extensive reference -
capabilities.
     Robert Korsloot of the Netherlands Library for Audio
and Braille presented a structured approach to analyzing the
many problems inherent in migrating from an analog to a
digital environment. He argued for a systems approach to the
analysis, using as an example the digital audio system
blueprint being developed at his library.
     Michael Moodie, NLS research and development officer,
described the different types of online public-access
catalogs (OPACs) offered by libraries and the features that
impact accessibility by visually impaired users. He
presented examples from a half dozen operational OPACs and
offered guidelines for enhancing accessibility.
     Other presenters covered such topics as the importance
of structured text in accessing information, a bulletin
board system for distributing periodicals, the development
of the DAISY (Digital Audio Information System), and
copyright law and the rights of blind and partially sighted
people. The full text of the papers presented may be
accessed on the DBB Web page at www.dbb.dk/ifla/papers.htm.
Joint meeting
At the subsequent IFLA conference in Copenhagen, among the
hundreds of sessions offered was a joint meeting of the
Section of Libraries for the Blind and the Section of -
Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons. Two of the key
presentations at this session were from Peter Craddock of
Londonderry, Northern Ireland, who described "Share the
Vision," a partnership agency promoting library and
information services for print-handicapped people in the
United Kingdom, and from the CNIB, which announced the
launch of VISUNET, a vision of virtual library service for
the blind. Rosemary Kavanagh, executive director, and
Barbara Freeze, director for systems and operations, CNIB
Library for the Blind, detailed the matrix of elements,
current and planned, that make up VISUNET. In addition to
the Information Resource Centre described above, VISUNET
includes such services as an OPAC with online ordering
capabilities, access to daily newspapers through the
Internet and telephone, and programs to integrate
print-disabled Canadians into their local library service by
linking CNIB resources to public libraries.
     Conference proceedings are available at the IFLA Web
site ifla.org.
Library services in Denmark
The Danish National Library for the Blind (DBB) in
Copenhagen is changing dramatically in the 1990s, building
on its record of service to visually handicapped readers.
Denmark's first Library for the Blind was established in
1924 and soon became an integral part of the national
library network. Recorded books-on-tape were first
introduced in the 1950s and have steadily increased in
popularity.
Services provided
With a staff of 136, DBB serves nearly 11,000 patrons with a
collection of more than 10,500 recorded volumes and 9,800
braille and sheet-music titles. Each year the collection
increases by about 1,600 recorded titles and 100 braille
titles. In 1996 more than 5,900 master tapes and more than
100,000 master pages of braille were produced, and these, in
turn, were used to produce 530,000 audio cassettes and 4.5
million pages of braille to loan to patrons. Total
circulation exceeds one million units each year, including
books, periodicals, and sheet music--both recorded and
braille versions.
     One of DBB's important initiatives in 1996 was its
effort to involve patrons in its planning and operations.
DBB's five advisory committees--the Audio Production
Committee, the Braille Production Committee, the Deaf-Blind
Committee, the Ways and Means Committee, and the Library
Committee--all include representatives of visually
handicapped patrons and of readers with disabilities other
than visual impairment. For example, the Danish Dyslexia
Association is represented on the DBB Library Committee,
which facilitates network services nationwide.
Technology
Another important theme of DBB's development in the 1990s is
advancing its automation technology. Legislation implemented
on January 1, 1997, eased copyright restrictions on the
conversion of published works to recorded media. At present,
the text of most books is available on diskette, which may
be converted into synthetic speech or braille; eventually,
readers will be able to access electronic text directly on
the Internet and to retrieve it electronically within a few
seconds.
     DBB is formulating plans to implement digital
technology in the production of new recordings and to
replace existing tapes with digital recordings in the not
too distant future. Digital technology will improve the
quality and speed of recording, storing, and managing
recorded data, and it will also improve the production of
volumes in braille. These plans represent a step toward
change "from a traditional library for the blind to a
virtual library for the blind," in the words of DBB's
director, Winnie Vitzansky.
     DBB is participating in a worldwide test program in
digital technology using Sweden's DAISY software to record
new books in digital format and to transfer older, analog
recordings to the new medium.
     Information in this report is taken from these sources:
Danish National Library for the Blind. The Internet:
Electronic Texts, The Next Generation of Talking Books.
Copenhagen, Denmark: DBB, 1997. (Web address:
http://www.dbb.dk)
Danish National Library for the Blind. The 1996 Annual
Report. Ed. Lisbeth Trinskjaer. Copenhagen, Denmark: DBB,
1997.
Svane-Mikkelsen, Jorgen. The Library System in Denmark.
Copenhagen, Denmark: Royal School of Library and Information
Science, 1997.
National Geographic promotes braille edition
The "Behind the Scenes" section of the November 1997 issue
of the National Geographic magazine contains a photo of a
hand reading the braille edition and a brief description of
the NLS service.
     "The Geographic has a circulation of more than 9
million," says Robert Fistick, head of the NLS Publications
and Media Section. "Exposure like this can reach a great
many individuals, family members, and friends who could
benefit from information about the program."
     Under the heading "Keeping in Touch," the text begins
with "Some Geographic readers have a real feel for the
magazine--they read the braille edition." The piece goes on
to list the 1996 NLS circulation of 23 million braille and
recorded copies of periodicals and books to eligible
patrons--at no charge--and to note that the Geographic, with
over 12,000 braille users, was the most requested magazine.
Subscribers are directed to the NLS 800 number for further -
information.
     The hand featured is that of a long-time braille
reader--NLS patron Curtis Chong--who was representing the
World Blind Union on the NISO Digital Talking Book Standards
Committee when Geographic photographers took the picture.
(More of Chong appears in a photo above.)
(Photo by Mark O. Thiessen, (c) National Geographic
Society.)
The Program
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped of the Library of Congress publishes books and
magazines in braille and in recorded form on discs and
cassettes for readers who cannot hold, handle, or see well
enough to read conventional print because of a temporary or
permanent visual or physical handicap.
     Through a national network of state and local -
libraries, the materials are loaned free to eligible readers
in the United States and to U.S. citizens living abroad.
Materials are sent to readers and returned by postage-free
mail.
Books and Magazines
Readers may borrow all types of popular-interest books
including bestsellers, classics, mysteries, westerns,
poetry, history, biographies, religious literature,
children's books, and foreign-language materials. Readers
may also subscribe to more than seventy popular magazines in
braille and recorded formats.
Special Equipment
Special equipment needed to play the discs and cassettes,
which are recorded at slower than conventional speeds, is
loaned indefinitely to readers. An amplifier with headphone
is available for blind and physically handicapped readers
who are also certified as hearing impaired. Other devices
are provided to aid readers with mobility impairments in
using playback machines.
Eligibility
You are eligible for the Library of Congress program if:
 You are legally blind--your vision in the better eye is
20/200 or less with correcting glasses, or your widest
diameter of visual field is no greater than 20 degrees;
 You cannot see well enough or focus long enough to read
standard print, although you wear glasses to correct your
vision;
 You are unable to handle print books or turn pages
because of a physical handicap; or
 You are certified by a medical doctor as having a reading
disability, due to an organic dysfunction, which is of
sufficient severity to prevent reading in a normal manner.
How to Apply
You may request an application by writing NLS or calling
toll-free 1-800-424-9100, and your name will be referred to
your cooperating library.
News is published quarterly by:
National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20542
All correspondence should be addressed to the attention of
Publications and Media Section.
Editor: Vicki Fitzpatrick
Writers: Rita Byrnes, Jane Caulton, Carol Corrigan, Michael
Moodie, and George Thuronyi