News
October-December 1996, Vol. 27, No. 4

ISSN 1046-1663

National Library Service
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
The Library of Congress

Copyright law amended

Public Law 104-197
104th Congress, H.R. 3754
September 16, 1996
An Act

Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes.

_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,..._

TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 316. Limitation on Exclusive Copyrights for Literary Works
in Specialized Format for the Blind and Disabled--

(a) IN GENERAL-- Chapter 1 of title 17, United States Code, is
amended by adding after section 120 the following new section:
     `SEC. 121. Limitations on exclusive rights: reproduction
for blind or other people with disabilities
     `(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and
710, it is not an infringement of copyright for an authorized
entity to reproduce or to distribute copies or phonorecords of a
previously published, nondramatic literary work if such copies
or phonorecords are reproduced or distributed in specialized
formats exclusively for use by blind or other persons with
disabilities.
     `(b) (1) Copies or phonorecords to which this section
applies shall--
     `(A) not be reproduced or distributed in a format other
than a specialized format exclusively for use by blind or other
persons with disabilities;
     `(B) bear a notice that any further reproduction or
distribution in a format other than a specialized format is an
infringement; and
     `(C) include a copyright notice identifying the copyright
owner and the date of the original publication.
     `(2) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to
standardized, secure, or norm-referenced tests and related
testing material, or to computer programs, except the portions
thereof that are in conventional human language (including
descriptions of pictorial works) and displayed to users in the
ordinary course of using the computer programs.
     `(c) For purposes of this section, the term--
     `(1) `authorized entity' means a nonprofit organization or
a governmental agency that has a primary mission to provide
specialized services relating to training, education, or
adaptive reading or information access needs of blind or other
persons with disabilities;
     `(2) `blind or other persons with disabilities' means
individuals who are eligible or who may qualify in accordance
with the Act entitled `An Act to provide books for the adult
blind', approved March 3, 1931 (2 U.S.C. 135a; 46 Stat. 1487) to
receive books and other publications produced in specialized
formats; and
     `(3) `specialized formats' means braille, audio, or digital
text which is exclusively for use by blind or other persons with
disabilities.'.
     (b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT-- The table of
sections for chapter 1 of title 17, United States Code, is
amended by adding after the item relating to section 120 the
following:
     `121. Limitations on exclusive rights: reproduction for
blind or other people with disabilities.'.


Amendment covers special-format works for blind and disabled
readers

On September 16 President Clinton signed into law an amendment
to the _United States Code_ that allows nonprofit agencies,
including government services, to produce special-format books
and magazines without first obtaining permission from the
copyright holder. This measure will enable NLS to initiate
production of braille and recorded books sooner and therefore
get books to readers more quickly. Public Law 104-197 covers
nondramatic literary works reproduced in braille and/or recorded
formats specifically for the use of blind and visually impaired
individuals and persons with physical disabilities.
     "This is the most significant action for improvement of
library services to blind and physically handicapped individuals
since the Pratt-Smoot Act established the Library of Congress
program more than sixty-five years ago," said NLS director Frank
Kurt Cylke.
     Previously, copyright permission usually had to be
requested individually for each book selected for production,
which often resulted in delay in getting material to readers. 
     Books and magazines will continue to carry a copyright
notice and must be reproduced in specialized formats exclusively
for use by blind and physically handicapped readers.

Legislative background
The bipartisan measure, sponsored by Senator John H. Chafee
(R-Rhode Island), was presented as an amendment to the
legislative branch appropriation for fiscal year 1997. Other
sponsors included Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico), Mike
DeWine (R-Ohio), Wendell H. Ford (D-Kentucky), Sheila Frahm
(R-Kansas), Bill Frist (R-Tennessee), Patrick J. Leahy
(D-Vermont), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Larry Pressler -

(R-South Dakota), and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).
     Senator Chafee's statement as printed in the _Congressional
Record_ of September 3, 1996, says "This amendment, which makes
a very small change in the current copyright law, will make an
enormous difference to our nation's blind children and adults.
It has the approval of the authorizing committees in both
Chambers, as well as the support of the National Federation of
the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind, the American
Printing House for the Blind, Recording for the Blind and
Dyslexic, the American Council of the Blind, the Association of
American Publishers, and the U.S. Office of Copyright [see
statement, below].... My amendment seeks to end the unintended
censorship of blind individuals' access to current information." 

Benefits to readers
The most obvious advantage from this amendment will be increased
speed of placing books in production. The most common method of
obtaining copyright permission has been the mailing of a
multipart form to the publisher, who in most cases granted
permission on behalf of the copyright holder. Says Ruth Foss,
head of the NLS Collection Development Section, "Even when forms
are returned fairly promptly, it takes time both here and at the
publisher's just to handle the paperwork and keep the records."
In some cases the form has to be forwarded to an agent of the
original owner, causing additional delays. "We've had books on
the shelves for many months waiting for copyright clearance,"
says Foss. 
     There has been some alleviation of the problem from
publishers who granted blanket permission for special-format
reproduction. Another method has been the use of a checkoff box
to grant blanket permission on the official copyright
registration form that copyright holders or their agents file
with the Copyright Office. While helpful, neither of these
actions made a significant change in the overall situation.
     A major benefit of the new law will be the ability to
produce anthologies containing stories and articles--by a
variety of authors--that have separate copyrights. The sheer
magnitude of obtaining multiple permissions has prevented the
production of most books of this type. "And this kind of book is
important to our readership," says Foss. "The advantage to
students is obvious, and many of our elderly readers appreciate
short items that can be read in a single session." 
     The legislation also frees network libraries and other
not-for-profit or governmental agencies to produce
special-format books and magazines without first obtaining
copyright clearance. In the past, NLS has most often obtained
clearance for network material--a process that will no longer be
necessary.


The president's message

I am especially pleased to sign into law a provision that will
allow blind and visually impaired persons to get earlier access
to books and other reading matter. As a result of an agreement
between the publishing industry and advocates for people with
disabilities, books can now be converted into alternative
formats such as braille as soon as they appear in print. Prior
to this change, the Library of Congress and other organizations
that sought to provide these materials had to obtain permission
from copyright holders on a case-by-case basis, leading to
lengthy delays in access to all types of reading material. This
law will help us reach our goal of full inclusion of people with
disabilities.
--William J. Clinton


Statement by Senator Chafee

(From the _Congressional Record_ of July 29, 1996. Measure laid
before the Senate.)
_LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997_
BOOKS FOR THE BLIND
(After presentation of the amendment and definitions)

In 1931, the Library of Congress National Library Service for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped was established by an act
of Congress. Since then, funding for this immensely valuable
program has been included in the legislative branch bill, which,
of course, funds the Library of Congress. The National Library
Service and a handful of nonprofit organizations reproduce in
specialized formats published material that is readily available
to sighted individuals in libraries, bookstores, newsstands, and
countless other locations.
     Specialized formats refers to braille, sound recordings--
either on cassette or phonorecord--and new digital formats that
can be used for special software. To make certain that recorded
books and magazines are only used by those for whom they are -

intended, they are recorded at a speed that simply does not work
on standard tape players. 
     The National Library Service provides special tape players
and record players to eligible individuals. This equipment is
not generally available to the public. To be eligible to receive
this special equipment, an applicant must be certified by a
qualified professional such as a doctor, nurse, or social worker
that he or she is unable to use standard print.
     The National Library Service selects the books to reproduce
in these specialized formats.
     Frequently, the National Library Service issues request
after request only to wait months for a response from the
publisher. These delays are not because the publishers have a
desire to withhold permission; it is simply a low priority. They
just set it aside.
     There are still seventeen books from the 1995 bestseller
list for which permission is still pending.
     For our Nation's more than 54,000 blind elementary and
secondary school students, this is a great problem.
     The American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville,
KY, is the primary producer of braille textbooks. It is a
challenge to reproduce today's highly visible textbooks in
braille format. Maps, charts, graphs, and illustrations that
take up one page in a standard textbook may require multiple
pages of braille or tactile graphics to convey the same
information. All in all, it can take a full year to produce a
braille textbook. Added time consumed by trying to get
permission from publishers makes it certain that the blind
student is not in sync with his classmates.
     The amendment Senator Frahm and others and I are
introducing seeks to end the unintended censorship of blind
students' access to current information.... This is a very
simple amendment. This says groups that produce specialized
formats for the blind no longer are required to obtain copyright
permission from the copyright holder before beginning
production. It is based on an agreement that was reached last
January between the Association of American Publishers and the
National Federation of the Blind. It includes a very narrow
definition of those who are eligible to undertake such
production and applies the definition for eligibility used by
the National Library Service to those who receive reproductions.
     So, Mr. President, as has been said by a member of the
National Federation of the Blind, "It should be obvious that the
delays here present a significant barrier which must be overcome
if blind people are to be informed and literate. It is not too
much to say that living successfully in our modern society often
depends upon being able to communicate ideas and facts both
orally and in writing."
     I conclude by a statement from Marybeth Peters, who is the
Register of Copyrights at the Library of Congress. In testifying
before the Senate Judiciary Committee she said, "Blind and
physically handicapped readers have a legitimate need for prompt
and timely access as soon as possible after works become
available to the general reading public. Textbook materials in
particular are commonly out of date within 1 to 2 years,
superseded by new editions."
     Passage of this amendment will permit the speedy access to
information that blind people need.
(photo caption: Senator John H. Chafee (R-Rhode Island)
sponsored the bipartisan measure to grant automatic copyright
permission.)


(Highlights of legislative history

Senate actions
Jul. 11
Bill received from House, read twice, and referred to the
Committee on Appropriations

Jul. 19
Reported to Senate with amendments, placed on calendar

Jul. 29
Measure laid before Senate with amendments

Jul. 30
Amendment agreed to in Senate by voice vote

House-Senate conference actions
Aug. 1
House agreed to conference report by yeas and nays, 397-22

Sep. 3
Senate agreed to conference report by unanimous consent

Executive actions
Sep. 3
Cleared for White House

Sep. 5
Presented to president

Sep. 16
Signed by president
Became Public Law 104-197)
                              ###

New NLS materials ready for use or testing

NLS has recently initiated field-testing of a new braille book
container and has released an equipment modification, bar-code
labeling for machines and cartons. Both materials have been
under development for several years.

New braille-book mailing cartons
Several years of design modification and experimentation have
given way to field testing, as the Massachusetts and Oregon
regional libraries begin sending braille books to patrons in
newly designed containers. 
     "We've had to keep modifying the containers to increase the
level of protection," says Michael Moodie, NLS research and
development officer. "Maybe that's good, though," he adds,
"because this way we know that we really need everything we put
into it." (For previous history, see _News,_ January-March 1992,
p. 2; and _Update,_ April-June 1994, pp. 1 and 2.) The latest
model of the containers is considerably more durable than
previous designs and is rigid rather than soft. 
     Moodie also points to the difficulty of contriving a
container big enough to accommodate the largest braille book and
small enough to fit into the smallest corner mailbox. The
current model does, "just barely," Moodie says.
     The carton is made of reinforced vinyl over rigid plastic.
It has sturdy Velcro closures on two sides. When these are open,
the carton collapses to lie flat for storage. The carton is
black and has a carrying handle and a clear pocket for the
address card. 
     The testing libraries will use the two hundred test-run
cartons for three to four months and will compile information on
their performance. "We want to know how the cartons work out and
how the patrons and librarians like them," Moodie says. If the
cartons are acceptable, the design will be adopted for use in
future production. If not, feedback from the testing libraries
and patrons will be used to further refine the design.

Bar-code labeling for equipment inventory control
Perhaps the most frequently recommended improvement to the
handling of NLS machines--bar-code labeling of machines--was
initiated this summer with the bar-code labeling of new C-1
cassette machines and their cartons. The labels are expected to
make it easier for NLS to keep track of where each machine is
and of its repair history. 
     The label system is similar to one that has been used
successfully by the State Services for the Blind in St. Paul,
Minnesota, for several years. The labels are durable and have
high-quality adhesive and a protective coating.
     The bar-code label shows the machine's unique identifier in
large print over the bar code. The unique identifier consists of
two fields separated by a dash, for example "C1-9999999." The
first field contains the model designator--for example, "C1"--
and the second field contains the serial number. The model
designator may contain up to four alphanumeric characters, none
of which can be a dash. The serial number contains a maximum of
seven numeric characters. A check digit is embedded in the bar
code at the end of the serial number field. It is not printed.
     The label is placed on the front of the equipment. The
unique identifier is also embossed on the metal label that
contains the Underwriter's Laboratory information and contract
number. This metal label is placed on the bottom of the
equipment. 
     NLS quality checks for new C-1s include verification that
the carton labels (both individual cartons and overpacks)
correspond to the bar-code and metal labels on the enclosed
C-1s. Of course, once cartons have been opened, there is no
assurance that carton labels accurately reflect contents.
(photo caption: Michael Moodie, NLS research and development
officer, inserts a braille book into a new carton. In the
foreground is a carton folded flat for storage. Photo by Jim
Higgins.)
                              ###

Collection access highlights advisory group meeting

At the annual meeting of the National Advisory Group on
Collection Building Activities, discussion centered around ways
for patrons and librarians to access the NLS collection. This
concern reflects a growing interest in information about books
currently available, rather than areas of the collection that
needed to be developed as in previous years.
     Topics considered included fuller use of interlibrary loan,
listing locally produced books in the _Union Catalog_, providing
network libraries with more information about narrators, and
sharing information developed at network libraries. Some of the
recommendations were in the form of commendations for network
libraries or individuals and to NLS "for being forward-thinking
regarding the use of computers and other high-technology methods
to improve service." 
     Recommendations for specific practices will be considered
for implementation by NLS in terms of overall usefulness, cost,
and production procedures. These include placing glossaries more
prominently in recorded books, adding notations of the number of
cassettes to the one-line annotations in the braille edition of
_Braille Book Review,_ identifying braille magazines with a
title placed vertically along the spine, and adding books
mentioned in the body of annotations (such as prequels or
sequels) to the order forms for _Talking Book Topics_ and
_Braille Book Review._ 
     The single recommendation concerning books for the
collection was for more biographies of current sports figures
for younger readers. Otherwise, the Collection Development
Section was commended for the addition of high interest/low
vocabulary titles and for "its continuing efforts to locate and
add more `clean' and inspirational books to the collection." 
(photo caption: The National Advisory Group includes (left to
right) Pat Meek, Nancy Novotny, Margaret Blomberg, Sandy
Halverson, Frank Woods, Pat Klemans, and Paul Edwards. Photo by
Jim Higgins.)
(National Advisory Group on Collection Building Activities

Consumer organization representatives: American Council of the
Blind, Paul Edwards; Blinded Veterans Association, Art Mathews;
National Federation of the Blind, Sandra Halverson
Reader-at-large representatives: Midlands: Jana Schroeder,
Dayton, Ohio; North: Linda Kirk, Port Jefferson, New York;
South: David Faucheux, Lafayette, Louisiana; West: Margaret
Blomberg, Aberdeen, Washington
Library representatives: Midlands: Pat Klemans, Wayne, Michigan;
North: S. Francis Woods, Montpelier, Vermont; South: Nancy
Novotny, Austin, Texas; West: Pat Meek, Anchorage, Alaska
Children's and young adult advisor: Cassie Hamm, Albany, New
York)
                              ###

NLS exhibit schedule--1996-1997

NLS will exhibit at thirty-one conferences in fiscal year 1997
as part of its public outreach effort. Exhibits are operated by
NLS staff and local network affiliates. Conferences on the 1996-
1997 schedule are listed below in order of their occurrence.
Each entry includes organization name, place, and date.

American Academy of Ophthalmology
Chicago, Illinois
October 27-31, 1996

American Association of Homes for the Aging
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
October 28-30, 1996

National Association of Social Workers
Cleveland, Ohio
November 13-16, 1996

National Association for Music Therapy
Nashville, Tennessee
November 16-19, 1996

Gerontological Society of America
Washington, D.C.
November 17-21, 1996

U.S. Geological Survey
Reston, Virginia
November 20-21, 1996

Music Library Association
New Orleans, Louisiana
January 29-February 1, 1997

American Library Association
Midwinter Conference
Washington, D.C.
February 14-19, 1997

Vision Expo
New York, New York
March 7-9, 1997

National Council on the Aging
Chicago, Illinois
March 14-18, 1997

National Student Nurses Association
Phoenix, Arizona
April 9-12, 1997

Council for Exceptional Children
Salt Lake City, Utah
April 9-13, 1997

American Occupational Therapy Association
Orlando, Florida
April 11-15, 1997

National Association of Activity Professionals
Buffalo, New York
April 16-19, 1997

National Braille Association
Austin, Texas
April 24-26, 1997

Abilities Expo East
Edison, New Jersey
April 25-27, 1997

International Reading Association
Atlanta, Georgia
May 4-8, 1997

Childlife Council
Washington, D.C.
May 22-24, 1997

Association for the Care of Children's Health
Washington, D.C.
May 25-28, 1997

President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
Washington, D.C.
June 3-6, 1997

American Optometric Association
St. Louis, Missouri
June 13-17, 1997

RESNA
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June 20-25, 1997

American Library Association
San Francisco, California
June 28-July 1, 1997

National Federation of the Blind
New Orleans, Louisiana
June 29-July 7, 1997

American Council of the Blind
Houston, Texas
July 1-7, 1997

Association on Higher Education and Disability
Boston, Massachusetts
July 16-19, 1997

American Federation of Teachers
Washington, D.C.
July 26-29, 1997

Abilities Expo Midwest
Chicago, Illinois
August 1-3, 1997

Blinded Veterans Association
Reno, Nevada
August 19-23, 1997

American Association of Diabetes Educators
Denver, Colorado
August 20-21, 1997

American Legion National Convention
Orlando, Florida
August 29-September 4, 1997
                              ###

Romance novels flourish at Illinois regional

"My mother/grandmother/oldest living female relative had a bunch
of those in her basement." So goes the comment of many who are
unaware of the evolution of romantic fiction within recent
years. The Illinois regional library recently sponsored a series
of talks, "Rendezvous with Romance," to bring patrons up to date
on the largest-selling genre and fastest-growing market in the
publishing industry.
     Talking-book patrons within the Chicago metropolitan area
were notified of the events via a special mailing. To accompany
the thematic single-rose graphic, the nine-thousand-piece
mailing was sprayed with "peach mist," an aromatic fragrance
that was planned to evoke a romantic frame of reference for the
recipients.
     The events featured Illinois romance writers Kit Garland,
Margaret Watson, and Linda Wiatr, who have among them produced
around fifteen books, some published under pseudonyms and many
requiring extensive historical research. They spoke about the
romance genre, shared their writing experiences, and read from
their most recent novels. 
     Patrons learned that the heroines of today's romantic
novels rarely swoon, sigh, or stamp their tiny feet. They are
often burdened with the same anxieties, concerns, and needs as
their readers. The difference is that they usually possess the
willingness to charge off into the face of danger when others--
including the reader--might have hesitated. And, of course, true
love _always_ prevails.
     Books by each of these local authors have been added to the
Cassettes in Illinois (CIL) collection. The NLS bibliography
_Romance and Love Stories_ was made available to guests, as well
as an annotated braille and print list of our new CIL romance
titles. The library also printed and brailled a bibliography of
_Author's Tools_ that lists some of the newer NLS titles that
advise readers on aspects of the writing process, from getting
ideas to negotiating that first contract. 
     After the authors' presentations and refreshments, a patron
forum was held about the talking-book program. Patrons expressed
their satisfactions, asked thoughtful questions, and provided
information. Some patrons learned about the radio news service
and others shared technical experience such as how to supplement
the volume of the C-1 cassette machine by using stereo speakers. 
     "Rendezvous with Romance" became an opportunity to meet
people served, to share information that will help improve
service, and to express mutual appreciation.
(Material for this article was provided by Karen-Marie Allen,
programs/outreach librarian at the Chicago regional library.)
(photo caption: Chicago area patrons enjoyed a "Rendezvous with
Romance" when romance authors (from left) Kit Garland, Linda
Wiatr, and Margaret Watson discussed their writings.)
                              ###

New York regionals celebrate one hundred years

The Andrew Heiskell Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped in New York City and the New York State Talking Book
and Braille Library in Albany have more in common than being
from the same state and being original members of the NLS
network. Each regional library celebrated one hundred years of
service this year, although their beginnings were different.

New York City's (NYC) Andrew Heiskell Library, which was
established in 1895 as the New York Free Circulating Library for
the Blind, observed its centennial with a birthday party in May.
The party was postponed to 1996 to avoid drawing attention away
from the one-hundredth-year celebration of its parent
organization, the New York Public Library, which it joined in
1903.  
     Attended by more than one hundred people, festivities
overflowed the main auditorium. Entertainment included a musical
performance by Lynette Tatum and Maria Rios, accompanied by
William Beckman, and "an exhibition of the patrons' one hundred
all-time favorite recorded and braille titles." 
     Guests included Thomas J. Alrutz, associate director for
Central Library Services; Mark Leeds, director of the NYC
Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities; Edwin S. Holmgren,
senior vice president and director of the Branch Libraries, The
New York Public Libraries; and NLS staffer Steve Prine, head,
Network Services Section.
     The highlight of the program was a presentation, "Books
Talking: A Centennial Sequence," by talking-book narrators from
the Library's audio book studio. The presenters created a script
using one or two lines from one hundred popular books in the
collection, including the Bible, _A Tale of Two Cities_ by
Charles Dickens, _Rebecca_ by Daphne du Maurier, and
_Centennial_ by James Michener. The program closed with a
birthday cake ceremony and a reception.
     The release of two publications, _Favorite 100 Books_ and
_Service to Blind and Print-Impaired Readers: Celebrating 100
Years,_ in large-print, braille, and cassette formats, also
marked the occasion.

The Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) in Albany began
providing embossed books to patrons in 1896 as part of the New
York State Library. It also marked its anniversary with a
birthday bash that was attended by more than three hundred
people, many of whom were patrons, volunteers, and former staff.
Wells B. Kormann, chief of NLS's Materials Development Division;
Richard Mills, state education commissioner; and Carole F.
Huxley, deputy commissioner for cultural education, gave
laudatory comments. Linda Hunt, a patron, and Jane Somers,
regional librarian, also gave remarks. 

The staff also prepared several special exhibits highlighting
TBBL's history. "The Sounds of a Century" featured cassette
books representing one hundred years of "good reading" from the
library's collection. This exhibit included eleven cassette
players and headphones for the guests' listening pleasure. Other
exhibits featured fifty years of playback equipment, library
memorabilia, photographs of volunteers, and a display of
embossed books, including early braille alternatives New York
Point and Moon type.
     Participants enjoyed a bountiful buffet and musical
entertainment. In addition, there were videos, stories, books,
and birthday-card making--instructed by museum curator Paul
Weinman--for the children.
(photo caption: Audio book narrators from the NYC regional
library present readings. Left to right: Myron Cohon, Nancy
Campbell, Susan Pari, and Alan Bechey.)
(photo caption: Patron Adam Graham (right) and his family enjoy
the birthday celebration for the Talking Book and Braille
Library in Albany.)
                              ###

Network exchange

Louisiana (Baton Rouge). Fifteen young readers were winners in
the statewide summer reading program "Go for the Gold...Read!"
The program was launched in May and was open to all Louisiana
children. Visually impaired children participated through the
regional library, which encouraged participants to read at least
five books during the summer.
     The grand prize winner, Angela Lucek, seven, of Baton
Rouge, read a total of sixty-three books from the required
reading list. She received a free weekend camping trip at a
Louisiana state park. Other prizes were savings bonds, a
descriptive video, t-shirts, and book bags. The three top prize
winners received their awards from Lt. Governor Kathleen Blanco
at a ceremony on September 26.
(photo caption: Louisiana's lieutenant governor, Kathleen
Blanco, presents a prize to a young patron.)

California (Los Angeles). Festivities for the Braille Institute
Library children's summer reading program began on July 8 at
Beckford School in Northridge with a performance of _Victory,_ a
play featuring an eagle who loses his sight. The performance,
presented by the Braille Institute Players, was repeated at the
Francis Blend School in Los Angeles and at the Orange County
Center. 
     Grab bags containing braille coloring books, coupons,
stickers, and prizes were mailed to all participants. Close to
three hundred blind and physically disabled children
participated in this year's program. Book reports were mailed or
phoned in.
     The closing event was held at the Braille Institute on
August 21. Wildlife on Wheels (WOW) entertained the children
with a storyteller and live animals, featuring a desert
tortoise, a bullfrog, and a dove.
     The _Los Angeles Times,_ Channel 9 KCAL news, and KNX radio
were all present. KNX and KCAL featured the story in afternoon
spots. The _LA Times_ metro section had a prominent photo of one
of the young readers up close with the giant bullfrog.
(This article was provided by Sharon Lussier, network services
assistant manager at the Braille Institute Library.)
(photo caption: Jessica Garcia from Wildlife on Wheels shows the
bullfrog to Braille Institute Library's summer reading program
participants.)

North Carolina (Raleigh). The fall issue of _Volunteller,_ the
regional library's volunteer newsletter, reports that Hurricane
Fran (September 5) caused considerable damage in the area but
none to the library, "although floodwaters swirled to a depth of
thirty inches near the building." 
     However, the power was off for about forty-eight hours, the
library was closed for several days, and no books were sent for
over a week. The backup batteries protected the computer system,
but the staff had to play catch-up for some time.
     This was the worst storm for Raleigh since Hazel, in the
1950s. Most hurricanes that hit North Carolina come ashore at
the Outer Banks along the coast but then generally veer off
north and do not move inland with such force.

Washington (Seattle). The Washington regional library received
welcome help from the Boeing Defense and Space Group in their
July move to temporary quarters.
     "In 1983 Boeing assisted in moving the library to its
current quarters, so we went back and asked for their help
again," says Jan Ames, coordinator for special services for the
Seattle Public Library.
     The library has moved into temporary quarters so that its
building can be renovated.
     The Boeing Defense and Space Group planned and coordinated
the relocation project, with support from the Boeing Employees
Good Neighbor Fund and Information and Support Services. In
addition to expertise, Boeing provided five trucks, three
forklifts, two jitneys, 7,500 cardboard boxes, supplies, and
seventy-five volunteers during the two-day weekend move.
Washington Talking Book and Braille Library staff and sixty
regular volunteers also assisted in getting ready and carrying
out the move.
     "It was great," Ames says. "We had no money for the move--
and working with the Boeing people was fun!"
     Although the library is operating from leased space until
the renovation is completed, probably in the summer of 1997, it
continues to use its permanent mailing address and telephone
number.
     The first floor of the Lenora Street building is being
renovated for the Talking Book and Braille Library, while the
second floor is being prepared for Seattle Public Library's
bookmobile and homebound services.
                              ###

French-language magazine offered in pilot program

NLS and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
have agreed to undertake a pilot project to circulate the
French-language edition of _The Reader's Digest (Slections du
Reader's Digest)_ to interested NLS patrons. The _Slections du
Reader's Digest_ is one of two French-language magazines
produced by CNIB on cassette.
     The project, beginning in January 1997, is part of the
ongoing cooperation between NLS and CNIB to expand and share
library resources for blind persons in both Canada and the
United States. The initial offering will be limited to one
hundred patron subscriptions.
     With the availability of _Slections du Reader's Digest_,
NLS patrons will have access to two French-language recorded
magazines. The other French-language magazine currently
available to NLS patrons is _Journal Franais d'Amrique_, which
is produced in flexible-disc format by NLS. 
     NLS hopes that a positive benefit analysis of this project
will lead to further cooperation with CNIB in providing more
French-language materials to NLS patrons.
                              ###

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: Jane Caulton, Robert Fistick, Yvonne French, James
Herndon, Ruth Nieland, and George Thuronyi
                              ###



*** 12/20/96 (gft) ***

Comments to: lcmarvel@loc.gov