Site Map          Search the Catalog         Find a Library          FAQ         Sign Up        Contact Us 

Home > Reference   > Factsheets > International   Interlibrary Loan

# NLS Factsheets

## International Interlibrary Loan

February 1990

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)   of the Library of Congress lends recorded and braille books, music materials   in special formats, and specific back issues of recorded and braille magazines   to foreign libraries and agencies serving blind and physically handicapped individuals.   NLS does not produce textbooks for students nor research materials for professionals,   except for the music materials cited below; emphasis is on recreational reading   material, mainly fiction and general nonfiction. United States federal law prevents   the lending of books or machines directly to non-U.S. citizens living outside   the United States. The loan of materials to foreign libraries is limited to   titles needed by specific individual readers. 

Braille books in the NLS collection are in standard Grade 2 English braille.   NLS recorded books are on cassette (Philips cassettes, predominantly 4-track   and 15/16 inches per second) and on disc (predominantly 8-1/3 revolutions per   minute). Special playback equipment is needed to read these books because commercial   equipment does not play at these slow speeds. NLS does not lend playback equipment   to non-U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. nor to foreign libraries or agencies. 

NLS music materials include instructional recordings and braille and large-print   scores and books about music and musicians. The NLS Music Section will provide   information about the availability of braille music internationally and will   loan those scores not readily available from other sources. All music materials   may be requested, except for those recordings purchased for the Music Section   and available commercially in the United States. 

Materials sent on international interlibrary loan may not be duplicated, because   NLS has secured copyright permission with the understanding that reproductions   are for the use of U.S. citizens and residents. Requests for books should be   directed to the Network Services Section, and requests for music materials should   be directed to the Music Section, National Library Service for the Blind and   Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542, U.S.A. Interlibrary   loan forms will be supplied upon request. Materials must be returned six weeks   from the date of receipt. 

Machines are available for purchase by libraries or agencies that serve eligible   blind or physically handicapped individuals. For information on obtaining a   special cassette player (which does not record), in quantity only, contact:   Vice-President of Manufacturing, Telex Communications Inc., 9600 Aldrich Avenue,   South Bloomington, MN 55420, U.S.A. For information concerning the personal   purchase of a cassette recorder-player or a talking-book disc machine, contact   the American Printing House for the Blind, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206,   U.S.A. 

----

Library of Congress Home      NLS Home    Comments about NLS to nls@loc.govAbout this site    Comments about this site to nlswebmaster@loc.gov

Posted on 2004-10-20