Actually, they are experimenting with that exact thing both
nationally, and at the local level. I just last week
received a book from NLS which I was surprised to find was
an unabridged commercial audio production. The NLS had only
repackaged it to fit the four track cassettes and put on
their usual announcements. Our local NLS branch, and some
others that I know, are also trying out arrangements with
the public libraries to see if NLS patrons can use the new
public library down-loadable books. So, it is coming.
There are two problems though which do interfere with their
collaborating.
At the national level, the policy is that books should be
unabridged so that blind patrons get the exact same book the
sighted public reads. However, many commercial audio books
are abridged. Sometimes the shortening is done well, some
times though, it is obviously a hatchet job. NLS does not
use these, and I applaud their judgment on this.
At the local level, one problem which has cropped up is
public library software which is complicated at the least,
or downright inaccessible at the worst. The libraries here
are using a plug-in for Windows Media which one must use to
download the books. This plug in takes care of copyright
monitoring and other things. The version I beta tested for
our local library was really difficult to use. The
copyright protection scheme is also irritating. If you
check out a book you have exactly three weeks to the second.
If you do not finish the book, or renew the book, it becomes
disabled. I would prefer something like late fees instead
like video stores or the conventional libraries use.
Things are converging, but there will be a long period of
experiment trial and error before it is truly transparent.
Maybe someday, NLS books will be available to the general
public on loan also.
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kay Chase
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 10:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VICUG-L] Talking Book Program Musings
Good afternoon,
I have been reading all these messages about talking book
funding and checking the House of Representatives web site
for information regularly, http://www.house.gov .
I too am concerned that this funding remains. At the same
time, however, I note that our Bergen County Public Library
system is experimenting with providing downloadable
unabridged recorded books for patrons. The downloaded book
can be checked out for two to three weeks depending on the
service. Then, the book can be renewed. So my point is
that audio books are important to everyone now. So NLS and
the public libraries should get together and share audio
material at least, even if they package it differently; Who
knows maybe somehow these two programs should be combined.
The government shouldn't be paying in two places to provide
the same audio book for patrons. Could NLS use the same
kind of file that can be checked out for a given period of
time. the number of elderly folks who become impaired and
depend on the NLS Talking Book program, it does not make
sense to cut funding here, but look at ways that our
services could benefit others like public library patrons or
encourage more involvement in the program for others with
other kinds of physical and reading disabilities.
Kay Chase
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