EASI believes that having the LOC fall under 508 could be a fabulous
breakthrough.  If LOC had to stop purchasing some online databases,
commercial vendors would snap to attention rather quickly.

I surely hope this happens.

Norm

At 08:35 AM 3/28/02 -0600, you wrote:
>Friends and colleagues,
>
>I recently asked Mark Quigley at NCD for an update on the Section
508/Library of Congress issue. His response is below.
>
>Audrey
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:   Mark S. Quigley [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent:   Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:21 AM
>To:     [log in to unmask]
>Subject:        Re: Re Library of Congress and Section 508
>
>Hello: This is the only update available at this time. When more
>information is forthcoming, it will be published in an NCD Bulletin.
>Thank you.
>
>Congressional Office of Compliance
>
>As mentioned in the November 2001 edition of the NCD Bulletin, the board
>of directors of the U.S. Congress Office of Compliance transmitted an
>interim report to Congress in November 2001 recommending that Congress
>bring itself under the 1998 amendments to Section 508 of the
>Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 749d.). As part of the 1998
>amendments, executive branch agencies of the government are required to
>make their electronic data and information accessible to their employees
>and members of the public with disabilities. Section 508 does not
>currently apply to offices covered by the public access provisions of
>the Congressional Accountability Act or to congressional
>instrumentalities (the General Accounting Office, the Government
>Printing Office, or the Library of Congress). As a result of recent
>discussions with congressional staff, the Office of Compliance has
>indicated its willingness and availability to assist the legislative
>branch in this effort. It is expected that Section 508 seminars for
>select congressional staff will be scheduled soon, in partnership with
>NCD. This critical step is consistent with advice provided to the Office
>of Compliance and a recommendation in NCD's National Disability Policy:
>A Progress Report
><http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/progressreport2000.html> .
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>Audrey J. Gorman wrote:
>
>>Mark,
>>
>>Earlier this year you sent out a message saying that NCD was collection
>>information on LC (and some others) and Section 508. I'd very much
>>appreciate knowing how things are progressing, and especially if LC will be
>>subject to Section 508. As a librarian and accessibility advocate, I'm
>>certainly hoping so.
>>
>>I look forward to hearing from you quickly on this matter.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>Audrey
>>
>>Audrey J. Gorman
>>Access for All
>>Naperville, IL, USA
>>
>>[log in to unmask]
>>Mobile: 630-661-9062
>>Office: 630-717-7336
>>www.accessall.net
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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