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
>
>
>