Announcement from Alice L. Hagemeyer ......

Received from John Day, Gallaudet University Librarian and President of
ASCLA (Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies), a
division of the American Library Association.  The URL for this is
http://www.nclis.gov/news/pr99/heardis.html.


Immediate Release
May 27, 1999
For Information Contact
Barbara L. Whiteleather

NCLIS TO CONDUCT HEARING ON LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

Washington, DC. The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information
Science (NCLIS) will conduct a hearing on Library and Information
Services for Individuals with Disabilities. The Commission recognizes that recent
advances in information technology have improved conditions for some
people with disabilities while presenting new challenges to others. Commission
members wish to explore the gamut of issues raised in order to develop
policy recommendations to appropriate government agencies and other
organizations.

The hearing will take place on Thursday, July 8, 1999 from 9:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m., in the Kellogg Conference Center, Gallaudet University, 800
Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC. Members of the public are welcome to
attend. While the Commission has chosen as the site of the hearing one of
the nation's foremost educational facilities for the deaf, the focus of
this event goes far beyond individuals with hearing disabilities.
Commission members wish to hear from individuals with disabilities of all
types, as well as from legislators, educators, parents, library and
information service professionals, representatives from national
associations and organizations, volunteers, physicians, and researchers.
"The Commission recognizes that information technology provides help for
many disabled individuals," said Commission Chairperson Jeanne Hurley
Simon. "Electronic text can be manipulated in ways that print cannot to
assist persons with disabilities. Information technology can also help to
eliminate distance and physical barriers."

Libraries and librarians perform an indispensable role in connecting
disabled individuals to the information resources they need to lead
productive, independent lives. According to Commissioner C.E. (Abe)
Abramson, "Libraries have a responsibility to meet the special needs of
users with physical, learning and other disabilities. The Commission
wants to hear, first hand, of the various kinds of assistance being provided by
libraries to persons with permanent or temporary disabilities, including
assistance in ordering materials in alternative formats, searching and
retrieving materials (both online and print), accessing library buildings
and parking facilities, providing adequate space for study and testing,
and furnishing special equipment."

Persons interested in presenting oral statements should notify Barbara
Whiteleather by e-mail, telephone 202-606-9200; or fax 202-606-9203.
Written comments will be accepted before, during, or up to 30 days after
the hearing. All comments must be received at NCLIS no later than the
close of business on August 9, 1999 to become part of the hearing record.


The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science is a
permanent, independent agency of the Federal government charged by Public
Law 91-345 to appraise the adequacies and deficiencies of current library
and information resources and services and to advise the President and
Congress on national and international library and information policies
and plans.


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Lynn Olson
Reference / Instruction Librarian
Pierce College Library
9401 Farwest Drive S.W.
Tacoma, WA 98498-1999
253-964-6366  Office
253-964-6713  Fax
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