The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
Other News
Distribution Policy for Digital Playback Equipment
All
At the recent meeting of the Digital Transition Advisory Committee, we continued the discussion of the distribution policy for digital playback equipment. We agreed at that meeting that we would resume this discussion on the nls-dtac listserv.
Below is the policy that was
distributed at the meeting. After the meeting, Rob Maier, the state librarian
of
After the needs of veterans and centenarians have been met, MLAs may wish to establish groups of patrons such as the following to guide the distribution of digital players:
- Anyone who has requested a digital player or is a known "early Adopter" of new technology;
- Younger patrons (whether existing or new);
- Patrons with physical disabilities;
- Other new patrons; and
- All others.
MLAs may modify the above priorities for player distribution if local needs and conditions so dictate.
While Mr. Maier has added physical disabilities as a separate category, P.L. 89-522 defines eligibility for the program as blindness, visual impairment or a physical handicap. Therefore, NLS perceives this group not as a separate category, but as eligible individuals who may fall within one or more of the categories identified in the digital player distribution policy.
We welcome discussion on this proposed change or on any other portion of the proposed distribution policy.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Judy Dixon
Consumer Relations Officer
Digital Player Distribution Policy
NLS will give preference in distributing digital talking-book players to veterans first and then to members of the 10-Squared Talking-Book Club (registered patrons who are one hundred years of age or older).
Applicable Document PL 89-522. An Act: To amend the Acts of March 3, 1931, and October 9, 1962, relating to the furnishing of books and other materials to the blind so as to authorize the furnishing of such books and other materials to other handicapped persons.
It is the law that eligible
persons honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the
In the lending of such books,
recordings, reproducers, musical scores, instructional texts, and other
specialized materials, preference shall at all times be given to the needs of
the blind and of the other physically handicapped persons who have been
honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the
It is NLS policy that, after first meeting the needs of eligible veterans, cooperating libraries and machine-lending agencies (MLAs) shall next address the needs of persons belonging to or eligible for the NLS centenarian group, the 10-Squared Talking-Book Club, before meeting the needs of other readers served by the agency. Procedure NLS will assign digital talking-book machines to each MLA in the same way that cassette players are currently assigned. NLS calculates a percentage of national audio readership served by each MLA and applies that percentage to the total number of new machines to be produced under annual contracts. The quantity of machines to be assigned annually is divided by twelve to determine the monthly allotment of machines for each MLA.
It will be several years after the launch of digital talking books until enough digital books are available for every eligible reader. In the interim, MLAs will have to prioritize distribution of the new players. After the needs of veterans and centenarians have been met, MLAs may set their own priorities for early requesters and new patrons. Consulting with its parent library, each MLA can develop its own plan for machine distribution to veterans and centenarians who request digital service. In addition to relying on local records of claims for veterans' or seniors' preference, libraries may want to verify this information through direct communication with borrowers. MLAs may contact each patron identified as a veteran or centenarian to inquire whether they want to receive a digital player. Alternatively, MLAs may publicize the availability of digital players in their newsletters and then provide them to eligible patrons on request. Veterans who indicate that they are not interested in receiving digital players should have their responses noted in their machine files. Veterans who later choose to request digital players should be moved to the waiting list behind other veterans already on the list.
After the needs of veterans and centenarians have been met, it is suggested that MLAs provide DBs to patron groups in the following order:
--Anyone who has requested a digital player or is a known "early adopter" of new technology
--Younger patrons (whether existing or new)
--Other new patrons
--All others
MLAs may modify the above priorities for player distribution if local needs and conditions so dictate.
End of Document