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Funding and governance of library and information services for visually impaired people: international case studies

Part2:Country studies

USA

Special projects

Digitisation

NLS

The NLS digitisation programme begins in 2007, and is expected to be completed in 2012. NLS has drawn up a strategic plan to make the transition, following extensive piloting with users. They are particularly concerned to assist elderly/technophobic clients who may be reluctant to change.

As noted above,the NLS in the USA provides Web Braille files of books, magazines and music, which can be read online or downloaded for use offline or with Braille embossers etc. With the transition to digital talking books from 2007 onwards, NLS will operate a dual system of sending and receiving requested titles on Flash memory devices (one book, one object) by post and allowing download of books direct, both to end users and to the NLS network libraries themselves who can download any titles they have not been supplied with (namely the retrospective digitised collection of titles) so that they can make copies. This is to cater both for early adopters who want to be able to access material directly, and those who for financial, technical or other reasons, prefer to continue to receive physical copies.

RFB&D

RFB&D is encouraging all members to go digital. Beginning July 2006, RFB&D will no longer offer cassette players or analog (cassette) installments. Beginning in July 2007, they will offer audiobooks only on CD.

RFB&D’s AudioPlus® digitally recorded textbooks are stored on CDs, which hold more than 40 hours each of recorded materials. In order to play RFB&D digitally recorded textbooks, you will need to use specially adapted CD players or software. RFB&D offers a complete line of players, software and accessories for nonprofit sale.

There has been some adverse comment in email forums on the fact that in order to play RFB&D files on players not purchased from RFB&D, users have to purchase a software User authorisation key (UAK) for $20 from RFB&D and send the player to RFB&D for UAK installation.

Education

School and university materials provision have both seen special initiatives since 2000:

The AFB Textbooks and Instructional Materials Solutions Forum addresses one of the most serious issues affecting the education of students with visual impairments today. Despite everyone’s best efforts and advancements in technology, many visually impaired students do not receive textbooks and other instructional materials in braille, large print, audio or other needed special media at the same time as their sighted classmates.

The AFB Solutions Forum is a collaborative national effort represented by agencies and organizations involved in the production and distribution of textbooks and instructional materials. Textbook publishers, producers of specialized media, assistive technology specialists, educators, Instructional Materials Resource Centers, parents, consumers, and others are examining the multifaceted process of producing and delivering educational materials in accessible media to students who are blind or visually impaired. The AFB Solutions Forum is a direct result of issues identified in Goal #7 of the National Agenda for the Education of Children and Youths with Visual Impairments, Including those with Multiple Disabilities.

The goal of the AFB Solutions Forum is to develop a coordinated action plan for assuring equality of access to instructional materials for students who are blind or visually impaired. Five work groups have taken the initiative to improve the delivery of textbooks in the appropriate media. Information posted on the AFB Solutions Forum Web page of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI ) Website highlights the activities of the following five work groups: Electronic Files, Legislation, Production, Training and Other Needs, and Communication and Collaboration.

The AFB Solutions Forum will address the:

• Lack of standardization of electronic file formats provided by textbook publishers.
• Inaccessibility of multimedia textbooks, especially those delivered via the Internet and CD-ROM.
• Variation in state textbook regulations regarding accessible instructional materials.
• Expense of producing specialized materials and lack of fiscal incentives to develop new technologies.
• Shortage of qualified braille transcribers and production resources.
• Barriers to communication and collaboration, including duplication of efforts.