Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

 

To provide library service to the blind and physically handicapped residents of the United States and its Territories, and to American citizens living abroad.

Deleted 04/02/2020 (Archived.) 42.001 Agency: Library of Congress Use of Property, Facilities, and Equipment. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In FY 06, 811,015 blind and physically handicapped readers were served by regional and subregional libraries throughout the United States with a collection of 423,000 titles in recorded and braille formats. Circulation of volumes and containers was 26,296,198. Actual readership: FY 06, 793,891. Estimated readership: FY 07, 793,891; and FY 08, 811,015. Actual circulation: FY 06, 24,677,023. Estimated circulation: FY 07, 24,677,023; and FY 08, 26,296,198. Public Laws 71-787, 87-765, and 89-522, 2 U.S.C. 135a, 135a-1, 135b. An applicant must provide a certificate of his inability to read or manipulate standard printed material from a competent authority, defined in cases of blindness, visual disability, or physical limitations, as doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, ophthalmologists, optometrists, registered nurses, therapists, professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or welfare agencies. In the absence of any of these, certification may be made by professional librarians or by any person whose competence under specific circumstances is acceptable to the Library of Congress. In the case of reading disability from organic dysfunction, competent authority is defined as doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathy who may consult with colleagues in associated disciplines. Blind and physically handicapped residents of the United States and its Territories, and American citizens living abroad will benefit. An applicant must provide a certificate of his inability to read or manipulate standard printed material from a competent authority, defined in cases of blindness, visual disability, or physical limitations, as doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, ophthalmologists, optometrists, registered nurses, therapists, professional staff of hospitals, institutions and public or welfare agencies. In the absence of any of these, certification may be made by professional librarians or by any person whose competence under specific circumstances is acceptable to the Library of Congress. In the case of reading disability from organic dysfunction, competent authority is defined as doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathy who may consult with colleagues in associated disciplines. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application Procedure: Applications can be made to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Washington, DC, or the 57 regional libraries, or 75 subregional libraries. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A 110. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. The program provides books on cassette, disc, in Braille, and talking book and recorded cassette machines. There are 57 regional libraries and 75 subregional libraries in the United States with access to approximately 423,000 titles in recorded and braille formats and more than 22,000 music scores, textbooks, and instructional materials in braille, large type and recorded formats worldwide. None. None. None. Not applicable. Not applicable. Regional or Local Office: Fifty seven regional and 75 subregional libraries in the United States. Each State has an agency distributing talking book machines. Local public libraries have information available. Otherwise contact the headquarters office listed in this program. Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, 1291 Taylor Street, NW., Washington DC 20542. Telephone: (202) 707-5100. E-mail: nls@loc.gov. http://www.loc.gov/nls. 03-0141-0-1-503. Obligations: (20 percent salaries and expenses; 80 percent equipment and support) FY 07 $38,039,736; FY 08 est $75,623,000; and FY 09 est not reported. Not applicable. "Reading is for Everyone." Application form, list of regional and subregional libraries, 36 CFR (Chapter VII). Not applicable.