[Diabetes-talk] Fw: [Writers-chat] National Federation of the Blind Endorses Google Books Settlement Before Congress

[cheryl echevarria]

Cheryl Echevarria


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Freeh,Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)" 
<JFreeh at nfb.org>
To: <david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 7:07 PM
Subject: [Writers-chat] National Federation of the Blind Endorses Google 
Books Settlement Before Congress


>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
>
> CONTACT:
>
> Chris Danielsen
>
> Director of Public Relations
>
> National Federation of the Blind
>
> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>
> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>
> cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
>
> National Federation of the Blind
> Endorses Google Books Settlement Before Congress
>
>
>
>
> Urges Justice Department to Support Settlement
>
>
>
> Washington, DC (September 10, 2009): The National Federation of the
> Blind, the nation's oldest and largest organization of blind people
> and the leading advocate for access by the blind to digital
> information, testified before the House Judiciary Committee today
> that the proposed settlement between Google and authors and
> publishers regarding the Google Books project should be
> approved.  The Google Books settlement will make millions of titles
> available to the blind and other Americans with print disabilities,
> providing more access to the printed word than the blind have had in
> all of human history.
>
>
>
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
> told the House Judiciary Committee: "The Google settlement is, for
> the blind and many others, the next step in the democratization of
> knowledge.  That process began with the introduction of the printing
> press and then, for the blind, with the invention of Braille.  Now
> technology is available that transcends the traditional limitations
> of both print and Braille, promising to make millions of titles
> available to the blind in Braille or any other format of our
> choice.  The narrow business interests of Google's competitors must
> not be allowed to block Americans who cannot read print from all of
> the opportunities that greater access to written knowledge will make
> available to them.  It is time for the doors of the world's great
> libraries to be opened and welcome to everyone."
>
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind also urged the United States
> Department of Justice, which is reviewing the terms of the
> settlement, to support the agreement.
>
>
>
> "The Google Books settlement is a major step forward in advancing the
> civil rights of blind Americans and others who cannot read print
> because it substantially increases our opportunities for education
> and employment," President Maurer said.  "The Justice Department,
> which is tasked with protecting the civil rights of all Americans,
> should respect the agreement of the parties to the settlement and
> allow its access provisions to be fully implemented.  In doing so,
> the government will send a strong message that it values the
> participation of the blind in society and believes that we should
> have access to all of the information to which our sighted friends
> and colleagues have access."
>
>
>
> ###
> > _______________________________________________
> Writers-chat mailing list
> Writers-chat at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/writers-chat_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Writers-chat:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/writers-chat_nfbnet.org/cherylandmaxx%40hotmail.com