[Greater-baltimore] (no subject)

[Danielsen, Chris]

Dear Fellow Federationists:
 
As many of you know, last fall a settlement was announced among Google,
authors, and publishers regarding the Google Books project.  This
project is scanning the volumes in many great university libraries and
making them available to the public. The settlement stipulates that this
content must be made accessible to the blind and others with print
disabilities. This means that the settlement will make millions of books
available to blind people for electronic download, purchase, or browsing
at libraries through accessible computer terminals.  A federal court is
considering whether to approve the settlement.  Unfortunately, some of
Google's competitors in the e-book business and other parties don't want
the settlement to be approved.  Some believe that the United States
Justice Department may oppose the settlement in court, and Congress is
also investigating the matter.
 
The House Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on the Google
settlement and its implications on Thursday, September 10, at 10:00
a.m., in room 2141 Rayburn House Office Building, in Washington.  The
National Federation of the Blind has not been invited to give oral
testimony at the hearing, but we are submitting written testimony and
plan to have a presence at the hearing to show our support for the
settlement.  Vans will leave the National Center for the Blind for
Washington at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday morning.  If you would like to join
us in making our support for the Google settlement known, please contact
Mrs. Maurer by calling 410-659-9314, extension 2272, or e-mail her at
pmaurer at nfb.org.  Please note: Only three seats in the hearing room have
been specifically reserved for the National Federation of the Blind.
There may be other seats available but, depending on how many of us show
up, some may have to stand in the aisles or outside the hearing room.
The point is that all of us will be seen with our white canes or guide
dogs, and the more participants we have--sitting or standing--the
greater the impression we will make.  The members of the Judiciary
Committee need to know that we support the settlement, and our presence
will enhance the chances that our concerns will be discussed in the
hearing.  
 
If you have any questions about the settlement or the details of the
hearing, please let me know.  Thank you for your attention to this
important matter.
 
Sincerely:
 
Chris Danielsen, Greater Baltimore Chapter President