<html class="apple-mail-supports-explicit-dark-mode"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Dear friends.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">As chair of the Resolutions Committee, I want to talk to you
about Resolutions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Resolutions are policy statements of our organization.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Resolutions are voted on first by the resolutions committee and then</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">members will vote on them during general session at the
Nevada state convention.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">The Resolutions Committee does not rewrite resolutions; it
merely discusses them, votes them up or down, and carries them to the floor of
the convention.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Any NFB member may present a resolution to the Resolutions
Committee for its consideration. What resolutions would you like to see this committee
consider?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">The first step is to put your ideas on paper.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Here is a sample of a simple resolution:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">RESOLUTION 2024-17: Regarding Audio-Described Library
Content</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">WHEREAS, the Institute of Museum and Library Services
estimates that two-thirds of all Americans have library cards; and <br>
<br>
WHEREAS, many blind individuals avoid registering for or using their library
cards because they believe books and video content will not be accessible to
them; and <br>
<br>
WHEREAS, an increasing number of public library systems contract with Hoopla
and other third-party providers of streaming or downloadable library content
that do not pass through audio description or other accessible content
information; and </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">WHEREAS, Hoopla has thus far chosen to build its streaming
software incompletely, so the audio description content originally included
with the video content isn\u2019t passed on to blind users, ironically shutting
blind patrons out from content that has already been made accessible; and <br>
<br>
WHEREAS, blind library patrons and allied librarians have been asking Hoopla to
add an option for consuming audio description content for nearly eight years;
and <br>
<br>
WHEREAS, Hoopla has not rolled out this feature and has no estimated timetable
on its development roadmap; and <br>
<br>
WHEREAS, this is out of compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act,
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and many related state laws,
which all generally stand for the concept that blind patrons cannot be excluded
from programs and services of government, including public library systems:
Now, therefore,<br>
<br>
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention assembled
this seventh day of July, 2024, in the City of Orlando, Florida, that this
organization call upon the American Library Association (ALA) and related state
libraries to halt future contracts with Hoopla or other vendors whose software
does not permit inclusion of all accessibility features already present in
streamed and downloaded content; and <br>
<br>
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that Hoopla immediately
enable audio description in its streaming systems in response to the requests
of blind patrons and concerned libraries.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">Please, come and join the Resolutions Committee Meeting, and
help us make a difference.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">All interested parties are invited to participate.</p></div>
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