[nfbmi-talk] Fw: [Nfbnet-members-list] The National Federation of the Blind and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Partner to Offer More Choice and Access to Print-Disabled Americans

[gkitchen]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Freeh,Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)" 
<JFreeh at nfb.org>
To: <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 10:43 PM
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] The National Federation of the Blind and the 
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Partner to 
Offer More Choice and Access to Print-Disabled Americans


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<?xml:namespace prefix = o
ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org





The National Federation of the Blind and the
National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped Partner to Offer More
Choice and Access to Print-Disabled Americans



Baltimore, Maryland (December 20, 2010):
NFB-NEWSLINE®, a free audible newspaper service
for blind and print-disabled people, and the
National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress
(NLS) today announced the launch of an exciting
new access method, the NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS DTB
Downloader.  This breakthrough access method will
allow subscribers to easily download their
favorite publications to the book cartridges used
in the new Digital Talking Book (DTB) players provided to patrons by NLS.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National
Federation of the Blind (NFB), said:
"NFB-NEWSLINE® has made groundbreaking advances
in the past several years, expanding the number
and variety of publications and access
methods.  The innovative NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS DTB
Downloader is yet another way that this service
is increasing its usability for subscribers.  I
am very pleased that the NFB and NLS have worked
together on this access method for the benefit of
the blind and other print-disabled people."



Gerry Moreno, a blind resident of <?xml:namespace
prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/>North Carolina, said: "I recently received my
new NLS DTB player, and I love downloading books
to read on this device.  Because the player is
portable and has a built-in speaker, I can listen
to my books while doing other tasks around the
house.  I'm excited about the new access method
as I can now use my player to listen to my
favorite magazines and newspapers too."



"The new NLS Digital Talking Book player is now
the standard player being released by NLS and
allows for unprecedented flexibility in the
book-reading experience.  The NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS
DTB Downloader provides NFB-NEWSLINE® subscribers
with a way to listen to their favorite newspapers
and magazines using this player so as to enjoy
the portability and excellent audio output it
offers," said Frank Kurt Cylke, director of the
National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped of the Library of
Congress.  "With this new access method,
subscribers download the content in a file format
called DAISY III to the cartridges that are
inserted into the new NLS digital talking-book
player.  I believe that increasing the value of
these players through the addition of publication
content provided through NFB-NEWSLINE® also
increases the value of NLS to its thousands of patrons across the nation."



NFB-NEWSLINE® allows those who cannot read
conventional newsprint due to a visual or
physical disability to access publications as
well as television and job listings over the
telephone, on the Web, or by download to digital
talking book players or MP3-playing devices.



To learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE®, please visit
<http://www.nfbnewsline.org/>www.nfbnewsline.org.
Those interested in subscribing to the service
may fill out the online application form, write
to
<mailto:nfbnewsline at nfb.org>nfbnewsline at nfb.org,
or call (866) 504-7300.  In order to be eligible
for NFB-NEWSLINE®, an individual must be a US
resident who is legally blind or has a physical
or learning disability that prevents the independent reading of newspapers.





###







About the National Federation of the Blind



With more than 50,000 members, the National
Federation of the Blind is the largest and most
influential membership organization of blind
people in the United States.  The NFB improves
blind people's lives through advocacy, education,
research, technology, and programs encouraging
independence and self-confidence.  It is the
leading force in the blindness field today and
the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004
the NFB opened the National Federation of the
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and
training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.





About the National Library Service for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress



The National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of
Congress, administers the free program that loans
recorded and Braille books and magazines, music
scores in Braille and large print, and specially
designed playback equipment to residents of the
United States who are unable to read or use
standard print materials because of visual or physical impairment.



NLS administers the program nationally while
direct service to eligible individuals and
institutions is the responsibility of cooperating
libraries in the various states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin
Islands.  Service is also extended to eligible
American citizens residing abroad.  More
information about NLS may be found at:
<http://www.loc.gov/nls/>http://www.loc.gov/nls/.










_______________________________________________
Nfbnet-members-list mailing list
Nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org