[Nfbn-announce] National Federation of the Blind Urges Maryland Libraries to Purchase Accessible E-readers

[NFB of Nebraska Info]

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 Urges Maryland Libraries to Purchase
Accessible E-readers

Baltimore, Maryland (August 24, 2011): The National Federation ofthe
Blind, the nation’s leading advocate for accessible technology,
sentletters today to the Enoch Pratt Free Library and the Howard
County LibrarySystem urging these libraries to purchase e-book readers
that can be used bythe blind.  The libraries are currently lending
Barnes & Noble’sNOOK device to patrons, but this device—unlike some
other e-book readersand platforms—cannot be used by the blind or
others who cannot readprint.  E-readers can be made accessible through
text-to-speech technologyand/or the ability to output content to
external Braille displays, but the NOOKdoes not have any of these
features.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation ofthe Blind,
said: “E-books and the devices with which to read them present a
historic opportunity for blind readers to have access to the same
books atthe same time as sighted readers, but only if publishers and
manufacturersdesign their products in a way that allows access by
blind and print-disabledreaders.  It is disturbing that institutions
committed to free access toinformation for everyone would purchase
e-readers that cannot be used by all oftheir patrons when technology
that would serve everyone, including those whoare blind or
print-disabled, is readily available.  We hope that our
Marylandlibraries will honor their legal and moral obligation to
provide equal accessto their blind patrons and send a clear message to
publishers and technologyvendors that access to information and
literature is critical for allAmericans, not just those who can read
print.”

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About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation ofthe 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 andself-confidence.  It is the leading force
in the blindness field today andthe voice of the nation's blind.  In
January 2004 the NFB opened theNational Federation of the Blind
Jernigan Institute, the first research andtraining center in the
United States for the blind led by the blind.