<html>
<body>
<br>
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
CONTACT:<br>
</b>Chris Danielsen,<br>
Director of Public Relations<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
<b><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
<div align="center"><h1><b>National Federation of the Blind Settles
Complaint <br>
Against Sacramento Public Library<br><br>
<br>
</b></h1><h2><b>Library Will Deploy Accessible E-readers to Blind and
Print-disabled Patrons<br><br>
</i></b></h2></div>
<b>Baltimore, Maryland (August 30, 2012):</b>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org">The National Federation of the Blind</a>
(NFB), the nation’s leading advocate for access to information by the
blind and other people with print disabilities, announced today that a
complaint filed by the NFB with the United States Department of Justice,
Office of Civil Rights, against the Sacramento Public Library Authority
has been resolved. The NFB filed the complaint last fall because
the library was lending NOOK e-readers preloaded with e-books to its
patrons. Unlike some other e-reading devices, the NOOK, which is
manufactured and sold by Barnes & Noble,
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CNQCrowbUI&list=UU2VqDaqQP_m2JeznJm2yz0w&index=3&feature=plcp">
cannot be used by blind and print-disabled readers</a> because it does
not have text-to-speech capability or the ability to send content to a
Braille display. <br>
<br>
The goal of the agreement is “to provide a library e-reader circulation
program where library patrons, with and without vision disabilities, are
able to access and use the same technology to the maximum extent
possible.” Under the agreement, the library will “acquire only
technology that does not exclude persons who are blind or others” who
need accessibility features such as text-to-speech or Braille output and
the ability to access the device’s menus and controls
independently. The library’s commitment is also in line with a
resolution passed in 2009 by the American Library Association entitled
<b>Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources, which urged “</b>all
libraries purchasing, procuring, using, maintaining and contracting<i>
</i>for electronic resources and services” to “require vendors to
guarantee that products and services comply with Section 508 regulations,
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, or other applicable
accessibility standards and guidelines.”<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/marc-maurer-bio">Dr. Marc Maurer</a>,
President of the <a href="http://www.twitter.com/NFB_voice">National
Federation of the Blind</a>, said: “We are pleased that the Sacramento
Public Library Authority is showing leadership by ensuring that the
e-books that it lends will be accessible to all of its patrons, including
those who are blind or have print disabilities. E-books represent
an opportunity for the blind to have access to the same books at the same
time as our sighted friends, family, and colleagues, but sadly most
e-book vendors have not designed their technology so that it can be used
by the blind, despite the fact that it is not difficult or costly to do
so. Libraries, schools, and other institutions have a legal and
moral obligation to make sure that the content they deploy is accessible
to the blind and print-disabled. If they meet these obligations by
demanding accessibility from their e-book vendors, then accessibility
will happen.”<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<div align="center"><b>###<br><br>
</div>
<br><br>
About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
</b>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. <br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
</body>
</html>