[NFBWATLK] a book published last week available on BARD

[Les Fitzpatrick]

Yep, I got it this morning I am impressed that they are doing so well and keeping books up to date.

Les Fitzpatrick

Piano Technician
Ham Call Sign: K5FPT

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBWATLK [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marci Carpenter via NFBWATLK
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2018 11:40 AM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List' List
Cc: Marci Carpenter
Subject: [NFBWATLK] a book published last week available on BARD

I found out this morning that “Fire and Fury; Inside the Trump White House” by Michael Wolff is already available in audio format on BARD. This is not a post about the merits of the book or any political issues, but rather about how dramatically the timing of NLS book production has changed. There was a time, not that long ago, when it could take 2 years or more for a Best Seller to be available to us in alternate format. Now, thanks to NLS contracts with publishers such as MacMillan and the increased availability of unabridged commercial audiobooks, we can read books produced very recently. The book I mentioned above was released just last Friday in print! I understand that NLS was flooded with requests for this book. It is a topic of discussion all over the country. I used to feel very frustrated when my friends and colleagues would be discussing a current hot best selling book and I knew I couldn’t read that book until a few years later. Commercially produced unabridged audiobooks have been available for many years, and now we also have access to Kindle books, but for those without the means to purchase these NLS was/is our only option. I am very glad that we now have instant access to books via BARD, and am very thankful for the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to support and encourage NLS in modernizing book production and distribution methods. Now we need Braille books to be available in a timely manner. The NLS pilot program for making braille displays available to patrons is progressing. We should have an update from them at this summer’s national convention if not before.

All of our advocacy efforts do make a difference. Let’s keep it up!

I think I will go and read a book.

Marci
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