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| 42.001 BOOKS FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| LIBRARY OF CONGRESS |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Public Laws 71-787, 87-765, and 89-522, 2 U.S.C. 135a, 135a-1, 135b. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To provide library service to the blind and physically handicapped residents of the United States and its Territories, and to American citizens living abroad. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Use of Property, Facilities, and Equipment. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| The program provides books on cassette, disc, in Braille, and talking book and recorded cassette machines. There are 57 regional libraries and 75 subregional libraries in the United States with access to approximately 423,000 titles in recorded and braille formats and more than 22,000 music scores, textbooks, and instructional materials in braille, large type and recorded formats worldwide. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| An applicant must provide a certificate of his inability to read or manipulate standard printed material from a competent authority, defined in cases of blindness, visual disability, or physical limitations, as doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, ophthalmologists, optometrists, registered nurses, therapists, professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or welfare agencies. In the absence of any of these, certification may be made by professional librarians or by any person whose competence under specific circumstances is acceptable to the Library of Congress. In the case of reading disability from organic dysfunction, competent authority is defined as doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathy who may consult with colleagues in associated disciplines. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Blind and physically handicapped residents of the United States and its Territories, and American citizens living abroad will benefit. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| An applicant must provide a certificate of his inability to read or manipulate standard printed material from a competent authority, defined in cases of blindness, visual disability, or physical limitations, as doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, ophthalmologists, optometrists, registered nurses, therapists, professional staff of hospitals, institutions and public or welfare agencies. In the absence of any of these, certification may be made by professional librarians or by any person whose competence under specific circumstances is acceptable to the Library of Congress. In the case of reading disability from organic dysfunction, competent authority is defined as doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathy who may consult with colleagues in associated disciplines. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| Application Procedure: Applications can be made to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Washington, DC, or the 57 regional libraries, or 75 subregional libraries. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A 110. |
| Award Procedure |
| Not applicable. |
| Deadlines |
| Not applicable. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Not applicable. |
| Appeals |
| Not applicable. |
| Renewals |
| Not applicable. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| Not applicable. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Not applicable. |
| Reports |
| None. |
| Audits |
| None. |
| Records |
| None. |
| Account Identification |
| 03-0141-0-1-503. |
| Obligations |
| Obligations: (20 percent salaries and expenses; 80 percent equipment and support) FY 06 $54,518,000; FY 07 $38,039,736; and FY 08 est $75,623,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| Not applicable. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In FY 06, 811,015 blind and physically handicapped readers were served by regional and subregional libraries throughout the United States with a collection of 423,000 titles in recorded and braille formats. Circulation of volumes and containers was 26,296,198. Actual readership: FY 06, 793,891. Estimated readership: FY 07, 793,891; and FY 08, 811,015. Actual circulation: FY 06, 24,677,023. Estimated circulation: FY 07, 24,677,023; and FY 08, 26,296,198. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| "Reading is for Everyone." Application form, list of regional and subregional libraries, 36 CFR (Chapter VII). |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Regional or Local Office: Fifty seven regional and 75 subregional libraries in the United States. Each State has an agency distributing talking book machines. Local public libraries have information available. Otherwise contact the headquarters office listed in this program. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, 1291 Taylor Street, NW., Washington DC 20542. Telephone: (202) 707-5100. E-mail: nls@loc.gov. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.loc.gov/nls |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Not applicable. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Not applicable. |
|
General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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