Re: Braille copyright violations

I no longer work at the state library agency, but when I did: it housed the state's Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped-- which is an agent of the Library of Congress. To my knowledge the LBPH never had a request denied when it asked to reproduce a work in Braille or on tape. Many publishers give LC permission to reproduce all their works. Most give permission if you ask. Newly-contacted publishers have more concern about taping books, but the LC technology uses a very, very slow speed that is not the same as that on retail taper players. The tapes have to be played on the special equipment provided for the blind and physically handicapped.

My suggestion--if you want to reproduce a work, call the publisher. Also, don't forget to check with LC and the regional libraries for the blind--many standard works (esp. textbooks for K-12) may already be available.

Sue Medina
Director
Network of Alabama Academic Libraries
<achsom01[_at_]asnmail.asc.edu> Received on Thu Oct 31 1996 - 18:59:23 GMT