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.
42.001 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
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.
42.001 APPLICATION & AWARD PROCESS:
Preapplication Coordination: This program is exclude from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
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 86 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.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals: Not applicable.
Examples of Funded Projects: Not applicable.
Range & Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable.
42.001 RELATED PROGRAMS:
42.001 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In fiscal year 1995, 776,590 blind and
physically handicapped readers were served by regional and subregional
libraries throughout the United States with a collection of 242,000
titles in recorded and braille formats. Circulation of volumes and
containers was 22,911,000. Estimated readership: fiscal year 1995,
776,590; fiscal year 1996, 782,000; and fiscal year 1997, 787,000.
Estimated circulation: fiscal year 1995, 22,911,000; fiscal year 1996,
23,000,000, and fiscal year 1997, 23,100,000.
42.001 FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:
Federal Agency:
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Type of Assistance:
Use of Property, Facilities, and Equipment.
Obligations:
(13% salaries and expenses; 87%
equipment and support) FY 95 $46,120,000; FY 96 est $44,951,000; and FY
97 est $46,057,000.
Budget Account Number:
03-0141-0-1-503.
Authorization:
Public Laws 71-787, 87-765, and 89-522, 2 U.S.C.
135a, 135a-1, 135b.
Regulations, Guidelines, & Literature:
"Reading is for
Everyone." Application form, list of regional and subregional
libraries, 36 CFR (Chapter VII).
Regional or Local Office:
Fifty-seven regional and 86 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. Phone: (202)
707-5100.
42.001 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula & Matching Requirements:
Not applicable.
Length & Time Phasing of Assistance:
Not applicable.
Uses & Use Restrictions:
The program provides books on
cassette, disc, in braille, and talking book and recorded cassette
machines. There are 57 regional libraries and 86 subregional libraries
in the United States with a collection of about 242,000 titles
in recorded and braille formats and 30,000 music scores, textbooks, and
instructional materials in braille, large type and recorded formats.
42.001 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
None.
Audits:
None.
Records:
None.
What now?