[bookshare-discuss] After Serving the Nation, Veterans Are Now Being Served

"Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx> · Thu, 9 Dec 2004 13:18:58 -0500


PR Newswire
Tuesday, November 30, 2004

After Serving the Nation, Veterans Are Now Being Served

  National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped supports
    Veterans' reading needs through priority lending of reading materials

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS/BPH) joins the nation in commemorating
its veterans on this 63rd anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor. NLS is
especially dedicated to serving the reading needs of the nation's blind and
physically handicapped veterans, who account for some of its most avid
patrons.
    Under the Pratt-Smoot Act (1931), NLS provides priority lending of its
materials to honorably discharged blind and physically handicapped military
personnel. This free service loans members books and magazines in audio,
braille, and large print as well as music scores in audio and braille 
through
its network of regional and subregional libraries. NLS considers its service
to veterans to be one of its most important duties.
    "Our nation's veterans served us well, now it's time for us to serve 
them
well. Helping America's veterans keep reading in their lives is not only a
core part of our founding mandate," said Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director, "It
is our chance to serve those who have so bravely served our country."
    For veterans' reading pleasure, NLS maintains an extensive collection of
military history and biographies. Ranging from classics to current
bestsellers, the collection includes Andrew Roberts' Napoleon & Wellington:
The Battle of Waterloo-and the Great Commanders Who Fought It (2001), Beyond
Glory: Medal of Honor Heroes in their Own Words (2003) by Larry Smith, and
America's Splendid Little Wars: A Short History of U.S. Military Engagements
1975-2000 (2003) by Peter Huchthausen. Bestsellers currently in production
include American Soldier (2004) by Tommy Franks and His Excellency: George
Washington (2004) by Joseph J. Ellis.
    Irvin Schloss, a veteran blinded during World War II and founding member
of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), is a long-time supporter of the
Talking Books program and invites more veterans to enroll. "I encourage
visually impaired and physically handicapped veterans of any age to look 
into
this free service which brings reading directly into their homes," said
Schloss. "It is a benefit far too many of us don't take advantage of."
    Anyone who is a resident of the United States or an American citizen
living abroad and who cannot read or use standard print materials because of 
a
visual or physical impairment may qualify to participate in the Talking 
Books
program. Applications may be requested from the regional or subregional
library closest to an individual interested in joining the program. A
searchable list of locations is available at http://www.loc.gov/nls, or by
calling this toll free number: 1-800-424-9100.
    NLS has had a long-standing, trusted relationship with veterans. 
Dedicated
to delivering the best service possible, NLS has actively engaged veterans 
in
the development of NLS services. In fact, veteran input was the driving 
force
behind the extension of eligibility to physically disabled veterans in 1966,
as well as the decision to record light recreation reading and vocational
materials to satisfy the tastes of younger blinded WWII vets.

SOURCE Library of Congress
Web Site: http://www.loc.gov/nls


http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/11-30-2004/0002555206&EDATE=


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