[bksvol-discuss] Reading Habits of Blind and Physically Handicapped DefyNational Trend

"Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx> · Thu, 07 Jul 2005 19:04:57 -0400

Some of you may find this quite interesting.

PR Newswire
Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Reading Habits of Blind and Physically Handicapped Defy National Trend

WASHINGTON, July 5 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, when Americans catch up on 
their favorite reading, they will also be enjoying a beloved American 
pastime that research shows is waning. According to a study by the National 
Endowment for the Arts, Americans of every age are consistently reading 
less. The study revealed an overall decline of 10 percent in literary 
reading between 1982 and 2002, totaling an overall loss of 20 million 
readers. Conversely, participants in the Talking Book program, a free 
library service provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and 
Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, read more than the 
general population by a significant amount. The average NLS patron, an 
individual with a visual or physical impairment, reads seven times more than 
most sighted readers, or approximately 35 books a year.

These numbers not only highlight the braille and audiobook appetites of NLS 
patrons, but also speak to the ease in obtaining ample reading material 
through the Talking Book program. "NLS patrons are extremely avid readers," 
says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "NLS is dedicated to fulfilling their 
reading needs with the highest-quality collection so they can remain engaged 
in literature and connected to the world around them."

While NLS patrons have higher book consumption rates, their literary tastes 
do not differ from those of sighted readers, according to Jim Herndon, head 
of the NLS Collection Development Section. NLS librarians strive to build a 
well-rounded collection that meets readers' diverse informational and 
recreational needs. "Selecting titles for the collection is a rigorous 
process. NLS librarians consult book reviews and bestseller lists, monitor 
publishing trends, and assess patron requests before choosing titles," says 
Herndon. "Titles are selected based on such criteria as literary merit and 
popularity."

With more than 400,000 titles, the Talking Book catalog is wide-ranging. 
Among its unabridged offerings are bestsellers, classics, biographies, 
romances, mysteries, and westerns. Patrons particularly favor top sellers 
like Nicholas Sparks's True Believer, Danielle Steele's Impossible, and 
Malcolm Gladwell's Blink.

NLS libraries offer something for every bookworm, from kids to seniors. 
Summer reading programs and book clubs nationwide are designed to engage and 
reward readers. "Superheroes-Powered by Books," a program hosted by one 
network library, rewards blind and physically handicapped children who use 
their reading powers to fight summer boredom. Kids can report on the audio 
or braille books they have read in return for a range of superhero-themed 
prizes -- from masks to action figures. Additional reader appreciation 
programs include the 102 Talking Book Club, which honors centenarians for 
their lifelong devotion to reading.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), 
Library of Congress, administers the Talking Book program, a free library 
service available to eligible individuals of any age living in the U.S. or 
American citizens living abroad whose low vision, blindness, or physical 
handicap makes reading a standard printed page difficult. Through its 
national network of regional libraries, NLS mails books and magazines on 
cassette and in braille, as well as audio equipment, directly to enrollees 
at no cost. Further information on eligibility requirements and enrollment 
procedures for the program is available at http://www.loc.gov/nls or 
1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323). Library of Congress

Web site: http://www.loc.gov/nls

http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=24066&cat=PR+Newswire&more=/pr_newswire/

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