Latest News about the NLS Digital Talking Book Project Funding SituationHere's the latest news about the NLS digital talking book project funding situation... (see the AbilityMaine article Blind Americans Urge Congress to Restore Funds for more in depth). The House committee approved only $12.5 million of the originally requested $19.1 million dollars. As the appropriation moved to the Senate next, here's what happened according to Michael G. Gunde, Chief Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services in Florida. "Based on the reports that I received from our Library Program Administrator, Dr. Jane Karp (who attended the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting), and others working on our behalf in Washington, they voted to approve $12.5 million, which unfortunately matches the funding level approved by the House. This is not good because it makes it much less likely that the amount for FY 08 can be changed now, although anything is possible. We do have some supporters in the House who are still working to amend their level upwards before this session is over, but as of right now this doesn't seem likely, since the supporters for the full funding are mostly members of the minority party. The pressure to increase the funding will be much stronger next year, though, since the waiting list for the digital talking book machines will then be six years long. Since the Congress is now taking the pay-as-you-go rules more seriously, it is more likely next year that the needed funds will be provided by transferring them from LSTA or IMLS[other Library of Congress program] funding, which we had hoped to avoid. Thanks to everyone for their help with this." MIKE Michael G. Gunde, Chief 062907 |