by Bert Williams

 The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) is in the process of awarding contracts for the various pieces of the digital system that will replace audiocassette tapes in its lending library. According to the organization’s newsletter, NLS Flash, the contract for production of the digital player will be awarded by the end of this year. This will be followed by a round of pre-launch testing involving blind readers from eight regional libraries across the United States using five thousand players. Mass production is slated to begin three months after the testing phase has been completed.

 The contract for production of the cartridge to be used in the player is also being prepared. Though the cartridge’s exterior dimensions and functional requirements have been determined, specifics of internal circuitry and software will be specified by the selected manufacturer. Once a prototype has been produced, a testing process will be used to evaluate the cartridges as well. Full production of the cartridges is slated to begin in the spring of 2008.

 Connected magazine’s publisher, Christian Record Services for the Blind, is currently converting to digital files all analog masters of its library books in preparation for the changeover from audiocassette tapes to digital cartridges. When the NLS begins to distribute players widely to blind readers, CRSB will begin making its lending library books available on the new digital cartridges.

 “A lot of care went into designing a cartridge that would be fully accessible to patrons,” according to the August/September 2007 issue of NLS Flash. “The cartridge was designed to be easily inserted into the player, especially for readers with reduced dexterity. It has beveled edges as well as a large finger hole in the corner which will make it easier to grip and load into the player. Its wedge design allows it to be inserted into the player in only one direction. . . The label includes both Braille and large print characters.”

 The new system promises to deliver crisper, clearer sound quality and improved navigation features. Users will be able to switch immediately from chapter to chapter, and will be able to mark their place in a book electronically.  Most books will fit on one digital cartridge rather than on multiple audiocassette tapes.

 The digital cartridge, about the height and width of a credit card, though thicker, will have no moving parts and no tape to break or tangle. Reliability and ease of use will be considerably enhanced compared to the old audiocassette system.

 The new digital system will also allow patrons to download books onto their personal computers from NLS and CRSB libraries, as well as from other libraries for the visually handicapped that have converted to the digital system.

 According to NLS Flash, with the new digital system “patrons will ultimately get more out of the talking-book program than ever before.”

 For more information about the NLS digital player and cartridge, visit:
http://www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan/playerdescription.html.

 For more information about the strategic plan of the NLS to implement the digital system, visit: http://www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan/businessplan2006.html.

 For more information about the CRSB lending library, visit: http://services.christianrecord.org/library/.

Bert Williams is editorial director of Christian Record Services for the Blind and editor of Connected magazine.