Concerning the closing of a Sub-Regional Talking Book Library

WHEREAS

The blind are full citizens of the State of Florida, paying taxes, voting in elections and enjoying all the benefits of citizenship including full access to library services; and

WHEREAS

In 1950 the Library of Congress authorized the establishment of the Florida Braille and Talking Book Library in Daytona Beach, Florida, and since has established 11 sub-regional Talking Book Libraries throughout the state in order to make library services available to the blind; and

WHEREAS

These Sub-Regional Libraries have become an interval part of the system to make services available to blind citizens in their areas by making services locally available and by sharing the cost of providing these services; and

WHEREAS

Throughout the State of Florida these Sub-Regional libraries have been expanding services within most participating libraries; and

WHEREAS

The Orange County Library system has made clear the intent to close the Sub-Regional Braille and Talking Book services within their library system meaning to pass the cost of bearing this service back on to the already burdened shoulders of other libraries within the state; and

WHEREAS

Elimination of this Sub-Regional Braille and Talking Book Library will leave Orange County blind people with no local library talking book services; and

WHEREAS

Should  other library systems follow the cost cutting lead of the Orange County Library System the entire Sub-Regional Braille and Talking Book Library system would be eliminated: NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED IN CONVENTION ASSEMBLED IN JACKSONVILLE THIS 31 DAY  OF MAY, 2004 THAT The National Federation of the Blind of Florida deplores and condemns the Orange County Library System for its' intent to eliminate its' Sub-Regional Braille and Talking Book Library ; and

The National Federation of the Blind of Florida will not stand for anything less than a fully participating system , up to par with it's counterparts around the state; and

Should the Orange County Library System continue in efforts to close its' Sub-Regional Library to the detriment of all blind Floridians the National Federation of the Blind of Florida will demonstrate it's resolve.