NLS Factsheets

International Interlibrary Loan

February 1990

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress lends recorded and braille books, music materials in special formats, and specific back issues of recorded and braille magazines to foreign libraries and agencies serving blind and physically handicapped individuals. NLS does not produce textbooks for students nor research materials for professionals, except for the music materials cited below; emphasis is on recreational reading material, mainly fiction and general nonfiction. United States federal law prevents the lending of books or machines directly to non-U.S. citizens living outside the United States. The loan of materials to foreign libraries is limited to titles needed by specific individual readers.

Braille books in the NLS collection are in standard Grade 2 English braille. NLS recorded books are on cassette (Philips cassettes, predominantly 4-track and 15/16 inches per second) and on disc (predominantly 8-1/3 revolutions per minute). Special playback equipment is needed to read these books because commercial equipment does not play at these slow speeds. NLS does not lend playback equipment to non-U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. nor to foreign libraries or agencies.

NLS music materials include instructional recordings and braille and large-print scores and books about music and musicians. The NLS Music Section will provide information about the availability of braille music internationally and will loan those scores not readily available from other sources. All music materials may be requested, except for those recordings purchased for the Music Section and available commercially in the United States.

Materials sent on international interlibrary loan may not be duplicated, because NLS has secured copyright permission with the understanding that reproductions are for the use of U.S. citizens and residents. Requests for books should be directed to the Network Services Section, and requests for music materials should be directed to the Music Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542, U.S.A. Interlibrary loan forms will be supplied upon request. Materials must be returned six weeks from the date of receipt.

Machines are available for purchase by libraries or agencies that serve eligible blind or physically handicapped individuals. For information on obtaining a special cassette player (which does not record), in quantity only, contact: Vice-President of Manufacturing, Telex Communications Inc., 9600 Aldrich Avenue, South Bloomington, MN 55420, U.S.A. For information concerning the personal purchase of a cassette recorder-player or a talking-book disc machine, contact the American Printing House for the Blind, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206, U.S.A.

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Posted on 2004-10-20