Hi Terry,
Here is a message sent to me concerning web braille.
Virgie and Hoshi
Hello all,
FYI!!! Very important, please read.
If you haven't heard yet, you will all probably be hearing from your patrons
very
soon about the shutdown of Web-Braille. Any patron logging into the
Web-Braille site
as of
5-10-06
is receiving the following message:
NLS: That All May Read
Web-braille notice
Because of technical and security difficulties, Web-Braille will be
unavailable in
the near future. NLS regrets the inconvenience and will provide further
information
as soon as possible.
For more information contact:
Judith Dixon
Consumer Relations Officer
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On May 11, 2006
, the following Operations Alert was issued from NLS:
NLS Operations Alert
DATE : May 11, 2006
TO : Network Libraries
FROM : Network Division
Subject : Web-Braille
Because of technical and security difficulties, Web-Braille will be
unavailable in
the near future. NLS regrets the inconvenience and will provide further
information
as soon as possible.
For more information contact:
Judith Dixon
Consumer Relations Officer
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Here is the current NLS reply coming from Judy Dixon in response to patron
inquiries:
"Web-Braille has been removed from public access temporarily. We apologize
for the
inconvenience that the removal of Web-Braille has caused. At this time, it
is not
known how long Web-Braille will be unavailable but we have every hope that
the curtailment
of the service will be short-lived. We are making every effort to resume
this service
as soon as possible.
In the interim, all NLS-produced books and magazines are available in
hardcopy braille
from your braille-lending library. If the status of Web-Braille changes,
information
will be posted on the main Web-Braille page."
In the 8-plus years that Web-Braille has been operational, to my knowledge,
there
has never been a major technical issue. It has been run with the highest
degree of
efficiency, and network libraries have been setting up eligible readers
without a
problem. Now, suddenly, there is a concern about the security of
Web-Braille. Why
now is NLS worried about the ability to back translate BRF files, it's
always been
possible, but who would do it. Back translation is tedious and subject to
many reverse
translation errors. In all the years of Web-Braille operation, I have never
heard
of a violation of the lending terms.
Braille readers love Web-Braille and want to preserve and grow it, not shut
it down
because of abuse. This precipitous action strikes me as too harsh a response
too
late. There is no problem with Web-Braille today, there wasn't one
yesterday, and
instead of removing it completely, let NLS work to incorporate Web-Braille
into the
digital rights management scheme of the new digital talking books for the
future.
Don't penalize all Web-Braille users -- braille readers of all ages using
braille
aware devices such as BrailleNotes, Braille Senses, Braille 'n Speaks, and
Packmates;
deafblind patrons who have such limited options for reading materials, and
classroom
teachers embossing materials for students, just to name a few. Don't make
just one
more protection scheme for patrons to cope with, it's getting harder and
harder to
manage whether or not all of the incription keys are on all of the devices
that people
use today. The burden of access shouldn't be placed on the borrower, if they
have
computer access and a Braille aware device, that should be sufficient to
allow them
access to Web-Braille.
Without Web-Braille, network libraries are going to see a significant
increase in
their costs for handling and processing braille materials, and those
libraries paying
for braille circulation services will pay more for hardcopy braille
circulations
that would have previously been Web-Braille transactions.
I urge all of you to contact Frank Kurt Cylke at NLS ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and
express your
extreme disappointment at this action, and urge the immediate reinstatement
of Web-Braille
for all of our patrons who rely on it every day. This service is vital and
must be
restored to full functionality.
_______________________________________________
AERNet mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet
Sharon Fridley
Program Consultant
Information and Referral Service for the Blind
West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services
P. O. Box 50890
State Capitol Complex
Charleston, WV 25305-0890
Phone: (800) 642-3021
Fax: (304) 766-4690
E-Mail:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Powers, Terry (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 10:05 AM
Subject: RE: [BrailleNote] reading books
Ryan;
What are they and or where did you find them on the site?
TTerry Powers
-----Original Message-----
From: ryan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 6:54 PM
To: Braillenote List
Subject: RE: [BrailleNote] reading books
Did you know that there's several websites on humanware's webpage that you
can download books from, and read them right off of your braillenote if you;
don't want to call your liburary, or if you really want a poticular book,
but it's checked out to someone.
----- Original Message -----
From: kathleen spear <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Braillenote List <[email protected]
Date: Thu, 11 May 2006 15:35:15 -0700
Subject: RE: [BrailleNote] reading books
Hi Listers,
Brian is right . Plus, I'vehad to wait for as long as a year for
a hard-copy braille book. (The Library I use says they only get
one copy!)
KC
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