I appologize for the off topic posting, but I feel that this is a step back towards the stone age, and thought others would like to know about this turn of events. +_______________________________________________________________________ _______+ Media Release BC government's decision to withdraw audiobook funding a devastating decision for Canadians who are blind: CNIB January 29 * The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) today expressed its deep regret at the BC government's recent decision to stop funding the BC Library Services audio book program. The reason given for the cut was that commercial audiobooks are now available to replace the books recorded in the program. However, the vast majority of commercial audiobooks are abridged, and the few that are full-length are costly. "When it comes to library services, we don't expect sighted people to buy books, or read books that are incomplete," said Jim Sanders, President and CEO of the CNIB. "Why would we expect that of people like myself who are blind or visually impaired?" Only 3-4 per cent of what is published ever makes it into an accessible format, such as an audio book. With such a huge gap in access to information, the loss of any further production in Canada is devastating. The CNIB Library and BC Library Services have been sharing titles for 27 years. In 2001, the BC audio book program provided a quarter of the titles added to the CNIB Library's collection. Many of these titles were Canadian content and not available anywhere else. "Even though I live in Alberta, this hurts me and all other print-disabled Canadians who want original Canadian content in an accessible format," said CNIB client Gerry Chevalier. "I have read many, many audiobooks over the years that were produced by BC Library Services." "More than 3 million Canadians cannot read print because of a disability. This decision marks the last exit of a Canadian government from the creation of general English-language accessible content. It is regrettable, because all other major industrialized nations fund the production of braille and audio books for people who are blind or visually impaired," said Sanders. "Sighted Canadians have the right to books and information through a local library. However, Canadians who are blind do not have that same right." The $280,000 annual price tag for the audio book program amounted to only one hundredth of one per cent of the total cuts the BC government made on Jan 21. Fact Sheet: Access to Information in Canada When it comes to books, culture, and information for people who need alternate formats, there's just not enough out there. The British Columbia government's decision to cut its audiobook program is the most recent setback, but government support in Canada for books for people who are print disabled has been eroding now for decades. Here's a look at the numbers behind the problem... - Percentage of materials published in Canada that make it into an alternate format like an audiobook: 3-4% - Number of Canadians who need alternate format materials because of a print disability (a visual, physical, or learning disability that prevents them from reading print): 3 million, or 10% of the population - Number of audiobooks Canadian publishers produced in 2000: 814 - Estimated number of these books that were full-length (unabridged): less than 5 - Typical retail cost of an unabridged audiobook: $50*$200. - Percentage of new audiobooks (many Canadian content) added to the CNIB Library's collection in 2001 that came from BC Library Services: 25% - Number of print books available through a local public library system in Canada: 1 million and many millions more by inter-library loan - Number of alternate-format books available in the five wealthiest countries in the world: 280,000 - Average number of books read by a public library user each year: 1.5 - Average number of books read by a CNIB Library client each year: 60 - Number of the eight major industrialized nations to fund library services for people who are blind or visually impaired: 7 (Canada is the only exception) - Canadians over age 65 that experience severe vision loss that cannot be corrected with standard eyeglasses: 1 in 9 - Canadians over the age of 80: 1 in 4 * 30 * For more information Julia Morgan Communications Coordinator CNIB Library for the Blind (416) 480-7423 +_______________________________________________________________________ _______+ Steve Dawes PH: (403) 268-5527. Mailto: sdawes at gov.calgary.ab.ca
