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Home > About Us > Laws > PL 89-522
To amend the Acts of March 3, 1931, and October 9, 1962, relating to the furnishing of books and other materials to the blind so as to authorize the furnishing of such books and other materials to other handicapped persons.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the Act entitled "An Act to provide books for the adult blind", approved March 3, 1931, as amended (2 U.S.C. 135a, 135b), is amended to read as follows: "That there is authorized to be appropriated annually to the Library of Congress, in addition to appropriations otherwise made to said Library, such sums for expenditure under the direction of the Librarian of Congress as may be necessary to provide books published either in raised characters, on sound-reproduction recordings or in any other form, and for purchase, maintenance, and replacement of reproducers for such sound-reproduction recordings, for the use of the blind and for other physically handicapped residents of the United States, including the several States, Territories, insular possessions, and the District of Columbia, all of which books, recordings, and reproducers will remain the property of the Library of Congress but will be loaned to blind and to other physically handicapped readers certified by competent authority as unable to read normal printed material as a result of physical limitations, under regulations prescribed by the Librarian of Congress for this service. In the purchase of books in either raised characters or in sound-reproduction recordings the Librarian of Congress, without reference to the provisions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (41 U.S.C. 5), shall give preference to nonprofitmaking institutions or agencies whose activities are primarily concerned with the blind and with other physically handicapped persons, in all cases where the prices or bids submitted by such institutions or agencies are, by said Librarian, under all the circumstances and needs involved, determined to be fair and reasonable.
"Sec. 2. (a) The Librarian of Congress may contract or otherwise arrange with such public or other nonprofit libraries, agencies, or organizations as he may deem appropriate to serve as local or regional centers for the circulation of (1) books, recordings, and reproducers referred to in the first section of this Act, and (2) musical scores, instructional texts, and other specialized materials referred to in the Act of October 9, 1962, as amended (2 U.S.C. 135a-1), under such conditions and regulations as he may prescribe. In the lending of such books, recordings, reproducers, musical scores, instructional texts, and other specialized materials, preference shall at all times be given to the needs of the blind and of the other physically handicapped persons who have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States.
"(b) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section."
Sec. 2. The Act entitled "An Act to establish in the Library of Congress a library of musical scores and other instructional materials to further educational, vocational, and cultural opportunities in the field of music for blind persons", approved October 9, 1962 (2 U.S.C. 135a-1), is amended to read as follows: "That (a) the Librarian of Congress shall establish and maintain a library of musical scores, instructional texts, and other specialized materials for the use of the blind and for other physically handicapped residents of the United States and its possessions in furthering their educational, vocational, and cultural opportunities in the field of music. Such scores, texts, and materials shall be made available on a loan basis under regulations developed by the Librarian or his designee in consultation with persons, organizations, and agencies engaged in work for the blind and for other physically handicapped persons.
"(b) There are authorized to be appropriated such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act."
Approved July 30, 1966.
Sec. 1, 80 Stat. 330
89th Congress. S. 3093
July 30, 1966
Legislative History:
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Posted on 2011-01-10