Dan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Kysor) (09/21/90)
Index Number: 10591
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
why do we have to pay for computer access through brs of our
talking book nls library system? if you check with brs, there
worse than compuserve. Baytalk BBS and Compuvoice BBS in S.F. and
here in Sacramento have been researching this issue.
it's terrible what we have to pay. i have tried to get our state
library to get an o.c.r. and scan the year-end book catalogs and
release the titles as pd ware since these catalogs are not
copyrighted. let me know what you think...
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Dan.Kysor
Internet: Dan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgSteve.Bauer@f6.n291.z1.fidonet.org (Steve Bauer) (10/02/90)
Index Number: 10720
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
* Subj : BLND DATABASE & B.R.S.
=>why do we have to pay for computer access through brs of our
=>talking book nls library system? if you check with brs, there
=>worse than compuserve.
I too read that special report from NLS and thought that computer
access to the catalogue would be great but did not check into what
the charges would be. An 800 number with FREE access time (60
minutes per day) would be the way to go.
Steve/
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!291!6!Steve.Bauer
Internet: Steve.Bauer@f6.n291.z1.fidonet.orgDan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Kysor) (10/02/90)
Index Number: 10724
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
I don't believe the current access to the "blnd" database has
provisions for ordering, i may be wrong though. i am trying to
find a federal or state legislature who will assist me on this
issue. to get this B.R.S. service for access, the blind person must
first subscribe to these folks and then the lc, upon recieving your
id # will put you in their system. BRS merely networks the callers
into the lc's computers.
i feel that tax payers have already paid for this database and now,
the blind have to support brs. let's get rid of the middle man.
where's nfb and the rest of the groups???
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Dan.Kysor
Internet: Dan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgGary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Petraccaro) (10/02/90)
Index Number: 10731
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
-> In a message to Gary Petraccaro <09-20-90 10:16> Dan Kysor wrote:
->
-> DK> printer. Mr. Cylke stated to me that access to the "blnd"
-> DK> database is too complex for the avarage person (search
-> DK> string) but is for those "blind professionals", not sure
-> DK> what he means, i haven't been professional since they fired
-> DK> me from the mophia!!
Don't understand him, either. Unfortunately, initiative cannot be
found in most large organizations except in very limited forms. As an
example, I once spoke to someone at NLS when I found that Personal
Computing had died. I suggested that they contract with the next
magazine's publisher to offer the magazine on floppy disk. Though quite
pleasant, the gentleman on the other end just plain didn't have a clue as
to what I was talking about, and, although, "paperless braille" rang a
bell, this idea didn't. I guess what's going on is that most of us with
computers who do know what we're doing have given up on these channels and
gone our own way. Unfortunately, this leaves the sheltered and the
single-minded braille types--not all braille readers, but those for whom
braille is the only medium of exchange--as the two most prominently visible
groups. Those of us with paperless braille, and those of us with full
blown computers will both have to join together and lobby NLS for other
forms of electronic access besides tape and records until they no longer
view us as wayward step children.
nor paperless braille devices
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!90!Gary.Petraccaro
Internet: Gary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.orgDan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Kysor) (10/02/90)
Index Number: 10733
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
steve, nice to meet you. nls claims that setting an 800 # would be
to costly and networking their nls computers would be out of their
league, hence why they use brs. i feel that they should pay brs a
flat rate and let us have brs free or not at all, it is unfair that
the rich can have access and the rest of us can't. in a letter
from Mr. Cylke to my local congressman, Cylke stated that the
"search" feature is too complex for most blind folks...
hmmmmmmmmmmm... i think though that an 800 # would be the way to go
and we should push for this.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Dan.Kysor
Internet: Dan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgDan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Kysor) (10/02/90)
Index Number: 10736
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
yah, there worse than compuserve! (brs)
an 800 # would work fine. look at the department of education's
multi-line bbs in Wash D.C..
The sub-regional library in San Francisco has a great program
starting up where they'll have computer access to many databases &
they'll have their Arkenstone for their patrons, maybe i'll move
from Sacramento!!
it seems that Northern California is stonwalling my attempts
correspondence pertaining with politicians and Mr. Cylke and she
politely tells me, oh, maybe next week.
Mr. Matsui, our federal legislature has sent all materials to Mr.
Conley, our state represenative. Pass the buck. i'll meet with
Conley on this issue but i really feel it is a federal issue and
not a state. let me know if i'm incorrect in this assumption.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Dan.Kysor
Internet: Dan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgGary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Petraccaro) (10/02/90)
Index Number: 10746
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Dan,
As far as BRS goes, it probably is too complex for many. From what
I've heard, there are whole services dedicated to filling other people's
BRS requests. Never seen it myself. Frankly, there's no reason I can see
why they have to even use something so complex. As for free, well, I'd
rather spend money getting more books out in the first place, but each to
his own.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!90!Gary.Petraccaro
Internet: Gary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.orgDoug.Langley@f999.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Doug Langley) (10/03/90)
Index Number: 10837
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
What is his idea of to complex anyway? Are they trying to say that we are
uncapable?
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!999!Doug.Langley
Internet: Doug.Langley@f999.n203.z1.fidonet.orgGary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Petraccaro) (10/03/90)
Index Number: 10846
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
BRS has gained notoriety for being impenetrable, forget about
difficult to use. He's probably right to some extent. There's a whole sub
-industry of professionals who make a living out of doing other people's
searches for them. Probably a real dumb move to put the catalog on BRS in
the first place.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!90!Gary.Petraccaro
Internet: Gary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.orgDan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Kysor) (10/03/90)
Index Number: 10864
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
i am not sure about "not capable", well, hmmmmmmmmmm, maybe your right.
the nls just can't figure out a way of networking patrons at low
cost and in fact, they can't figure a way to network their
participating libraries into the system, i.e., B.R.S., but my
soloution is simple.
An 800 BBS with compressed year end catalogs and ordering
capabilities via message bases. this would be for the regional
libraries to set up. this is the cheaper way to go and folks could
have access...
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Dan.Kysor
Internet: Dan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgDan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Kysor) (10/03/90)
Index Number: 10865
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
you probably that the search feature was too difficult for most and
you probably heard that from an nls person or library person.
Bibliographic Retreaval Services offers databases for many fields &
interests. I know blind folks who subscribe to the service and
have NO problems with the search string feature, however, my point
is, why should the rich have better library service than the rest
of us?
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Dan.Kysor
Internet: Dan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgcampbell%hpdmd48@hplabs.HP.COM (Gary Campbell) (10/04/90)
Index Number: 10874 Is there any way that we can come up with how much free access would cost them (us taxpayers, actually), and how much they would save in not having to process requests of those ordering by computer?
Stew.Bowden@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org (Stew Bowden) (10/05/90)
Index Number: 10914
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Dan: I think you are right about this issue being a federal and
not a state one. Only wish I knew who in the house and senate
respectively were on the committee for technology. Another way to get
at this might be to contact those primarily responsible for the
passage of the latest ADA bill, and get them to carry the ball in
congress. With technology being what is today, there is no reason why
this could not be done. Good luck, and let me know if I can help.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!377!6!Stew.Bowden
Internet: Stew.Bowden@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.orgDan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Kysor) (10/05/90)
Index Number: 10935
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
thanks much stu, i can use all the response to this whole issue i
can get. i will be meeting with the director/head librarian of
california's "Books for the Blind" serving Nor. California. I have
preposed the following:
1. 800 multiline bbs with talking book catalogs (year end),
newsletters & job listings, compressed and available for download
2. using pc, optical charecter scanner, magnito optics storage and
800 multiline phone with bus/multi node capability, wolaw, you've
got access.
3. using user i.d. #, patron may leave t.b. orders to their reader
assistants through the message areas, in other words, the patron's
i.d. # is tied to their reader's assistant mailbox #...
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Dan.Kysor
Internet: Dan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.orgDan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Kysor) (10/23/90)
Index Number: 11218
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
that's a good question gary and one that i've pondering. the only
answer i can come up with is what they charge the blind user. i
don't know what the government rates are for the participating
libraries but i suspect cheaper than the blind patron is being
charged. i don't know if i can quote their prices on here but i'll
give it a try. B.R.S. charges $75 as a one time enrollment fee
plus a monthly user fee of $12 and finally a $35 an hour user
online fee. this adds up to a lot of bucks per patron usage of brs
if the taxpayers have to pay for this... dan out of sight, out of
my mind!
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Dan.Kysor
Internet: Dan.Kysor@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org