[AERNet] RFB&D

[Jody W Ianuzzi]

Hi everyone,

This is off topic but I wanted to share it with everyone in case you all 
wanted to contact RFB&D.  They will no longer offer books on tape after June 
and you will need a $200 DAISY player and a security code from them to play 
it.  I think we have to contact them and let them know this is too expensive 
for most borrowers.

JODY
_______________________________

I just wrote an email to the Executive Director of RFB&D.  Her name is 
Stephanie Campbell.  Her email address is: scampbell at rfbd.org

Here is my message:

Hello Stephanie,

I have been an RFB&D borrower for over 40 years.  I remember the old RFB 
reel to reel days and I remember when cassette tapes were first introduced 
into the program.  What a wonderful improvement.

Part of the freedom of RFB&D books was that they could be played on the NLS 
tape player at no charge to the borrower.  I have heard that RFB&D will no 
longer circulate cassette books after June.  To prepare for the change I 
contacted my local Library for the Blind to request a digital player.  I 
discovered that the players will not be available until the end of 2008 at 
the earliest and that the format for these players will not be compatible 
with RFB&D books.

The only players for RFB&D books are proprietary DAISY machines that sell 
for $200 and up and that a security code will be required to listen to the 
books.  There is a lot of discussion of these changes on blindness related 
email lists.  Many people feel that after years of being a RFB&D reader, 
they will discontinue using the program because they can't afford the 
player.  Of course there is always a premium for products for the blind 
because of the limited market.  It is always assumed that a third party such 
as a school, Voc. Rehab. or an employer will buy the machines but for many 
of us the cost is out of pocket.   The equivalent  'off the shelf' CD player 
costs $29 compared to $200 for the Victor Reader Vibe.

The CD technology is already 'outdated' by more modern flash and compressed 
file players and many people are concerned that after buying these expensive 
players they will soon become obsolete.

I wanted you to know that many long term readers are going to become 
inactive and other long term readers will sit back and 'wait and see' what 
happens next before deciding to invest in an unknown future.

Perhaps there can be an extension of the time cassette books are available 
to give everyone a chance to see what will happen. At least time will bring 
down the ridiculous price of the readers.

I consider RFB&D an invaluable resource and I hope I am able to continue as 
a reader.

Thank you very much,

Jody W. Ianuzzi
jody at thewhitehats.com

"WE MUST BE THE CHANGE WE WISH
TO SEE IN THE WORLD"  ~ Gandhi