Network Bulletin No. 99-43
Date: September 10, 1999
Subject: Web-Braille
Index term: Procedures for registering patrons, access to
books, and using Web-Braille.
Web-Braille, NLS's new system for distributing braille books
via the Internet, is now ready for use. More than 2,600
grade 2 braille books are available for download or online
use by eligible individuals, libraries, and schools with
braille embossers, refreshable braille displays, and other
braille-aware devices. Users must provide their own
equipment and must have an e-mail address and access to the
Internet. Print/braille and grade 1 braille books are not
included in the Web-Braille collection.
Patrons will be notified of Web-Braille's availability by
announcements in the November-December issues of Braille
Book Review and Talking Book Topics, by notices posted to
listservs popular among blind readers, and through
announcements in periodicals directed to blind readers.
__Registering Patrons for Web-Braille__
Both a user ID and password are required to use Web-Braille.
__To obtain an ID and password, those wishing to use Web-
Braille must register with the library designated to
maintain braille magazine subscriptions in their service
area.__ Patrons, libraries, and schools that participated in
the pilot test must register again.
Libraries will register users via an option on the NLS
network library home page, www.loc.gov/pics. Network
libraries not currently using NLS's online system for copy
allotment or bibliographic data download must contact Mary
Mohr at NLS to obtain access to the network library home
page. Mary can be reached via telephone at (202) 707-9301
or via e-mail at [log in to unmask]
Details on the registration process and other administrative
matters are described in the enclosed "User ID and Password
Administration for Web-Braille."
__Restrictions on Use__
Web-Braille materials can be made available only to eligible
users who are residents of the U.S. or American citizens
living abroad. NLS will inform users of the restrictions and will
instruct them that they must not share their user ID and password with
anyone or any organization.
Each network library may establish its own Web-Braille
account.
Network libraries may also establish Web-Braille accounts
for two types of institutions providing library service to
eligible readers in their service area: schools for the
blind and public schools set up as deposit collections to
provide braille. Web-braille service must not be extended
to other types of organizations. Refer requests for access
to Web-Braille by agencies other than the two classes
mentioned above to the chief of the NLS Network Division.
__Accessing Books via Web-Braille Site__
The Web-Braille files are copies of files created by
contractors during production of braille books embossed for
the NLS national collection. Each file represents one
braille volume. For online reading, a patron can access a
braille title one volume at a time. When downloading a title
that is embossed in multiple volumes in the NLS program, a
patron will retrieve and download multiple files.
Users will find the Web-Braille site at
www.loc.gov/nls/braille/. (The final slash is required by
some web browsers.) After entering a user ID and password,
the user will have the option of searching for titles via
nine different lists, as shown below. These lists include
all Web-Braille titles available as of the end of June 1999.
Adult nonfiction - listed by author
Adult nonfiction - listed by title
Adult fiction - listed by author
Adult fiction - listed by title
Children's nonfiction - listed by author
Children's nonfiction - listed by title
Children's fiction - listed by author
Children's fiction - listed by title
All books - listed by book number
The nine listings cover more than 2,600 titles ranging from
BR8825 to BR11976, with holdings intermittent at each end of
the range. NLS will continue to add new books to the Web-
Braille system as they are approved for shipment but will
not add them to the nine listings. Web-Braille users will
gain access to new books through the online version of
__Braille Book Review (BBR).__
__Access via BBR__
Beginning with the July-August 1999 issue, book
announcements in the online version of BBR will contain
active links to Web-Braille files for each volume of each
book listed. A Web-Braille patron will be able to browse
through BBR, locate a title of interest, and select a
volume. After inputting a valid user ID and password, the
patron will be presented with the selected volume and may
read it online or download it.
__Future Access__
Eventually, NLS hopes to create a separate catalog record
for each Web-Braille title and install direct links from the
online catalog records to the Web-Braille files. This will
become feasible a year or more from now once the NLS online
catalog has migrated to the Library of Congress's integrated
library system.
__Braille Magazines__
This fall, NLS will begin to explore the feasibility of
adding braille magazines to Web-Braille. Early indications
are that it is technically feasible, but NLS must thoroughly
investigate cost and production impacts.
__Technical Questions__
Technical questions from users regarding the operation of
Web-Braille should be directed to Judy Dixon via e-mail at
[log in to unmask]
For further information contact:
Judy Dixon
Consumer Relations Officer
Enclosure: "User ID and Password Administration for Web-
Braille"
__User ID and Password Administration for Web-Braille__
1. Users wishing to register for Web-Braille will contact
the library designated to maintain braille magazine
subscriptions in their service area and will provide:
Name
Password of their choice (six to eight lower case
letters and/or numbers)
E-mail address (Web-Braille users must have an e-mail
address.)
The library will inform the user that a user ID will be
assigned and a confirmation e-mail sent. The e-mail will
contain the user ID and password and the Web-Braille
address.
2. The library will log on to the NLS Network Library
Services home page, select "Web-Braille User
Administration," then "Add New User," and finally enter the
following data:
User's name
User's CMLS ID
User ID (either system-generated or assigned by
library; see below)
User's chosen password
User's e-mail address
3. If the library chooses a system-generated user ID, the
system will create one from the user's name, as follows:
first ten letters of last name, first letter of first name,
and sufficient digits (from 1 to 999) to create a nationally
unique user ID. For example, the third K. Rothenberger to
register would be rothenbergk3. The thirteenth J. Coe would
be coej13.
NLS recommends that libraries use the system-generated user
IDs, as they are designed to be easily remembered.
However, if a library has already assigned a user ID and
password to a patron to allow access to local online
services, the patron may use them for Web-Braille. This
would ensure that a patron would need only one user
ID/password pair for access to online materials through the
NLS program.
4. The confirmation e-mail will be sent automatically
within twenty-four hours after the library completes the
online registration of the patron. The user ID and
password will be activated by the system immediately
thereafter.
5. Finally, following magazine subscription procedures, the
library will set up the user as a subscriber to "WBB1" in
their local system and will generate a CMLS transaction.
CMLS will serve as the trigger to notify a gaining library
when a Web-Braille user has moved into its service area.
__When User Forgets User ID or Password__
If a user forgets his user ID or password, he will contact
his library and identify himself so that the library can
determine his CMLS ID. The library will then log on to the
Web-Braille password administration page, choose "Search on
CMLS ID," and input the user's CMLS ID to call up the user's
record.
__When User Wishes to Change User ID or Password__
If a user wishes to change her user ID or password, she must
ask her library to make the change. The library will log on
to the NLS Network Library Services home page, select
"Web-Braille User Administration," then "View/Update User"
and make the required changes.
__When User Moves to Another Service Area__
If a Web-Braille user moves to another library's service
area, libraries will follow normal procedures through CMLS.
The losing library will suspend the patron, suspending
magazines and the Web-Braille subscription in CMLS.
However, the patron will still be able to access the
Web-Braille system using the established user ID and
password, which will not change.
The gaining library will add the user, reactivating magazine
and Web-Braille subscriptions in CMLS. Using the CMLS
transfer report as a data source, the gaining library will
log on to the Web-Braille password administration page,
select "Transfer-in Web-Braille User," call up the user's
record using the library code and CMLS ID from the losing
library, and then input the new CMLS ID. The patron's Web-
Braille user ID and password will not change. It is
important for the gaining library to update Web-Braille
records at the time of transfer; otherwise the library will
not be able to assist users who forget their ID or password.
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