Network Bulletin No.00-46 Date: August 18, 2000 Subject: Machine-lending agencies Index term: Auditor visits for machine audits The Office of the Inspector General, Library of Congress, has awarded a machine audit contract to KPMG. NLS staff met with the KPMG staff who will be conducting the audits to provide an orientation and to discuss concerns that have arisen in past audits. KPMG has determined that they will visit a subset of machine-lending agencies (MLAs). They have divided the MLAs into three sizes: small, medium, and large. They will visit twenty-five randomly selected sites. The KPMG auditors will identify a random sample of a different number of cassette machines for each size MLA. Information obtained through these visits and examination of cassette machine records will be used to extrapolate the overall accuracy of record keeping at all MLAs. Auditors from KPMG will also conduct a machine-audit of NLS. Staff from the Inspector General's Office, Library of Congress, will conduct machine-audit visits to the multistate centers and the BPHICS contractor. KPMG will provide a report that will identify problems and concerns for the network as a whole. No individual MLA reports will be issued. Network suggestions regarding the machine audit were shared with KPMG. NLS provided a list of suggestions including the National Audio Equipment Advisory Committee (NAEAC) resolutions of 2000, Western Conference resolution of 1999, and the Northern Conference resolution of 2000. All recommended that patrons be contacted in an accessible format. After discussion it was agreed that patrons selected to be in the audit sample would receive confirmation letters in both large print and on cassette. Both formats will be sent in a package to each patron contacted to confirm a cassette machine serial number. Selected MLAs will receive a letter from Frank Kurt Cylke, director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, informing them of their selection for a visit. KPMG staff will follow up to schedule a date for the visit. KPMG expects to complete their visits no later than November 30, 2000. For more information contact: Stephen Prine Head Network Services Section