The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), a part of the Library of Congress, operates a free national talking (audio) book program for qualified blind, visually impaired, or physically disabled residents of the United States and its territories, as well as qualified U.S. citizens residing abroad. NLS produces and distributes analog cassette players and talking books and periodicals recorded on audio cassettes to approximately 434,000 individual subscribers and 33,000 institutions through a network of 132 participating libraries and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
In the 1990s, NLS recognized that analog audio cassette technology was becoming outdated and nearing the end of its useful life and initiated efforts to plan for a new, digitally based talking book system. NLS analyzed three alternatives for the system-- CD, hard drive, and flash based media--and chose to award a contract for the development of a digital talking book system based on flash memory media. The development phase is now nearing completion, and NLS is planning to award the manufacturing contract for the digital talking book system in August 2007.
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In summary, NLS analyzed various alternatives for the digital talking book program starting in 2000, but the analyses did not have the rigor recommended by library guidance and government and industry best practices to ensure that new assets are acquired through sound decision making. To its credit, NLS conducted market research and consulted with experts and stakeholders, including representatives from international organizations with similar programs, domestic groups representing people who are blind and physically disabled, and manufacturers. The agency identified and discussed numerous alternative technologies (including CD, flash memory, and miniature hard drives) and distribution mechanisms (such as Internet delivery via broadband channels and cable television channels). However, the agency's analysis of selected alternatives focused solely on the technology medium and the player and did not broadly consider the entire program and its underlying processes....
Correspondence from the GAO to James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress
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