Section 236-2-005 - Nebraska Library for the Blind and Physically HandicappedAs the agency designated by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped the Nebraska Library will follow procedures and guidelines for service set forth in the Network Library Manual, 1980 Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
005.01Subsidiary Groups. To assist in providing library service to the blind and physically handicapped people of the state, the Nebraska Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped may contract with other agencies to perform designated services. Such contracts or agreements shall be negotiated annually and charges for services if any, shall be based on costs of services rendered.
005.01A Subregional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped The North Platte Public Library is designated a Subregional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and under annual formal agreement serve residents of the western counties of Nebraska as specified in the agreement.005.01B Braille Service. The Utah State Library is designated by formal agreement to provide Braille reading materials to Nebraska residents by direct mail from Salt Lake City.005.01C Machine Sublending Agencies. The Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped may designate Machine Sublending Agencies to assign and distribute reading equipment and accessories to eligible persons within a specified area.005.02Service Eligibility. To qualify for service, library users must be residents of Nebraska who have been certified as eligible. With special reciprocal arrangements through the National Library Service, any citizen of the United States who has been certified as eligible may also be served.
005.02A Visual Impairment. Persons whose visual acuity, as determined by competent authority is 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses, or whose widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees, shall be eligible to receive the services of the library.005.02B Visual Disability. Persons whose visual disability, with correction and regardless of optical measurement, is certified by competent authority as preventing the reading of standard printed materials, shall be eligible for service.005.02C Physical Handicap. Persons certified by competent authority as unable to read or unable to use standard printed material as a result of physical limitations shall be eligible for service.005.02D Reading Disability. Persons certified by competent authority as having a reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction and of sufficient severity to prevent their reading printed material in a normal manner shall be eligible.005.03Authority to Determine Eligibility. 005.03A For blindness, visual disability, or physical limitations, "competent authority" shall be doctors of medicine, opthalmologists, optometrists, registered nurses, therapists, professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or welfare agencies (e.g., social workers, case workers, counselors, rehabilitation teachers, and superintendents). In the absence of any of these, certification may be made by professional librarians or by any person whose competence under specific circumstances is acceptable to the National Library Service.005.03B In the case of reading disability from organic dysfunction, competent authority shall be doctors of medicine who may consult with colleagues in associated disciplines.005.04Lending Policies. 005.04A.Borrowers. Reading materials and sound reproducers for the use of blind and physically handicapped persons may be loaned to individuals who qualify, to institutions such as nursing homes and hospitals, and to schools for the blind or physically handicapped for the use of such persons only. The reading materials and sound reproducers may also be used in public or private schools where handicapped students are enrolled; however, the students in public or private schools must be certified as eligible on an individual basis and must be the direct and only recipients of the materials and equipment.005.04BLoan Periods for Reading Material. The Nebraska Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped shall determine the loan period for materials in its collection. Any other library, which has entered into a contract with the Nebraska Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped to provide service, shall determine the loan period for materials sent from that library.
005.04CLoan Period for Machines. Talking book machines (record players) and cassette players shall be loaned to eligible individuals for as long as those individuals continue to borrow materials provided by either the Nebraska Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped or from its subregional. Machines in need of repair shall be returned to the Nebraska Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, or to any of its machine sublending agencies.
005.04DConfidentiality of Loan Records. Records or portions of records kept by the library which, when examined with or without other records, reveal the identity of any library patron using the library's materials or services will be considered confidential.005.05Audio Production Facilities. The Nebraska Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped shall maintain an audio production center to produce audio equivalents of books, magazine and other print materials, for use by eligible library borrowers.
005.05A Before any print materials are recorded, appropriate copyright clearance shall be substantiated.005.05B The Production Center shall, as facilities are available, respond to requests for audio production, post production services, and tape duplication services from state government agencies, libraries or other not-for-profit agencies which serve blind and physically handicapped persons.005.05C Charges made for services rendered to outside agencies shall be established annually based on current costs. Funds collected for services provided shall be deposited in the Nebraska Library Commission cash fund.236 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 2, § 005