Access to Newspapers and Journals for Visually Impaired People, The Talking Newspaper Association of the UK

Neil H. McLachlan, TNAUK Council member, Tel: 0171 412 7109     neilhorn@dircon.co.uk

Ariadne 1997
(ReLIS:doi:doiari:y:1997:i:10:p:22)

Abstract:

Cathy Murtha offers an inspiring vision of how harnessing computer technology and accessible Internet services, could give print impaired people access to newspapers, magazines and library resources generally. This article describes what is already being done to help make this dream a reality. The Talking Newspaper Association of the UK was founded in 1974 to unite local Talking Newspaper groups, the first of which was started by Ronald Sturt in 1969 at the College of Librarianship Wales, Aberystwyth. There are now around 530 Talking Newspapers, helping to keep an estimated 250,000 people in touch with local affairs. TNAUK itself runs a National Service with an individual membership of over 17,000 and distributes 6,000 audio cassettes a day, involving over 180 publications. Towards the end of 1995 TNAUK began the distribution of electronic publications, under the direction of the Vice President, Ted Davis. Growth has been rapid, with over 50 newspapers and magazines available as e-texts, these being distributed on IBM compatible computer disks, by e-mail, or retrieved from a bulletin board service(BBS). On average, over 900 disks a week are dispatched to around 500 users; more than 100 people receive publications by e-mail, and 130 access the BBS. For publications available in both tape and electronic form, the circulation ratio is currently running at about ten to one. This article will describe these e-texts, who uses them and how they are used, their source, how they are prepared and distributed, with a final discussion of the challenges facing TNAUK in this area.

Keywords: Web-based resources, digital library tools
Note: Neil H. McLachlan describes the work and electronic products of the Talking Newspaper Assocation (TNAUK). This article appears in the Web, and not the print, version of Ariadne.
Month: Tuesday July 15th, 1997
Year: 1997

 (go top)