Separate but Unequal

If you are looking for the Historical Fiction Round-i[. it is the post immediately prior to this one in chronology. The following is reprinted from That's All She Read.


I will write "she" and "her" in this story, but this could happen just as well to a man.

Once upon a time, a Reader walked into her local tax-supported library to pick up a book she wanted to read. A big sign over the door proclaimed "New undamaged copies of books available!" Reader was delighted because for some time the library's collection had been deteriorating. About one out of every five books had sections damaged and even ripped out of the books. Now at last she could take a book out of the library confident that she wouldn't get halfway into it only to find a large section unreadable. She entered the library, then stopped. All she saw were the usual books. The only thing different was that there were now dozens of locked doors along the walls. She approached the Librarian.

Reader: I came to take out a particular book. Is it available in the new undamaged format?

Librarian: Yes, it is!

Reader: Great. Please get it for me.

Librarian: I'm sorry. You can only read it in one of these rooms.

Reader: Why?

Librarian: We promised the publishers we wouldn't let their books out to just anyone.

Reader: Oh! Well, all right, then give me a room too.

Librarian: You have to have a key to get into a room. Sign up for one here, please.

Reader: (Fills out the form and gives it back to the Librarian.) All right, here you are. May I have the book and the room now?

Librarian: I'm sorry, we don't have any rooms available.

Reader: But.. but.. I used to be able to read any books I wanted. Why can't I do that now?

Librarian: I told you. We don't have enough rooms. They are being built by a Canadian company and we have been beta testing them. These things take time.

Reader: What am I supposed to do in the meantime?

Librarian: There are always the books over in the possibly-damaged section.

Reader: I don't want to get into a book only to find I can't finish it or that I am missing a part of it.

Librarian: You can always buy a room of your own.

Reader: Buy one? Why should I have to buy one? I pay my taxes faithfully and willingly. I already paid my share. Why do I have to shell out more money?

Librarian: I'm sorry you feel that way. Others are waiting for rooms too, you know.

Reader: Why can't you just issue keys to the library and let us read the books in this huge room with all the chairs and tables?

Librarian: We looked at this problem long and hard and decided this was the best way to handle the problem. You will just have to be patient.

Reader: So what you are telling me is that if I want to read this book, I must either take a chance on a damaged book, buy my own room, or patiently wait for a room to become available?

Librarian: That's right.

If this story seems ridiculous, it is, but it's happening. Right now people with print impairments, like blind and partially sighted people, are relgated to reading cassette books that are often damaged so badly that they can't be enjoyed. To solve this problem, the National Library Services of the U. S. Library of Congress has created downloadable books that will be available to those people who cannot or prefer not to use the Internet on cartridges they will send out by mail. Patrons will receive reading devices in which to put the cartridge to read the book. In order to use the cartridges they ill need to be issued a key that activates the book.

The problem is that there are not enough devices and cartridges to go around. There probably will not be for many months. In the meantime a reader like myself will have to make do with the cassette books. Unlike every other taxpayer in the country, I will not have access to the book until such time as I am issued a device. I can buy one, but I wonder why I should have to if no other taxpayer does? Especially when there is another way to accomplish the same thing. The library could issue proprietary software to make every computer such a device. They could still require a key. This would cost a great deal less and happen a lot sooner.

I feel as a person with a disability I am being required to accept what we all thought went out of our society thanks to the equality movements of the last century. Of course in reality separate but equal continues to be the rule in some places, but at least not officially. If at the end of my story the Librarian had added, "You African Americans/Jews/women or the like will just have to be patient. We are doing the best we can." there would be outrage. They are saying it, but they are saying, "You blind and otherwise print impaired people will just have to wait."

Someone pointed out to me that this plan has been in the works for more than five years. Perhaps I should have spoken up sooner. I will concede that, but I didn't. Others, however, have. Yet the typical government tendency to do something the least efficient and the most expensive won out anyway.

The solution is simple. The NLS needs to get over whatever arcane notion they have about not making the books accessible to eligible persons on a person's computer. As an author and publisher, I feel this should satisfy the Fair Use provision of the Copyright Act.

And then we will be able to read happily ever after.

If you are tempted to think or say "Well, but we are talking about the blind! It's no one's fault they are blind. It's just how things are!" just please remember you are talking about me, and if I have ever done anything for you whether a favor or enlightenment through a review or entertained or educated you with my writing, reconsider whether I should be regarded as a beggar who cannot be a chooser. I plan to send this blog post to my legislators.

I would like to hear from you all how you would respond to the scenario I painted above.

Thanks!

Nan Hawthorne
hawthorne at nanhawthorne.com