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DOJ Settles With Public Library Over E-Readers That ‘Exclude’ the Blind

Sep. 2, 2012 4:39pm Erica Ritz

Justice Department Targets California Library Over E Reader Program That Excludes the Blind

(Photo: AP via Politico)

The Justice Department recently targeted a Sacramento, California public library over a trial program that let patrons borrow Barnes and Noble “Nook” e-book readers, CNS News reported.

According to the Justice Department, the program violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and was discriminating against the blind, because they cannot always use the devices.

CNS News explains:

A DOJ official told CNSNews.com it interviewed a woman who could not participate in the library’s e-reader program due to her disability and concluded that the program had violated the ADA.

Amy Calhoun, an Electronic Resources Librarian at the Sacramento Public Library who helped launch the ebook reader project, said she was unaware of any objections from a blind person regarding the program. “I have not heard of a specific complaint directly from a patron,” she told CNSNews.com. “But I do know that patrons who are part of the statewide Braille and talking-book program do get in touch with us for audio books.”

[...]

As part of the settlement agreement, the Justice Department directed the library system to purchase at least 18 e-readers that are accessible to the blind, something that comes in the midst of budget cuts that have forced Sacramento libraries to implement one employee furlough day each month for two years.

The library says it will add iPod touch and iPad devices, which read e-books aloud with a computerized voice. [Emphasis added]

A Barnes & Noble Nook Color eReader, left, is shown next to a Nook Simple Touch eReader, right, on display at a Best Buy in Mountain View, Calif. , Monday, April 30, 2012. (Photo: AP)

CNS News estimates the mandatory purchase will cost anywhere from roughly $3,500 to $15,000, depending on whether the library opts for the most basic or high-tech version of the devices.

But that’s not all.

The settlement agreement also directed the library not to buy any additional e-readers that “exclude” the blind or disabled, and required the library to train its staff on the requirements of the ADA.

“Emerging technologies like e-readers are changing the way we interact with the world around us and we need to ensure that people with disabilities are not excluded from the programs where these devices are used,” said Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez in a news release.

The Department of Justice has come under heavy fire in recent years for, among other things, failing to investigate the New Black Panthers for voter intimidation, and for allowing guns to be trafficked into Mexico in Operation Fast and Furious.

(H/T: CNS News)

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Comments (60)

Midwest Blonde
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 8:05pm
I work in a 31-room hotel. We are REQUIRED to have 2 handicapped rooms. We get REQUESTS for one of these rooms oess than a dozen times per YEAR. We are required to have 3 handicapped parking spots, which only one is near the wheelchair ramp. One of our 4 outside doors had a step, which had to be replaced by a ramp – A ramp that’s too steep for most wheelchairs to access easily but it’s what was mandated. I’m surprised that NONE of our signs or room numbers are in braille.

Yes I think the ADA has gone to far on a lot of issues. I agree, books on CD or such are just as acceptable as those damned e-readers. And if you’ve ever listened to one, the “computer voice” often mispronounces words, and sound like crap. If I were blind I’d opt for a CD, recorded by a HUMAN voice.

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- Midwest Blonde
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 8:07pm
  oops – typo – oess = LESS. Sorry.
  
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- turkey13
  Posted on September 4, 2012 at 12:00am
  Here in S. Oklahoma our city has been replacing all the curbs on every corner on main streets – N & S. They have spent over $800,000.00 for the 3 people that ride electric wheel chairs. We have federal supported Call-A-Ride for $.25 and a wheel chair lift. With all this the 3 people ride out in the street. One old lady that has a cart with big whip antenna and red flag on top gives folks the finger when they blow horns at her. I wish they had spent the money on a new Post Office. Ours is in the federal court house and it has 1 Handy Capped parking space. Those people have to walk up steps or a 100 feet and then go back a 100 feet up the ramp to get in it. If this was a private bld. someone would be sued.
  
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LameLiberals
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 8:03pm
California just approved “driverless cars” on their roads.

This means every rental car agency in California will soon be forced to buy these types of cars for blind people.

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- Melika
  Posted on September 3, 2012 at 9:12am
  Holy crap, it’ll be like driving in Jersey!
  
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jarhead69
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 7:56pm
another example of why nobody wants to go into business anymore, damn government always sticking their nose into someones ass

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- ProbIemSoIver
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 8:49pm
  The department of Justice is a PRIVATE COMPANY. lol
  
  The founding fathers are turning in their graves.
  
  Stupid People successfully sue for 3 million dollars, for spilling hot coffee on themselves.
  
  After the International Banksters seized this Country in 1933, they turned the Laws and the Constitution on it’s head. They have been slowly destroying America since then.
  
  In the America the way it was designed, situations like this would never happen.
  
  A “thought crime” is not a crime.
  A “Hate” crime lacks any ratiocination.
  A person is NOT obligated to accomidate you shortcomings.
  A person has the Right to dislike whomever they wish, Promulgate their thoughts about their peevs and REFUSE them service if they choose !!!!!
  
  The Founding Fathers hated democracy and thought ti was the worst form of government there was.
  In a democracy, 51% of the people can take away the rights of the 49%.
  This is how the Global elite want it. They use their media outlets to brainwash their sheeple into an ideology that the elite want, so that the people will pressure their “representatives” into passing laws
  that were introduced on GE television (MSNBC) and the like.
  
  The UN’s IMF is the creditor of the United States Bankruptcy of 1933 (They acquired the lien at Bretton Woods in 1944).
  
  The UN runs America. Not YOU !!! Not your “REPS” !!!
  
  The UN’s owners (global elite) Don’t want a border with mexico.
  They don’t like your bible or guns.
  
  Report this comment
- Gold Coin & Economic News
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 9:55pm
  Good heavens, this is exactly why we need less government. You can’t even go to the library without the friggin government screwing things up.
  
  Report this comment
- SgtB
  Posted on September 3, 2012 at 10:54am
  This is standard ADA practice. There is a whole class of society who gains their employment and living off of these ADA “laws” by suing anyone and everyone they can. It is to the point that at a local Oklahoma City school, they called in an ADA advisor and at his urging, installed a wheelchair LIFT on a wheelchair RAMP that was less than 10 feet in length. The device was huge, a hazard to all the other children, required a teacher to be present with a key to be used (at which point pushing the chair up the slight incline would be easier), and it cost us more than 25k to install it; not including the cost for an electrician to run a dedicated circuit through an existing building to power it. That alone was probably a pretty penny itself.
  
  The ADA should be killed and disabled persons should be taught and know that they are disabled and that able bodied people are not their slaves. We should not be forced to accommodate their every need and when we do accommodate them, they should be grateful and thank us for our kindness. Now, I know some are like this, but there are enough that aren’t that make this world a worse place for everyone.
  
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Mr.Fitnah
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 7:30pm
Blind people get huge money already from the taxpayers coffers just for being to lazy to seen.They are pushing USA to far.

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- daver18
  Posted on September 3, 2012 at 1:06am
  Really? That’s interesting because my wife is blind and we don’t get one cent from the government. Your claim is bogus. As for this article, they make an interesting point. The library should stand against the requirement and go to court. I don’t think the DOJ has the authority to make those requirements and, in addition, there are other ways people can access information without every single device that the library purchases having to have to work for the blind. The government’s talking book library is wonderful and is free to the blind. While you can only get limited selections of books from them, it is still wonderful. The library should have some option available if they can afford it, but if they do not have the money they don’t have the money. Just because someone has a special need does not mean it can always be met. My wife would love to have access to lots of things, but if we take this to its ridiculous conclusion then every manufacturer of every product sold should have to make sure all labeling and instructions are such that a blind or visually impaired person with low vision can read or hear what they say. My wife does well finding her way around stores but either I or a friend have to go with her to read labels and tags to her. But just wait. If the DOJ has just made this library do this and they don’t stand up to it and get it stopped, the next thing will be that everything in stores will have to have a way for a blind person to “listen” to
  
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Mr.Fitnah
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 7:25pm
These murdering loonz need to have some justice brought to them

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FlyoverConservative
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 7:16pm
I wonder how many traditional books, yes the ones made of paper and ink, are accessable to the blind?

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- Nuts-n-Bolts
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 8:17pm
  Shhhh.
  
  Report this comment
- bert2020
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 9:27pm
  As someone who needs books read to her, I cannot imagine anyone who has trouble seeing books would deny anyone the joy of reading. This is just another way the government is trying to divide us. Go look at the Gutenberg project they provide books that are read by machines and by humans so the blind can read as well. I am not my government. As a person with low vision I find the DOJ’s action reprehensible.
  
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- bert2020
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 9:39pm
  They are just trying to divide us. Indeed books read to me. I would never deny anyone the joy of reading. The wrong website where people volunteer to read so I can. There is audible.com where I can purchase high-quality books read to me. I would not wish to deny anyone joy of reading. I find their actions reprehensible.
  
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denkat56
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 7:12pm
lets worry about e books, and ignore fast and furious, the black pathers, and dead people because the doj are worried about e books.

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neiman1
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 6:57pm
Close the library and let everyone buy their own stinking books

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Tigress1
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 6:43pm
This is why companies shouldn’t do ANYTHING for ANYBODY. They get punished for doing something nice. No good deed goes unpunished.

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- Tigress1
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 6:58pm
  Ooops! I misread. I first thought that Barnes and Noble was loaning the E-Readers.
  
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- Walkabout
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 7:11pm
  Tigress1
  Same difference.
  
  An organization was helping out poorer citizens (those without e-readers).
  
  Because they could roll out a comparable product for a small group of people at the drop of a pin, the DOJ slammed them.
  
  Never mind that the have audio books for the blind.
  
  Report this comment
YallComeBack
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 6:39pm
And yesterday, the Obama Justice Department attacked Hurtz rent a car. Hertz had the gall to offer cars to seeing people, but now must also offer self-driving cars for blind people.
Rather than purchase the cars, Hurtz declared bankruptcy and exited the car rental business.
/sarc off

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- Elena2010
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 11:30pm
  I always wonder abt Braille on the drive-up banking windows… ADA in overdrive.
  
  Gov’t is ill-equipped to make common sense a priority.
  
  Report this comment
Capt_Gregg
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 6:08pm
The ADA began as a laudable idea, but has since been used to force businesses to comply with some truly inane regulations.
Remember the ruling that banks had to have braille instructions on the ATMs in the drive-thru?
How about the strip club that had to install a ramp or lift (I forget which) to make the stage accessible in case they had a dancer in a wheelchair?
How about the wheelchair bound man who went from business to business with a tape measure, suing any business that had a doorway, light switch, toilet, etc. that missed ADA regs by even a fraction of an inch? (He considered this to be his job, and he made a handsome income from it.)

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crcitizen
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:58pm
Obumer, Hoder amd Obumerirtes intimidate another part of Amreica,,, and their agenda to squash America and Americans continue.

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Firebird71
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:41pm
So if that’s the case then does that mean the library should stop buying regular books also, I mean the blind can’t read them either???

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- jcldwl
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 6:09pm
  Good point
  
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- starman70
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 6:15pm
  No, they must build another complete building to house books in Braille. You know, just another of those SHOVEL READY JOBS.
  
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angelcat
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:34pm
And why can’t the blind just use the books on tape or CD?

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- Elena2010
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:52pm
  Because the DoJ is the world’s biggest dog in the manger! If one can’t have it, then none can have it.
  
  The feds are far, waaay far, away fm the Constitutional limitations. This is a purely local matter.
  
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alspurr
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:33pm
I have never had a problem with making arrangements for people with handicaps but this and what I see on a daily basis just cheapens the ADA law and makes it look ridiculous. I see businesses of all types required to allocate parking spots that are constantly filled with with SUVs driven by 30 somethings who hope out, grab two kids from car seats and jog into the store. They have handicap plates but I can only wonder what their disability is. I can’t remember the last time a actually saw someone in a wheelchair pull into a spot. I have friends that brag about having a tag, that they got years earlier when caring for an elderly parent who has since passed on, that they use to park in spots they are not entitled to.
I am not even sure I want to get into the curb cuts that cites are required to install on busy highways despite the fact that no one will ever use them. The only reason most businesses don’t stand up to this kind of harassment is the fear of being sued by some sleazy ADA lawyer out to make a buck.

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- Elena2010
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:55pm
  I know what you mean. I have been known to chastise an able bodied person parked in the handicapped slot, “It’s physical handicaps, not mental ones!”
  
  I have dear friends who are physically handicapped and they need the open parking slots w/o grocery carts left in them or idiots parked in them for only a sec’.
  
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- endthemindlessspending
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 6:37pm
  I said the same thing in a post on here. I am in a wheelchair and see it all the time. Pull into a store and all the spots are full yet no one is handicapped. ****** me off when people leave their carts there too, when I am done at the store I wheel my azz back in there and return whatever I used. Makes me sick how lazy Americans have gotten.
  
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- Elena2010
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 11:33pm
  I hear ya, End! I usually make an effort to drag at least one cart back into the store when I shop.
  
  What annoys me most is the shopping cart left behind my vehicle when the cart corral is right there! Sorry sacks of stuff!
  
  Report this comment
bdandsl
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:31pm
I just don’t have the any more words for this continuing onslaught of heavy-handed, corrupt and destructive DOJ. Harressing govenors and sheriffs that enforce the laws, extorts Oregon farmers and Gibson Guitar, Veterans and the military, school children, Christians, doctors, family farms, charitable organizations for giving the hungry meals…the list goes on and on. Yet, they never go after real criminals like NBPP, OWS, Fast & Furious, Voter fraud, Corzin, corrupt congressmen/women…the list goes on and on.

obama’s administration is shameful – all the while saying ‘catch me if you can’!

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- steveh931
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:39pm
  You’re not alone.
  
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nobull14
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:26pm
Like Mitt Romney said a country where everything is free except the people ?.

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- TEXASGRANNY73
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 8:21pm
  Yes, exactly. That is what this election is about. Freedom or subjection (Founders left England for that and here we are struggling for what we already own).
  
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TxSon
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:21pm
This DOI (Department of Injustice) is completely out of control! Prosecute these people for malicious prosecution.

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repairsea
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:21pm
DOJ violates our rights everyday.

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BlackCrow
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:05pm
“Stupid is as stupid does” Forest Gump.

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Jenny Lind
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:03pm
These are the people who have to get fired and their stupid games stopped by the new administration.They have to go, the American people can’t afford all these ridiculous, stupid regulations to “help” people.

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hi
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 4:54pm
Just get rid of the Nook. Problem solved.

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The Bagginator
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 4:53pm
So, what does the DOJ plan to do about all the printed material in the libray that excludes the blind?

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- OlefromMN
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 4:59pm
  They will propose a massive book burning.
  
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- RANGER1965
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:40pm
  Good point. Books are discriminatory to the blind! The DOJ needs to do somthing to make life fair again!
  I demand justice!
  
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 4:48pm
Just as the Clinton DOJ saw a source of funding from Microsoft, 0bama’s DOJ sees yet another source of cash.

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OlefromMN
Posted on September 2, 2012 at 4:46pm
“According to the Justice Department, the program violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and was discriminating against the blind, because they cannot always use the devices.”

The ADA, another program similar to the CRA that will bankrupt America.

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- endthemindlessspending
  Posted on September 2, 2012 at 5:02pm
  I am an American in a wheelchair and find this to be a pointless thing for the DOJ to be concerned with. There are tons of other things that need to be worried before things like this. How about all the drivers who illegally use handicapped placards from other people some of whom are not even alive. The people easily could have taken this up with the library. Just blows my mind that NBPP can bully voters but God for bid a library step out of line.
  
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