View all text of Chapter 5 [§ 131 - § 186]
§ 135a. National library service for the blind and print disabled
(a) Accessible materials and reproducers
(1) In general
The Librarian of Congress is authorized to provide to eligible persons who are residents of the United States (including residents of the several States, insular possessions, and the District of Columbia) and to eligible persons who are United States citizens residing outside the United States the following items:
(A) Literary works published in raised characters, on sound-reproduction recordings, or in any other accessible format.
(B) Musical scores, instructional texts, and other specialized materials used in furthering educational, vocational, and cultural opportunities in the field of music published in any accessible format.
(C) Reproducers for such formats.
(2) Ownership
(b) Lending preference
In the lending of items under subsection (a), the Librarian shall at all times give preference to—
(1) the needs of the blind and visually disabled; and
(2) the needs of eligible persons who have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States.
(c) Network
(d) International service
(e) Contracting preference
(f) Regulations
(g) Definitions
In this section—
(1) the terms “accessible format”, “authorized entity”, and “eligible person” have the meanings given those terms in section 121 of title 17; and
(2) the term “Marrakesh Treaty” has the meaning given in section 121A of such title 17.
(h) Authorization of appropriations
(Mar. 3, 1931, ch. 400, § 1, 46 Stat. 1487; Mar. 4, 1933, ch. 279, 47 Stat. 1570; June 14, 1935, ch. 242, § 1, 49 Stat. 374; Apr. 23, 1937, ch. 125, § 1, 50 Stat. 72; June 7, 1939, ch. 191, 53 Stat. 812; June 6, 1940, ch. 255, 54 Stat. 245; Oct. 1, 1942, ch. 575, § 1, 56 Stat. 764; June 13, 1944, ch. 246, § 1, 58 Stat. 276; Aug. 8, 1946, ch. 868, § 1, 60 Stat. 908; July 3, 1952, ch. 566, 66 Stat. 326; Pub. L. 85–308, § 1, Sept. 7, 1957, 71 Stat. 630; Pub. L. 89–522, § 1, July 30, 1966, 80 Stat. 330; Pub. L. 114–219, § 1, July 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 845; Pub. L. 116–94, div. P, title XIV, § 1403(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3206.)