§ 135a. Books and sound-reproduction records for blind and other physically handicapped residents; annual appropriations; purchases

There is authorized to be appropriated annually to the Library of Congress, in addition to appropriations otherwise made to said Library, such sums for expenditure under the direction of the Librarian of Congress as may be necessary to provide books published either in raised characters, on sound-reproduction recordings or in any other form, and for purchase, maintenance, and replacement of reproducers for such sound-reproduction recordings, for the use of the blind and for other physically handicapped residents of the United States, including the several States, Territories, insular possessions, and the District of Columbia, all of which books, recordings, and reproducers will remain the property of the Library of Congress but will be loaned to blind and to other physically handicapped readers certified by competent authority as unable to read normal printed material as a result of physical limitations, under regulations prescribed by the Librarian of Congress for this service. In the purchase of books in either raised characters or in sound-reproduction recordings the Librarian of Congress, without reference to the provisions of section 6101 of title 41, shall give preference to nonprofit-making institutions or agencies whose activities are primarily concerned with the blind and with other physically handicapped persons, in all cases where the prices or bids submitted by such institutions or agencies are, by said Librarian, under all the circumstances and needs involved, determined to be fair and reasonable.

(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.)

Codification

Codification

In text, “section 6101 of title 41” substituted for “section 3709 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (41 U.S.C. 5)” on authority of Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3854, which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.

Amendments

Amendments

1966—Pub. L. 89–522 amended section generally, extending availability of books and materials under this section by authorizing their loan to other physically handicapped residents, in addition to blind persons, certified by competent authority as unable to read normal printed material as a result of physical limitations.

1957—Pub. L. 85–308 authorized annual appropriation of necessary sums in lieu of provisions which limited annual appropriation to $1,125,000, and struck out limitation of $200,000 on amount of appropriated funds to be expended annually for books in raised characters.

1952—Act July 3, 1952, included children within its provisions as well as adults.

1946—Act Aug. 8, 1946, increased annual appropriation from $500,000 to $1,125,000.

1944—Act June 13, 1944, increased annual appropriation from $370,000 to $500,000, the amount allocated to sound-reproduction records from $250,000 to $400,000, and struck out provision allocating $20,000 to maintenance and replacement of Government-owned reproducers.

1942—Act Oct. 1, 1942, substituted “$370,000” for “$350,000”, and inserted clause at end of first sentence relating to expenditure of not exceeding $20,000 for maintenance and replacement of reproducers for sound-reproduction records.

1940—Act June 6, 1940, substituted “$350,000” for “$275,000” and “$250,000” for “$175,000”.

1939—Act June 7, 1939, inserted last sentence.

1937—Act Apr. 23, 1937, substituted “$275,000” for “$175,000” in two places and “$175,000” for “$75,000”.

1935—Act June 14, 1935, substituted “$175,000” for “$100,000” and inserted provision that $100,000 of the $175,000 annual appropriation be expended for books in raised characters and the balance for sound-reproduction records.

1933—Act Mar. 4, 1933, inserted “published either in raised characters, on sound-reproduction records, or in any other form”.

Effective Date Of Amendment

Effective Date of 1957 Amendment

Pub. L. 85–308, § 2, Sept. 7, 1957, 71 Stat. 630, provided that: “This Act [amending this section] shall be applicable with respect to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1958, and for each fiscal year thereafter.”

Effective Date of 1946 Amendment

Act Aug. 8, 1946, ch. 868, § 2, 60 Stat. 908, provided: “This Act [amending this section] shall be applicable with respect to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1947, and for each fiscal year thereafter.”

Effective Date of 1944 Amendment

Act June 13, 1944, ch. 246, § 2, 58 Stat. 276, provided: “This Act [amending this section] shall be applicable with respect to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1945, and for each fiscal year thereafter.”

Effective Date of 1942 Amendment

Act Oct. 1, 1942, ch. 575, § 2, 56 Stat. 764, provided: “This Act [amending this section] shall be applicable with respect to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1943, and for each fiscal year thereafter.”

Effective Date of 1937 Amendment

Act Apr. 23, 1937, ch. 125, § 2, 50 Stat. 72, provided that: “This Act [amending this section] shall be applicable with respect to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1938, and for each fiscal year thereafter.”