Jasper Packard: “Section 208 allows the Library of Congress to request that funds from the five-line-item appropriations funding the…”

“Section 208 allows the Library of Congress to request that funds from the five-line-item appropriations funding the Library of Congress be shifted to meet its needs. The Books for the Blind Program is one of these five line items, but of course this committee has not legislatively decreased these funds for the blind. In fact, we increased funds in this year's bill. As the gentleman pointed out, this program is the primary source of reading material for the blind, and the committee has been pleased to increase funds for this service in the bill that we are debating today. Under section 208 the Librarian could request, for instance, that funds be added to the Books for the Blind account and taken from the other four line items. It is most unlikely, though possible, that the Librarian could request funds to be shifted out of this account; however, even were the Librarian to make such a request, it would have to be approved by the House and Senate appropriations committees before any transfer could take place. I personally have to approve that, and of course we have been very protective of the Books for the Blind. So section 208 provides a mechanism by which the efficiency of the Library of Congress and the Books for the Blind program can be maximized.”