This segment of a series of studies to ascertain the degree to which visually impaired persons use the programs of the Library of Congress National Library Service for the blind and physically handicapped (NLS) describes current issues of concern to the network of local and state libraries serving the target group. Five major issues are examined: programs provided, current and future plans, library administration, reader profiles, and service delivery. Chapters discuss the history and organization of the NLS; research findings on the sponsorship, committed resources, and utilization of the NLS; library administration; issues related to reaching new subscribers; and models of innovative regional libraries, traditional regional libraries, and transitional regional libraries. Tables and figures illustrate the data, a glossary is provided, and a bibliography lists more than 60 references. (FM)