Got Different File Types? How Bookshare Cracks the Conversion Codes Accessing Higher Ground November 17, 2011

2 Got Different File Types? How Bookshare Cracks the Conversion Codes Accessing Higher Ground November 17, 2011 Suzy Haines, Bookshare Digital Content Manager Cherie Miller, Bookshare University Program Manager

Benetech & Bookshare Innovation. Scale. Collaboration. Bookshare is an online library of accessible media for readers with print disabilities Accessible books as digital text used as audio, electronic braille, text + speech, enlarged text 3 Bookshare believes that people with print disabilities should have the same ease of access to books and periodicals that people without disabilities enjoy.

What’s New at Bookshare 150,000+ student members 130,000+ titles + periodicals in the collection 2,000 – 5,000 titles added every month 160 Publisher Partners 19 University presses 40 additional with post-secondary content Over 70% of books added this year will be from publishers 1-year OSEP award: Leveraging Impact through Technology (LIT) 4

What Makes Bookshare Possible? Legal basis: Operates under the Chafee Amendment to U.S. Copyright Law This law determines who is/is not eligible for Bookshare. Financial basis: Funded by award from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Dept of Education 5

The Chafee Amendment Authorized entities have a copyright exception No permission or royalty requirement Can serve people with bona fide print disabilities Severe dyslexia Blindness, low vision Mobility Impairment Content in specialized formats DAISY – Digital Accessible Information System BRF – Braille Ready Format 6

What is Digital Content? anything that isn’t on paper, including plain text Word/RTF HTML XML DAISY InDesign LaTeX PDF

Where Does Bookshare Get Digital Content? commercial publishers university and academic presses National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) donations from authors donations from volunteers donations from organizations

University Press Partners Cambridge University Press Columbia University Press Cornell University Press Duke University Press Gallaudet University Press Harvard University Press Hong Kong University Press MIT Press NYU Press Princeton University Press Stanford University Press University of British Columbia Press University of California Press University of Chicago Press University of Michigan Press University of Minnesota Press University of North Carolina Press University of Ottawa Press University of Wisconsin Press University Press of Colorado Yale University Press Wesleyan University Press 9

University Partner Schools Alliant International University Arizona State University Boston University College of New Jersey College of San Mateo De Anza College George Mason University Georgetown University Law Center Hadley School for the Blind Indiana University Landmark College Loras College Michigan State University Monterey Peninsula College Mohawk Community College Ohio State University San Diego Mesa College Santa Clara University Santa Monica College Santa Rosa Junior College Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Stanford University Texas A&M University – College Station Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi University of Arizona University of Arkansas University of California, Berkeley University of Idaho University of Montana University of Texas, Austin Utah State University Whittier College 10

What Does the Digital Content Manager Do? manage technical relationship with digital file providers analyze quality of files and metadata from new sources troubleshoot errors and provide technical feedback to suppliers manage flow of digital files oversee conversions processes develop custom conversion processes handle member requests

Converting Digital Files (aka PDF vs everything else)

ePub, HTML, XML

DAISY

PDF

Processing a Digital File (“everything else”) After the file arrives on our server: 1.check quality of new source files 2.start conversion scripts and watch for errors 3.check quality of newly converted files 4.evaluate metadata 5.publish to Bookshare collection 6.fix Book Quality issues, if reported

Step 1. Check quality of new source files passes validation checks with no errors or warnings contains copyright and title information has a logical and consistent structure no misused tags or paragraph types

Step 2. Start conversion scripts and watch for errors

Step 3. Check quality of newly converted files Open the new file in multiple DAISY readers. Look for the following: accurate and functional navigation complete and undistorted images logical, consistent and accurate structure reads aloud correctly

Step 4. Evaluate metadata evaluate ONIX file, if available check for accurate metadata in Bookshare collection analyze patterns of missing or inaccurate data fill in missing metadata fields

Step 5. Publish to Bookshare collection

Step 6. Fix Book Quality issues, if reported

Processing a Digital File (PDF) After the file arrives on our server: 1.check quality of new source files 2.OCR process 3.Proofreading 4.evaluate metadata 5.publish to Bookshare collection

Step 1. Check quality of new source files (PDF) make sure the file open correctly copyright and title pages are present contents are complete

Steps 2-5. OCR, proofreading and publishing treated like a traditional paper book OCR by Collection Development staff proofread by vendors or volunteers approved and published to the Bookshare collection by staff

Guidelines for Good Digital Files any format is better than PDF, if proofread include copyright and title pages use a logical and consistent structure don’t misuse paragraph styles or tags If you have questions, ask me!

The Future of Digital Content new ePub, NIMAS and DAISY standards MathML image descriptions more digital feeds, more content and more availability

Support Your Students: Create Bookshare Memberships

29 Who is Eligible for Bookshare? DisabilityQualified/Not Qualified Examples of Certifying Professionals Visual Impairment (VI), such as blindness or low vision Qualified A family doctor, ophthalmologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, optometrist, physical therapist, or other medical professional. Teacher of the visually impaired, special education teacher, learning disability specialist, school psychologist, clinical psychologist with a background in learning disabilities, resource specialist or other educational professional Certification from the National Library Service Proof of membership with RFB&D Physical Disability (PD) which affects the ability to read print, such as inability to hold a book or turn pages Qualified Severe Learning Disability that affects the ability to read standard print Students with a severe enough disability, and a professional certifying that the disability is severe enough and the individual needs accessible formats. Autism Emotional disabilities ADHD Not qualified, unless accompanied by a visual or physical disability, or a qualified reading disability that has a physical basis Not applicable Other Learning Challenges ESL and ELL

Two Membership Options Individual Membership Access Bookshare at Home Student downloads for herself / himself Download books, except textbooks Free for all U.S. students with qualifying print disabilities For those with qualifying print disabilities who are not students, membership is $50 per year for unlimited downloads. Organizational Membership Access Bookshare at School Teacher downloads on behalf of student Download all books, including textbooks Free for all organizations serving U.S. students with qualifying print disabilities For organizations serving individuals with qualifying print disabilities who are not students, various membership plans available

31 4 Ways to Read  Multi-modal reading: See and hear words simultaneously  View books with large font on a PC screen, or print  Listen to them (many voice options)  Read Braille (digital or hardcopy)

32 Read Books in the DAISY Format (Digital Accessible Information System) Flexible, versatile file format Multi-modal reading on a computer Visual presentation and/or synthetic speech Easier to navigate Chapters, paragraphs, and pages Like HTML, plus some extra tags Convert and play on MP3 player

33 Read Books in the BRF Format ( Braille Ready Format) Use notetakers or refreshable Braille displays Download books to embosser Order hardcopy Braille books online through partnership with Braille Institute

34 Compatible AT Hardware Any AT hardware supporting text-based files HumanWare VictorReader Stream and ClassMate Reader Plextalk Pocket BookCourier and BookPort Braille displays like the HumanWare BrailleNote, Freedom Scientific PAC Mate, and GW Micro Braille Sense LevelStar ICON™ Intel Reader DAISY player for Symbian and Windows phones MP3 players (educator or Member converts)

35 Compatible AT Software  Any AT software supporting text-based files  HumanWare Victor Reader Soft  Don Johnston READ:OutLoud Windows and Macintosh  Kurzweil 3000, 1000  TextHelp Read & Write Gold  Freedom Scientific WYNN  Freedom Scientific OpenBook  Gh Player  Dolphin EasyReader  DAISY Consortium AMIS  Nextup TextAloud  Innovative Rehabilitation Technology eClipseReader  DAISY software players - Free versions available for Members! Free for members high-quality Acapela voices

36 Now in the iTunes store! Read2Go, the most full- featured, accessible DAISY reader available for Apple iOS devices! (Open-source Android app testing now taking place – recruiting volunteers.)

Questions? Contact us. Suzy Haines Digital Content Manager Cherie Miller University Program Manager