Alternative Format Lending: A Roadmap to Utopia Trent Copp, B.A. Library Assistant, Special Needs

The Plan Alternative formats Existing inventories The Resource Service Library Utopia

Alternative Formats Audio –(+) Familiar, low tech –(-) Labour intensive, variable quality, navigation Braille –(+) Math, Stats, Graphics –(-) Cost and labour intensive, –(-) Limited market, cumbersome Large Print –(+) Cost and labour effective –(-) Limited market, cumbersome

Electronic Text Word processor format –PDFs Screenreaders/magnifiers –Kurzweil, JAWS ($) –Free alternatives

Resources Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic –Limitations for Canadians Institutional production –inefficient Student self-production –Student priorities

Resource Service Library Co-ordinate vast interlending –AMICUS, LOUIS, CNIB, etc. Contract production

However… Cost Time for new transcriptions –Administrative bottlenecks

The Publisher Option Direct contact with requests Major publishers’ online forms Smaller publishers –Advocacy –The McMaster etext contract

The Joys of Etext Cost effective Labour effective One-size-fits-all (almost!) New editions Public domain ebooks

Ease of Access Direct access cuts involvement –Administrative layers –Volunteers –New production –Storage space Ends ‘lending’

Reality Check Screenreader limitations: math, diagrams Technological intimidation Publisher’s limitations –Ignorance –Quality of production –Etext inventory –Inefficiency

Technological Potential Advancing technology –Adobe 6.0 –New screenreader versions Future potential –Equations, diagrams –Computer voice –Navigation

Roadmap to Utopia Educating smaller publishers Awareness of software companies Benefits of promoting screenreaders Faculty pressure …? Legislative pressure…?

A word from the publishers… Hi Trent- Here are the answers: 1) Thus far concerns are minimal to nil. There have been no instances, that I'm aware of, of unlawful use or copying of e-texts. 2) I'd say we have a 65%-75% ability to provide e-texts to requestors. I expect that percentage to go up as requestors ask for more recently published texts. 3) I'd say the university just needs to provide all information possible about the book requested. 4) No common problems at this point that I've come across. Hope this helps, Keith Uhlich OUP

Contact Info Trent Copp