1. Accessible Books Consortium and implementing the Marrakesh Treaty
National Seminar on the Implementation of Marrakesh Treaty in
Malaysia
Presented by Anthea Taylor
on behalf of the Accessible Book Consortium August 2018

2. Context
The World Blind Union estimates that over 90% of all published material is not accessible
The rate is higher in developing countries

3. Accessible Book Consortium
Public - private alliance
Established June 2014
ABC is one possible initiative, amongst others, to implement the objectives of the Marrakesh Treaty

4. ABC includes: World Intellectual Property Organisation
World Blind Union
International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment
DAISY Consortium
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
Sightsavers
Perkins School for the Blind
International Authors’ Forum
International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations and
International Publishers Association

5. Accessible Book Consortium
The goal is to increase the number of books worldwide in accessible formats - and to make them available to people who are blind, have low vision or are otherwise print disabled
Global Book Service
Capacity Building
Inclusive Publishing

6. ABC Global Book Service
Online catalogue of accessible books
Platform to exchange books between participating libraries
No need to seek rights holder permission to exchange if in a Marrakesh Treaty country

7. ABC Global Book Service – Key figures
41 Authorized Entities have joined (AEs)
Over 361,000 titles in catalogue
205,000 accessible titles books lent to patrons

8. Newest libraries to join:
Argentina: Tiflonexos
Belgium: Luisterpuntbibliotheek
Canada: Bibliothèque et Archives Nationale du Quebec (BAnQ)
Colombia: The National Institute for the Blind (INCI)
Germany: German Central Library for the Blind (DZB)
France: Groupement des Intellectuels Aveugles ou Amblyopes
India: DAISY Forum of India
Russia: St. Petersburg Library for Blind and Visually Impaired
Thailand: Thailand Association for the Blind Foundation
Tunisia : Tunisian National Library
Vietnam: Sao Mai Vocational Center for the Blind
Uruguay: Fundacion Braille de Uruguay

9. Top users of the service
AVH – France (2900 downloads)
BF – New Zealand (2500 downloads)
CNIB – Canada (1800 downloads)
VA – Australia (1700 downloads)
SALB – South Africa (880 downloads)
MTM – Sweden (600 downloads)
NLS – U.S. (550 downloads)

10. Top languages English (127,000) Norwegian (14,000)
Swedish (85,000) Polish (12,000)
Dutch (49,000) German (9,000)
Danish (34,400) Portuguese (2,200)
French (25,600) Afrikaans (1,500)
Spanish (1,200)

11. Legal Context
Authorization by Rightsholder not required if the two countries exchanging books each have copyright legislation that is consistent with the Marrakesh Treaty
Authorization by Rightsholder is still required if only one country has implemented the provisions of the Treaty and the other has not

12. Exchange under Marrakesh Treaty
« CNIB (Canada) orders a book from Vision Australia (Australia) »
« Both countries ratified Marrakesh and implemented national laws that are consistent with Marrakesh »
Step 1 – Search for title(s)
Step 2 – Add title(s) to wish list or order directly
Step 3 – AE to certify any legal provisions required by either requesting or supplying country.
Step 4 – Title(s) uploaded by the supplying AE
Step 5 – Title(s) and metadata downloaded by the requesting AE

13. Implementation of Marrakesh Treaty in European Union – October 12, 2018
Over 270,000 titles will become available for cross- border exchange once the EU implements the Marrakesh Treaty
AEs in EU will have a major stake in ABC catalogue

14. New Features: In development:
FTP / Bulk download and upload of digital files
Advance search fields
Implementation of Spanish and French interface
In development:
Subject and audience categories
New consumer (B2B2C) Pilot

15. Benefits of the Service
Free of cost
Secure exchange of digital files
Accessible titles in different languages and formats all located in one catalogue
Review only one exchange contract

16. What is an accessible document?
Digital documents are not always accessible
Short video -

17. Inclusive Publishing ABC Charter for Accessible Publishing
ABC International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing
Training for publishers
Starter Kit for Developing Countries
Guidelines for Self-Publishing Authors

18. What are the benefits of Inclusive Publishing?
Expands the market to new consumers
Makes for a better product for all readers
Improves publisher workflow
Creation of an accessible catalogue may develop the educational publishing sector
Corporate social responsibility

19. How can copyright offices assist?
Establish contacts with Authorized Entities (AEs)
Support AEs joining the ABC Global Book Service
Encourage publishers to provide digital copies of their titles to AEs
Promote the ABC Charter for Accessible Publishing

20. The Marrakesh Treaty,
the ABC
and
a boy named William

21. For more information: Thank you
Web:
Thank you