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

2. The Plan Alternative formats Existing inventories The Resource Service Library Utopia

3. 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

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

5. Resources Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic http://www.rfbd.org/ –Limitations for Canadians Institutional production –inefficient Student self-production –Student priorities

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

7. However… Cost Time for new transcriptions –Administrative bottlenecks

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

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

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

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

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

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

14. 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

15. Contact Info Trent Copp Email: spneeds@mcmaster.ca