Bookshare Success StoryPresented by Viji Dilip

Agenda What is Bookshare?

Who is eligible?

What are its benefits?

What is in the Bookshare library?

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What is Bookshare?

Several million people across the globe have print disabilities,

yet, fewer than five percent of the books needed by people with print and learning disabilities are available in formats they can read.

Bookshare is an online digital library which addresses the issue of lack of sufficient reading material for the print and learning disabled.

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Bookshare Today An online library of accessible media for readers

with print disabilities

Over 110,000 members worldwide

Over 17,000 titles available to International members

Serving members is 32 countries

English, Spanish, Tamil, Hindi, French, German

How Can I Access Books on Bookshare ?

Books can be accessed in txt, html, DAISY and Braille Ready Formats (BRF).

DAISY- stands for Digitally Accessible Information System.

Text can be read in large font on the screen. Text can be highlighted as you read it on the screen-

you can also listen to it at the same time. Victor Reader and Read:OutLoud software comes

free with a membership and can be used to read and navigate books.

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Bookshare’s books are digital

Harry Potter & the

Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter &

Goblet of Fire

Download from the Internet CAN be read by people with

print disabilities!

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How Does Bookshare Get Digital Books?

Chop

Publishers

Textbooks from University Partners

Scan Proofread

To K

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Why are digital books cool? Digital books can be read different ways.

DAISY format Read on your computer

with assistive reading software

Read on portable assistive technology devices

Convert and read on MP3 players!

Braille Ready Format (BRF)

Use notetakers or refreshable Braille displays

Download books to embosser

Order hardcopy Braille books online through partnership with Braille Institute-prices online

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What is DAISY

www.DAISY.org ability to use free software to create

DAISY books International standard

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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 www.daisy.org

Study Tools

• Highlighting

• Bookmarks

• Text Notes

• Dictionary

• Voice Notes

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 BrailleNote

ICON™

New Code Factory DAISY player for Symbian and Windows phones

MP3 players (educator or Member converts)

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Compatible AT Software

Any AT software supporting text-based files Victor Reader Soft 2.5 Bookshare edition – now free READ:OutLoud Bookshare edition – now free

Kurzweil 3000, 1000 WYNN OpenBook Window-Eyes JAWS ZoomText TextHelp

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Eligible Students Disability Qualified/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.

AutismEmotional disabilitiesADHD

Not qualified, unless accompanied by a visual or physical disability, or a qualified reading disability that has a physical basis

Not applicableOther Learning Challenges

ESL and ELL

Record of disability kept

at school!

Bookshare Has Rules: Terms of Agreement & Digital Rights Management

Books are for readers with print disabilities only. Book file sharing is not allowed. There are consequences for copyright violations. All books are encrypted for a specific user. All downloaded copyrighted material is fingerprinted

so it can be traced. Security program monitors book downloads and

suspends irregular accounts.

Read Responsibly!

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Signing up is Easy!

Step 1 – Go to Sign Up Today on the Bookshare website; fill in your contact information.

Step 2 – Sign and mail/fax the user agreement.

Step 3 – Mail or fax your proof of disability.

Once Bookshare gets all of your paperwork we will send you a welcome email within 2 business days. This will include your user name and password.

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What Are The Benefits? Helps individuals read and

study independently.

Helps students keep up with their classmates.

Motivates reading, as books can be accessed from anywhere.

Encourages a lifelong commitment and love of reading.

Check me out on Youtube.com!

Go to www.youtube.com and search for Bookshare videos!

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What’s In The Bookshare Library?Special Collections Caldecott Award winners Pulitzer Prize winners New York Times Best Sellers Spanish books Pacific Island Collection

Children’s books Scholastic

LiteratureSci-fiMysteryRomanceHistoryGeneral KnowledgeSpirituality

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Key factors for successPublisher recognition as a reliable entity serving

people with print disabilitiesMore books being added everyday- digitally as publisher

feeds keep comingIncreased level of accuracyTimeliness of book availability –ability to read the same

books at the same timeBetter metadata

Raising Awareness on the benefits of DaisyEase of useIndependent ReadingIncreased educational opportunities

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How do we raise awareness on the benefits of daisy and about Bookshare serviceReaching out to schools, colleges, universities Rehab organizationsParents associationsEducating the special education teachersTraining the trainersLibrariesWebinars/workshopsDirect mail, email, newslettersConferencesSocial networking- Facebook, Twitter, YoutubePressBlogs/podcasts

Nurturing membershipsEnhance user experienceIncrease utilizationHonoring book requests wherever possibleBuilding a community of users and volunteersOnline discussion forums

Going to the SourceGovernment Agencies (scalable)

Key factors for success (contd)

Thank you.