[Athen] Quality assurance in alternate format book repositories

[via athen-list]

Hello,
 
Because a repository receives files, I suggest that:
 
*	EPUB files should pass epubcheck or be rejected. This is what most
distributors do, like Apple, Google, etc.
*	I suggest using ACE By DAISY upon ingestion. This will provide an
accessibility report. It will also extract the accessibility metadata.
*	The library should display that accessibility metadata on their
site. That accessibility metadata is also available through ONIX records.
*	If it fails ACE and/or does not have accessibility metadata, IMO
that information should be provided and the publisher should be encouraged
to resolve those issues.
 
Those recommendations have been made to the folks at Bookshare and it is in
their plans. I do not have a timeframe for that implementation.
 
Best
George
 
From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu> On Behalf
Of Mark Weiler via athen-list
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:46 PM
To: 'Access Technology Higher Education Network'
<athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Athen] Quality assurance in alternate format book repositories
 
In an earlier July thread to the group, Susan Kelmer raised an important
topic about quality of books in alternate format repositories.  Susan wrote:
"I may sound like a broken record, but Bookshare files are of questionable
quality in most circumstances, with a vast array of missing information and
a lack of formatting that is normally expected as a standard in an
accessible file."
 
As a Web & UX librarian, book reading experiences are very important to
overall library experiences.  Recently I was a co-chair of an assessment
working group looking at the Accessible Content eRepository (ACE) in the
Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL).   (disclosure: I work at a
library within the OCUL consortium). The report stated: "Although eBooks and
journal articles are now expected to meet accessibility standards3, ACE
books do not"  and "ACE does not offer quality assurance for remediation." 
 
Since then,  I've heard OCUL has adopted recommendations from the report. I
note they are working on a project to support remediation
<https://ocul.on.ca/aiml-program>  with ACE.
 
Any comments or thoughts about quality assurance programs at alternate book
format repositories out there? 
 
 
Mark Weiler, PhD (he & him)
JAWS certified and Web Accessibility Specialist 
Web & User Experience Librarian
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario
548-889-5056
Notices 
Upcoming  <https://library.wlu.ca/events> Laurier Library workshops & events
 
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