[blindLaw] Great news and a research question on libraries and book access

[Derek Dittmar]

All,
First things first. I am delighted to share that I passed the North
Carolina Bar, and am being sworn in on October 3. Thank you all for
your advice, guidance, and inspiration. Even if you didn't realize it,
you made me feel less alone; your example pushed me to get the job
done, and I am so thankful.

Now for my question. Does anyone have experience with getting
accessible texts from libraries? I know about Bookshare, and I know
that, if I get in touch with the right person at a publisher's
business, I can get a PDF of a book when showing proof of purchase.
But I'm curious about how this relates to libraries. For example, I
want to access the treatis on North Carolina Constitutional Law (if
I'm going to swear an oath, I need a better understanding of the
Constitution I am swearing to defend). I could buy the book and send
the proof to the publishers, but (1) it is well over $250 and (2) I
know for a fact that my law library (open to alums and bar members)
has a copy. While the library has done an amazing job of accessing
different databases (it even bought a Bookshare membership), this book
isn't available in any of those avenues. We're working on trying to
get a copy from the authors, but it raised the question: what is a
public library required (or able) to do to get its physical books
accessible for blind patrons? To be clear, our library staff are
AMAZING. This is less of a "how do I make them help me" and more of a
"what tools do they have to go to the publishers?"
Thanks again.
Warmly yours,
Derek Dittmar