[blindLaw] Quetion on accessing books for research

[Seif-Eldeen Saqallah]

Perhaps this might be of interest:

The Law and Accessible Texts: Reconciling Civil Rights and Copyrights
https://www.arl.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019.07.15-white-paper-law-and-accessible-texts.pdf
...
I am forwarding this along from a list post.  This is a very well
researched and thoughtful document.

Good afternoon,
Today, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) released a white
paper titled "The Law and Accessible Texts: Reconciling Civil Rights
and Copyrights". I think this is an INCREDIBLY important document for
everyone in the field to read. With the new academic year approaching
it could be very helpful in answering questions you or others in your
institution's community might have around creating alternative format
materials.  I would suggest sharing it with your General Counsel and
other important stake holders.

It is in a PDF format and has been checked for accessibility. One
thing to note is that the links in the text contain the entire URL, so
a screen reader will hear the URL. I have notified ARL of that.

The paper can be found at the following link The Law and Accessible
Texts: Reconciling Civil Rights and
Copyrights<https://www.arl.org/resources/the-law-and-accessible-texts-reconciling-civil-rights-and-copyrights/>

On 9/27/19, Derek Dittmar via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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? One of the authors contacted the
> publisher, and was told that (1) the publisher would not distribute a
> pdf and (2) the author was contractually forbidden from doing so
> himself. 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 (or
> I) have to go to the publishers?"
>  Thanks again.
>  Warmly yours,
>  Derek Dittmar
>
> _______________________________________________
> BlindLaw mailing list
> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> BlindLaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/seifs%40umich.edu
>


-- 
Seif Saqallah
University of Michigan
Juris Doctor/
Masters in Middle Eastern and North African Studies
J.D/M.A Candidate | 2021

International studies, Arabic Studies, and Judaic Studies;
Law, Justice, and Social Change
B.A | 2017

248-325-7091
seifs at umich.edu

Student Attorney | International Transactions Clinic
University of Michigan Law School
3120 Jeffries Hall
701 South State Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
www.law.umich.edu/ITC

The information in this transmittal (including attachments, if any) is
confidential and may contain privileged information. If you are not
the intended recipient and have received this transmittal in error,
please notify the sender immediately by reply email, delete this
communication, and destroy all copies of the transmittal (including
attachments, if any).