[nabs-l] University Libraries

Mon Feb 9 23:25:03 UTC 2015

The way my school sees it, research is an assignment which is due as
part of class work.  So, you should have access to library materials
you need in order to do your research.  Typically I do have to be more
organized as far as knowing my topic so I can request the
inter-library loan in advance to allow vor conversion time as well,
and sometimes when the pdf file comes back I can convert it using robo
braille, but the student workers in the DS office will convert
anything I still need and will usually get it to me within a few days.

My school climate may be different.  From what I can tell not a lot of
people seem to need in depth file conversions.  I just get them back
as text files, which I understand is a bit easier for the OLR (office
of learning resources) to do than word or other files that involve
formatting pictures and such.  I've thankfully never had to use human
readers to access the material, and if I can't do it independently I
usually work with my professors to find alternatives.  Sometimes
they'll even know of an article in a journal in their office or on
their computer and send it to me as a suggestion in an accessible
format.

On 2/9/15, Ashley Bramlett via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Kaiti,
>
> Really? I cannot believe what I'm reading about the services provided to
> you.
> My library databases whether being at marymount or Nova, have been
> problematic too.
> Oh, a few accessible ones like Psych Info or Jstor, but mostly semi
> accessible.
>
> Marymount university, MU, only provided some support after I begged staff to
>
> have appointments with me.
> Up till then, I got only the reference support given to other students at
> the library.
>
> All throughout my college experience at Mu and Nova, I have had to pretty
> much make my own accomodations.
> Libraries are full of print material which is inaccessible to us.
> So I use scanning or human readers to help.
> If you think the library ebooks are helpful, think again.
> The library uses adobe digital editions books which have been inaccessible
> to me.
> I've pretty much had to plan my research time around other's schedules when
>
> they can assist me.
> I've always needed books for research so had to bring readers with me to
> make all that print accessible.
> I did have a few psychology papers in which I used Psych info a lot. Using
> the database accessible pdf files or HTML articles gave me access, and that
>
> work I did more independently.
> But most research papers required human intervention.
>
> So back to your accomodations.
> Who scans all these library materials for you?
> Which materials do you use?
> What is the turn around time?
> What format do you use? word files?
>
> I was just informed by nova that if I wanted image pdf documents accessible,
>
> I could submit them to the coordinator, but it could take four weeks.
> She encouraged me to learn to do it myself because of the time lag.
> So, my school will not convert class material to accessible files timely,
> let alone library material!
> They call four weeks waiting a reasonable accomodation. What a joke!
>
> You are very lucky. No one offered to scan library materials for me. I've
> never asked. It never occurred to me to ask for homework material to be
> accessible.
> My accomodations only cover classroom material and test accomodations.
>
> I've tried doing it myself with openbook and rarely is it readable enough;
> too many mistakes with the OCR.
>
> So again, you are lucky. Tell us how your school does it. whichwhic h school
>
> do you attend?
>
> Ashley
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kaiti Shelton via nabs-l
> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2015 4:38 PM
> To: Derek Manners ; National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] University Libraries
>
> Hi all (specifically Derek since he seems particularly knowledgeable
> about this).
>
> I've never had any problems getting library materials scanned for me,
> even when using inter-library loan.  The databases at my school are
> not jaws-friendly at all, so the DS office has usually intervened.
>
> My question to add to Michaels is this:  I have a class where the
> teacher inadvertently chose a textbook that is extremely expensive.
> She has not taught the class in several years, and found this
> psychology book with the updated DSMV invormation and loved it.
> However, when she found out that it was almost $300 she said she would
> have never assigned it had she known the price, and so she stuck a
> copy of the book in the university library on reserve for students to
> use so they wouldn't need to buy it (with the rule being that the book
> could not leave the library).
>
> Now, being a diligent blind student, I submitted my alternative format
> request for the book as soon as the teacher gave me the ISBN and other
> information.  The disability office did all the scanning and editing,
> but I still have not shown them proof of purchase because I have not
> shelled out the $300 for the book.  Should I just show them the
> library copy and explain what happened or do I really need to buy the
> book even though the rest of my class doesn't have to?
>
> Thanks,
>
> On 2/7/15, Derek Manners via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> After further reading, it hasn't been said completely right. So just to
>> reiterate, it is a violation of the ADA and section 504 of the rehab act
>> for
>> school libraries not to scan a copy for you. If they don't know about the
>> Chaffee amendment or fair use doctrine (for example the Hathitrust case
>> involving the University of Michigan Library), point them to it. Both are
>> Google-able.
>>
>> Best wishes
>> Derek
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Feb 7, 2015, at 2:12 PM, Derek Manners
>>> <dmanners at jd16.law.harvard.edu>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> This may have already been said but it is not a violation of copyright
>>> law. The Chaffee amendment allows for reproducing accessible copies for
>>> the blind for non-fiction works and the fair use doctrine has been ruled
>>> to always apply to blind people (see the Hathittust Case for example)
>>> which basically means everything not covered by the Chaffee amendment is
>>> still able to reproduced accessibly for blind folks.
>>>
>>> Best wishes
>>> Derek Manners
>>> 2L Harvard Law and former legal intern at NFB
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Feb 6, 2015, at 6:54 PM, Michael D Ausbun via nabs-l
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hello All:
>>>>   Out of curiosity, what are your experiences dealing with the
>>>> University
>>>> Libraries? According to some of our librarians, at the University of
>>>> Nevada, Reno, necessary accommodations ought to be made, in order to
>>>> allow equal access to all books contained in the libraries. Thus, they
>>>> believe they ought to be able to scan and process or receive already
>>>> accessible formats of any given book. On the other hand, some
>>>> librarians
>>>> suggested that it is impossible, because it is a violation of copyright
>>>> laws (which is technically true).
>>>>   I am just curious, because in order to complete my thesis research, I
>>>> need access to a book, which is not on Bookshare and I would rather not
>>>> buy it, in the instance that the University already owns it.
>>>> Respectfully,
>>>> Michael Ausbun
>>>>
>>>> Pledge, Kappa Sigma
>>>> Cofounder, University of Nevada, Reno Philosophy Club
>>>> Secretary, Nevada Association of Blind Students
>>>> Member, Honors College of the University of Nevada, Reno
>>>> Member, Speech and Debate at the University of Nevada, Reno
>>>>
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>
>
> --
> Kaiti
>
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-- 
Kaiti