[Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books - Electronic Craft Books and Magazines

Mon Mar 30 21:59:30 UTC 2009

Dear Fellow Crafters (and anyone else who cares),

I'm thrilled someone has brought this up as it is a "hot button issue" for
me.  I would like to see us work with other NFB groups/divisions, as the
lack of access to electronic books and magazines by blind folks using screen
readers is a big deal.

There are bunches of eBooks and emagazines on all types of crafts -
knitting, crocheting, sewing, beading, soap and cosmetic-making, just to
name a few categories.  The most common download format is PDF.  Until a
couple of years ago, we could often purchase one of these books and download
it and read it, if we had acrobat reader 6.  Then, to improve the ability of
publishers to prevent copyright violations, either publishers or eBook
venders, I don't know which, started using adobe Digital Edition for PDF
books.  As far as I know, Digital Edition is not accessible to blind persons
using screen readers.  There are a few books in TXT, html, word and other
formats but I haven't found craft books in those formats.  Besides Amazon,
I've searched (and bought inaccessible books from ebookmall and ebooks.com.

There are also a number of online crafting-related magazines.  I was really
excited the first time I found one related to beading.  I found the table of
contents and clicked on the article I wanted to read.  Then, I was able to
click on each page of the article.  The only problem was that I could not
access any of the text on any of the pages.

I have downloaded individual pdf patterns and used them but there are a lot
of resources out there that are available to the general public
electronically and it would certainly be terrific if we as blind crafters
could also use them.

I'll get down off my soap box now, and would love to hear from anyone who
might have tips or ideas on how we can access this ever-growing body of
material.

Nancy Yeager

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Powers, Terry
(NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 1:56 PM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books?

So your saying we could use a format that works on the stream or computer
and maybe, even emboss it, if it were not to long!  Am I right?
Never tried them before.  Are there any books on any other crafts?
National Braille Press would be another option if you buy the book first.
Terry

-----Original Message-----
From: slery [mailto:slerythema at insightbb.com]
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 11:05 AM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books?

Amazon has different formats for download. The Kindle is its own format.
If a book is offered for the Kindle, it will say Kindle not some other type.
If you use the advanced search feature, the formats available are:
print, Kindle, audio, html, pdf, calendar.

Cindy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eileen 
> Scrivani
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 8:04 PM
> To: List for blind crafters and artists
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books?
> 
> 
> Thanks.  It figures that the books are only accessible on that 
> particular unit or I-Phone.  I found some information about the Kindle

> on AccessWorld, but it was left unclear what format the books came in.

> I was only interested in the knitting books, but don't want a Kindle 
> unit.  I'm happy with both the Victor Reader & Audible & NLS for the 
> majority of my other reading.  Eileen
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Annette Carr" <amcarr1 at verizon.net>
> To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" 
> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 3:59 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books?
> 
> 
> > It is my understanding that the format of the books created for the 
> > Kindle, are exclusive to the Kindle.  Additionally, it is my
> understanding that
> > the
> > text to speech feature available on the Kindle is only
> available when the
> > publisher makes that feature available in specific books.  
> This is only
> > information that I have read on the product, and have not
> had any hands-on
> > experience.
> >
> > Another source for electronic books is Overdrive and NetLibrary.  
> > Check
> > with
> > your local library to see if they participate.  Be aware
> that you are
> > looking for audio books, and not e-books.  However, I've
> been told that
> > some
> > e-books can be accessed if the PDF has been created properly.
> >
> > HTH,
> > Annette
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
> > [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eileen 
> > Scrivani
> > Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 3:43 PM
> > To: nfb-krafters-korner
> > Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Kindle & Knitting Books?
> >
> > Hi Folks:
> >
> > This is a little off topic because its related to the "Kindle" book 
> > player which is  a digital/audio type of player that is sold 
> > exclusively through Amazon.com
> >
> > Any way, I know that the device Kindle is not fully
> accessible to the
> > blind.
> > However, on the Amazon web site, there are a number of
> knitting books that
> > are in down-loadable format and I was just wondering if
> anyone on this
> > list
> > knows if these books can be played on a Victor reader
> Stream or other
> > accessible player?  If so, can I just purchase those titles
> I'm interested
> > in, download to my drive and then copy onto my Victor
> Reader? without the
> > purchase & use of any additional software  Thanks for any
> info on the
> > subject.
> >
> > If this has gone to off course for this list, email me directly. 
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Eileen
> > _______________________________________________
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