[Michlib-l] Bookshare Program

[Christine Hage]

You need to talk with Robin Seaman, Director of Content Acquisition at
Benetch.    Here are my notes on her presentation.


Benetech’s Bookshare Program – Bookshare is a library.  Benetech is a
non-profit formed in 2002.  They have software that assists in assistive
technology and global literacy.  Bookshare is has 350,000 books donated by
publishers.  This included both front and backlist titles.  They have
360,000 K-12 students who participate in over 60 countries. They work under
a copyright exemption that allows them to scan titles to make them
available to the visually impaired. They are funded by the Dept. of
Education.  They make books available free to students who are qualified
(physically impaired, dyslectic or visually impaired).  Costs them about
$20 per student.  They work in multiple languages.  They partner with the
National Library Service so anyone eligible for OTBS can be a
participant.  Materials
are available in the Daisy format.  Not compatible with BARD, the
downloadable service we use.  They focus primarily on trade publications.  They
are the only supplier of digital text that automatically digitizes right
from the publisher. So they can generate digital Braille and MP3.  It is
totally free to K-12 students.  It is $50 a year for qualified seniors,
veterans.  They use a soft DRM so it is easily managed.



Christine Lind Hage, Library Director
Rochester Hills Public Library
500 Olde Towne Road
Rochester, MI 48307-2043
248/650-7122

Raising a reader is: Talking * Singing * Reading * Writing * Playing
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