[bksvol-discuss] Re: FW: Google

  • From: Nimer <nimerjaber1@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:12:38 -0700

No, these books aren't free, or they're for borrowing. You can keep bookshare books until you're done with them.

Thanks
Nimer J

Nimer M. Jaber

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Roger Loran Bailey wrote:
It sounds like Bookshare, the NLS and RFB&D may be about to become obsolete.

On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 12:32 PM, Tracy Carcione <carcione@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have pasted below a press release from the National Federation of the
Blind, which has a lot to say about this change in Google.  I hope it's
right, and we will have much greater access.  I've sometimes looked up a
page in a book I'm validating, but haven't really been able to read it.


          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen

Public Relations Specialist

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (cell)

cdanielsen@xxxxxxx




Google Settlement with Authors, Publishers
Will Have Positive Results for the Blind





Terms of Proposed Settlement Agreement
Will Revolutionize Blind People's Access to Books

Baltimore, Maryland (October 31, 2008): The National Federation of
the Blind, the nation's leading advocate for access to information by
the blind, announced today that the recent settlement between Google
and authors and publishers over the Google Books project, if approved
by the courts, will have a profound and positive impact on the
ability of blind people to access the printed word.  The terms of the
settlement that was reached on October 28, among Google, the Authors
Guild, and the Association of American Publishers, on behalf of a
broad class of authors and publishers, allow Google to provide the
material it offers users "in a manner that accommodates users with
print disabilities so that such users have a substantially similar
user experience as users without print disabilities."  A user with a
print disability under the agreement is one who is "unable to read or
use standard printed material due to blindness, visual disability,
physical limitations, organic dysfunction, or dyslexia."  Blind
people, like other members of the public, will be able to search the
texts of books in the Google Books database online; purchase some
books in an accessible format; or access accessible books at
libraries and other entities that have an institutional subscription
to the Google Books database.  Once the court approves the
settlement, Google will work to launch these services as quickly as possible.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: "Access to the printed word has historically been one of the
greatest challenges faced by the blind.  The agreement between Google
and authors and publishers will revolutionize access to books for
blind Americans.



Blind people will be able to search for books through the Google
Books interface and purchase, borrow, or read at a public library any
of the books that are available to the general public in a format
that is compatible with text enlargement software, text-to-speech
screen access software, and refreshable Braille devices.  With 7
million books already available in the Google Books collection and
many more to come, this agreement means that blind people will have
more access to print books than we have ever had in human
history.  The blind, just like the sighted, will have a world of
education, information, and entertainment literally at our
fingertips.  The National Federation of the Blind commends the
parties to this agreement for their commitment to full and equal
access to information by the blind."




"Among the most monumental aspects of the settlement agreement," said
Jack Bernard, assistant general counsel at the University of
Michigan, "are the terms that enable Google and libraries to make
works accessible to people who have print disabilities.  This
unprecedented opportunity to access the printed word will make it
possible for blind people to engage independently with our rich
written culture.  Moreover, it is refreshing to find accessibility
for people with disabilities explicitly included upfront, rather than
begrudgingly added as an afterthought."



"One of the great promises of the settlement agreement is improving
access to books for the blind and for those with print disabilities,"
said Dan Clancy, engineering director for Google Book
Search.  "Google is committed to extending all of the services
available under the agreement to the blind and print disability
community, making it easier to access these books through screen
enlargement, reader, and Braille display technologies."




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