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I had to google what "ENCRYPTED DAISY download. For print-disabled users" means. ""Print disabled" books are those that have been specially formatted in the DA

I had to google what "ENCRYPTED DAISY download. For print-disabled users" means. ""Print disabled" books are those that have been specially formatted in the DAISY format for users who can not read regular print books. These titles are only accessible on a specialized device to patrons having a key issued by the Library of Congress." "The Digital Accessible Information SYstem (DAISY) format is a means of creating digital talking books for people who wish to hear--and to navigate--written material presented in an audible format. DAISY helps those with "print disabilities," including blindness, impaired vision, and dyslexia, to read electronic texts that have been converted into its format. The DAISY consortium was formed in 1996 by talking book libraries around the world to lead the transition from analog talking books into digital format." Imagine; machine readable, content separated from presentation, no mandatory awful UI, no DRM; dreadful. Good thing it's restricted to special Library issued keyholders only. /s

cybernautique 5y ago
Good catch! I wonder how access to DAISY format can be made more accessible. Perhaps a service that automatically fills out the necessary paperwork?
- User23 5y ago
  Every state has a library for the blind that will gladly assist eligible persons. The list is here[1]. [1] https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/find-a-local-library/ https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/find...
User23 5y ago
To the casual reader there may be some missing context here so let me fill it in. The overwhelming majority of “print disabled” persons in the USA are blind. The Library of Congress is funded to provide gratis talking books[1] for that community and provides an app that understands the DAISY format. There are also dedicated devices, but I don’t know anyone that uses them anymore. While I agree with you that better accessibility is good for all users, your framing of this is a bit offensive[2]. I know you don’t mean to be, but you’re framing a big accessibility win for a community that faces serious everyday challenges as somehow being bad. Maybe don’t do that? Edit: There is the potential for a big mutual win here. If sighted persons could pay fair value for DTBs, it would incentivize publishers to make more titles available. We would get the format's benefits and the blind community would get access to more titles. [1] https://nlsbard.loc.gov/ https://nlsbard.loc.gov/ [2] I'm not speaking for others, I'm relaying what I was told.

cybernautique 5y ago

Good catch! I wonder how access to DAISY format can be made more accessible. Perhaps a service that automatically fills out the necessary paperwork?

User23 5y ago
Every state has a library for the blind that will gladly assist eligible persons. The list is here[1]. [1] https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/find-a-local-library/ https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/find...

User23 5y ago

To the casual reader there may be some missing context here so let me fill it in. The overwhelming majority of “print disabled” persons in the USA are blind. The Library of Congress is funded to provide gratis talking books[1] for that community and provides an app that understands the DAISY format. There are also dedicated devices, but I don’t know anyone that uses them anymore. While I agree with you that better accessibility is good for all users, your framing of this is a bit offensive[2]. I know you don’t mean to be, but you’re framing a big accessibility win for a community that faces serious everyday challenges as somehow being bad. Maybe don’t do that? Edit: There is the potential for a big mutual win here. If sighted persons could pay fair value for DTBs, it would incentivize publishers to make more titles available. We would get the format's benefits and the blind community would get access to more titles. [1] https://nlsbard.loc.gov/ https://nlsbard.loc.gov/ [2] I'm not speaking for others, I'm relaying what I was told.