The rapid increase in the number of digital books, back list and front list, combined with the release of accessible epub3 specifications early in 2017 brings a strong convergence between web discovery tools and traditional approaches for using library metadata for search, discovery and access. We will share the latest on accessible epub – what it is, what it means and how libraries can use it. We will share examples from the Digital Public Library of America and Benetech. We will discuss key factors for driving content discovery and promoting accessibility using examples from the Humanities Open Book Project. We will wrap-up with a look ahead at the W3C’s progress toward epub4 and provide a guide for librarians interested in following advances in standards. Our presentation will include enough technical detail to satisfy a wide audience range without overwhelming them. For audience members interested in deeper dive, we will encourage follow-on conversations post-session.
Dean Smith is Director of Cornell University Press -- the first university press in the US -- and oversees a program that publishes 130 new books a year and features 3,000 titles in print. His newest author is John Cleese. His career in publishing spans 30 years and includes experience... Read More →
Apex CoVantage provides conversion and prepress services to publishers, academic libraries, and national libraries. We specialize in XML workflows, content digitization, and accessibility.