The ABE Lab project started on the first of january 2023.
The main objective of the project will be achieved by analyzing and testing the processes and workflows by which ebooks of different types and formats (PDF, EPUB, Reflowable and fixed layout) can be transformed into accessible EPUB in the easiest and less expensive way.
In the context of the project, the partners will test several workflows using existing open-source and commercial tools to perform remediation tests of inaccessible ebooks. The study will consider different levels of complexity of source ebooks and will evaluate the associated costs of remediation.
Reports on progress ARE posted here.
The ABELab project was publicly presented during the following events
Initial publishers workshop 03 February 2023: Federation of European Publishers (FEP) – Accessibility working group meeting * Private 30 minutes online presentation followed up by 8 persons from the European publishers associations. Organised by FEP, in English. 08 February 2023: French’s Publishers Private 60 minutes online presentation followed up by 15 persons from the French publishing houses. Organised by EDRLab, in French....
Press releases 2023/06/19: ABE Lab official website: A view of the European ebook backlist 2023/10: ABE Lab official website - EU ebooks titles analysis and accessibility gaps: ABELab report released 2024/05/07: ABE Lab official website - How to improve tools for accessible ebooks remediation? ABELab guidelines released! 2024/05/20: ABE Lab official website - Remediation of backlist ebooks: ABE Lab releases its final public report and launches an online survey Media posts and articles 2024/02/01: LIA dedicated page - 2023-24....
Feedback request on relevance and expectations for the future This survey aims to gather feedback on the ABE Lab project, its relevance and its impact for publishers who collaborated on the project or who are interested in remediation of backlist ebooks.
For the project partners, it is also a useful opportunity to ascertain the needs and expectations of publishers for possible future projects.
Fill the survey! (4 minutes)
Paris, Milan, The Hague, May 27th 2024 - The Accessible Backlist Ebooks Laboratory (ABE Lab) project partners - EDR Lab, Fondazione LIA and KB (The National Library of the Netherlands) - released the final public report of the project, available online on the official ABE Lab website deliverable page. The report can be read online and downloaded in PDF and EPUB format.
A survey, available online, was launched to gather feedback on the project’s impact and relevance and to guide possible future activities dedicated to backlist remediation ebooks....
In recent years, the topic of digital accessibility has become increasingly important, also in light of the imminent entry into force of the Directive 2019/882 on accessibility requirements for products and services, usually referred to as the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Ebooks are among the services to which the Directive applies. Some publishers have already started to produce and distribute born-accessible ebooks. But how to manage ebooks that have been produced and published in previous years, the so-called backlist?...