eBooks and the Disabled
Bookshare.org

Bookshare.org is a forthcoming service that would allow the visual and print disabled to share scanned books. Many are not aware that a 1996 amendment to the U.S. copyright law permits the distribution of copyrighted material by qualified nonprofit companies for use by the disabled. (1996 Chafee Amendment to the Copyright Law) The nonprofit Bookshare.org has been created by Benetech just for this purpose and is set to launch in February 2002.

According to Bookshare.org's research, large quantities of texts are currently being scanned by the visual disabled for personal use. Bookshare.org hopes to build a collection of these scanned texts so that the efforts of one can be shared by many. Only people with proof of a print disability will be granted access to the collection to ensure adherence to the copyright law. The texts themselves will be encrypted in such a way that all pirated copies can be traced back to the initial authorized user, thereby discouraging unauthorized distribution. The texts will be available in the NISO/DAISY 3.0 (digital talking book standard) and BRF (digital Braille) formats. The collection will have few, if any, restrictions to the materials submitted to the collection, providing that the scanning is of adequate quality and the title is not a duplicate to the collection.

Bookshare.org relies on volunteers for the submission of texts, as well as for the preparation of the submissions for distribution. Interested volunteers should send an email to volunteer@bookshare.org to find out how to get involved.