Product Overview: Bookshare
What is Bookshare?
Bookshare is an accessible digital library designed specifically for individuals with print disabilities, including those with visual impairments, dyslexia, and physical disabilities that prevent them from reading standard print materials. With a vast collection of nearly 1.3 million titles and counting, Bookshare provides equal access to reading materials for people who face barriers in traditional reading.
Key Features
Accessible Formats
Bookshare offers books in multiple accessible formats to cater to diverse needs:
- EPUB
- DocX (Word documents)
- MP3
- Refreshable Braille
- DAISY
- DAISY Audio
- Bookshare web reader for reading in web browsers.
Customizable Reading Experience
Users can customize their reading experience in various ways:
- Adjust font size, type, and character spacing
- Choose from different color schemes (e.g., light background with dark text or dark background with white text)
- Select audio voice and speed
- Opt for paginated or scrolling display
- Adjust margins and line spacing
- Highlight text with synchronized audio.
Navigation and Accessibility
Bookshare’s platform is designed to be highly accessible:
- Compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at the AA level ensures the site is user-friendly for people with disabilities.
- Features include keyboard-only navigation, compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers, refreshable braille displays, and screen magnifiers.
- Images are described using alt-text, and non-content images are marked as decorative.
Multilingual Content
The library includes content in over 100 languages, with more than 40,000 books available in Spanish and books in over 60 other languages.
User Accounts and Access
Bookshare offers two types of accounts:
- Sponsored Memberships: Typically used in educational settings where teachers or sponsors assign books to students.
- Individual Memberships: Allow users to independently search and read from the full Bookshare collection. These accounts are free for students and available for a low yearly fee for non-students.
Devices and Connectivity
Books can be accessed on a variety of devices, including:
- Computers
- Chromebooks
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Braille devices
- Smart speakers
Users can read books online or download them for offline access.
How it Supports Learning
Bookshare is particularly beneficial for students with learning differences:
- It provides immediate access to accessible educational materials, saving teachers time and ensuring students have the resources they need.
- The customizable reading features help students with dyslexia, visual impairments, and other learning differences to read in ways that work best for them.
- The ability to read for pleasure, in addition to required coursework, can help improve reading skills and foster a lifelong love of reading.
In summary, Bookshare is a comprehensive and accessible digital library that empowers individuals with print disabilities to read and learn independently, offering a wide range of formats, customization options, and accessibility features to ensure an inclusive reading experience.