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Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar National Library (QNL) recently signed an agreement with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), paving the way for the library to be part of the cross-border exchange of accessible books among the entities of the Accessible Books Consortium Global (ABC) Book Service. This will facilitate access to approximately 540,000 titles in 76 languages to its users with print disabilities.
The agreement gives QNL access to ABC’s online catalogue, which allows participating libraries and organisations serving people with print disabilities to easily obtain accessible content.
The agreement enables the library to request accessible books from other participating authorised entities under the provisions of the Marrakesh Treaty and augment the number of accessible digital books available to its members. Library users with print disabilities or someone acting on their behalf will now be able to access a wider range of accessible digital books in different languages.
Dr Sohair Wastawy, executive director of the library, said, “The agreement signifies our commitment to expanding access to information for all. It’s important for national institutions such as QNL to set a leading example by being inclusive and ensuring equal access to persons with disabilities.”
The ABC Global Book Service initiative supports the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) by allowing authorised entities, such as libraries, to easily obtain accessible titles in more than 76 languages from a global online catalog through international exchange.
“We are very pleased that Qatar National Library has joined the ABC Global Book Service, and that visually impaired persons in Qatar will be able to benefit from ABC’s impressive collection of accessible titles in over 76 languages. We also hope to receive accessible books in Arabic from Qatar National Library, given the interest in the rich literary heritage of the Arab world,” said Monica Halil L?vblad, head of ABC.
The library’s main collection includes large-print books, audiobooks and braille books in English and Arabic. A dedicated assistive technology space is equipped with tools and software to help people with disabilities access information and library materials, including Bookshare, which has more than 500,000 braille and audio books in English and Arabic for visually impaired users or anyone who cannot read standard print.
The library worked closely with the government of Qatar to support the accession of Qatar to the Marrakesh Treaty, which was achieved in January 2019.
The library’s team attended the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights and showcased its achievements at the WIPO Conference 2019, which was held in Geneve, Switzerland, recently.
Doha
Qatar National Library (QNL) recently signed an agreement with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), paving the way for the library to be part of the cross-border exchange of accessible books among the entities of the Accessible Books Consortium Global (ABC) Book Service. This will facilitate access to approximately 540,000 titles in 76 languages to its users with print disabilities.
The agreement gives QNL access to ABC’s online catalogue, which allows participating libraries and organisations serving people with print disabilities to easily obtain accessible content.
The agreement enables the library to request accessible books from other participating authorised entities under the provisions of the Marrakesh Treaty and augment the number of accessible digital books available to its members. Library users with print disabilities or someone acting on their behalf will now be able to access a wider range of accessible digital books in different languages.
Dr Sohair Wastawy, executive director of the library, said, “The agreement signifies our commitment to expanding access to information for all. It’s important for national institutions such as QNL to set a leading example by being inclusive and ensuring equal access to persons with disabilities.”
The ABC Global Book Service initiative supports the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) by allowing authorised entities, such as libraries, to easily obtain accessible titles in more than 76 languages from a global online catalog through international exchange.
“We are very pleased that Qatar National Library has joined the ABC Global Book Service, and that visually impaired persons in Qatar will be able to benefit from ABC’s impressive collection of accessible titles in over 76 languages. We also hope to receive accessible books in Arabic from Qatar National Library, given the interest in the rich literary heritage of the Arab world,” said Monica Halil L?vblad, head of ABC.
The library’s main collection includes large-print books, audiobooks and braille books in English and Arabic. A dedicated assistive technology space is equipped with tools and software to help people with disabilities access information and library materials, including Bookshare, which has more than 500,000 braille and audio books in English and Arabic for visually impaired users or anyone who cannot read standard print.
The library worked closely with the government of Qatar to support the accession of Qatar to the Marrakesh Treaty, which was achieved in January 2019.
The library’s team attended the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights and showcased its achievements at the WIPO Conference 2019, which was held in Geneve, Switzerland, recently.
