Oh wouldn't it be nice if that were true. Unfortunately that is only the
case for primary and secondary level school textbooks for k-12, but
still not completely. For postsecondary textbooks it is always wise to
put out a query to applicable lists to find a particular book. 

There are a couple reasons why there isn't a centralized location or
database of postsecondary text. 1) There are all manner of colleges and
universities both public and private with all levels of sophistication
regarding production of texts for their particular students. Most hire
student workers to scan and clean up the errors, format tables, and
maybe diagrams are done or maybe not. Many only provide electronic
versions of text and so all diagrams are left out. Since the disability
services may be anything from a person who takes care of disability
accommodations as a 25% part of their regular job, to a full blown
department with multiple staff; so the student workers may or may not
receive in-depth training on how to properly convert a text into an
accessible format. This means that there isn't any consistent
standardized set of guidelines that are followed for file format,
usability, or accuracy from one institution to another.

2) Postsecondary institutions typically only convert the parts or
chapters that are listed on a syllabus for a particular course. This is
due to the short turn around time the disability service office has,
from when a faculty member or academic department determines what
textbook will be used in a particular course. Therefore, the disability
office may only have 2 weeks to provide the first installment of the
text a student needs. 

Probably much more information then the majority on this list wanted to
read. But if you are looking for a postsecondary textbook, it is worth
your while to send out a few notices to disability postsecondary ed
lists.

Best,
Terri
 


-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of burg..
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 6:57 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] Looking for a textbook

Dan, A catelogue of all transcribed and recorded books is maintained so
that a book is not brailled or recorded more than once by a
similar group.  I do not know if the National Library Service or the
American Printing house maintains the catelogue.  Tom Burgunder


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