ASPIRE (Accessibility Statements Providing Improved Reader Experience) is the name for the 2018 crowd-sourced ebook audit taking place on July 4th, 2018. It is fitting that Independence Day is the launch date; good accessibility statements help disabled students to work more independently and to more effectively anticipate support needs in advance. 

The audit launches with a free webinar/training session for FE, HE and other libraries - 

This is the follow up to the very successful 2016 ebook audit but it has been entirely redesigned to 

1) be swifter and easier to complete (we're assessing what the accessibility statement says about the files/platforms rather than assessing the products themselves).

2) be more collaborative with more suppliers participating and more libraries.

3) have a longer lasting impact by putting the focus on accessibility statements; something suppliers have the power to improve, update and amend at any time. 

You can take part in the ASPIRE project without coming to the webinar but the webinar gives you a good kick start. Organised by Jisc and the University of Liverpool, the webinar runs from 10am to 12am on 4th July. 

The first hour introduces the process and familiarises you with the two audit tools (delivery platforms and publisher files have different assessment tools). It's a chance for you to ask questions and clarify the process. The second hour is an optional "peer practice" opportunity to do one or two assessments in the company of others so that any ambiguities in marketing et cetera can be discussed. 

This is an excellent staff development opportunity for library staff, whether they are work in front of house support or in the background with procurement and licensing. 

The ASPIRE project has been developed in partnership with the following universities: Anglia Ruskin, Bradford, City, Goldsmiths, Leeds Beckett, Lincoln, Liverpool, Kent, Manchester Metropolitan, Open University, Roehampton, Sheffield Hallam, Leicester,  University of the Arts, University of East London, University of the West of England, and University of Worcester.  

Suppliers who have actively engaged include Askew and Holts, EBSCO, Ingram, Intellect books, Kortext, Macmillan education, Pearson, ProQuest, Rowman, Sage, Springer Nature, Taylor and Francis. This has been a genuinely collaborative project. 

We are aiming to get at least a hundred libraries participating because this level of awareness raising can only support accessibility and inclusive practice. 

Please sign up for the webinar and encourage others to do so as well.

Many thanks

Alistair

Jisc subject specialist - Accessibility and Inclusion.