[Athen] Converting EPUBs to PDF Was Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

[Wink Harner]

Bevi et al ATHENites,

It's been a very long time since we've had any instruction (workshop at AHG
or otherwise) on the intricacies and steps of converting EPUB to PDF. I
think there is need for a refresher course or how-to-guide on using Calibre
or similar software app to "reverse engineer" an EPUB back to PDF. Most of
us who have been involved in the alt-text conversion end of things for some
time know how to use Calibre to convert a PDF to an EPUB or another type of
electronic text file as that was one of our biggest challenges a number of
years ago when we got PDF files and the students wanted/needed them in an
e-book format. Now the flip has happened and we're faced with having EPUBS
and ebooks galore and our source files work best starting with a PDF as the
base.

I would encourage you to develop such a mini-course or how-to guide.
Inquiring minds want to know!

Wink Harner
Accessibility Consultant/Alternative Text Production
The Foreign Type

Portland OR
foreigntype at gmail.com
480-984-0034

This email was dictated using Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Please forgive
quirks, misrecognitions, or errata .


On Mon, Feb 4, 2019 at 11:53 AM <chagnon at pubcom.com> wrote:


> So when you buy a car, do you buy your own tires or does the car come with

> tires?

>

> When you buy a printed book, do you buy your own separate cover?

>

>

>

> As I’ve said at the conferences, YOU are the customer. You have the right

> to ask for the formats you need in order to meet the needs of your students.

>

>

>

> It is not difficult to produce accessible PDFs and EPUBs from an InDesign

> layout file. My firm does this every day. And I teach this at AGH and

> through my firm nearly every month (next week, in fact,

> www.pubcom.com/classes)

>

>

>

> I don’t know how a publisher could stay in business today without

> providing the different file formats their customers want (and need). Just

> look at Amazon as a model: print, EPUB, Kindle, PDF. (not the greatest

> model, considering their proprietary Kindle format and the accessibility

> problems.)

>

>

>

> Keep pushing! Someday your vendors will get the message.

>

>

>

> —Bevi

>

>

>

> PS: Maybe that’s a new class topic my firm needs to develop: how to break

> an EPUB into PDFs or editable text. Hmmm. We already teach how to break

> PDFs into editable text.

>

>

>

> *— — —*

>

> Bevi Chagnon, founder/CEO  *|*  Bevi at PubCom.com

>

> *— — —*

>

> *PubCom: Technologists for Accessible Design + Publishing*

>

> consulting • training • development • design • sec. 508 services

>

> *Upcoming classes* at www.PubCom.com/*classes*

> <http://www.pubcom.com/classes>

>

> *— — —*

>

> *Latest* blog-newsletter

> <https://mailchi.mp/ff5bd323ea45/newsletter-accessibility-fonts-design-upcoming-classes-2901237>

> – Accessibility Tips at www.PubCom.com/blog

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Susan Kelmer

> *Sent:* Monday, February 4, 2019 1:03 PM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>; rspangler1 at udayton.edu

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Converting EPUBs to PDF Was Pearson Pushing

> VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> This will probably get removed from the list, but I use a product called

> Calibre to break the ePub (it copies it into other formats) into a PDF.

> Then I break the PDFs into chapters.  There are usually no page numbers,

> which is a huge downside, but if I think the page numbers need to be there,

> I’ll borrow a print copy of the book and put them in for the student.

>

>

>

> *Susan Kelmer*

>

> *Alternate Format Production Program Manager*

>

> *Disability Services*

>

> *University of Colorado Boulder*

>

> *303-735-4836*

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Robert Spangler

> *Sent:* Monday, February 4, 2019 10:29 AM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Converting EPUBs to PDF Was Pearson Pushing

> VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> Could you please share how you convert EPUBs to PDF?

>

>

>

>

>

> On Mon, Feb 4, 2019 at 11:08 AM Leyna Bencomo <lbencomo at uccs.edu> wrote:

>

> I never have enough time to get involved and I should.  Currently, my

> student workers take all ePubs we get and convert them to PDFs every single

> time.  We don’t even bother with ePUBs at all.

>

>

>

> *Leyna Bencomo *

>

> Assistive Technology Specialist

>

>

>

> Office of Information Technology

>

> University of Colorado Colorado Springs

>

> 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, EPC 215

>

> Colorado Springs, CO 80918

>

> (719) 255-4202 / lbencomo at uccs.edu

>

> http://www.uccs.edu/~it/

>

> [image: sig logo small]

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Joseph Polizzotto

> *Sent:* Thursday, January 31, 2019 4:38 PM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> Hi Everyone:

>

>

>

> There's a lot to say about this topic!

>

>

>

> I agree with Susan that we need to make our voices heard. This is not an

> either/ or scenario. If both a PDF and an EPUB exist, we should have the

> ability to request the format that our students want. That should not be

> the publishers' decision.

>

>

>

> At the same time, I think we should continue to encourage publishers'

> efforts to create accessible versions of their textbooks, whether in EPUB

> or PDF since that is what will ultimately benefit all readers, our students

> included.

>

>

>

> It is really unfortunate that a positive step forward in accessible

> publishing is coupled with a decision to restrict access to publishers'

> PDFs. Why? Who has advocated for that?

>

>

>

> Joseph

>

>

>

>

>

> On Thu, Jan 31, 2019 at 1:24 PM Susan Kelmer <Susan.Kelmer at colorado.edu>

> wrote:

>

> Russell, yes, you are correct.  They are getting messages from some that

> ePub is perfect, wonderful, the NEW WAY!  And those voices are loud.

> Publishers believe those voices.

>

>

>

> If they’d just asked, they would know that an ePub is a format they can

> use, sometimes, but that sometimes, they cannot.  Bottom line:  They need

> to respond to what our request is for, rather than to push us to a format

> we didn’t ask for.

>

>

>

> Also, my voice is loud.  We need more loud voices.

>

>

>

> *Susan Kelmer*

>

> *Alternate Format Production Program Manager*

>

> *Disability Services*

>

> *University of Colorado Boulder*

>

> *303-735-4836*

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Russell Solowoniuk

> *Sent:* Thursday, January 31, 2019 2:17 PM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> Hi Susan,

>

>

>

> I agree totally with what you say. We’re in Canada so can’t get Pearson US

> titles through ATN. We still need to use the online form, which, by the

> way, now doesn’t accept Canadian postal codes in the form, so we must use

> 99999, not a big deal, just wonder why.

>

>

>

> We have been getting the “this title is available via Vital Source”

> message back occasionally, and each time we do, we write back with an

> explanation of why this won’t work for the majority of our students who use

> RWG. The end up sending us a PDF, but it adds days to the turnaround time.

>

>

>

> It seems that perhaps publishers are getting mixed messages from people

> who seem to think that ePub is the best format out there for everyone.

>

>

>

> Keep up the good fight!

>

>

>

> Russell

>

>

>

> Russell Solowoniuk

>

> AT Educational Assistant, Services to Students with Disabilities

>

> MacEwan University

>

> 7-198 D4, 10700-104 Ave.

>

> Edmonton, AB  T5J 4S2

>

> E: solowoniukr at macewan.ca

>

> T:  780-497-5826

>

> F:  780-497-4018

>

> macewan.ca

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>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Susan Kelmer

> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 29, 2019 3:40 PM

> *To:* Access Technology Higher Education Network <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> I have heard this same crap from Pearson through my contact (which is

> probably the same).  By now, they have heard the “whys” and yes, they are

> being literal roadblocks to providing what we ask for.

>

>

>

> When we request a PDF through ATN, we get it next-day (unless that title

> is on VitalSource, then we have to do the end run or workaround, which

> takes weeks, if they even respond at all).

>

>

>

> So no, they are not “committed” to getting us what we need.  If it isn’t

> in their tiny little definition of what they want to provide, we get the

> runaround, and the 20 questions, and really this just delays us getting

> what we need for our student.  That is what I wish they would understand.

> We aren’t asking for a PDF because we don’t know any better. We are asking

> for a PDF because that is what we need to do what we do for the student.

>

>

>

> If anyone wants the contact with Pearson directly, please email me

> off-list, I’m happy to share my contact’s information.

>

>

>

> *Susan Kelmer*

>

> *Alternate Format Production Program Manager*

>

> *Disability Services*

>

> *University of Colorado Boulder*

>

> *303-735-4836*

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *George Kerscher

> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 29, 2019 3:29 PM

> *To:* 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> Hello,

>

>

>

> I reached out to folks at Pearson to get some clarification. Here is what

> I was told:

>

> Begin email from Pearson rep

>

> if a student needs a PDF for accessibility purposes we will provide it.

> We're not in the business of denying anyone access to what they need for

> learning. As you are aware we've partnered with Vitalsource to provide

> accessible ePubs to students and in most cases this does meet their needs.

> When it doesn't, we ask why - not to "get in the way" but to try to

> understand the needs of the student in question.

>

>

>

> While we do ask for "Proof of purchase" it isn't to identify the students

> - we are as concerned with privacy as anyone else. I'll look at the

> messaging we use to see if we can do a better job communicating.

>

>

>

> As to his two week wait. we have internal approval processes in place

> before we let PDF's out the door. Those processes are in place to help

> insure that we protect the IP rights of our authors. Sometimes this does

> slow things down but we are currently active in trying to improve those

> processes and reduce the time necessary to deliver the PDF's.

>

>

>

> I hope that helps, please feel free to reach out with any questions.

>

> End of email from Pearson rep.

>

>

>

> I was also told if anybody would like to communicate directly, send me (

> kerscher at montana.com) and I will forward the request to my contact.

>

>

>

> Best

>

> George

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Deborah Armstrong

> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:55 AM

> *To:* 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <

> athen-list at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject:* Re: [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> Just to give you comfort, the same thing has happened to me six times so

> far. Three of those times, luckily the student fell in love with

> VitalSource. The other three times, I had to do the

> proof-of-purchase-big-argument-thing!

>

>

>

> For me, the bigger problem is when a student’s textbook is an ebook only,

> integrated with the LMS. Pearson’s beginning to do that a lot now, and so

> is Cengage. If a student has a book I can scan, then it’s much easier.

>

>

>

> --Debee

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From:* athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> *On

> Behalf Of *Sorensen, Neal B

> *Sent:* Monday, January 28, 2019 1:55 PM

> *To:* athen-list at u.washington.edu

> *Subject:* [Athen] Pearson Pushing VitalSource after ATN denial

>

>

>

> Hi All,

>

>

>

> I’m writing to see if anyone else has encountered a problem like this with

> (our dear friend) Pearson. Here’s the story. I made a request on AccessText

> Network for Microeconomics by Pindyck and Rubinfeld, and the request was

> denied. I received a follow-up e-mail at the same time saying the title is

> available on VitalSource, and the student could sent a proof-of-purchase

> directly to Pearson to get a free access code for their book. Now, I have

> NEVER had to provide a proof-of-purchase to get any book on AccessText

> Network. Their follow-up also suggested contacting the Pearson disability

> support office if the student is “using an assistive technology other than

> a screen reader.” The request has been approved by their permissions and

> now I’m just waiting for the book.

>

>

>

> This is unacceptable of Pearson. Thankfully the student has tried to use

> textbooks only accessible online before, and knows the PDF is better for

> his needs. I’ve been waiting almost two weeks now for this book (I got a

> customer satisfaction survey before I got the book). What is mildly

> infuriating about all this is that I know they have the book in PDF… I

> mean, it’s on VitalSource so they have electronic versions! Why not just

> give me the PDF?

>

>

>

> Additionally, why would I give Pearson the identity of my student? We are

> bound to confidentiality, and asking the student to identify themselves to

> the publisher is not necessary. This just goes to show that the major

> publishers will always try new ideas that don’t make sense, and that it is

> important to push back against those ideas when we encounter them!

>

>

>

> Neal Sorensen

>

> Access Specialist

>

> Accessibility Resources

>

> Minnesota State University, Mankato

>

> 132 Memorial Library

>

> Mankato, MN 56001

>

>

>

> Phone: 507-389-5242

>

> FAX: 507-389-1199

>

> Email: *neal.sorensen at mnsu.edu <neal.sorensen at mnsu.edu>*

>

>

>

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> rspangler1 at udayton.edu

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