[Athen] [EXTERNAL] Re: article advocating for PDFs in College & Research Libraries News

[Katherine Deibel]

I just caught this thread. As a librarian, I am a bit ashamed at my peers for this. If I can muster the time, I'll see about writing a response to the ACRL article.

I did want to respond to this question:


> Say we are stuck with PDF as the de facto storage format, why are Libraries still accepting untagged PDFs from publishers? Aren't they then on the hook for providing inaccessible digital content?


There's a lot to unpack in that short question. First, it's important to recognize that when it comes to content from various publishers, we're talking about publications from the past century and more. PDF/UA has only been around since 2012. Humanity started writing things down way before then. As a librarian and accessibility advocate, I've asked again and again for people to pause writing for a bit for us to catch up but no one listens to me.

Second, it's important to realize how monopolized the publishing industry is in regards to libraries. We cannot shop around to find a better deal with a different publisher. If we need access to X journal, we generally have one and only one option. It's also why publishers are able to charge exorbitant fees for licenses. We don't have a lot of negotiation power unless individual libraries or consortia act as one. Some of that work is happening but it's a guppy pushing on an oil tanker.

Another issue is that depending on the content, HTML and Word are not often enough to provide all the content that a patron might be interested in. In special collections and archives, there is a value to having an exact copy of how the original physical version looked. PDF provides that exact quality. While there is interest in being more accessible in regards to disability, there are additional values that also need support. Unfortunately, given how much digital accessibility is focused towards the web and its commercial uses, the conversations are hard to start and maintain.

Finally, the question about responsibility for inaccessible digital content is a bit of a gray area. University libraries, like where I work, do often work with patrons and disability services. The big issues are the typical ones of lack of qualified personnel and resources such as funds. For a lot of public libraries, they have to fight to keep their doors open (or to have books that cater to more than the loudest social conservatives).

In the end, there are groups of us in libraries who are pushing for more accessible content in various ways. We're better than that article.

Katherine "Kate" Deibel, PhD
Library Accessibility Specialist
Twitter: https://twitter.com/metageeky
GitHub: https://github.com/metageeky

From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Alexis Delevett
Sent: Friday, September 9, 2022 3:51 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Athen] [EXTERNAL] Re: article advocating for PDFs in College & Research Libraries News

Say we are stuck with PDF as the de facto storage format, why are Libraries still accepting untagged PDFs from publishers? Aren't they then on the hook for providing inaccessible digital content?

________________________________
From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu>> on behalf of Susan Kelmer <Susan.Kelmer at colorado.edu<mailto:Susan.Kelmer at colorado.edu>>
Sent: Friday, September 9, 2022 12:36 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [Athen] article advocating for PDFs in College & Research Libraries News


Well, there is some glaring misinformation in there, and definitely too short a piece to be truly useful.



Remediating a PDF is difficult and time-consuming, while creating a good quality accessible WORD document is easy and only takes a few steps. That good quality Word file, which only took a few minutes to create properly, can then be output to multiple formats, including tagged PDF and HTML.



I am not sure the author really understands what he is talking about.





Susan Kelmer

Alternate Format Production Program Manager

Disability Services

Health and Wellness Services

T 303 735 4836

www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colorado.edu%2Fdisabilityservices&data=05%7C01%7Calexis_delevett%40cuesta.edu%7Cdd5ca195edeb472e001e08da929aa73f%7Cdd06762afacb4cd7a4a5cc0ba50bcc30%7C0%7C0%7C637983490191416204%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=oaY88lC%2F2N4sB3JgBdrv4LuCc786LVUvgfdEONWres4%3D&reserved=0>





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From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman12.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Adina Mulliken
Sent: Friday, September 9, 2022 12:35 PM
To: athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Athen] article advocating for PDFs in College & Research Libraries News



Sorry, this article might not be the best thing to share on a Friday afternoon, but here it is.   I'm not agreeing with the article.



Chee, M., & Weaver, K. (2022). The great PDF debate: Accessible or impossible?. College & Research Libraries News, 83(8), 363. doi:https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.83.8.363<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.5860%2Fcrln.83.8.363&data=05%7C01%7Calexis_delevett%40cuesta.edu%7Cdd5ca195edeb472e001e08da929aa73f%7Cdd06762afacb4cd7a4a5cc0ba50bcc30%7C0%7C0%7C637983490191416204%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=72mElso44RCXzQZJzdFBSWNgJhIJ%2FAp0mwLFQdmVE9A%3D&reserved=0>

At least the article cites a couple of articles that advocate a different view.



Adina



Adina Mulliken

Associate Professor, Librarian Silberman Social Work and Urban Public Health Library

Hunter College, City University of New York

2180 3rd Ave. New York, NY

Phone 212-396-7665

Pronouns she/her
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