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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Thank you for that. I have known a lot of librarians in my time, and that article did not sound like any librarian I had ever known!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Susan Kelmer
</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Alternate Format Production Program Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Disability Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Health and Wellness Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#CFB87C">T</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">303
735 4836</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#CFB87C"><a href="http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices"><span style="color:#CFB87C">www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#CFB87C"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">Due to the nature of electronic communication, the security of this message cannot be guaranteed. If you’ve received this email in error please notify the
sender immediately and delete this message. </span></i><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> athen-list <athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Katherine Deibel<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 12, 2022 10:57 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list@u.washington.edu><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] [EXTERNAL] Re: article advocating for PDFs in College & Research Libraries News<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">I did want to respond to this question:<br>
<br>
> 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?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">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.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">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).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Katherine “Kate” Deibel, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Library Accessibility Specialist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Twitter:
<a href="https://twitter.com/metageeky">https://twitter.com/metageeky</a><br>
GitHub: <a href="https://github.com/metageeky">https://github.com/metageeky</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> athen-list <<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu">athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Alexis Delevett<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, September 9, 2022 3:51 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Access Technology Higher Education Network <<a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] [EXTERNAL] Re: article advocating for PDFs in College & Research Libraries News<o:p></o:p></p>
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</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">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?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">From:</span></b><span style="color:black"> athen-list <<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu">athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu</a>> on behalf of Susan Kelmer <<a href="mailto:Susan.Kelmer@colorado.edu">Susan.Kelmer@colorado.edu</a>><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, September 9, 2022 12:36 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Access Technology Higher Education Network <<a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [EXTERNAL] Re: [Athen] article advocating for PDFs in College & Research Libraries News</span>
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Well, there is some glaring misinformation in there, and definitely too short a piece to be truly useful.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">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.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I am not sure the author really understands what he is talking about.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Susan Kelmer
</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Alternate Format Production Program Manager</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Disability Services</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Health and Wellness Services</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#CFB87C">T</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">303
735 4836</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#CFB87C"><a href="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"><span style="color:#CFB87C">www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices</span></a>
</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#CFB87C"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#CFB87C"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue",serif;color:black"><img border="0" width="150" height="56" style="width:1.5625in;height:.5833in" id="x_Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D8C6A3.DE5C9D10"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D">Due to the nature of electronic communication, the security of this message cannot be guaranteed. If you’ve received this email in error please notify the
sender immediately and delete this message. </span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="xmsonormal"><b>From:</b> athen-list <<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu">athen-list-bounces@mailman12.u.washington.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Adina Mulliken<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, September 9, 2022 12:35 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Athen] article advocating for PDFs in College & Research Libraries News<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="xmsonormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black">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. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black">Chee, M., & Weaver, K. (2022). The great PDF debate: Accessible or impossible?. <em><span style="font-family:inherit;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">College
& Research Libraries News, 83</span></em>(8), 363. doi:<a href="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"><span style="color:#56B0C9;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.83.8.363</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:inherit;color:black">At least the article cites a couple of articles that advocate a different view.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Adina</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="xmsonormal">Adina Mulliken<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">Associate Professor, Librarian Silberman Social Work and Urban Public Health Library<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">Hunter College, City University of New York<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">2180 3<sup>rd</sup> Ave. New York, NY<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="xmsonormal">Phone 212-396-7665<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="xmsonormal">Pronouns she/her<o:p></o:p></p>
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