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Alternative text

First you should investigate to see if the book you need is already in the a digital/alternative format by searching AccessText –http://www.accesstext.org/resources.php – this service helps providers, students, faculty, and publishers find the products, services, and up-to-date accessibility information they need. AccessText is available to everyone; no membership required.

AccessText may indicate that the textbook being sought is available from one of the following sources:
  • CourseSmart – available via the UNC Bookstore – CourseSmart e-textbooks have an in-built screen reader, alternatively TextHelp Read and Write Gold may be used.
  • STEPP – (STudent E-rent Pilot Project) – This rental program partners with CourseSmart and AccessText Network (ATN) to provide accessible electronic textbooks. Unlike the UNC Bookstore where you purchase an electronic copy of the textbook, you can rent electronic textbooks through STEPP for the semester. To find out more information or to create a free account visit:http://stepp.gatech.edu/resources.php.
  • Bookshare – www.bookshare.org – FREE to qualifying members, Bookshare provides books in DAISY* and Braille Refreshable Format (BRF). ARS will certify qualifying members.
  • Learning Ally – www.learningally.org/ – Learning Ally produces books in audio format and DAISY* (Digital Accessible Information System) format for members who qualify. Accessibility Resources has an organizational membership. Check the Learning Ally website to see if you qualify and if the book is available. If you meet the criteria, complete the form below giving details of the publication(s). ARS staff will then order the book and send it to you via e-mail.
  • Gutenburg Project – www.guttenburg.org – Free
  • Hathi Trust Digital Library – http://www.hathitrust.org/ – login using your onyen and password
  • The Online Books Page – http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/
  • Free public domain audiobooks – read by volunteers from around the world –https://librivox.org/
If you require any assistance obtaining a digital copy from the above sources please contact ARS Staff.
If an electronic copy is not readily available from any of the sources above ARS can convert a ‘hard-copy’ into a digital copy; please complete the E-Book Request. Please note that such requests will take a minimum of 10 Business Days to fulfil.
Textbooks converted by ARS may need to have the binding broken to be scanned. The UNC Student Stores Coursepack office will put a spiral binder on the book at no charge. The student stores may not be willing to buy back the book at the end of the semester once the binding has been broken.
If you have any questions, please contact ars@unc.edu.