WIPO’s Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) catalogue is now available through the popular Dolphin EasyReader app, which is used by people with print disabilities to search, download and read digital books on their phones, tablets or computers. EasyReader is free of charge, allowing readers to obtain books from the ABC catalogue in 18 languages in a range of accessible formats.
I am really excited that the ABC Global Book Service is now available on EasyReader – this app has always been my preferred way of reading books. I am currently reading ‘Wonder” by R.J. Palacio,in English, which I downloaded from ABC in EasyReader, as well as books that I downloaded in French, and in Sinhala, my mother tongue.”
Shalika Karunaratne, Vice President, Sri Lanka Council for the Blind
The ABC catalogue in EasyReader is offered to people who are print disabled through libraries for the blind that are located in countries that have joined the Marrakesh Treaty and implemented its provisions into national law. A participating library for the blind in the ABC Global Book Service located in such countries can provide its patrons access to the ABC catalogue through the Dolphin EasyReader App or the ABC Beneficiary Application at ABCGlobalBooks.org. Read more about how to obtain books through the ABC Global Book Service.
“ABC’s collaboration with Dolphin is an example of how partnerships can advance accessibility on a global scale,” says James Green, CEO of Dolphin Computer Access. “Together, we are opening new doors for inclusive education, lifelong learning, and the joy of reading for all.”
This collaboration marks an important step toward ABC’s mission to increase the number of books available in accessible formats - such as DAISY, MP3, ePub, PDF and large print - and to make them available to readers worldwide, particularly in countries with limited resources.
“As the name suggests, EasyReader is making it a lot simpler for people who are blind, have low vision, are dyslexic or have mobility impairments that impact their ability to read printed materials to find and enjoy digital books from the ABC Catalogue in the language and format that suits them best - on the devices they already use every day. ” says Monica Halil Lövblad, Head, ABC.
About the Accessible Books Consortium (ABC)
The Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) is a public-private partnership led by WIPO that, together with its many partners around the world, has had real impact over the past decade. Since its inception, the ABC Global Book Service catalogue has quadrupled in size to over one million titles thanks to the inclusion of the collections of participating libraries for the blind, known as authorized entities. ABC delivered a total of 225,000 accessible digital files from the ABC catalogue to persons with print disabilities through its authorized entities in 2024. In addition, through ABC’s training and technical assistance partners, more than 20,000 textbooks have been made accessible in over 40 low-income countries, improving access to education for thousands of young people. ABC was established in June 2014 to implement the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty. Learn more at accessiblebooksconsortium.org.
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About Dolphin Computer Access
Dolphin Computer Access, founded in Worcester, UK, in 1986, is a global leader in assistive technology. The Dolphin EasyReader App connects readers to accessible libraries worldwide and provides tools for independent reading, including text-to-speech, braille, and customizable display features. EasyReader can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store, Amazon App Store or Google Play, or Dolphin website, for phones, tablets and computers. Learn more at yourdolphin.com.
About WIPO
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the global forum for intellectual property policy, services, information and cooperation. A specialized agency of the United Nations, WIPO assists its 193 member states in developing a balanced international IP legal framework to meet society's evolving needs. It provides business services for obtaining IP rights in multiple countries and resolving disputes. It delivers capacity-building programs to help developing countries benefit from using IP. And it provides free access to unique knowledge banks of IP information.