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Accessibility and alternative formats

Fewer than 7% of book titles published each year in the UK are produced in an alternative format to standard print. This means that there is less choice for visually impaired people and other people unable to access print. Formats such as Large Print and unabridged audiobooks are also expensive and less readily available from retail suppliers. We offer guidance on the different ways of reading page of our website for these customers. 

Audiobooks

We buy a selection of spoken word books on CD that are published and have standing orders to buy copies of titles from the suppliers.  Unlike other audio-visual items, audiobooks are not expected to generate a surplus of income over expenditure, as they are mostly borrowed by customers exempt from charges.  Instead, they are purchased to ensure we offer the best possible range of titles to customers with visual impairments or those who cannot access print. E-audio is a popular format now and we have a wide range of titles via BorrowBox.

• Libraries are a key place for people to access reading in accessible formats and we aim to give customers as wide a choice as possible. We buy stock in Large Print, audio books on CD and downloadable e-books and e-audio. To widen choice, we also signpost to RNIB Talking Books Library. 
• Public Libraries under the Equality Act 2010 have a duty to promote equality and diversity. The range of stock we purchase should both reflect and celebrate our diverse community and promote good relations across all equality areas including race, disability, gender, religion and sexual orientation. To achieve this, we may need to purchase certain items from specialist suppliers that we cannot obtain from our main supplier. 
• An Equality Impact Assessment has been done on this stock policy to ensure Essex Libraries complies with the statutory obligation to promote equality and diversity.
• Children’s stock should be available in a wide range to ensure there are titles to appeal to children of all ages and abilities. Children’s stock should be attractive and engaging to encourage children into reading at all ages. 

DVDs

We stock DVDs to provide a collection for those who still use this format and also to generate some income.  Some small libraries no longer have DVDs on display, as they were no longer in demand.  However, as all the DVDs held by Essex Libraries are available to reserve from the library catalogue, all customers can borrow DVDs from any library.

DVD selection process 

Staff select DVDs from the latest listings.  With rental items there can be a studio cut-off date, so we need to buy a sufficient number of copies while they are available.  Popular items will be bought for the 13 libraries that carry DVDs; only exceptional titles will have more than one copy in a branch. We do not buy DVDs unless they are rental copies.

The selection of DVDs is at the discretion of the service, which judges likely popularity, such as box office takings, film rating, well-known cast and crew etc.  Stock management data is used to look at the performance of previous films in a series. The selection of DVDs purchased will include those that are captioned, or audio described, to ensure there is a range accessible to deaf and visually impaired people.

World Cinema titles – these do not often have a large audience, but it is important to have foreign language films available on the library catalogue to cater for different communities.  As standard, one copy is bought of World Cinema titles unless there is a high likelihood of a wider audience.

CDs

As CD issues are in decline, mirroring the decline in DVD sales, CDs are only stocked in four libraries, though as with DVDs they are all available through the catalogue and request system. The service aims to provide as wide a range of music as possible, within the requirement to generate surplus income over expenditure.

E-book and e-audio

All e-book and e-audio content is available free of charge to Essex Libraries customers.  The text on e-books can be resized and there is a voiceover functionality making them more accessible to people with visual impairments. E-audio is also in an accessible format and there are dyslexic fonts available also. There are no age restrictions on the e-books that can be downloaded on a child’s library card.  The service aims that the reservation lists on e-format items are no more than four holds per item.