LPG launches collection of newly accessible ebooks from 23 Canadian literary publishers

Readers with print disabilities gain access to hundreds of titles spanning fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, graphic novels, and kids’ books

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto—August 16, 2022: The Literary Press Group (LPG) announces the launch of eBooks for Everyone (https://alllitup.ca/eBooks-for-Everyone), a new collection of accessible-format titles from 23 Canadian-owned literary publishers available on the LPG’s All Lit Up book retail website. With close to 600 ebook titles rolling out over the next few months–novels, short stories, creative nonfiction, poetry, drama, graphic narratives, and children’s books–there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The collection includes exciting award winners such as:

• Canada Reads finalist, multi-award winning, #1 National Bestselling, and Time Magazine 100 Best YA Books of All Time, The Marrow Thieves (Cormorant/ DCB).
• Canada Reads finalist Scarborough (Arsenal Pulp Press), which was adapted into a film that premiered at TIFF and is now streaming on Crave;
• Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize winner and Scotiabank Giller Prize-longlisted novel Days by Moonlight (Coach House Books); and
• Griffin Prize-winning poetry collection Blue Sonoma (Brick Books).

With accessibility as the priority of this project, more readers can feed their love for Canadian literature. Ebook accessibility features work with assistive reading technologies, including scalable text, alternative text for images, and a navigable table of contents. Less than 5 percent of books currently published each year are accessible to readers with print disabilities. eBooks for Everyone titles will display detailed accessibility information–a market-leading development for Canadian ebooks.

Titles in the eBooks for Everyone collection have undergone conversion and quality assurance processes, in partnership with eBound Canada, to create files with critical accessibility features and information. The costs of producing accessible ebook files can be prohibitive for literary publishers. Poetry, drama, graphic novels, and children’s books are especially difficult and costly to produce because of their layouts. The LPG’s accessible literary collection helps fill the gap for both publishers and readers.

“It’s thrilling to release this rich literary collection,” said Laura Rock Gaughan, executive director of the LPG. “New readers will discover vital Canadian books that were not previously available in accessible ebook formats, and our All Lit Up site will display a level of accessibility detail that goes beyond what is currently available in the market.” 

The accessible ebooks in the collection are for sale on All Lit Up and directly from participating publishers. They will also be made available for borrowing through the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) and the Centre for Equitable Library Access. Librarians and educators interested in acquiring books in the collection should ask their sales representatives or reach out to the LPG for assistance.

The LPG’s accessible ebook conversion project was made possible by funding from the Canadian government through Canada Book Fund’s Accessible Digital Books Initiative. 

About the LPG

Founded in 1975, the LPG is a nonprofit association that represents 63 Canadian- owned and -operated literary book publishers. Our members produce books by some of Canada’s most innovative and creative writers, giving readers access to diverse voices that have not been well represented in mainstream publishing. We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders, the Government of Canada through Canada Book Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Ontario Arts Council.

Contact: Lauren Perruzza, Engagement Manager, lauren@lpg.ca
 
Tags: Accessibility, A11y, eBooks, Books, CanLit, Culture, Canadian, library, education