1. www.aph.org/louis Facilitating Access for Blind/VI Students: Louis, the File Repository, and NIMAS June 2008 Linda Turner Julia Myers

2. www.aph.org/louis APH Databases Louis, the File Repository, and NIMAS What are they, what do they contain and who can use them?

3. www.aph.org/louis What is Louis? Key to accessing information about materials in alternate media from more than 175 different agencies nationwide. Assists educators and administrators in locating books and materials in an efficient and timely manner and helps prevent duplication of effort.

4. www.aph.org/louis What does Louis Contain? Information for over 145,000 books in the following media: –Braille –Large Print –Computer File –Sound Recording Information about APH educational products

5. www.aph.org/louis Who can use Louis? Everyone can access Louis free of charge at: http://www.aph.org/louis/http://www.aph.org/louis/ Louis is speech friendly and easy to use for blind, visually impaired and sighted individuals.

6. Louis and NIMAS Louis is where to find the accessible materials that are student ready. NIMAC contains source files that can be used to create student ready versions. APH is moving Louis to a new system that will allow a single search that will find books in either Louis or NIMAC. www.aph.org

7. Problem: Qualifying for Access Some blind/vi students may not qualify for services under NIMAS/NIMAC because they are not served under IDEA. Implications: Braille, large print, and braille ready files created from NIMAS may not be avilble to these students. www.aph.org

8. Solution? Publisher permission to cover large print/braille/braille ready files for this population. www.aph.org

9. Problem: Preference for RTF Some states still require RTF, Word and other file formats. Publishers must produce and maintain multiple file formats. Many transcribers still find RTF to be easier to use. www.aph.org

10. Possible Solution to Explore? Publishers provide NIMAS XML to APH File Repository. APH produces RTF from XML. APH catalogs RTF file in File Repository. Publisher downloads file when needed using own account that limits access to publishers own material. RTF is added to APH File Repository. www.aph.org

11. What Is the File Repository? Contains electronic files of textbooks that can be downloaded to produce braille. The files are obtained from braille producers and directly from publishers. Repository files are available by download only; they can not be ordered over the phone or by mail.

12. www.aph.org What is in the File Repository? Current file formats include: –Braille (produced with Duxbury, Edit-PC, Microbraille, et al.) software files –Text files ASCII Tagged formats (such as ICADD-22) Word or RTF Selected APH software products.

13. www.aph.org Who can use the File Repository? Anyone searching Louis will be able to see if a file is available for download. Only Ex Officio Trustees and "authorized entities" (as defined under the 1996 Chafee Amendment) can become Registered Users entitled to log on and download files.

14. File Repository Future Directions? Coming soon! Ability for publishers to download their own files from repository! Permission to use files created from NIMAS for Repository uses Permission for all paticipating publishers to allow use of files with screen reading software, www.aph.org

15. APH File Repository and Louis: Future Directions Brand new system, brand new look! Ability to create accounts for publishers to download own materials www.aph.org

16. Additional Information APH File Repository Frequently Asked Questions –http://www.aph.org/louis/reposfaq.htmhttp://www.aph.org/louis/reposfaq.htm Agreement to Use the APH File Repository –http://www.aph.org/louis/reposagree.htmlhttp://www.aph.org/louis/reposagree.html List of Ex Officio Trustees of APH –http://www.aph.org/fedquotpgm/trustees.htmlhttp://www.aph.org/fedquotpgm/trustees.html

17. www.aph.org Searching questions Louis Staff –Inge Formenti, Kate Herndon, Joon Lee, and Linda Turner 800-223-1839 x705 resource@aph.org –Linda Turner, File Repository Manager lturner@aph.org 800-223-1839 x342