AMElib the Accessible Multi-modal Electronic Library of Greece

Abstract

To ensure equal participation of people with disabilities in all levels of education the state owes to build structures and develop inclusive and accessible services that not only cover the specific needs but also aim to aid an autonomous experience in the knowledge acquiring process and ultimately in self-realization. Α successful project in this context is AMElib, an accessible multi-modal electronic library that provides accessible bibliography to all the print disabled persons regardless if they are students or not. The collection consists of e-books, documents, different learning objects in various formats and in order to accommodate this versatility of items the RDA cataloging standard and the FRBR entity-relationship model were chosen for the documentation. AMElib was created by Heal-Link -the Greek academic libraries consortium- in coordination with Panteion University Library and a network of supporting organizations. All bodies are actively involved to integrate the Marrakesh Treaty on exceptions of international copyright for the benefit of the visually impaired persons (VIPs) in the Greek legislation. Future aspiration of the project is to evolve into a national digital library following all the international developments on the subject of accessibility and assistive technologies, towards an unhindered education for all.