The core mission of the ABC is to increase the number of accessible books available to print-disabled people around the world. They administer the Global Book Service, a catalogue of accessible content in formats like braille, audio, ebooks, and large print. The ABC also provides training and technical assistance to organizations known as Authorized Entities (AEs) serving print disabled populations around the world, and particularly in developing and least developed countries.
The work of the fellows supports this critical mandate in support of implementing the Marrakesh Treaty and may include:
- Global Book Service
- Facilitating the connect of new AEs to the Global Book Service including the signing of contracts.
- Managing the connect of metadata to the GBS including analyzing, mapping and possible cleaning it up.
- Conducting training sessions on using GBS.
- Accessible Production Training
- Work with AEs, NGOs, and publishers in developing and least developed countries training and technical assistance of accessible content.
- Promote accessible publishing best practices more generally with publishers including writing good metadata
- Administrative duties as required.
These are one-year appointments with the opportunity to renew. They are accepting applications until July 3, 2023. More details and the application materials are available on the ABC website.
This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute substantially to a more accessible world. Throw your hat in the ring — what have you got to lose?
The ABC is also accepting nominations for the WIPO ABC International Excellence Awards. More information here.