NNELS invites authors and publishers to participate in making books and other content available to Canadians with print disabilities, allowing them to "read" the books that others have access to.

Our service provides both open-access content (available to everyone) and copyright-protected material to eligible readers with print disabilities through our secure, online website. Distribution of NNELS content is for personal use and free of DRM (digital rights management) tools under our Terms and Conditions.

When an accessible format is not available for a reader, we will request it from authors and publishers to streamline our service. By contributing content, you bypass the time and resources needed for both NNELS and your organization to process these requests. NNELS is also a single point of contact for publishers and authors, preventing repeated requests from the organizations and institutions who are partnered with NNELS.

1. Will NNELS purchase ebook content?

   NNELS will work directly with publishers and publisher associations to negotiate bulk purchases of ebook or audiobook content for perpetual, unlimited distribution to perceptually or print disabled persons as defined by the Copyright Act of Canada. 

2. How does NNELS distribute content?

   In compliance with the Copyright Act of Canada, a publisher's content may be shared with other accessible format providers including schools and higher education libraries in Canada, or with similiar organizations in Marrakesh Treaty member countries. We may also receive requests to share content in accordance with reciprocal borrowing agreements with countries that participate in the Commonwealth Braille and Talking Book Cooperative. One goal of our network is to facilitate efficient sharing of accessible format materials.

3. How will NNELS ensure content is limited to patrons with print disabilities?

   The NNELS interface relies on the authorization work done at local libraries. Library staff ensure (sometimes by requesting medical confirmation) that patrons have a print disability so that (a) readers with print disabilities have fair and timely access to library materials, and (b) unauthorized users do not have access to copyright-protected content. A library user who has a print disability is then assigned a specific "patron type" in our database in order to access NNELS.

4. How does NNELS store the​ digital files?

   NNELS files are stored on Canadian servers using open source object storage technology. The current repository is housed with the BC Libraries Cooperative in Vancouver on the BCNET infrastructure.

5. What about audiobooks that alread​y exist on CD or for digital download?

   If we receive a request for an audiobook that already exists on CD or for digital download, we refer users to those materials. We do not reproduce items that are commercially available in audiobook format so long as the existing format meets the user's needs and the individual title is available for purchase or available through their local library.

6. How does a publisher or an author participate in NNELS?

   There are several ways for publishers and authors to submit content to NNELS: please start by sending a message to coordinator@nnels.ca. We love receiving content in open formats so we can offer our readers information in the way they require it. Thank you so much for your interest and support for this project -- we look forward to working with you.

7. How does NNELS want to receive content from publishers or authors?

   NNELS generally provides books in DAISY format as well as EPUB 3 format which are the formats that we prefer to receive. However, we also accept EPUB 2, PDF, DOC/DOCX, RTF, or MP3 if submitting audio files. We appreciate any electronic files for distribution to readers with print disabilities; these files help us build the collections of accessible books in Canada. The DAISY books and the EPUB 3 books with audio that we produce in-house are often narrated using synthesized (computer) speech but we also invest in live narration (particularly for Canadian content). More information on NNELS production is available on our About Productions page. For more information about the formats we produce see our Formats page.

8. How can I create a braille edition of my book?

   If you want to sell braille files and braille copies of your books, and own the transcription, you will need to get your book transcribed by an agency. Contact braille@nnels.ca to request a list of Canadian transcription agencies.

9. How can I work with NNELS to create and share braille editions of my books through public libraries?

    If you are interested in making a braille copy of your book available through public libraries, and having the ability to sell braille copies, NNELS may be able to work with you. Please contact braille@nnels.ca for more information.

10. Who can I contact with more questions?

    Please feel free to contact us at coordinator@nnels.ca