University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Student Accessibility Center

To:    Potential Alternative Textbook Users

From:    Jean Salzer, B/VI Sr. Counselor and Alternative Text Coordinator

Once you have been referred to the Alternative Textbook Program by your SAC staff member, you will need to meet with me to discuss your options for alternatives to print. My direct line is 414-229-5660 and my email is jeano@uwm.edu. Please contact me for a meeting.

The Student Accessibility Center provides electronic textbooks as its main form of alternative to print. This may include scanning your textbooks, editing them and providing them to you via electronic file transfer. Several conditions will need to be met in order for you to receive your textbooks in an alternate format. Please read the attached Alternative Textbook Policy and Procedures as well as the Individual Use Agreement carefully prior to our meeting.

The Individual Use Agreement is included and must be signed in order to provide publishers with assurance copyright law will not be violated by your receipt of electronic textbook files.

Also, in accordance with copyright laws, you will be required to provide me with your textbook (new or minimally used) as well as a copy of the receipt/proof of purchase. The UWM Bookstore has graciously agreed to set aside the best used copies of books for you (as long as I know of your intent to use electronic textbooks), and to allow you to purchase them before the usual start date for textbooks sales. You also can purchase them on Amazon or some similar website. Please make sure you are looking for minimally marked up books. The cleaner the better, as highlighting and notes in the margins will slow down the editing process. You can help yourself the most by providing me with a copy of the textbook well BEFORE the semester begins.

The scanning process begins with removal of the binding. After the binding is removed, books will be fed into a high speed duplexing scanner. Then, student workers and volunteers will edit the books and create a text, word, PDF or MP3 audio files. Your book will be returned after it has been scanned and rebound. Usual turn-around time for physical textbook return is less than one week.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.


2009 update