Digitized books + resources

HathiTrust Digital Library

HathiTrust is a partnership of academic and research institutions offering a collection of millions of titles digitized from libraries around the world. U of A students who have a print disability and are registered with Accessibility Resources can receive special access to full-text, digital copies of in-copyright materials found in the HathiTrust Digital Library.

Steps to Request HathiTrust Materials

  1. Make sure you are registered with Accessibility Resources.
  2. Search the HathiTrust digital library, and ensure you have unchecked the “full view” checkbox, and are searching “All items” and not just “full view” items
    1. Many items will already have a full PDF available to view. If you require a download of the entire item you can complete the Google form to request a copy of the file. Click on the catalogue record and then copy the URL for the item you’d like to request.
    2. For restricted items that only have the “limited (search-only)” note, click on the catalogue record and then copy the URL for the item you’d like to request.
  3. Submit the request to the Library via this Google form
    1. The form collects user name, phone number, email and student ID, as well as Hathi Trust URL, and optional publication information
  4. The Library will access a copy of the full PDF and will email it to you within two working days


Internet Archives

Books for people with print disabilities

The Internet Archive provides access to Books for people with print disabilities , a large collection of in-copyright books that can be borrowed online by users with a perceptual disability. The University of Alberta Library is registered as a “qualifying authority” and can grant access to this collection for its users. This collection includes many titles not visible to other Internet Archive users, and authorized users do not need to join a waitlist to view any of the items.

  1. If you don’t already have one, please create an Internet Archive account.
  2. Notify digitization@ualberta.ca or your Accessibility Advisor directly. Provide your Internet Archive username and the email address you used to register.
  3. Once you’ve received confirmation that your account has been confirmed, visit IA’s Books for People with Print Disabilities Collection.
  4. When you find an item you would like to borrow (for example: The Lord of the Rings), click “Read Book”
  5. To read the book you have several options:
    1. Read the book onscreen: there are tools to enlarge the text, or read the book aloud through your browser.
    2. Download an encrypted Adobe EPub file and read with your computer, laptop, or mobile device.
      (requires you to install Adobe Digital Editions)
    3. Download an encrypted Adobe PDF and read with your computer, laptop, or mobile device.
      (requires you to install Adobe Digital Editions)