For the 2022 edition of the Frankfurter Buchmesse (October 19th – 23rd), Fondazione LIA is organizing two professional events and a Reading in the dark to promote the theme of accessibility in publishing, with the collaboration of international partners and in the framework of Aldus UP, the European Book Fairs network promoting the internationalization of the book sector and the innovation of book fairs format.

Accessibility in action: three challenges for the publishing industry

October 19th, 3 – 4 pm
Frankfurt Studio (Hall 40, room Europa)

In light of the forthcoming European Accessibility Act, the adoption of the «Born accessible» principle is nowadays in the agenda of all the publishing companies operating in Europe and worldwide. Publishers and all the players in the value chain are working to incorporate accessibility into digital mainstream production and distribution channels, thus providing the same titles to everyone.

The seminar will focus on three key aspects of accessibility:

• Born accessible publications;
• Image descriptions;
• Accessibility metadata

Panel

Porter Anderson

Editor in Chief at Publishing Perspective
He moderates the panel

Cristina Mussinelli

Secretary General, Fondazione LIA
She will show the advantages of Born accessible publications over conversions.

Stacy Scott

Accessibility Manager, Taylor & Francis
She will give authors and publishers tips to provide meaningful descriptions for all images.

Mélissa Haquenne

Product Manager, Cantook Publishing
She will explain how to distribute accessibility metadata in the value chain.

The recording of the seminar

The seminar is organized by Fondazione LIA in collaboration with Federation of European Publishers, International Publishers Association, Frankfurter Buchmesse and Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, in the framework of Aldus UP, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

Accessibility networking event. Meet international colleagues and experts!

October 19th, 4 – 5 pm
Hall 4, room Entente

Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Fondazione LIA and Frankfurter Buchmesse are glad to invite you to a networking event with international colleagues and accessibility experts.

Keynote: Anne Bergman-Tahon, Director FEP: “Are we heading for chaos for the backlist titles with the implementation of the European Accessibility Act?”.

Join the international crowd of accessibility experts for a drink and a snack and find your peers to discuss challenges of inclusive publishing, like certification of accessible e-books, image description and metadata distribution. Participants will have the chance to further discuss with accessibility experts from the previous seminar “Accessibility in action”.

We are looking forward to meeting you in person after the fruitful but online-only discussions in the last years.

Reading in the dark

October 20th, 7.30 pm
Orangerie in Günthersburgpark, Frankfurt

On Thursday evening, in the framework of Aldus UP, a Reading in the dark® (in German) will be held in the beautiful setting of the Orangerie in Günthersburgpark. The event is organized in collaboration with: Fondazione LIA, Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Frankfurter Buchmesse, mediacampus frankfurt,  Blinden- und Sehbehindertenbund in Hessen e.V. (BSBH), dzb lesen.

Marie Gamillscheg and Sabine Lohner will read excerpts from the book Aufruhr der Meerestiere, in the longlist of the German Book Prize. Thomas Kahlisch (Director dzb lesen) and Gesa Ufer (as moderator) will also participate in the event.

Through the absence of light, the Reading in the dark^® cancels any distinction between those who read with their eyes, those with their hands, and those with their ears. Famous writers and blind or visually impaired readers alternately read the same book, revealing the different ways of using it.