(Approved by CELA Board April 13, 2026)

Overview of the Collection

The Center for Equitable Library Access (CELA) offers materials in digital and physical formats, to meet the diverse needs and reading preferences of our users. The materials in the collection are mainly digital, offering audio, electronic text (e-text) and digital braille files. Users can access this content through various reading technologies and devices, including an embossed option for braille. Physical materials added to the collection are limited to a small printbraille collection (children's picture books with see-through braille sheets added).
The CELA collection is made up of several subcollections:

1.    Individual book titles selected by CELA staff or sourced from other accessible library services, nationally and internationally, in both English and French. These include, but are not exclusive to, titles purchased or acquired through suppliers, titles selected from other accessible libraries, and titles commissioned for original production through third-party producers. Titles are available in one or more accessible formats, such as human-narrated audio, e-text (DAISY text, EPUB and Word), human-transcribed braille and printbraille.

All sections of this Policy apply to this material.
2.    The Bookshare collection, a large collection of book titles selected and maintained by Bookshare, primarily in English. Titles are primarily available in e-text (DAISY text, EPUB and Word), automated braille and synthetic audio formats. 

All sections of this Policy apply to this material except “Selections Criteria" and "Exclusions.”
3.    Newspapers and magazines, covering both English and French. These are selected by CELA staff at the newspaper/magazine title level. Magazine issues are available in one or more accessible formats, such as human narrated DAISY audio, and e-text (DAISY text, EPUB and Word). Newspapers are available in accessible html.  

All sections of this Policy apply to this material.
 

Policy Objective

The purpose of the Collections Policy is to guide the selection, management, and de-selection of materials in the CELA collection. 

Policy Statement

The selection of library materials is driven by CELA’s Strategic Plan and is informed by the following principles:

Principles

• Representation: CELA’s collections are developed as intentionally curated and varied accessible format collections, with mechanisms for individual library and patron-driven selections.

• Inclusion and Diversity: CELA acknowledges that the communities we serve through public libraries represent a range of lived experiences. Materials are selected for the CELA collection to represent and reflect these diverse communities and viewpoints, and to satisfy the recreational, educational and life-long learning needs for patrons of differing ages, backgrounds, and with different tastes, interests and purposes. CELA actively seeks out titles by, or about, historically marginalized and underrepresented voices and lived experiences.

• Accessibility: The collection is an accessible format collection, which is defined as formats other than print that make published materials accessible to persons with print disabilities. As new formats and features become available that enhance access, they are assessed for inclusion in the collection. 

• Optimization: CELA endeavors to provide equitable access to extensive accessible format collections through a service delivery model that optimizes the development of collections through production partnerships, international exchange, direct purchase and acquisition and subscription-based services.

• Preservation: The collections are preserved and maintained to ensure long- term access.

• Intellectual Freedom: CELA strives to make available the widest variety of materials and viewpoints within the collection and has processes in place to receive and respond to requests for reconsideration. CELA endorses the CFLA/FCAB Statement on Intellectual Freedom and Libraries (see Appendix 1) and recognizes Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which guarantees everyone the freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.

Selection Criteria

Selectors consider:

• Public demand;
• Suitability of format to the content and intended audience;
• Suitability of subject, style and reading level for the intended audience;
• Relevance to users;
• Availability from other sources;
• Representation of Canadian perspectives;
• Insight into the human and social condition;
• Importance as a record of the times;
• Relationship to the existing collection;
• Reputation, skill, competence or significance of the originator of the work;
• Own voice representation;
• Reputation of the publisher or producer;
• Attention of critics, reviewers and the public;
• Clarity, accuracy and logic of presentation;
• Currency and/or timeliness of the material;
• Purchase price and other budgetary and/or resource considerations;
• Materials created by human authors, narrators and transcribers.

Not all factors must be present for a title to be selected for the collection.
In making selections, a variety of resources are used including critical reviews, publisher marketing material, and recommendations from individual libraries and users. 

Exclusions

The CELA collection consists of leisure reading materials. CELA does not purchase, produce, or acquire textbooks intended for academic coursework. However, textbooks may be available in e-text, automated braille, or synthetic audio formats through Bookshare. Currently, CELA does not maintain or develop a collection of braille music materials. CELA only considers self-published titles written from the perspective of someone with lived experiences relating to disability. 
The collection does not include material deemed illegal, including content found to be obscene, hate propaganda, or seditious.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Selection

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing area of research and practice that impacts choices in book selection and access. AI may influence both the creation of content, such as AI-generated text, and the ways materials are produced or consumed, including synthetic voice technologies and other tools used to create accessible formats. 

AI Generated Content

AI-generated texts may lack clear authorship or accountability, which can complicate efforts to assess reliability, accuracy, and the expertise behind the material. To ensure transparency and to maintain the quality of our collection, CELA will:

• Be transparent in our catalogue about content that has been created by artificial intelligence;
• Make every effort to ensure that titles, including self-published titles, which are added to the collection, are not AI-generated;
• Monitor developments in AI-generated publishing and review our approach as needed to ensure collection standards and selection criteria continue to be met;
• Encourage publishers and content distributors to clearly disclose the use of AI-generated content, particularly within search and discovery.

AI Tools in Accessible Format Creation

CELA also recognizes that using AI tools to create accessible formats, such as synthetic voice and automated braille transcription, are an important part of an accessible collection and play a role in expanding access to materials for people with print disabilities. To use these tools responsibly, CELA will:

• Work with producers to ensure transparency around any potential use of AI;
• Consider human review and oversight of AI-generated formats to maintain accuracy, quality, and usability;
• Prioritize selecting and purchasing books that feature human narration, or human transcribed braille, whenever possible;
• Balance the above priority with the need to provide a comprehensive collection that meets selection criteria and patron requests, even when human narrated or human transcribed alternatives are not available.

De-Selection

De-selection is a vital part of building and maintaining responsive and up-to-date collections. Materials are assessed for their condition, accuracy, currency and use, within the context of the collection and relevance to users, balancing immediate and long-term needs. Removal of items from the collection through de-selection is done by knowledgeable, professional staff. Material to be discarded is disposed of in a manner to prevent illicit duplication or sale, theft, or abuse of copyright.

Reconsideration of Materials

CELA strives to make available the widest variety of materials and viewpoints in our collection. CELA endorses the CFLA/FCAB Statement on Intellectual Freedom and Libraries (see Appendix 1), and recognizes Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees everyone the freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication. We affirm that every individual has the right to “access to the full range of knowledge, imagination, ideas, and opinion, and to express their thoughts publicly” and that access to CELA’s materials is key in disseminating information in a free, accessible and unbiased manner to people with print disabilities. 

Individuals or groups have the right to reject material for personal use, but do not have the right to restrict the freedom of others to make use of that same material. It is recognized that parents and guardians have the right to determine what reading materials are suitable for their children.

The following elements will not cause an item to be automatically excluded from the collection: 

• race, religion, nationality or political views of an author 
• frankness or coarseness of language 
• controversial content 
• endorsement or disapproval of an individual or group 
• language in which the work is written or spoken 

If a CELA patron feels that an item in our collection falls outside the criteria outlined in this policy, they are invited to complete a request for reconsideration form {include link to Reconsideration of Materials form}.  
For a request to be considered, the item in question must be read in full, the questions answered in full, and the form signed. One form must be filled out for each item in question. A CELA patron may only have one form actively under review at any time. The form is available to registered CELA patrons, who must be signed in to their library account to complete the form.
Completed forms will be considered by the Executive Director of CELA and the Content & Access Librarian, within four weeks of submission, after which there will be a formal reply. A summary of any requests for reconsideration will be presented to the CELA Board at their annual meeting.

If a CELA patron feels that an item in our collection falls outside the criteria outlined in this policy, they are invited to complete a request for reconsideration form.

For a request to be considered, the item in question must be read in full, the questions answered in full, and the form signed. One form must be filled out for each item in question. A CELA patron may only have one form actively under review at any time. The form is available to registered CELA patrons, who must be signed in to their library account to complete the form.

Completed forms will be considered by the Executive Director of CELA and the Content & Access Librarian, within four weeks of submission, after which there will be a formal reply. A summary of any requests for reconsideration will be presented to the CELA Board at their annual meeting.

Remediation of Damaged Books

CELA has a damaged book report form, which is intended for patrons and library staff to report issues with books in any format in our collection, including audio (synthetic or human-narrated), embossed braille, printbraille, braille (automated or human-transcribed), and text. 
Submitting a Damaged Book Report does not guarantee replacement of the item; however, all reports are reviewed and evaluated. CELA is not able to repair items. If a problem is confirmed, CELA will take steps to locate a replacement copy that meets the reading and accessibility needs of the patron. Sourcing and replacing materials can take several months. If a replacement copy cannot be obtained and the problem is significant, the item will be removed from the collection.

Gifts and Donations

CELA does not accept gifts or donations of materials. This ensures that all content added to our collection aligns with our standards and complies with copyright laws. We encourage individuals looking to donate physical items such as CDs or braille books, or provide monetary contributions, to consider their local public library or senior living facilities, where such donations may be more appropriate.

Patron or Library Requests

CELA evaluates all title suggestions using selection criteria, with the goal of curating a collection that meets the diverse reading needs of our users. Patrons, library staff and members of the public, may place requests for adding materials to the collection using our title suggestion form. The same selection criteria that are applied to all materials selected for the collection are also applied to these requests. 
Further information can be found on the title suggestion form.

Copyright

CELA is authorized to produce and provide titles under specific provisions of the Canadian Copyright Act, as well as through licensing agreements and the Marrakesh Treaty. Section 32 of the Canadian Copyright Act states that a non-profit organization acting for the benefit of a person with a perceptual disability can make a copy or sound recording of a work in a format specially designed to meet the needs of that person, without infringing copyright or requiring the permission of the copyright owner. For more information, see Appendix 2: Canadian Copyright and the Marrakesh Treaty.

No Endorsement of Content

Inclusion of materials in the collection does not constitute endorsement of either the content or viewpoint by CELA.

Accountability

The development of the collection is the ultimate responsibility of the Executive Director for CELA who operates within the policy framework established by the CELA Board. Under the Executive Director's direction, professional staff carry out the evaluation, selection, collection maintenance, budget management, and de- selection activities. 

Policy Review

CELA strives to maintain an up-to-date and responsive Collections Policy. The policy will be formally reviewed every four years, with interim updates made as needed to reflect significant changes in legislation, organizational policy, or major developments affecting libraries and collections practices.
 
Appendix 1

CFLA/FCAB Statement on Intellectual Freedom and Libraries (as of January 2026)

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations recognizes and values the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as the guarantor of the fundamental freedoms in Canada of conscience and religion; of thought, belief, opinion, and expression; of peaceful assembly; and of association.

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations supports and promotes the universal principles of intellectual freedom as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which include the interlocking freedoms to hold opinions and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

In accordance with these principles, the Canadian Federation of Library Associations affirms that all persons in Canada have a fundamental right, subject only to the Constitution and the law, to have access to the full range of knowledge, imagination, ideas, and opinion, and to express their thoughts publicly. Only the courts may abridge free expression rights in Canada.

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations affirms further that libraries have a core responsibility to support, defend and promote the universal principles of intellectual freedom and privacy.

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations holds that libraries are a key institution in Canada for rendering expressive content accessible and affordable to all. Libraries are essential gateways for all persons living in Canada to advance themselves through literacy, lifelong learning, social engagement, and cultural enrichment.

Libraries have a core responsibility to safeguard and facilitate access to constitutionally protected expressions of knowledge, imagination, ideas, and opinion, including those which some individuals and groups consider unconventional, unpopular or unacceptable. To this end, in accordance with their mandates and professional values and standards, libraries provide, defend and promote equitable access to the widest possible variety of expressive content and resist calls for censorship and the adoption of systems that deny or restrict access to resources.

Libraries have a core responsibility to safeguard and foster free expression and the right to safe and welcoming places and conditions. To this end, libraries make available their public spaces and services to individuals and groups without discrimination.

Libraries have a core responsibility to safeguard and defend privacy in the individual’s pursuit of expressive content. To this end, libraries protect the identities and activities of library users except when required by the courts to cede them.

Furthermore, in accordance with established library policies, procedures and due process, libraries resist efforts to limit the exercise of these responsibilities while recognizing the right of criticism by individuals and groups.

Library employees, volunteers and employers as well as library governing entities have a core responsibility to uphold the principles of intellectual freedom in the performance of their respective library roles.

Approval History: June 27, 1974, Amended November 17, 1983; November 18, 1985; and September 27, 2015

Appendix 2

Canadian Copyright and the Marrakesh Treaty

CELA serves people with print disabilities as defined by the Copyright Act of Canada. Print disabilities encompass those who are blind or visually impaired, people with comprehension disabilities such as dyslexia and those with physical disabilities that make it difficult to read a physical book.
Section 32 of the Copyright Act allows accessible format producers such as CELA to make, distribute, import and export accessible format works for the benefit of people with print or perceptual disabilities, without the permission of the copyright owner.
Canada is a signatory to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. The Treaty is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) of the United Nations. It requires any country that ratifies the Treaty to ensure its copyright laws allow:

• the making of accessible format copies;
• the domestic distribution of accessible format copies;
• the export of accessible format copies; and
• the import of accessible format copies.

Effective May 28, 2026

CELA Collections Policy PDF