Books can travel in both directions
Readers in China would gain access through the network to a catalogue of more than 840,000 accessible books in 80 languages. Chinese-language collections would also become available to eligible readers abroad. WIPO deputy director general Sylvie Forbin described the exchanges as "implementing on the ground the Marrakesh Treaty in China". [1]
A treaty supplies the legal framework
China's participation in the Marrakesh Treaty took effect on 5 May 2022. The treaty creates copyright exceptions to facilitate production and international exchange of accessible books. WIPO had highlighted cooperation with organisations serving blind readers as part of turning that legal framework into usable collections. [2]
The next step is supplying the collections
A WIPO progress report issued in September 2023 expected the two institutions to contribute nearly 20,000 accessible digital copies. It also described new technical interfaces allowing partner libraries to offer the ABC catalogue through familiar websites or apps. The projected contribution was a commitment to expand availability, rather than a count of books already delivered to readers. [3]