Overview
CELA offers books and magazines in a variety of accessible formats for individuals with print disabilities. This page provides a summary of each format and guidance on which format to choose.
This page mentions formats that are available in either the CELA collection, the Bookshare collection, or both. All CELA members have access to the CELA collection. To access the Bookshare collection, patrons must submit a proof of disability form.
Read about our accessible formats:
Tip: When you search for a book on celalibrary.ca, the available formats for each book are listed beneath the book title. You can also filter your search results by format on the Filter results pane, which is to the left of your search results.
DAISY audio
Available materials
- Books (CELA and Bookshare collections)
- Magazines (CELA collection)
Description
DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) is an accessible and user-friendly format. With DAISY audio, you can listen to a book or magazine from start to finish by just pressing play, but you can also:
- Skip from section to section
- Use bookmarks
- Look things up in the index
- Adjust the narration speed
- Add notes (on certain DAISY players, such as the Victor Stream and Victor Trek)
Most of CELA’s DAISY audio collection is human-narrated, and Bookshare’s DAISY audio is in a computer-generated voice.
Related formats and delivery options
- DAISY CDs, which you can receive by mail and play on a DAISY player
- Please note: As of July 31st, 2025, CELA will no longer offer DAISY audio CDs as a delivery option. Please visit our CD Transition Resources page to learn about the options available to you for getting our audio books and magazines.
- DAISY Direct to Player, which conveniently delivers the books you choose on celalibrary.ca to an internet-enabled DAISY player, the Envoy Connect player (using CELA Connect software) or to the EasyReader app on a mobile device or computer
- DAISY ZIP, which is a compressed file you can download to your computer, tablet or mobile device, and play in a supported program, such as EasyReader
Choose this format if
You want to listen to audio materials and have a device that supports DAISY audio, such as a DAISY player, or a computer with DAISY software, or a smartphone or tablet with a DAISY-compatible app.
If you have a smartphone or tablet, you can listen to Direct to Player or ZIP books using the free Dolphin EasyReader app. You can listen to DAISY audio on a computer using EasyReader for Windows or AMIS.
Related tutorials
- Direct to Player
- Quick User’s Guide for EasyReader
- Envoy Connect and CELA Connect
- How to download a DAISY ZIP book on your iPhone or iPad (using Voice Dream Reader)
- How to download a DAISY ZIP book to your computer
- Tutorials about transferring ZIP books to DAISY players
DAISY text
Available materials
- Books (CELA and Bookshare collections)
- Magazines (CELA collection)
Description
DAISY text is a versatile format that can be read as text or on a braille display, or played out loud as computer-generated audio, depending on the device used. If you use a DAISY player, your DAISY text book or magazine will be read out loud by a computer-generated voice, and you will be able to do all of the tasks you can do with a DAISY audio book, such as use bookmarks and skip sections.
If you use an accessible reading app such as EasyReader, Voice Dream Reader or Legere Reader, you can:
- Read the words and sentences synchronized with computer-generated audio
Note: On Android devices, highlighting at the word level on EasyReader is available for purchased voices only. For more information, see the Usage section of Dolphin’s FAQs. - Change the text settings (for example: enlarge the font)
- See the images (if included in the book)
- Bookmark pages
- Adjust the speed of reading
Related formats and delivery options
- (Recommended) Direct to Player, which conveniently delivers the books you choose on celalibrary.ca to an internet-enabled DAISY player, computer or mobile device
- DAISY ZIP, which you can download to a computer, tablet or mobile device. You can then read your DAISY text book or magazine by using any of the following:
- A supported computer or mobile app, such as EasyReader
- A DAISY player after transferring over the ZIP file
- A braille display after transferring over the ZIP file
Choose this format if
You want text synchronized with audio, the ability to enlarge the text or change the text settings, or the ability to read the book on a braille display.
Related tutorials
- Quick User’s Guide for EasyReader
- How to download a DAISY book on your iPhone or iPad using Voice Dream Reader
- How to download a DAISY book to your computer
- How to read a DAISY text magazine on a DAISY player
- Tutorials about transferring ZIP books to DAISY players
Word
Available materials
- Books (Bookshare collection and some CELA titles)
- Magazines (CELA collection)
Description
With Word, you can:
- View the text
- Change the text settings (for example: enlarge the font)
- Add notes
- Read easily on a computer with compatible software
If you use an accessible reading app such as EasyReader, Voice Dream Reader or Legere Reader, you can:
- Read the words and sentences synchronized with computer-generated audio
Note: On Android devices, highlighting at the word level on EasyReader is available for purchased voices only. For more information, see the Usage section of Dolphin’s FAQs. - Change the text settings (for example: enlarge the font)
- See the images (if included in the book)
- Bookmark pages
- Adjust the speed of reading
You can also listen to books in Word format on compatible DAISY players. The narrative voice is computer-generated. For more information about compatible DAISY players, see Compatible devices and formats.
Related formats and delivery options
- DOCX file (compressed in a ZIP file), which you can download, unzip and read in any application that supports Word
Note: If you want to play the Word file on a DAISY player, you must manually transfer the file to the DAISY player.
Choose this format if
You want any of the text customization options mentioned in the Description section, and have a Word compatible program on your device.
Related tutorials
EPUB
Available materials
- Books (Bookshare collection and some CELA titles)
- Magazines (CELA collection)
Description
EPUB, short for electronic publication, is an e-book file format. EPUB books can be read in any compatible app or DAISY player.
Many EPUB compatible applications allow readers to:
- View the text
- Change the text settings (for example: enlarge the font)
- Bookmark pages
- Add notes
If you use an accessible reading app such as EasyReader, Voice Dream Reader or Legere Reader, you can:
- Read the words and sentences synchronized with computer-generated audio
Note: On Android devices, highlighting at the word level on EasyReader is available for purchased voices only. For more information, see the Usage section of Dolphin’s FAQs. - Change the text settings (for example: enlarge the font)
- See the images (if included in the book)
- Bookmark pages
- Adjust the speed of reading
When you read an EPUB with a DAISY player or a speech-to-text program, your book will be narrated by a computer-generated voice.
Related formats and delivery options
- EPUB file, which you can download and read in any of the following:
- A compatible application on your computer, tablet or mobile device, such as EasyReader, Voice Dream Reader or Legere Reader
- A compatible DAISY player (requires manual transferal of the EPUB book). For more information about DAISY players that are compatible with EPUB, see Compatible devices and formats.
- A Kobo (requires manual transfer of the EPUB book)
Choose this format if
You want any of the capabilities mentioned in the Description section, and have an EPUB compatible program on your device.
Related tutorials
HTML
Available materials
- Newspapers (CELA collection)
Description
CELA provides fifty regional, national and international newspapers on the day of publication. With text only, stripped of advertisements and organized in similar sections to the print edition, each paper is designed to get you quickly to the content that counts without distractions. You can read any of our available newspapers in your browser (HTML format).
Each newspaper can be:
- Read with a screen reader
- Enlarged within your browser
Related formats and delivery options
- Newspapers page, where you can select the newspaper you want and read it online
Related tutorials
Braille (contracted and uncontracted)
Available materials
- Books (CELA and Bookshare collections)
Description
Braille is a system of raised dots that can be read by individuals with low vision or blindness. Braille materials in the CELA and Bookshare collections are available in the following two reading standards:
- Uncontracted braille (one braille cell represents one letter, number or punctuation symbol)
- Contracted braille (two or more letters or even a whole word is condensed into one or two braille cells)
Current additions to the CELA collection are in Unified English Braille (UEB). The Bookshare braille collection is also in UEB. Note that Bookshare’s braille is created with LibLouis software and is not human-formatted or edited. Learn more about Bookshare’s braille and the limitations of Bookshare's braille.
CELA also offers braille titles from the National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Print Disabled. The majority of these are offered in English Braille, American Edition (EBAE), and approximately 2,000 of these titles are available in Unified English Braille (UEB). There are also titles in uncontracted (grade 1) braille. Learn more about NLS braille.
Related formats and delivery options
- Embossed braille (paper copy), which you receive by mail
- Electronic braille in BRF format (compressed in a ZIP file), which you can download on a computer or mobile device and transfer to a braille display
Choose this format if
You would like to read books or magazines on a braille display or on paper (embossed).
Related tutorials
- How to place and manage holds (embossed braille)
- How to download an electronic braille book
- FAQ on collections and services for braille readers
Printbraille
Available materials
- Children’s picture books (CELA collection)
Note: For braille materials for adults, see the Braille section.
Description
CELA offers regular children's picture books with see-through braille sheets added. Printbraille is perfect for both budding braille readers and for adult braille readers who want to read to children.
Related formats and delivery options
- (Strongly recommended) Automatic selection, which you can contact us to set up. You will receive books that have been automatically selected in the mail.
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You can use the format filters to find and place holds on these titles, which have a loan period of 6 weeks.
Note: Printbraille books must be returned after 6 weeks, as we have limited copies of each book.
Related videos
Related topics
- Making reading accessible (learn about adapting reading for different types of print disabilities)
- Compatible devices and formats
- Automatic selection