NIMAC Update to OSEP
May 2012
Julia Myers
Nicole Gaines
NIMAC
Under a grant by the U.S. Department of Education and
consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act of 2004, the American Printing House for the Blind,
Inc. , (APH) established the National Instructional
Materials Access Center (NIMAC).
NIMAC began operations on December 3, 2006 as
scheduled and continues to work closely with OSEP, the
NIMAS Centers, the NIMAC Advisory Council, other
NIMAC stakeholders, and OverDrive, Inc., to operate
and grow.
NIMAC “Guiding Principles”
• Certify valid NIMAS files as quickly as possible
• Provide a fully accessible, easy-to-use system that
allows users direct access to: register and establish
accounts, download files, search the database, and
publishers to upload files and manage inventory
• Provide excellent customer service and support through
email, phone, webinars, help documentation, etc.
• Build in sufficient processes and safeguards to protect
copyright while not inhibiting usability of NIMAS file sets
as source material for AIM
• Work to improve file quality by encouraging feedback
from users and providing best practices information to
publishers and vendors
NIMAC Overview
The NIMAC is a central repository that contains NIMAS
file sets. It has an automated system which allows
publishers to directly upload smaller NIMAS file sets to
the repository. Larger file sets are received by FTP or on
DVD and batch processed and uploaded by OverDrive.
The NIMAC receives the NIMAS file sets from publishers
who are required to provide NIMAS files through
purchase contracts with a state or local educational
agency, or who submit files voluntarily in anticipation of a
future contractual obligation.
NIMAC Overview
Through an automated validation process, all NIMAS file
sets are checked to confirm that they are valid NIMAS
format. NIMAC staff then conducts a manual verification
check of the files and metadata, and catalog the NIMAS
file sets in a web-based database.
Publishers receive detailed feedback and instructions
regarding needed corrections if a file must be rejected.
NIMAC staff follow up with vendors/publishers if files
have not been resubmitted with corrections within three
weeks of rejection.
NIMAC Certification Process
File set
validated and
uploaded
File set
undergoes
manual
quality
check/
corrections
Can
file set
be
accepted
?
No
File set corrected by
publisher/vendor and
resubmitted
Feedback provided to
publisher or
conversion vendor
Yes
File set added to
NIMAC
repository
NIMAC Overview
Publishers receive a digital certificate when a NIMAS file
set is accepted by the NIMAC. (The publisher may use
this certificate to verify to customers that the file set has
been accepted into NIMAC, if necessary.)
Finally, certified files undergo a post-certification review
to ensure that no errors were overlooked in the
certification review process.
For last 6 months of 2011, error rate was under 3.5%.
NIMAC Quality Control Process
File
passes
?
Certified file
QC review
Yes
Process Complete
No
Feedback to
publisher/vendor
Corrections made by
publisher/vendor; file
resubmitted
No
Can
NIMAC
correct
?
Yes
Corrections
made
Corrections verified by
NIMAC
NIMAC Overview
After verification and cataloging, the NIMAS files are
available for downloading by authorized users via an
online, searchable database. While anyone may search
the database, only those who have been authorized have
user identifications and passwords that permit them to
download the NIMAS file sets.
An authorized user may convert files to fully accessible
textbooks or may deliver the files to outside vendors or
contractors. Accessible media producers may also
register with the NIMAC to receive an account that allows
them to directly download NIMAS files assigned to them
within the NIMAC system by authorized users.
NIMAC Overview
To help ensure copyright protection, and to ensure that
NIMAS file sets are used only to produce textbooks in
specialized formats for students, access to files from the
NIMAC is restricted to authorized users who have
agreed to and signed the NIMAC Limitation of Use
Agreement.
The NIMAS file sets also are digitally “watermarked and
fingerprinted.” These processes permanently mark the
NIMAS file set with code that identifies the user account
that downloaded the file, and the NIMAC as the origin of
the file.
NIMAC: Daily Staff Activities
• In addition to providing feedback to vendors and the
review and certification of files sets, NIMAC staff
also:
– Provide information and referral to the general public,
State Coordinators, Authorized Users and Accessible
Media Producers
– Troubleshoot problems and issues, referring users to
OverDrive technical support as appropriate
– Review and approve new accounts and agreements
(infrequent); update account information as needed
Customer/Technical Support
User Contacts* (Calls/Emails) October – May:
• Total:
157
• Public:
88
• AMP:
39
• AU:
30
Customer support: average 1 per day
Tech support: average 1 every 2 weeks
*Does not include:
-File review/feedback communications to vendors/publishers
-Batch delivery tracking/support to vendors (495 emails)
-Account updating project begun October 2011 which involved
contacting most all registered AMPs and AUs
NIMAC: User/System Activities
• NIMAS file sets are downloaded daily by AUs
and AMPs
• AUs assign files to AMPs for download
• All NIMAS file sets are watermarked and
fingerprinted at download
• SC creates AU accounts; AUs create sub
accounts as needed; AMPS register with NIMAC
• System tracks downloads, account changes
March 2012 Survey of AUs/AMPs
• The NIMAC provided a customer satisfaction survey to
users to collect information and gather feedback in these
areas:
– What formats are being produced by users
– NIMAC system performance, use of features, and suggested
system changes
– Satisfaction with NIMAC and OverDrive staff support
– Interest in future trainings (very high!)
• The NIMAC received responses from 66 AUs and 64
AMPs
NIMAC System: AU Responses
NIMAC System: AU Responses
NIMAC System: AMP Responses
Recommended System Changes
• AMPs and AUs were also asked for their
recommendations on future NIMAC system
development.
• System development recommendations:
– Improve system response time
– Provide 10- and 13-digit ISBN search for all files
– Ensure all files validate to 2005 NIMAS DTD
– Provide Bookshare and Learning Ally results in
NIMAC search
Recommended System Changes: Status
• Improved system response time: In progress
– Addressing this issue was already underway. OverDrive will be
moving NIMAC to a more robust server
• Searchability by 10 and 13-digit ISBNs: Under review
– NIMAC is working with OverDrive to explore an automated
process to supply ISBNs not provided by publisher
• File validation improvement: Resolved
– In March 2012, OverDrive released and NIMAC announced new
validation wizard with enhanced DTD feedback
• Unified search for NIMAC and others: Resolved
– APH has implemented Louis Plus. Bookshare and Learning Ally
have been invited to participate, along with AccessText Network.
Survey Recommendations/Comments
• Need for information regarding state edition classroom
compatibility
• Need for local training on AIM and how the bigger
system of AIM provision works
• Need for unified search of Bookshare, Learning Ally and
NIMAC materials
• Need for information on which AMPs produce Nemeth
braille
• Need to know who to contact if a NIMAC file will not
open in Read:OutLoud and cannot be successfully
converted into an EPUB
Notable Quotes: The Big Picture
• “The [state] Dept of Ed people have been trying to
convince districts who independently adopt to include
language for NIMAC, etc – but still have some holdouts.”
• “Please find a way to have all agencies work together to
come up with a clear explanation of what each does,
who it is intended for, and how to use it. There is so
much confusion still about NIMAC….Each state needs a
person to guide them.”
• “There is still a lot of confusion out there about what
NIMAC is and how to use it. There needs to be more
coordination between agencies.”
Additional Recent or In-progress
Workflow Improvements:
• OverDrive implemented new batch processing
procedures April 1, 2012:
– Upload turnaround time improved 40%-80%
• OverDrive to implement new delivery tracking
system
– Vendor procedural errors to be reduced with new
system
• Best practices feedback (goal to provide for 10% of
new submissions)
– NIMAC pilot project using DAISY Pipeline
Configurable Validator
File Quality Update
• 8 file quality reports since October 1, 2011
– 7 issues verified in file set
– 1 issue of conversion software
• File set issues
–
–
–
–
2 pagination issues in XML
2 textual errors in XML (capitalization, typos)
1 graphic content not included in XML
OPF issues (extraneous character or line)
DAISY Pipeline Validator Testing
In January 2012, NIMAC began a pilot project for
testing certified files with the DAISY Pipeline Validator
to evaluate whether this tool provides valuable feedback
for vendors. (Feedback is being provided to vendors
during the pilot.)
Files reviewed
136
Publisher imprints
46
Vendors
>17
File Creation Date Range
2007-2012
(With emphasis on recent submissions)
DAISY Pipeline Validator Testing
Results of initial 136 files:
Percentage of files that generated errors
Files with no errors
Files with “errors”
Files with “warning”
Files with errors that affected HTML conversion
Error Details
SVG "attribute" errors
OPF manifest formatting/file name issues
Other issues (extraneous css reference, etc.)
XML issues
2%
105
29
1
0
4
22
3
0
Accomplishments and Statistics
• Downloads increasing dramatically!
• 80% increase in AU downloads and 43%
increase in AMP downloads in 2011 over
previous four years combined!
Downloads: “Top 10 AUs”
October 2011 through April 2012
CSMT (California) (Paris-Salb)
CA
Authorized User
1,233
Indiana Center for Accessible Materials
IN
Authorized User
102
Chicago Lighthouse
IL
Authorized User
79
Outreach Program NMSBVI
NM
Authorized User
34
CA Dept of Education
CA
Authorized User
33
George Mason University (Virginia)
VA
Authorized User
28
Ohio State School for the Blind
OH
Authorized User
24
Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind
ID
Authorized User
23
Kansas IRC
KS
Authorized User
22
Anchorage School District
AK
Authorized User
22
Wyoming Institute for Disabilities
WY
Authorized User
19
Downloads: “Top 10 AMPs”
October 2011 through April 2012
Bookshare
Accessible Media Producer
515
APH
Accessible Media Producer
65
APEL Education Consultancy LLC
Accessible Media Producer
47
gh LLC
Accessible Media Producer
32
Braille Access Center
Accessible Media Producer
19
Learning Ally
Accessible Media Producer
17
Anamosa Braille Center
Arizona Instructional Resource
Center
Accessible Media Producer
10
Accessible Media Producer
4
Oshkosh Correctional Institution
Accessible Media Producer
4
Shepherd Braille
Accessible Media Producer
4
Midwestern Braille Volunteers
Accessible Media Producer
2
Statistics: 2006 to present
NIMAC Users
States/Outlying Areas
Authorized Users
Accessible Media Producers
Publishers
Jan-08
44
58
45
49
Jan -09
54
105
105
75
Jan -10
55
148
135
87
Jan -11
57
177
171
99
Apr-12
57
183
196
105
Unique Downloads
AMPs
AUs
TOTAL
Jan -08
71
294
365
Jan -09
425
822
1247
Jan -10
1572
1867
3439
Jan -11
3144
3375
6519
Apr-12
4847
6617
11464
NIMAC Inventory
Textbooks
Consumables
Supplementary Readers
Other
TOTAL
Jan -08
868
313
2753
166
4100
Jan -09
2690
1174
7536
1171
12571
Jan -10
4335
1864
11743
1646
19588
Jan -11
5773
2500
13804
1738
23815
Apr-12
7664
2849
17883
2277
30673
Re-cap of Recent Workflow
Improvements
• OverDrive new upload procedures (improvement
of 40-80% in turnaround time)
• New Validation Wizard (ensures correct DTD,
provides warning if valid but not most recent)
• Pilot with DAISY Pipeline Validator; providing
additional feedback to vendors
Re-cap of Upcoming Workflow
Improvements
• OverDrive to implement new batch delivery
tracking system
• Move of NIMAC system to new server for better
system performance
• Providing new webcasts to NIMAC users and
publishers
• ALSO: NIMAC working with CIPP on
performance evaluation for 3+2
NIMAC and Beyond:
More Survey Comments
• “I wish that the AMPs [registered with NIMAC] would specify
Nemeth. Many of the AMPs are not producing materials for
anyone beyond their local districts and I wish we could weed
them out somehow and only locate individuals, prisons or
businesses that really produce for anyone in the country.”
• “Is there a way to know if Bookshare or Learning Ally have
already converted the file and have it for loan? From the
NIMAC site?
• “I think training in how to find a book that even NIMAC doesn’t
have and how you may get it from source [sic] that has it
already.”
NIMAC and Beyond:
Leveraging Existing Solutions
• Louis: locate and share existing AIM from 140
agencies
• Louis Plus: locate NIMAS, AIM
• APH File Repository: share value-added
electronic AIM (BRF and beyond)
• AMP Database: locate AMP professionals in
braille, NEMETH, computer braille, music,
graphics and more
• TGIL: share tactile graphics
“Louis Plus” Unified Search
• Allows single search of NIMAC and Louis.
• Utilizes Google Search Appliance and web
service.
• Extensible to other repositories.
• Went live in July of 2011
• Allows AU to go from Louis Plus search results
directly to the NIMAC record for download.
AMP and Tactile Graphics
Image Library
AMP Database
The goal of the Tactile Graphic Image Library is to provide quality and
consistent templates for creating tactile graphics. By providing these templates
transcribers and teachers can modify the images to meet their specific needs
and provide tactile graphics for students use in less time .
 Over 700 Tactile Graphic Templates
 Adobe editable PDF format
 Forum for posting questions
 Registration information is secure and confidential
 It’s FREE!!!
NIMAC Team
•
•
•
•
Julia Myers, Project Director
Nicole Gaines, NIMAC Manager
Johanna Argo, NIMAC Support Specialist
Tiffany Bradford-Oldham, NIMAC Support
Specialist
• OverDrive NIMAC Team
How to Reach Us
• http://www.nimac.us
• 502-899-2230
• 1-877-526-4622 (1-877-52-NIMAC)
• nimac@aph.org