This wonderful story from the Book Publishers Association latest newsletter:

Braille Edition of Six Pack Two

RNZFB and the organisers of NZ Book Month are making history: for the first time ever in New Zealand, a book was released to RNZFB members in braille, audio, large print and electronic text at the same time as its standard print counterpart.

This was possible because the organisers of NZ Book Month provided an electronic file of the “Six Pack Two” book at the same time it was sent to their publishers. Since then, six narrators and the RNZFB’s studios have recorded “Six Pack Two”, and the Foundation’s Accessible Format Production department has produced the book in other accessible formats.

Thanks to this cooperation and digital technology, the publishing process was easy and ensured that blind, deafblind and vision-impaired people had access to “Six Pack Two” at the same time as sighted people.

Bookman Beattie says congratualtions to all concerned on this marvellous piece of co-operative publishing.