The Changing Standards Landscape: 18th Annual NISO/BISG Forum: Accessibility Standards and the Future of Inclusive Publishing
Scope
The 18th annual NISO-BISG Forum, The Changing Standards Landscape, will take place on Friday, June 27, 2025, in conjunction with the ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia. This year’s program, Accessibility Standards and the Future of Inclusive Publishing, examines how evolving standards are shaping the development, distribution, and discoverability of accessible content. Through a series of panel discussions and focused talks, the forum will explore the current state of accessibility in publishing, the technical and organizational infrastructure required to support inclusive practices at scale, and the strategic role of libraries in advancing equitable access. By convening stakeholders from publishing, libraries, standards organizations, and technology service providers, the program aims to surface shared challenges, highlight innovative solutions, and identify pathways for greater alignment across the ecosystem. The forum provides a structured setting to assess progress, examine practical approaches, and consider the future of accessibility through the lens of standards development and implementation.
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Event Sessions
12:00pm – 12:15pm | Welcome & Opening Remarks
12:15pm – 1:00pm | Panel Discussion: Laying the Groundwork for Inclusive Publishing
1:00pm – 1:10pm | Audience Q&A with Panelists
1:10pm – 1:30pm | Talk 1: Progress Assessment – How Far Are We from Delivery?
1:30pm - 1:45pm - Break
1:45pm – 2:35pm | Talk 2: Vendor Perspectives – A Conversation on Content Conversion
2:35pm – 2:45pm | Q&A with panel participants
2:45pm – 3:05pm | Talk 3: Innovation at Scale – OverDrive’s Vision for Accessible Content
3:05pm – 3:25pm | Talk 4: Current Tools & Future Directions in Accessible Publishing
3:25pm – 3:45pm | Talk 5: Library Publishing Futures
3:45pm – 4:00pm | Open Q&A and Group Discussion
Additional Information
This is an in-person event only. Streaming will not be available to those not attending on site.