– I wanted to ask who you are, how many are you and what you are doing.
Argyro – We started the whole endeavour, Thodoris and I, but without our volunteers we would not be here. Currently, Diavazo gia tous allous (Reading to Others, in Greek) has around 1,300 active volunteers, and, until today, in total 3,500 have subscribed, as part of our broader network. Apart from in Athens, we are active in Chania, and in Heraklion in Crete, having held a steady presence in these cities for two-and-a-half and three years, respectively.
– How did you get the idea of Diavazo gia tous allous (Reading to Others)?
Thodoris – We will get to that too! I will write it on a t-shirt at some point. Well, it started by chance, in fact. We were with Argyro in a coffee shop in November 2014, and we were talking about literature. During the conversation Jonathan Coe, a writer that we both happen to like, was mentioned. Argyro suggested one of his books, “The House of Sleep,” that I hadn’t read. I told her that I could not read it right away, because it was not available in the reading libraries from which I borrow (audio books) and I suggested, if she wanted, that she read it to me.
A. – When he proposed it to me, I said “yes” of course, and the conversation stopped there, because I froze with the information. When I went back home, I took down the book from the shelf, I saw how many pages it had and I started to think about how many hours it would take for someone to read it and how frequently this could happen. Indeed, I remember that I had suggested going somewhere and reading it to him, so there could be flow and continuity for him. In general, I was very angry. First of all with myself, who until then had not realized that people who do not see do not have equal access to books. I assumed that the state produced all books in hard copy and acoustic or braille. On a second level, I got angry with the society that does not foresee this and I said that if I read the book to Thodoris, why not record it, so that it could be deposited in the Audio Library. Then I thought that since I am willing to spend a few hours recording a book, maybe there are other people who would like to do the same. So in December 2014, I created a Facebook page called “Reading for Others,” through which I made an open call to record books for people who do not see.
– And what eventually happened?
A. – There was a great response. Strangers began to call me, telling me that it was a great idea, and I realized that in order for this to be put into practice, I would have to gather all these people together somewhere to discuss it. So we held the first meeting for new volunteers in January 2015 at the Myrtlilo Café and, although it was Saturday night and it was raining, 45 people I didn’t know came. This is how it all started.
– Which are the libraries that someone can approach, in order to listen to a book?
Th. – The organizations of the blind are the following: The Panhellenic Association of the Blind and the Lighthouse for the Blind of Greece, whichalso have libraries. Likewise, the Centre for Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind, which is the School of the Blind, provides mainly school books. Furthermore, there is the AMELib—Accessible Multi-modal Electronic Library, the library where we also deposit acoustic files for the visually impaired, who can access these documents through some certified codes. Everybody’s ultimate goal is for all these entities to be unified at some level and each of them to produce as many books as they can, that they will be accessible everywhere and not just in each individual organization.
– Who are considered visually impaired?
Th . – The visually impaired are the people who do not see, who cannot hold a physical file due to limb disabilities, illiterate people and those who have a high degree of dyslexia.
– In case that someone, who is not in your network, reads something they believe is worth to be recorded, could they contact you and recommend it to you?
A. – We have submitted a request to some institutions for the creation of a platform, which has three objectives. The first is the registration of the visually impaired and blind, students and non-students. With a survey we did, we found that there is no record in Greece of people who do not see. In order to make a first mapping of needs, this recording should precede it. The second goal is for someone to be able, through the platform, to either order a book they need from anywhere in Greece, or to propose a book. And the third goal is to allow someone to become a sponsor for the production of a book, covering the production costs. If we succeed in creating this platform, we will be able to automate the way we produce books and prioritize the needs of these people. Because what is happening right now is that if a student needs some audio university textbook, they have to turn to university libraries individually, which they have significant shortcomings.
– Speaking of students, Thodoris, you have studied psychology and law. How easy was that?
Th. – In terms of accessibility, it was not, because there was not a lot of material available. I studied with relatives and friends and I am surrounded by a support network, however there are people in my position who pay someone to read them. In addition, unfortunately, the majority of people in Greece do not even choose the path of studying. Nevertheless, slowly the percentage is rising, because technology also helps, but it still remains very small.
– Have you discussed with publishers how you could jointly manage the need to produce audio university textbooks and books?
A. – This raises issues of copyright and publishers are hesitant because they fear that their writing will get lost on the internet and will be used in a fraudulent way. We are not in the process of making use of the legislative framework (according to which each publisher has to concede 10% of their books for the production of audio books), because we believe that cooperatively, we can co-create the society in which we all choose we live. The point is for each of us to play our part—in the way and to the extent that they can—in order to solve the problem that exists.
– Do you record in languages other than Greek?
A. – So far, we have not recorded in other languages, except foreign language books for children with visual impairment. In order to get into this process, we need to look at what’s available in other countries’ libraries. With the signing of the Marrakesh Treaty (on access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled), the circulation of foreign-language books from one acoustic library to another is facilitated. Therefore, we should see what the needs are in Greece in order to move forwards accordingly.
– Thank you very much. You have put me in the process of thinking and redefining the definition of the word “read”.
Th. – We are pleased about this, because we have undertaken it out of personal responsibility. We believe we fill in a gap, because the need is specific. It’s not an artificial one and it’s not about a luxury.
