What Centre for Equitable Library Access does

The Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA), operating bilingually as CELA in English and CAÉB in French, is a Canadian non-profit founded in 2014 that provides accessible library services to Canadians with print disabilities — individuals with visual impairment, dyslexia, or physical disabilities that prevent reading standard print. The organization is statutorily authorized under Section 32 of the Canadian Copyright Act and stands to benefit from Canada's ratification of the Marrakech Treaty effective May 28, 2026, which strengthens the legal basis for cross-border exchange of accessible materials.

CELA's core product is a digital accessible content delivery platform offering books, newspapers, and magazines in multiple accessible formats: DAISY audio (primarily synthetic-speech driven), e-text/EPUB, and braille (contracted, uncontracted, and printbraille). Content is curated by CELA staff with priority given to Canadian content and recent publications (within the last five years), and is supplemented by access to the Bookshare collection for users who provide proof of disability. Distribution is achieved through a self-serve website (celalibrary.ca), mobile and desktop apps (Dolphin EasyReader, VoiceDream), voice-activated reading via Accessible Reading Canada on Alexa, and compatible hardware including DAISY players, braille devices, and the Envoy Connect audio player. The organization also operates an educator-facing program, a client-access support program for other professionals, and a designates pathway for family members and caregivers.

CELA's business model is non-recurring-revenue on the consumer side and subscription-based on the institutional side. End-user services are free to eligible Canadians with print disabilities who register and provide proof of disability; institutional revenue flows from public library membership fees and government support, with member libraries serving as the primary distribution channel nationwide. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Rina Hadziev, who was appointed in October 2019. Strategic positioning is reinforced by synchronized accessible-format releases tied to major Canadian literary awards (CBC Canada Reads, Scotiabank Giller Prize, Governor General's Literary Awards) and by a published 2026 Strategic Plan.

Name

Centre for Equitable Library Access

Legal name

Centre for Equitable Library Access

Website

https://celalibrary.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) is a Canadian non-profit founded in 2014 that delivers books, newspapers, and magazines in accessible formats (audio, e-text, braille) to Canadians with print disabilities, distributed through a nationwide public library member network and statutory authorization under Section 32 of the Canadian Copyright Act.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accessible Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) & Format Conversion (Braille, Large Print, DAISY) (EDAKAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accessible & Alternative Format Materials (Braille, Large Print, Audio, Tactile Graphics) (EDAGAMAD), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH)

Keywords

• Accessible library services
• Print disability resources
• Braille book lending
• Accessible reading formats
• Digital library access

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Library Membership Services: CELA provides accessible library services to Canadians with print disabilities through public library membership. Services are free to eligible patrons who provide proof of disability. Member public libraries support the service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CELA provides accessible library services to Canadians with print disabilities, offering books, newspapers, and magazines in multiple accessible formats including DAISY audio (synthetic and human voice), e-text/EPUB, and braille (contracted, uncontracted, and printbraille). The service is delivered free to eligible patrons who register with proof of disability, accessible through a website platform and multiple reading apps and devices. Member public libraries across Canada support and distribute the service to their patrons.

Product overview

CELA (Centre for Equitable Library Access) operates as a public library service for Canadians with print disabilities, offering a unified accessible reading platform. The core offering includes the CELA Accessible Library Collection of books, newspapers, and magazines available in multiple accessible formats: DAISY audio, ePub electronic text, contracted and uncontracted braille, and printbraille. The service supports reading through multiple channels including the Dolphin EasyReader app for smartphones, tablets and computers, the Envoy Connect audio player, Alexa voice commands via Accessible Reading Canada, DAISY players, and braille devices. An additional sub-collection from Bookshare extends access for users with verified disabilities. Supporting services include multiple newsletters (Open Book, Open Book for Libraries, Open Book for Educators, Braille Books Acquired) and dedicated support for various user segments including first-time users, educators, public library staff, and designates (family and caregivers).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CELA Accessible Library Collection
• Accessible Reading Canada for Alexa

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20 braille magazines available covering computers, health, sports, puzzles, music and other topics
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BooksharecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUsers who provide proof of disability can access books from the Bookshare collection through CELA. Bookshare provides a vast collection of titles in text electronic format (DAISY text, EPUB and Word), automated braille, and synthetic speech audio.
• Public Libraries (Member Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCELA services are delivered through member public libraries across Canada. Patrons access CELA through their local public library membership. The network provides accessible reading services to Canadians with print disabilities nationwide.
• PAL Reading ServicesminorOthersFor businesses that can produce audiobooks or braille on demand, CELA refers patrons to PAL Reading Services.
• Braille JymicominorOthersFor businesses that can produce audiobooks or braille on demand, CELA refers patrons to Braille Jymico.
• Greater Victoria Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCELA's Executive Director Rina Hadziev came from Greater Victoria Public Library with over 15 years of experience in public library leadership, digital collections and technical services. The library was a member of CELA board from 2016-2019.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• HathiTrust Digital Library: A large-scale collaborative digital preservation repository that provides accessible versions of in-copyright works to print-disabled users through its Accessible Text Request Service. A broader incumbent with overlapping accessibility mission but different scale and academic focus.

Regional players

• CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind): A Canadian non-profit serving people with vision loss, with its own accessible library service (formerly known as CNIB Library). Operates in Canada with overlapping patron base and mission as CELA.
• Vision Australia Library: Provides accessible library services to Australians who are blind, have low vision, or have a print disability. Comparable in mission and service design to CELA, but serving Australia.
• RNIB Library Services: The Royal National Institute of Blind People's library provides accessible books and information to UK print-disabled readers. A regional peer offering the same model in the UK, useful as a comparable operating blueprint.

Others

• DAISY Consortium: Global standards body that develops the DAISY format used across CELA's accessible content. Functions as ecosystem infrastructure rather than direct competitor, but its standards decisions shape CELA's technology stack.
• Accessible Books Consortium: A WIPO-led public-private partnership supporting the production and distribution of accessible books for print-disabled persons worldwide. Operates the ABC Global Book Service that overlaps with CELA's catalog function for cross-border exchange.

Direct peers

• Bookshare: An accessible online library operated by Benetech that provides books in DAISY text, EPUB, and synthetic speech audio to people with print disabilities. CELA already partners with Bookshare; it is the largest comparable accessible-content provider.
• National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled: A U.S. Library of Congress program that provides free library services in accessible formats to print-disabled U.S. residents. Closest functional peer to CELA, differing primarily by country and operating scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYjezaa1k9OsjcsoTLG8lLw
• Facebookfacebook.com/celalibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/celalibrary_bibliocaeb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-equitable-library-access

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre for Equitable Library Access