The Marrakesh Treaty: an EIFL Guide for Libraries provides an introduction to the Marrakesh Treaty for persons with print disabilities, its key provisions and recommendations for national implementation in order to maximize the opportunities it offers to libraries to increase the reading materials available to persons with print disabilities.

Libraries are key to the success of the Marrakesh Treaty for two main reasons. Throughout the world, libraries have a long history serving people with print disabilities, and only blind people’s organizations, libraries and other so-called “authorized entities” can send accessible format copies to other countries. Because the treaty provides countries with important policy options, librarians need to be involved in the development of implementing national legislation to ensure the maximum possible benefit, and to effectively meet the objective of the treaty - to end the book famine for print disabled people.

The EIFL guide - the first of its kind - is in two parts. Part One is a straightforward introduction to the treaty, its key provisions, and the role of libraries in contributing to the treaty’s objectives. Part Two provides a practical interpretation of the major technical provisions, with recommendations, in line with public interest goals of enabling access to knowledge.

EIFL thanks all those who contributed to the guide in Lithuanian. Translation and digital publishing was organised by the Lithuanian Library for the Blind. Translator: Audrone Gendvilienė. Editors: Joris Kazlauskas and Dr. Zinaida Manžuch. Publication of the guide was kindly supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.

The original English language version of the guide was published in October 2015. The Lithuanian translation was published in October 2016.