ICPSR Transitions Codebooks to EPUB Format
ICPSR has announced a significant shift in its data documentation practices. Beginning July 2024, ICPSR transitioned from the traditional PDF codebook format to the more versatile EPUB format for codebooks of new and ongoing studies that do not yet have codebooks. This change aligns with a federal mandate for accessible study materials and follows the deactivation of the software server currently used for PDF generation.
While newly created codebooks will feature the EPUB format, existing PDF codebooks will remain available for users. To facilitate this transition, ICPSR will provide instructions and recommendations for EPUB reader programs on their website. This approach is initially considered a short-term solution, with aspirations to eventually offer both formats and possibly enhance user experience with interactive codebooks in the future.
This transition to EPUB format complies with Section 508 accessibility standards required by the US federal government and numerous academic institutions. ICPSR ensures that codebooks shared in the EPUB format meet these accessibility mandates, making study materials more inclusive.
For further inquiries, users can refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section on ICPSR’s Help website (in the Analysic and Research Basics section), which provides comprehensive answers about this transition, the availability of old PDF documents, and the sustainability of the EPUB format. The Library of Congress supports the EPUB as a long-term, sustainable preservation format.
Oct 10, 2024