[Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project MUSE monograph chapter clarity
Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list
eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
Thu Mar 12 05:42:19 PDT 2026
Hi Tricia,
Thanks for offering some additional clarity! Just a couple of more
questions.
1. Why does a monograph with a single author determine the choice to
provide chapter PDFs?
2. Is it not possible to offer full eBook PDFs, EPUB, *and *chapter PDFs?
I've received a lot of feedback from folks, both users and librarians,
about how they miss having chapter PDFs available as an option because it
gave them the choice to just select what they needed, instead of being
restricted to downloading an entire eBook. We've seen other platforms offer
all three options, and I'm just curious about it. I can recognize the
navigation issues for users with print disabilities, but (from an outside
perspective) it would seem to make sense to just offer all three options to
address that barrier and still support the varying options for access.
If anything, I could see not adding chapter PDFs for any *newer *content,
but I would think at least keeping Chapter PDFs for *older *content and
also adding PDFs for the full eBook could make sense.
3. With the shift to *not *offering Chapter PDFs, does that mean Project
Muse will move in the direction of allowing whole eBook Lending in eBook
licenses? The move away from allowing Chapter PDFs does/can add additional
work to Interlibrary Loan staff who get chapter requests and have to use a
program to get the chapter they need.
We appreciate hearing about the changes Project Muse is making to support
accessibility in library content, so thank you for the work you all are
doing.
Erika
On Wed, Mar 11, 2026 at 7:10 PM Electronic Resources in Libraries
discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:
> [*Caution*: Email from External Sender. Do not click or open links or
> attachments unless you know this sender.]
>
>
> Hi Erika,
>
>
>
> Yes, I’d be happy to clarify our chapter options. Project MUSE has moved
> away from chapters for monographs only- those with a single author. All
> other book titles and all journal content continue to offer chapter or
> article-level downloads.
>
>
>
> For additional context, here was our original messaging around the
> decision:
>
> Based on our usage research and in conjunction with our accessibility
> updates, Project MUSE pivoted to offering a full PDF and EPUB download for *monographs
> only* because segmented chapters required users to jump back and forth
> between chapters and re-download content. Oftentimes, they would wind up
> downloading the full book version once they realized they needed more
> context. This type of navigation posed challenges for users with print
> disabilities, as it hampers discoverability and comprehension. Project
> MUSE is committed to making accessibility an ongoing priority.
>
>
>
> Again, thank you for your questions, and we remain happy to resolve any
> others the community may have.
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Tricia Chareun
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> *On Behalf Of *Electronic
> Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 11, 2026 2:46 PM
> *To:* Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <
> eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project MUSE is NOT moving to EPUBS
> only
>
>
>
>
> * External Email - Use Caution *
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi there,
>
>
>
> Thank you for chiming in from the vendor perspective and to alleviate some
> concerns we're sharing. I want to note that the assertion made from a
> colleague on this thread was not necessarily them stating "Project Muse
> issue doing xyz", but more that they were sharing their
> understanding/interpretation of the information they had at the time. This
> thread acts as a collaborative space for us to find answers to questions we
> may have. We really appreciate the clarity on this!
>
>
>
> While we are here, could you also offer some clarity on the choice to move
> away from chapter PDFs? That's also been something that has appeared on
> listservs.
>
>
>
> Thank you!
>
> Erika Boardman, UNC Charlotte
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 2:33 PM Electronic Resources in Libraries
> discussion list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:
>
> [Caution: Email from External Sender. Do not click or open links or
> attachments unless you know this sender.]
>
>
> Thank you all for your comments and questions regarding Project MUSE
> books! We'd like to first stress that, no, Project MUSE is not moving away
> from PDF. That assertion on the listserv post was not factual.
>
> As many may know, Project MUSE is an aggregator. Which means we receive
> files from our university press and non-profit publishers in many different
> configurations. We work diligently and as quickly as we can to ensure that
> the EPUB and PDF are available for our end users to access. PDF files can
> be created from EPUBs if not provided alongside them.
>
> In some instances, there may be a specific book that is not accessible in
> PDF - this is not intentional. In the process of working with the files
> that are sent to us, there can be file errors that prevent a PDF
> conversion. We do make the effort to fix those we find, and we're in the
> process of a more thorough search for these books on the platform.
>
> Would also like to highlight our accessibility standard, which is included
> in all of our license agreements:
> Project MUSE and Johns Hopkins University Press (JHUP) complies with the
> Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), by supporting assistive software or
> devices such as large print interfaces, text-to-speech output,
> voice-activated input, refreshable braille displays, and alternate keyboard
> or pointer interfaces, in a manner consistent with the Web Accessibility
> Initiative Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 and 2.2) and EN
> 301 549 Accessibility Standard (V3.2.1), and follows the technical
> specifications of the Revised Section 508 Standards (published January 2017
> and corrected January 2018). (http://www.w3.org/WAI/guid-tech.html).
> JHUP maintains an Accessibility web page, including downloadable copies of
> current Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) documentation, at
> https://muse.jhu.edu/accessibility. JHUP shall ensure that product
> maintenance and upgrades are implemented in a manner that does not
> compromise product accessibility.
>
> Our new VPAT will be live by May 1, which will immediately be posted on
> the link listed above.
>
> We hope we've been able to clear up any miscommunication, and welcome
> additional questions.
>
> Tricia Chareun
> she/her/hers
> Senior Manager, Sales & Library Relations
> Project MUSE, Johns Hopkins University Press
> Tmiller.muse at jhu.edu
>
> I respectfully acknowledge that the land upon which I live and work, in
> Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is on the unceded, ancestral land of the Ho-Chunk
> Nation.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> On Behalf Of
> eril-l-request at lists.eril-l.org
> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 3:02 PM
> To: eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> Subject: Eril-l Digest, Vol 136, Issue 6
>
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:10:32 -0400
> From: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list
> <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> To: eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> Subject: [Eril-l] Project Muse moving to EPUBS only? Accessibility
> question
> Message-ID:
> <mailman.2195.1773169996.388437.eril-l-eril-l.org at lists.eril-l.org
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi all
> So today we ran into our first Project Muse ebook that was only available
> to be read as an EPUB - it can't be read at all without using ADE. This
> poses a huge problem for us, as ADE is not available on our campus
> computers and frankly, our university patrons by and large have found the
> use of ADE on personal devices to be more hoops to jump through and
> complicated then they wish to deal with.
>
> Looking at the Project MUSE FAQs, it appears that they are moving towards
> EPUB over PDF format and do not have an in-brower reader available. So,
> this leaves their collections potentially off the table for us, as we
> would not want to purchase books that are not able to be read on campus
> machines.
>
> I also have concerns about the Accessibility of EPUB files going forward
> and the April 26th requirements; as Project Muse does not provide
> accessibility information by title (the title I am looking at is a 2026
> published title) .
>
> Has anyone addressed any of these concerns with PM -- the move to EPUBs
> (without a readable version, even by chapter, on screen) and / or the
> accessibility issues with EPUBs?
>
>
> Sarah Maximiek *(her/she)*
> Assistant Director of Acquisitions and Contracts Subject Librarian for
> Human Development, Public Administration and Social Work Binghamton
> University Libraries
> 607.777.3941 / maximiek at binghamton.edu
> Schedule a meeting: https://libcal.binghamton.edu/appointments/sarah
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:33:07 -0400
> From: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list
> <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> To: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list
> <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> Subject: Re: [Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project Muse moving to EPUBS only?
> Accessibility question
> Message-ID:
> <mailman.2196.1773171465.388437.eril-l-eril-l.org at lists.eril-l.org
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi Sarah,
>
> This is something my institution noticed a couple of weeks ago and we
> quickly contacted our Vendor Rep about it. I emphasized how problematic it
> is for only EPUBs to be available for the same reasons you've pointed out.
> >From what was shared with me, this (i.e. eBooks only providing EPUB
> >access
> and not PDFs) is a technical issue that they weren't aware of.
>
> I would highly recommend contacting Support or your Vendor Rep about it to
> make them aware of it as well.
>
> Erika Boardman, UNC Charlotte
>
> On Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 3:20?PM Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion
> list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:
>
> > [*Caution*: Email from External Sender. Do not click or open links or
> > attachments unless you know this sender.]
> >
> > Hi all
> > So today we ran into our first Project Muse ebook that was only available
> > to be read as an EPUB - it can't be read at all without using ADE.
> This
> > poses a huge problem for us, as ADE is not available on our campus
> > computers and frankly, our university patrons by and large have found
> > the use of ADE on personal devices to be more hoops to jump through
> > and complicated then they wish to deal with.
> >
> > Looking at the Project MUSE FAQs, it appears that they are moving towards
> > EPUB over PDF format and do not have an in-brower reader available. So,
> > this leaves their collections potentially off the table for us, as we
> > would not want to purchase books that are not able to be read on campus
> machines.
> >
> > I also have concerns about the Accessibility of EPUB files going
> > forward and the April 26th requirements; as Project Muse does not
> > provide accessibility information by title (the title I am looking at
> > is a 2026 published title) .
> >
> > Has anyone addressed any of these concerns with PM -- the move to
> > EPUBs (without a readable version, even by chapter, on screen) and /
> > or the accessibility issues with EPUBs?
> >
> >
> > Sarah Maximiek *(her/she)*
> > Assistant Director of Acquisitions and Contracts Subject Librarian for
> > Human Development, Public Administration and Social Work Binghamton
> > University Libraries
> > 607.777.3941 / maximiek at binghamton.edu Schedule a meeting:
> > https://libc/
> > al.binghamton.edu%2Fappointments%2Fsarah&data=05%7C02%7Ctmiller.muse%4
> > 0jhu.edu%7C408fa8a367ce4169a32508de7ee5a320%7C9fa4f438b1e6473b803f86f8
> > aedf0dec%7C0%7C0%7C639087721983318018%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0
> > eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIl
> > dUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Ddq1jI2j31oc1QTKVDD4AoJIPWXPyfmuKGgK
> > XyXRuJI%3D&reserved=0 _______________________________________________
> > Eril-l mailing list
> > Eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> > http://lists/
> > .eril-l.org%2Flistinfo.cgi%2Feril-l-eril-l.org&data=05%7C02%7Ctmiller.
> > muse%40jhu.edu%7C408fa8a367ce4169a32508de7ee5a320%7C9fa4f438b1e6473b80
> > 3f86f8aedf0dec%7C0%7C0%7C639087721983336716%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8ey
> > JFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFp
> > bCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=5GlUvfMd%2F5WsO1HKajW2NRq%2BE0
> > kgqwv7%2Fwh3rKIhbEA%3D&reserved=0
> >
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>
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2026 15:33:07 -0400
> From: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list
> <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> To: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list
> <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
> Subject: Re: [Eril-l] [EXTERNAL] Project Muse moving to EPUBS only?
> Accessibility question
> Message-ID:
> <mailman.2197.1773171608.388429.eril-l-eril-l.org at lists.eril-l.org
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi Sarah,
>
> This is something my institution noticed a couple of weeks ago and we
> quickly contacted our Vendor Rep about it. I emphasized how problematic it
> is for only EPUBs to be available for the same reasons you've pointed out.
> >From what was shared with me, this (i.e. eBooks only providing EPUB
> >access
> and not PDFs) is a technical issue that they weren't aware of.
>
> I would highly recommend contacting Support or your Vendor Rep about it to
> make them aware of it as well.
>
> Erika Boardman, UNC Charlotte
>
> On Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 3:20?PM Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion
> list via Eril-l <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org> wrote:
>
> > [*Caution*: Email from External Sender. Do not click or open links or
> > attachments unless you know this sender.]
> >
> > Hi all
> > So today we ran into our first Project Muse ebook that was only available
> > to be read as an EPUB - it can't be read at all without using ADE.
> This
> > poses a huge problem for us, as ADE is not available on our campus
> > computers and frankly, our university patrons by and large have found
> > the use of ADE on personal devices to be more hoops to jump through
> > and complicated then they wish to deal with.
> >
> > Looking at the Project MUSE FAQs, it appears that they are moving towards
> > EPUB over PDF format and do not have an in-brower reader available. So,
> > this leaves their collections potentially off the table for us, as we
> > would not want to purchase books that are not able to be read on campus
> machines.
> >
> > I also have concerns about the Accessibility of EPUB files going
> > forward and the April 26th requirements; as Project Muse does not
> > provide accessibility information by title (the title I am looking at
> > is a 2026 published title) .
> >
> > Has anyone addressed any of these concerns with PM -- the move to
> > EPUBs (without a readable version, even by chapter, on screen) and /
> > or the accessibility issues with EPUBs?
> >
> >
> > Sarah Maximiek *(her/she)*
> > Assistant Director of Acquisitions and Contracts Subject Librarian for
> > Human Development, Public Administration and Social Work Binghamton
> > University Libraries
> > 607.777.3941 / maximiek at binghamton.edu Schedule a meeting:
> > https://libc/
> > al.binghamton.edu%2Fappointments%2Fsarah&data=05%7C02%7Ctmiller.muse%4
> > 0jhu.edu%7C408fa8a367ce4169a32508de7ee5a320%7C9fa4f438b1e6473b803f86f8
> > aedf0dec%7C0%7C0%7C639087721983517107%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0
> > eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIl
> > dUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=a%2BhN%2BcH8fQeX6RtUjYuLNKxUyI%2Fi7f
> > cIDNKt7fsYZzo%3D&reserved=0
> > _______________________________________________
> > Eril-l mailing list
> > Eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
> > http://lists/
> > .eril-l.org%2Flistinfo.cgi%2Feril-l-eril-l.org&data=05%7C02%7Ctmiller.
> > muse%40jhu.edu%7C408fa8a367ce4169a32508de7ee5a320%7C9fa4f438b1e6473b80
> > 3f86f8aedf0dec%7C0%7C0%7C639087721983541079%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8ey
> > JFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFp
> > bCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=v%2Bd2QqFGAQewEEeOozYqYO3R58a%
> > 2B3NAjAlTeN5UNl6s%3D&reserved=0
> >
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