A Python-based open-source smart audio library for Arab cultural heritage: design, development and compliance evaluation

Abstract

This study aims to design, develop and evaluate a low-cost, open-source smart audio library prototype to improve digital access and preservation of Arab cultural heritage texts. It addresses the critical need for sustainable solutions in information institutions, particularly for supporting visually impaired users. This research adopts a design and development research (DDR) methodology. A prototype system was built using Python, Streamlit and gTTS. Its performance was rigorously evaluated against international standards (ISO/IEC 25010, WCAG, DLF and IFLA) using a custom checklist of 40 criteria applied to a pilot dataset of 50 diverse heritage documents. Based on initial results, targeted optimizations were implemented. The initial system demonstrated strong compliance (85%). Subsequent optimizations addressed six key areas for improvement, culminating in the final system achieving 100% compliance with the 40-item internal checklist derived from these standards. The optimized system demonstrates effectiveness within the scope of this controlled evaluation in converting texts to audio, providing accessible browsing and supporting users with visual impairments. This study has several limitations. The pilot dataset of 50 documents tests functionality but not large-scale performance; empirical testing with larger collections is needed. The evaluation relied on an internal checklist rather than third-party certification. Most significantly, no user testing was conducted with visually impaired participants; technical compliance does not guarantee real-world accessibility. Future research must conduct formal user studies, integrate advanced neural TTS engines and test scalability. Despite these limitations, this study provides a validated, replicable open-source framework that other researchers can adapt and build upon for accessible digital heritage systems. Information institutions can deploy this zero-cost, open-source prototype immediately for pilot projects. The system allows libraries to transform static Arabic textual collections into accessible audio formats within hours using basic technical skills. Institutions can clone the GitHub repository, replace sample data with their own collections and deploy via free platforms like Streamlit Cloud. The modular architecture supports incremental adoption, enabling libraries to start with basic functionality and add features as resources allow. This model democratizes access to advanced digital library services for underfunded cultural heritage institutions in the Arab world. This research promotes digital inclusion for visually impaired Arabic speakers who face barriers accessing textual heritage. By converting static texts into audio format with WCAG-compliant interfaces, the system enables equitable access to cultural memory. The open-source model ensures that resource-constrained communities are not excluded from digital heritage services due to cost. This work contributes to preserving Arab oral-aural traditions by transforming written heritage into listenable formats, supporting both cultural continuity and social justice in access to knowledge. This study presents a novel, practical, and compliant with our operationalized internal checklist open-source model tailored to the linguistic and cultural context of Arab heritage. It offers a replicable framework for libraries to deploy affordable, standards-compliant audio libraries, bridging a significant gap in the organization and accessibility of digital heritage initiatives.