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This article discusses the possible uses of a digital library by people with various kinds of disability, such as visual or motor disabilities. The subject has not yet been sufficiently explored, especially using a situated action model that takes account of the specific circumstances of each person. We have approached the subject through a series of case studies. The cases are related using a short story format, without avoiding complications, and cross-referenced with fragments of accounts taken from numerous examples. This analysis allows the gradual extraction of phenomena of a more general nature which provide insights for the design of digital books, helping both to identify obstacles in the incorporation of external resources and to pinpoint internal resources developed by the persons. One idea that emerges is the importance of developing open technical systems capable of accommodating various situations and disabilities so that a more user-friendly approach to design can be taken. The conclusion, made from a more theoretical viewpoint, looks at the concept of “empowerment” (pouvoir d’agir) and the resources employed by readers in an attempt to regain it.