diff --git a/CHANGES.txt b/CHANGES.txt
index 758941b..a3179f6 100644
--- a/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/CHANGES.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+Nov 18, 2014 - v0.7.3  Added read support back for metadata when the 
+    library is not installed.
+
 Oct 06, 2014 - v0.7.2  Added ellipsis support in array-style slicing.
 
 Oct 02, 2014 - v0.7.1  Fixed README to mention Python 3.4
diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index 8a87a64..9704a89 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ copyright = u'2013, John Evans'
 # The short X.Y version.
 version = '0.7'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
-release = '0.7.2'
+release = '0.7.3'
 
 # The language for content autogenerated by Sphinx. Refer to documentation
 # for a list of supported languages.
diff --git a/docs/source/detailed_installation.rst b/docs/source/detailed_installation.rst
index 1a9281c..2401048 100644
--- a/docs/source/detailed_installation.rst
+++ b/docs/source/detailed_installation.rst
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Advanced Installation Instructions
 Glymur Configuration
 ''''''''''''''''''''''
 
-The default glymur installation process relies upon OpenJPEG being
+The default glymur installation process expects OpenJPEG to be
 properly installed on your system as a shared library. If you have
 OpenJPEG installed through your system’s package manager on linux
 or if you use MacPorts on the mac, you are probably already set to
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ installed in a non-standard place, i.e. ::
     [library]
     openjpeg: /somewhere/lib/libopenjpeg.so
 
+If your platform is windows, it is strongly recommended that you compile the
+2.1.0 version of the openjpeg library from source.
+
 '''''''
 Testing
 '''''''
diff --git a/docs/source/roadmap.rst b/docs/source/roadmap.rst
index 503fbc4..f0d7017 100644
--- a/docs/source/roadmap.rst
+++ b/docs/source/roadmap.rst
@@ -1,12 +1,3 @@
--------------------------------------
-Platforms Tested (0.7.0 release only)
--------------------------------------
-    * Linux Mint 17 / Python 3.4.0 and 2.7.6 / OpenJPEG 2.1.0 and 1.3.0
-    * MacOS 10.6.8 / MacPorts Python 3.4.1, 3.3.5,and 2.7.8 / OpenJPEG 2.1.0
-    * CentOS 6.5 / Anaconda Python 3.4.1 / OpenJPEG 1.3.0
-    * Fedora 20 i386 / Python 2.7.5 and 3.3.2 / OpenJPEG 1.5.1
-    * Windows 7 32bit / Anaconda Python 2.7.6 and 3.4.1 / OpenJPEG 2.1.0
-
 ------------
 Known Issues
 ------------
diff --git a/docs/source/whatsnew/0.7.rst b/docs/source/whatsnew/0.7.rst
index 0a21d9b..e3a541d 100644
--- a/docs/source/whatsnew/0.7.rst
+++ b/docs/source/whatsnew/0.7.rst
@@ -2,10 +2,22 @@
 Changes in glymur 0.7
 =====================
 
+Changes in 0.7.3
+=================
+    * added read support back for metadata only when the OpenJPEG library is not installed
+
+Changes in 0.7.2
+=================
+    * added ellipsis support in array-style slicing
+
+Changes in 0.7.1
+=================
+    * fixed release notes regarding Python 3.4
+
 Changes in 0.7.0
 =================
 
-    * implemented :py:meth:`__getitem__`, :py:meth:`__setitem__` support
+    * implemented array-style slicing
     * added back windows support
     * box_id and longname are class attributes now instead of instance
-      attributes (see issue 248)
+      attributes 
diff --git a/docs/source/whatsnew/index.rst b/docs/source/whatsnew/index.rst
index 2d69949..38d0435 100644
--- a/docs/source/whatsnew/index.rst
+++ b/docs/source/whatsnew/index.rst
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ These document the changes between minor (or major) versions of glymur.
 
 .. toctree::
 
-    0.5
-    0.6
     0.7
+    0.6
+    0.5
diff --git a/glymur/jp2k.py b/glymur/jp2k.py
index d460ea6..e4a1a01 100644
--- a/glymur/jp2k.py
+++ b/glymur/jp2k.py
@@ -937,10 +937,8 @@ class Jp2k(Jp2kBox):
         elif opj.OPENJPEG is not None:
             img = self._read_openjpeg(**kwargs)
         else:
-            raise LibraryNotFoundError("You must have either a recent version "
-                                       "of OpenJPEG or the development "
-                                       "version of OpenJP2 installed before "
-                                       "using this functionality.")
+            raise LibraryNotFoundError("You must have OpenJPEG installed "
+                                       "before reading a JPEG2000 image.") 
         return img
 
     def _subsampling_sanity_check(self):
@@ -1235,8 +1233,8 @@ class Jp2k(Jp2kBox):
         """
         if version.openjpeg_version_tuple[0] < 2:
             raise LibraryNotFoundError("You must have at least version 2.0.0 "
-                                       "of OpenJP2 installed before using "
-                                       "this functionality.")
+                                       "of OpenJPEG installed before using "
+                                       "read_bands.")
 
         dparam = self._populate_dparam(rlevel, ignore_pclr_cmap_cdef,
                                        layer=layer, tile=tile, area=area)
diff --git a/glymur/lib/config.py b/glymur/lib/config.py
index 04aece2..dc8ab29 100644
--- a/glymur/lib/config.py
+++ b/glymur/lib/config.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def glymur_config():
     libopenjpeg_handle = load_openjpeg(libs['openjpeg'])
     if libopenjp2_handle is None and libopenjpeg_handle is None:
         msg = "Neither the openjp2 nor the openjpeg library could be loaded.  "
-        raise IOError(msg)
+        warnings.warn(msg, UserWarning)
     return libopenjp2_handle, libopenjpeg_handle
 
 
diff --git a/glymur/test/fixtures.py b/glymur/test/fixtures.py
index 838756a..417797f 100644
--- a/glymur/test/fixtures.py
+++ b/glymur/test/fixtures.py
@@ -13,6 +13,15 @@ import six
 
 import glymur
 
+# If openjpeg is not installed, many tests cannot be run.
+if glymur.version.openjpeg_version == "0.0.0":
+    OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE = True
+    OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG = "OpenJPEG library not installed"
+else:
+    OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE = False
+    OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG = None
+    
+
 # Some versions of "six" on python3 cause problems when verifying warnings.
 # Only use when the version is 1.7 or higher.
 # And moreover, we only test using the 3.x infrastructure, never on 2.x.
diff --git a/glymur/test/test_jp2box.py b/glymur/test/test_jp2box.py
index 061ad23..bf10900 100644
--- a/glymur/test/test_jp2box.py
+++ b/glymur/test/test_jp2box.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ from glymur.jp2box import FileTypeBox, ImageHeaderBox, JP2HeaderBox
 from glymur.jp2box import JPEG2000SignatureBox
 from glymur.core import COLOR, OPACITY
 from glymur.core import RED, GREEN, BLUE, GREY, WHOLE_IMAGE
+from glymur.version import openjpeg_version
 
 from .fixtures import (
         WARNING_INFRASTRUCTURE_ISSUE, WARNING_INFRASTRUCTURE_MSG,
@@ -54,6 +55,8 @@ def load_tests(loader, tests, ignore):
     tests.addTests(doctest.DocTestSuite('glymur.jp2box'))
     return tests
 
+@unittest.skipIf(re.match('0|1.[0-2]', openjpeg_version) is not None,
+                 "Not supported with OpenJPEG {0}".format(openjpeg_version))
 @unittest.skipIf(os.name == "nt", "Temporary file issue on window.")
 class TestDataEntryURL(unittest.TestCase):
     """Test suite for DataEntryURL boxes."""
@@ -119,7 +122,7 @@ class TestDataEntryURL(unittest.TestCase):
                 self.assertEqual(url + chr(0), read_url)
 
 
-@unittest.skipIf(re.match(r'''(1|2.0.0)''',
+@unittest.skipIf(re.match(r'''0|1|2.0.0''',
                           glymur.version.openjpeg_version) is not None,
                  "Not supported until 2.1")
 @unittest.skipIf(os.name == "nt", "Temporary file issue on window.")
diff --git a/glymur/test/test_jp2k.py b/glymur/test/test_jp2k.py
index 042a681..02e850a 100644
--- a/glymur/test/test_jp2k.py
+++ b/glymur/test/test_jp2k.py
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ def load_tests(loader, tests, ignore):
     return tests
 
 
+@unittest.skipIf(fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                 fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG)
 class SliceProtocolBase(unittest.TestCase):
     """
     Test slice protocol, i.e. when using [ ] to read image data.
@@ -309,6 +311,8 @@ class TestSliceProtocolRead(SliceProtocolBase):
         expected = self.j2k.read(area=(5, 27, 533, 423), rlevel=5)
         np.testing.assert_array_equal(actual, expected)
 
+@unittest.skipIf(fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                 fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG)
 @unittest.skipIf(OPJ_DATA_ROOT is None,
                  "OPJ_DATA_ROOT environment variable not set")
 class TestSliceProtocolOpjData(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -460,6 +464,8 @@ class TestSliceProtocolOpjData(unittest.TestCase):
         expected = self.j2k_quarter_data[5:13, 38:50]
         np.testing.assert_array_equal(actual, expected)
 
+@unittest.skipIf(fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                 fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG)
 class TestJp2k(unittest.TestCase):
     """These tests should be run by just about all configuration."""
 
@@ -488,7 +494,7 @@ class TestJp2k(unittest.TestCase):
             actdata = j2.read()
             self.assertTrue(fixtures.mse(actdata[0], expdata[0]) < 0.38)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(re.match('1.[0-4]', openjpeg_version) is not None,
+    @unittest.skipIf(re.match('0|1.[0-4]', openjpeg_version) is not None,
                      "Not supported with OpenJPEG {0}".format(openjpeg_version))
     @unittest.skipIf(re.match('1.5.(1|2)', openjpeg_version) is not None,
                      "Mysteriously fails in 1.5.1 and 1.5.2")
@@ -820,7 +826,7 @@ class TestJp2k(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(data.shape, (1024, 1024, 3))
 
 
-@unittest.skipIf(re.match('1.[0-4]', openjpeg_version) is not None,
+@unittest.skipIf(re.match('0|1.[0-4]', openjpeg_version) is not None,
                  "Not supported with OpenJPEG {0}".format(openjpeg_version))
 @unittest.skipIf(os.name == "nt", "NamedTemporaryFile issue on windows")
 class TestJp2k_write(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -966,6 +972,8 @@ class TestJp2k_write(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(codestream.segment[2].spcod[0], glymur.core.CPRL)
 
 
+@unittest.skipIf(fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                 fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG)
 @unittest.skipIf(glymur.version.openjpeg_version_tuple[0] >= 2,
                  "Negative tests only for version 1.x")
 class TestJp2k_1_x(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -1092,7 +1100,7 @@ class TestJp2k_2_0(unittest.TestCase):
                 self.assertEqual(jasoc.box[3].box[1].box_id, 'xml ')
 
 
-@unittest.skipIf(re.match(r'''(1|2.0.0)''',
+@unittest.skipIf(re.match(r'''0|1|2.0.0''',
                           glymur.version.openjpeg_version) is not None,
                  "Not to be run until unless 2.0.1 or higher is present")
 class TestJp2k_2_1(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -1290,6 +1298,8 @@ class TestJp2kOpjDataRoot(unittest.TestCase):
                 rgb_from_idx[r, c] = palette[idx[r, c]]
         np.testing.assert_array_equal(rgb, rgb_from_idx)
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                     fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG)
     def test_read_differing_subsamples(self):
         """should error out with read used on differently subsampled images"""
         # Verify that we error out appropriately if we use the read method
diff --git a/glymur/test/test_opj_suite.py b/glymur/test/test_opj_suite.py
index a033aae..8eb5956 100644
--- a/glymur/test/test_opj_suite.py
+++ b/glymur/test/test_opj_suite.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import glymur
 from glymur import Jp2k
 from glymur.jp2box import FileTypeBox, ImageHeaderBox, ColourSpecificationBox
 
+from . import fixtures
 from .fixtures import (
         OPJ_DATA_ROOT, MetadataBase,
         WARNING_INFRASTRUCTURE_ISSUE, WARNING_INFRASTRUCTURE_MSG,
@@ -44,6 +45,8 @@ from .fixtures import (
 )
 
 
+@unittest.skipIf(fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                 fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG)
 @unittest.skipIf(OPJ_DATA_ROOT is None,
                  "OPJ_DATA_ROOT environment variable not set")
 class TestSuite(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -479,6 +482,8 @@ class TestSuiteWarns(MetadataBase):
         self.assertTrue(True)
 
 
+@unittest.skipIf(fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                 fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG)
 @unittest.skipIf(OPJ_DATA_ROOT is None,
                  "OPJ_DATA_ROOT environment variable not set")
 @unittest.skipIf(glymur.version.openjpeg_version_tuple[0] == 1,
@@ -574,6 +579,8 @@ class TestSuiteBands(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(True)
 
 
+@unittest.skipIf(fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                 fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG)
 @unittest.skipIf(OPJ_DATA_ROOT is None,
                  "OPJ_DATA_ROOT environment variable not set")
 @unittest.skipIf(glymur.version.openjpeg_version_tuple[0] == 1,
diff --git a/glymur/test/test_opj_suite_2p1.py b/glymur/test/test_opj_suite_2p1.py
index addc48b..4977a6e 100644
--- a/glymur/test/test_opj_suite_2p1.py
+++ b/glymur/test/test_opj_suite_2p1.py
@@ -36,11 +36,14 @@ import numpy as np
 from glymur import Jp2k
 import glymur
 
+from . import fixtures
 from .fixtures import OPJ_DATA_ROOT
 from .fixtures import WARNING_INFRASTRUCTURE_ISSUE, WARNING_INFRASTRUCTURE_MSG
 from .fixtures import mse, peak_tolerance, read_pgx, opj_data_file
 
 
+@unittest.skipIf(fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                 fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG)
 @unittest.skipIf(OPJ_DATA_ROOT is None,
                  "OPJ_DATA_ROOT environment variable not set")
 @unittest.skipIf(re.match(r'''(1|2.0.0)''',
@@ -163,6 +166,8 @@ class TestSuite2point1(unittest.TestCase):
             with self.assertRaises(IOError):
                 j.read()
 
+@unittest.skipIf(fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+                 fixtures.OPENJPEG_NOT_AVAILABLE_MSG)
 @unittest.skipIf(OPJ_DATA_ROOT is None,
                  "OPJ_DATA_ROOT environment variable not set")
 @unittest.skipIf(re.match(r'''(1|2.0.0)''',
diff --git a/glymur/test/test_printing.py b/glymur/test/test_printing.py
index 49bbe6d..187a15b 100644
--- a/glymur/test/test_printing.py
+++ b/glymur/test/test_printing.py
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import lxml.etree as ET
 
 import glymur
 from glymur import Jp2k, command_line
+from glymur.version import openjpeg_version
+
 from . import fixtures
 from .fixtures import OPJ_DATA_ROOT, opj_data_file
 from .fixtures import WARNING_INFRASTRUCTURE_ISSUE, WARNING_INFRASTRUCTURE_MSG
@@ -106,6 +108,8 @@ class TestPrinting(unittest.TestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
             glymur.set_printoptions(hi='low')
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(re.match('0|1.[0-4]', openjpeg_version) is not None,
+                     "Not supported with OpenJPEG {0}".format(openjpeg_version))
     def test_asoc_label_box(self):
         """verify printing of asoc, label boxes"""
         # Construct a fake file with an asoc and a label box, as
diff --git a/glymur/version.py b/glymur/version.py
index 8509980..1c1279f 100644
--- a/glymur/version.py
+++ b/glymur/version.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from .lib import openjp2 as opj2
 
 # Do not change the format of this next line!  Doing so risks breaking
 # setup.py
-version = "0.7.2"
+version = "0.7.3"
 _sv = LooseVersion(version)
 version_tuple = _sv.version