18 Information needs of Persons with Disabilities

Dr.Jitendra Shrivastava

Introduction

 

Long ago, William A. Katz (1969) rightly said that, “If the users will not come to the library, the Library must go to the users”. This can be regarded, indisputably, as the guiding principle of Reference service—traditional and digital as well as library services to persons with disabilities in the twenty first century.

 

In a Knowledge society access to information and knowledge is needed and it should be ensure that all persons in the society are able to actively engage in creation and production of information and knowledge. In the Information age all persons with all types of disabilities have right to access information and knowledge.

 

Information need of a person with disability is quiet similar to normal person or library user but due to disability they are unable to access to the library or information centre. In the present information and knowledge society it is necessary to provide equal access to information and knowledge to persons with disabilities. There is an urgent need to develop inclusive Knowledge Society.

 

Person with disability cannot access the library premises as the library buildings do not have necessary facilities. Blind and visually impaired cannot consult reading materials in libraries since these materials are not in the formats that are accessible by them. It has been found that only 0.5 percent of books are available in disabled friendly format. In recent years the term “Inclusive Library” has been universally accepted by the policy makers, library and information professionals. To make library disabled friendly, there are three action required physical access, access to resources and access to services. For facilitating physical access to the library and its different sections it is necessary to locate parking vehicles used by the disabled nearer to entrance and to have an unhindered and step free entrance. Besides, all sections of the library should be disabled friendly; specially designed toilets (different from common toilets).The library should procure reading materials in disabled friendly formats with appropriate using facilities. In recent years the use of ICT facilitates and promotes use of disabled formats reading materials. In addition to these the library staff member should be trained to handle the need of the disabled library users.

 

“In many countries all over the world, access for patrons with disabilities to use libraries is not yet available or even expected. In order to provide equal opportunities for all library users, it is necessary to look with the eyes of these patron groups at the physical condition of library buildings, as well as library services and programs.” (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions IFLA Professional Reports, No. 89)

  1. Person with Disabilities

According to World Health Organization (WHO): International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH)) in 1980, the ICIDH describes a conceptual framework for disability with three parts:

 

3.1 Disability:

 

Disability is a “restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal far a human being”. It describes a functional limitations or activity restriction caused by impairment. E.g. Difficulty in seeing, speaking or hearing, learning, difficulty in moving or climbing stairs, difficulty in grasping, reaching, bathing, eating and excretion etc.

 

3.2 Impairment:

 

Impairment is “any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function”. E.g. blindness, deafness, loss of sight in an eye, paralysis of a limb, amputation of limb , mental retardation, partial sight, loss of speech, autism and learning difficulties.

 

3.3 Handicap:

 

Handicap is “disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or disability that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal (depending on age, sex and social and cultural factors) for that individual”. The term is also a classification of “circumstances in which disabled people are likely to find themselves”. Handicap describes the social and economic roles of impaired or disabled persons that place them at a disadvantage compared to other persons. Examples of handicaps include being bedridden or confined to home; being unable to use public transport; being socially isolated, being forced to remain illiterate.

  1. Categories of Persons with Disabilities 4.1 Physical disability

4.2 Sensor disability

4.2.1 Vision impairment

4.2.2 Hearing impairment

4.2.3 Olfactory and gustatory impairment

4.2.4 Somatosensory impairment

4.2.5 Balance disorder

4.3 Intellectual disability

4.4 Mental Health and emotion disability

4.5 Pervasive development disorders

4.6 Development Disorders

4.7Non-visible Disorder

(Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability)

  1. Historical Background of Library Services for Persons with Disabilities

In the nineteenth century there was no existence of library services for blind people. In the year 1868, the Boston Public Library acquired a collection of books especially in an embossed format and began library services to local residents. Number of libraries have been started their library services to persons with disabilities in the United States, important among are the Chicago Public Library, 1894, the New York State Library in 1895, the Library of Congress in 1897; and the Philadelphia Free Library of Congress in 1899.

 

Since the early 1930s federal legislation has enabled the Library of Congress to offer free library service to blind and physically handicapped individuals resident in the United States as well as to U.S. citizens overseas. Technological changes in the program have mirrored and sometimes anticipated transformations and developments in the world of consumer electronics. Braille is now accessible over the Internet by means of specialized keyboards; audio books, originally cut onto rigid shellac 78-rpm disks, have progressed to flexible discs and a refined analog cassette technology that will in turn soon be replaced by digital flash-memory cartridges playable on efficient, reliable, lightweight, and portable machines. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped looks forward to the inauguration of its new digital system in 2008.

 

Source:http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/library_trends/v055/55.4cylke.pdf)

 

6   Information need of Persons with Disabilities (PWD)

 

Blind people and those visually impaired traditionally read Braille, Tape Audio-Books and large print books produced and provided by specialized libraries for the blind.

 

According to McCarthy (2002) visually impaired need access to an adequate collection of reading materials but they want to learn information literacy skills as well. Many of users do not receive general instruction in the area such as arrangement of the library.

 

Williamson (1998) observed both information needs and preference for sources of information in 202 older people, many of which had visual disability. It has been found that the most important need is media sources, newspaper, television, or radio.

 

Davis (2007) found that most of the research concerning people with visual disabilities focused on information technology, particularly on Internet accessibility. People with cognitive disabilities show a kind of inactiveness in expressing their needs and demands, and most of the time their communication remains difficult. People with physical or sensory disabilities provide more complete information than those with mental illness or mental retardation but the differences are not great.

 

Numbers of studies have been made and focused on library and information services, special needs, assistive technology for disabled that might enable to lead more productive lives. Some of the important studies among are : Vidya Nand Singh (2002)discussed about special needs of disabled persons in Museums, The study of Poll,L.H.D and Waterham,R.P.(1995), was aimed to develop and evaluate a system which allows visually disabled users of computers to continue using computers, despite the fact that workplace must, for reasons of uniformity, service, system management, etc adapt to the use of GUI,s(Graphical User Interfaces. Blankhorn, P(1997) described a method for converting text in to Braille, in the form in which it is stored as in computer.

 

There is a need to conduct more studies on information need and information seeking behavior of persons with disabilities such as Hearing impairment, Intellectual disability, Physical disability, and Non-visible Disorder etc.

 

According to WHO Factsheet on Persons with Disabilities around 15 per cent of the world’s population, or estimated 1 billion people, live with disabilities. They are the world’s largest minority.

 

According to Census of India, Report, 2011 more than 26,810,557 people are disabled all over the country, which includes rural and urban people.

Source: http://censusindia.gov.in/

 

 

7  Library Services, Tools and Techniques for Person with Disabilities

 

There is a need to provide equal access to library services and collection to all kinds of library users.In the all kinds of libraries assistance should be to aid persons with disabilities in making the best possible use of library collections, services and other facilities. Following services to persons with disabilities should be necessarily provided by the every library to fulfill their information need.

 

7.1 Circulation Service

 

The following services should be provided persons with disabilities:-

  • Renewals and holds on library materials should be done on telephone.
  • Library staff should retrieve materials from the shelves when assistance is required. Depending on timing and staff availability, retrieval should be immediate and may be taking up to 24 hours.
  • Loan period for reserved materials should be extended under special circumstances.
  • Persons with disabilities can arrange to have another individual check out library material on their behalf
  • Circulation Desk staff will provide assistance in the use of photocopiers when time and staffing permits. Materials can be dropped off and picked up at the Circulation Desk

7.2 Reference and Information Services

  • Research Help Desk staff should provide a basic level of research assistance at the Research Help Desk.
  • Reference assistance is provided in person, by telephone by e-mail. For more information, library user should be directed to “Ask Us” link on the Library homepage.
  • Library users are encouraged to sign up for Library tours and orientation sessions at the beginning of library membership.

7.3 Alternative Format Library Materials

 

The Library works with library user Accessibility Services to provide course reserves and other library books in an alternative format when needed. Unpublished materials such as course notes, handouts, etc. will be scanned by library user Accessibility Services staff.

 

 

7.4 Equipment and Software

 

The following equipment is located in the Microform Area on the Ground Floor of n Library.

A print enlarger

A CD/Audio Listening Station (Headsets are available at the Circulation Desk)

A PC computer with the following:

  • Kurzweil 3000 reading, writing and learning software
  • Inspiration v 8, mind-mapping software,
  • Text help read and write gold v 9, designed to assist individuals who require extra assistance when reading or composing text,
  • Dragon NaturallySpeaking, speech recognition software
  • 21″ flat screen monitor

Every Library should have provision to issue tablet PC to eligible users that he/ she can be signed out at the Circulation Desk for two hour periods.

 

For use with the Tablet PC, the Library has a portable USB MP3 player which includes a Literacy Productivity Pack. The following products should be included:-

  • Talking Dictionary with integrated thesaurus
  • Universal Reader – read emails and web pages
  • E-Text Reader – highlight, bookmark, search and extract text from a document.
  • Talking Word Processor – talking word prediction and talking grammar check
  • Scan and Read Pro – compatible with most flat bed scanners – reads scanned text
  • PDF Magic – converting inaccessible PDF files to accessible formats
  • Text to Audio – create your own digital audio books from any standard text file
  • Talking Calculator – reads your calculations to you

7.5  Physical Facilities

 

Accessibility ramps are provided at the main entrance to the library. The Library should provided dedicated wheelchair accessible entrance located on the Ground Floor of the Library via the tunnel. A key-operated bell system is used at this entrance to signal staff at the Circulation Desk to open the automated door. The key needed to access this system can be provided by Library User Accessibility Services. Students registered with Student Accessibility Services are also eligible to sign out a key directly from them in order to access the entrance on an ongoing basis. Advanced or immediate requests to open this door can also be made directly to the Library Circulation Desk via telephone. An elevator in the library provides access to all floors. Wheelchair accessible washrooms are located on all floors in the library. Wheelchair-accessible water fountains should be available on all floors of the library. Parking spaces designated for persons with disabilities should be available close to the library.

 

Designated computers stations for users in wheelchairs should available on the main and other floors and in the computer labs in the library. A telephone accessible to users in wheelchairs should be located on the floor near the elevator in the library.

  1. Assistive ICT,s for Person with Disabilities

      1.General Assistive Technology: General

  1. DAISY format readers: e.g. Victor Reader, Victor Reader Soft from VisuAide, LP Player from Labyrinten Data b. Text to MP3 Converters: e.g. TextAloud
  2. Assistive Technology: Learning Disabilities Scanning, Reading and Writing Software: e.g. WYNN, Kurzweil 3000, Kurzweil 3000 for Mac,TextHelp

b.Reading Software: e.g. CAST eReader

  1. Assistive Technology: Blind/Low Vision
  1. Screen Reading Software: e.g. JAWS for Windows, Window-Eyes, CAST eReader,TextHelp
  2. Screen Magnification Software: e.g Zoomtext,MAGic
  3. Web Access Software: e.g. Connect Outloud, IBM Home Page Reader d. Braille Notetakers, Embossers & Displays: e.g. FreedomScientific Power Braille and Braille’ n Speak, Braille Lite, Type’ n Speak,and Type Lite products; Pulse Data, BrailleNote and VoiceNote products
  4. Scanning, Reading and Writing Software: e.g.OPENBook, Kurzweil 1000

    9 Some Important organizations in India for Persons with Disabilities

 

9.1 National     Institute     for     Visually     Handicapped     (NIVH),     Dehradun     (July       1979)

(UttaraKhand)(www.nivh.org)

 

National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. This institute is engaged in production of Braille/Audio books and assistive devices for the visually impaired.

 

9.2 National Library for Visually Handicapped, Dehradun (1951)

 

The oldest and largest first “Central Braille Press” was set up in India at Dehradun in 1951, which produces text books, referral books and material for the general reading for the blinds. It is equipped with the most modern technical equipments with computer assisted Braille printers. The library extends its services of documentation to research scholars and professionals. It brings out quarterly ‘BLIDOC’ which contains abstracts of researches published in national and international journals.

 

9.3 National Institute for the Orthopedically Handicapped (NIOH), Library Kolkata (April, 1982)

 

National Institute for the Orthopedically Handicapped is an apex organization in the area of locomotors disability which came into the service since 1978 as an autonomous body under the ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. It is located in the city Kolkata and expanding its services whole countrywide.

 

Collection (Books and Non Book Materials)

 

It has vast collection of books and journals. Both books and non-books materials (CD’s) are available here. Its present collection is as follows (as on 12.02.2008).

 

Source: http://www.niohkol.nic.in/library-collection.html

 

9.4 National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped (NIMH) Secundarabad (1984)

 

The library was started in the Institute in 1984 to provide bibliographical and documentation support to the teaching and research programmes of the Institute. It has moved to its own building in 1986. The library located in the 1st floor of the administrative block has a stack area of 25, 000 volumes and the reading hall can accommodate 100 readers

Collection (As on 30th January, 2010)

Source: http://www.nimhindia.org/Library.html

 

Information & Documentation Services:

  1. Reference Service: Queries on general and multi disciplinary aspects of mental retardation received from the professionals, students, parents and public are provided with required information. 
  1. Current Awareness Service: To keep abreast of the latest developments and techniques in the field of mental retardation and allied areas to the professionals, geographically located in different parts of the country, a bi-monthly service called “MENTARD” was started in January 1986. This service includes abstracts of recent articles published in the journals received in the library, news items of interest, information on forthcoming conferences/ Seminars, professional placements and new additions to the library. Annual subscription of this service is Rs. 150/- and the current list includes about 300 subscribers.

   9.5 National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru (Karnataka) (1954)

 

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Library

(Source: http://www.nimhans.kar.nic.in/library/library.htm)

 

Library and Information Center was started at the erstwhile AIIMH (All India Institute of Mental Health) in the year 1954, with an initial collection of 3775 volumes and subscription to 85 journals. In the year 1974 became National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), the collection at the library has developed in consonance with development of the institute itself both in its scope and size

 

Collection: NNIC subscribes to over 1500 e-Journals in addition to over 350 national / international print journals in the field. Collection includes 35,000 books and 40,000 back volumes of journals, thesis and dissertations, research reports. In order to supplement the library resources, regular contact has been established with international organizations and libraries, namely, National Library of Medicine, USA; National Institute of Mental Health, USA; World Health Organization (WHO); British Library Document Supply Center, American Library Association, and Duplicate Exchange Union, among others.

 

Services:NNIC over the years has developed following services for the benefit of all mental health and neuroscience professionals in the country:Ø Providing access to National /International databases.

  •  Reprographic and full text procurement and distribution.
  • Analysis and consolidation of Indian data /literature in the field.
  • Data input to National Medical Database (Bibliographic), called INDMED, at NIC, Delhi.
  • Creation and Publishing of full text electronic Database in the field.
  • Tailor- made information retrieval to both members and non-members in the field.
  • Internet and E-mail services to all the faculty and students of NIMHANS.

     9.6 Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH), Mumbai August 9, 1983

 

Information and Documentation Centre, functions with the aim of acquiring relevant information for dissemination to organization and individuals working for hearing handicapped.

 

9.7 National Institute for Rehabilitation, Training and Research (NIRTAR), Cuttack (Feb24,

1984)

 

It has separate section for Library, Information, Documentation services. The Section is divided in to three functional units- The Technical Library, Information and Documentation Services, Audiovisual Aids.

 

9.8 Institutes for the Physically Handicapped (IPH), New Delhi (1976)

 

The Institute has a well equipped library to meet the requirement of students staff and guest faculty. There are 6616 books on various medical and professional subjects

 

9.9 M.P. Shah All India Talking Book Centre for the blind

 

The Centre has three acoustically designed studios where recording is carried on in two shifts. Now, the recording is done on Compact cassettes and compact discs. Recording is done in 9 languages: Bengali, English, Gujrati, Hindi, Kanada, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil and Urdu. This service is provided to the blind member absolutely free of cost.

 

9.10 Ram Nath Batra Digital Talking Library, New Delhi (1986)

 

Ram Nath Batra Digital Talking Library, New Delhi was established in the year 1986.It has produced more than 1500 titles by now (English and Hindi).These talking books are of different types e.g. fiction, nonfiction school text books, university text books, competitive text books , book related to personality development and current affairs magazine etc.

 

9.11     Delhi Public Library (October, 1951)

 

Delhi Public Library was established in October, 1951 as a pilot project of Ministry of Education, Govt. of India with the collaboration of UNESCO to serve and act as a model for public libraries in South-East Asia. The Delhi Public was the first of its kind in the country to set up a Braille Department in March, 1963, By extending library facilities Delhi Public Library made it possible for visually disabled people to quench their thrust of knowledge in present age of Information and Knowledge explosion.

  1. Recent Trends in library services to person with disability

10.1   The Library of Congress: the Library of Congress celebrates 2014 National Disability Employment Awareness Month by recognizing the contributions of Americans with disabilities to our society and workforce.

 

10.1.1  New Mobile App

 

The BARD Mobile app is a service of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) at the Library of Congress that provides access to braille and talking books directly from the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD).

 

10.2 National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)(Library of Congress)

Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a free library program of Braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail.(Source: http://www.loc.gov/nls/)

 

10.3 American Library Association: Library Services for People with Disabilities Policy

 

The American Library Association recognizes that people with disabilities are a large and neglected minority in the community and are severely underrepresented in the library profession. Disabilities cause many personal challenges. In addition, many people with disabilities face economic inequity, illiteracy, cultural isolation, and discrimination in education, employment and the broad range of societal activities.

 

Libraries must not discriminate against individuals with disabilities and shall ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to library resources. To ensure such access, libraries may provide individuals with disabilities with services such as extended loan periods, waived late fines, extended reserve periods, library cards for proxies, books by mail, reference services by fax or email, home delivery service, remote access to the OPAC, remote electronic access to library resources, volunteer readers in the library, volunteer technology assistants in the library, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter or real time captioning at library programs, and radio reading services. Libraries should include persons with disabilities as participants in the planning, implementing, and evaluating of library services, programs, and facilities.(http://www.ala.org/ascla/asclaissues/libraryservices)

 

10.4 International Federation of Library Association (IFLA)

 

Manifesto for Libraries Serving Persons with a Print Disability (LPD)

 

Endorsed by the Governing Board of the IFLA in April 2012, the first draft of the Manifesto for Libraries Serving Persons with a Print Disability was intended to support the Marrakesh Treaty. After further drafts, the LPD Manifesto was passed in November 2013 at the 37th UNESCO General Conference in Paris. The LPD Manifesto encourages libraries to provide more accessible library and information services for blind and visually impaired patrons. According the IFLA, lack of access to information is the biggest barrier for persons with a print disability to fully and effectively participate in all aspects of society.(Source: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Federation_of_Library_Associations_and_Institutions)

 

10.5 UNESCO and IFLA: Guide Lines ad Key Principles for Library Services for Persons with Disability

 

According to Unesco Public libraries have a fundamental responsibility to Braille users and providing access to Braille books and services is an integral part of the purpose and missions of libraries as supported by both IFLA and UNESCO.

General recommended actions by UNESCO

 

UNESCO recommends the following recommendations for a disability-inclusive post-2015 Development Agenda:

  • Build capacity of professional community and persons with disabilities to provide access to information and knowledge such as educators, teachers, young persons with disabilities, information and media professionals, hardware and software developers, policy and decision makers and others.
  • Facilitate adaptation and personalization of ICTs to the nature of disabilities, particularly for learning and teaching purposes.(www.un.org/disabilities/documents/hlmdd/hlmdd_unesco.doc)

UNESCO World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) + 10 Review meeting – February 2013, research report has been commissioned in the context of the approaching deadline of 2015 for the MDG (Millennium Development Goals) as defined by the United Nations General Assembly to assess the progress of actions initiated after the first and second WSIS (World Summit on Information Society) to promote the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities and to provide policy recommendations.

 

WSIS Action Line 3 “Access to Information and Knowledge” and other relevant lines, include action points on inclusion of persons with disabilities, mainly focusing on improving access to information and knowledge. Within the framework of these action points, the objective of this report is to review the current status, analyze trends and emerging innovations in connection to the use by persons with disabilities of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to access information and knowledge, and to formulate recommendations that will help UNESCO and other partners in shaping its strategy.

 

10.5.1 IFLA guide lines Approved by IFLA Professional Board, August 1998.

 

The following key principles are fundamental to all types of libraries where the service can be accessed by a blind member of the community. Libraries should:

  •  Provide seamless access to Braille collections through whatever means are appropriate to their countries such as cooperative endeavours, referrals to sources of supply, interlibrary loans or resource sharing with other libraries or the development of collections as applicable.
  • Encourage the inclusion of all Braille holdings in National or Regional catalogues as appropriate.
  • Promote the inclusion of Braille in ongoing literacy programs.
  • Include Braille or print Braille versions of books in library programs such as story hours, literary discussions in order to encourage young blind children to read along with their sighted peers.
  • Include Braille collections in their catalogues of library holdings or where technically feasible link to other library Braille holdings.
  • Educate Library board and staff regarding Braille as the means of literacy for blind and visually impaired persons.
  • Use Braille as a medium for communicating with blind and visually impaired Braille readers within the community.
  • Promote the availability of library services in Braille in the community served.(http://www.ifla.org/publications/guidelines-for-library-service-to-braille-users)
  1. Library and Information Services for Persons with Disabilities: India and International Scenario

11.1 UGC: University Grants Commission has provided specific guidelines, under its scheme ‘Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs (HSPSN)’, to make provision for ramps and toilets on the ground floor, wherever necessary, in various buildings to enable the use of building for the physically challenged persons.

 

UGC has also provided one time grant to college during 11th Plan for procuring special appliances for the disabled including library books, Braille Type Writer, Dictionary, and cassette recorders.

 

11.2 Indian Universities and Library and Information Services for Person with Disabilities

 

Several universities have taken steps to support library and information services and action to build supportive infrastructure for the benefit of the disabled students some of these universities are:

 

Bharathihar University, Tamil Nadu. It has introduced a ‘Talking Book Library’. Rotary Club has provided help to form the library. The library has started functioning with 1000 books in the form of CDs and audio cassettes.

 

Delhi University extended its existing Braille Library for multi-purpose use. The Braille Library is established in the Central Reference Library.

 

Jammu University has opened a Resource Cell for the visually disabled users. Separate software JAWS

(Job Access with Speech) has been installed to convert hard copy to voice.

 

Jawharlal Nehru University ,New Delhi, (JNU) has also established a separate section called Helen Keller Unit for visually challenged students. The Unit has modern computers with special software like Kurzweil and JAWS etc. These are two screen reading software which allow users to hear text, as it appears onscreen. University has also installed an advanced printer which inputs English books and prints it in Braille format.

 

University of Calcutta with the collaboration National Association of the Blind (NAB) is going to open a state-of–art ‘Digital Braille Library and Audio Recoding Workstation’, in the 2nd floor of the Central Library, College Street, where all modern learning equipments for visually disabled persons will be available.

 

11.3 Barrier Break Technologies (http://www.barrierbreak.com)

 

There are several organizations –NGOs as well as commercial organizations are working on barrier free access in libraries especially for person with disabilities. Barrier Break Technology, itself having 75 percent of the staff who are disabled in some way or other. Barrier Break assists in developing products and services for the disabled.

 

11.4 DAISY Forum of India (http://daisyindia.org)

 

DAISY forum is a network of 80 not-for –profit organizations from all parts of the country. The forum is involved in production of books and reading materials in accessible formats for persons who cannot read normal print.

 

11.5 Access Ability (http://www.accessability.co.in/access/)

 

It is an architectural access and universal design solutions to organizations which have persons with disabilities as clients and /or employees.

 

11.6 The DAISY Consortium (Digital Accessible Information System Consortium)

 

It consisting of international organizations committed to developing equitable access to information for people with print diasability develops standards and base technology for digital accessible books called the DAISY books.

 

11.7 The Braille Net Consortium (France)

 

The Braille Net Consortium (France) has implemented several services to facilitate the access of visually impaired people to information.IFLA also have a section for Libraries Serving persons with Print Disabilities (LPD). American Library Association has formulated a policy on library services for people with disabilities.

  1. Some Important Recommendations and suggestions

In a present knowledge society information access to every person is necessary, especially people with disabilities. In recent years the term ‘Inclusive Library’ has been accepted in many countries all over the world. In India where more than 26,810,557 people are disabled all over the country, which includes rural and urban people.

 

Following are the key aspects of ‘Inclusive Library’:-

 

Facilitating physical access,

Access to library collection,

Barrier free library services

 

There is an urgent need to develop ‘National Policy on Library and Information Services to Person with disability’ by the Government of India to move towards inclusive library and inclusive knowledge society.

 

Following suggestions may be useful to develop inclusive library:

  • Special Training facilities are required to library professionals to serve the person with disabilities
  • Specific courses should be introduce in LIS course of study to produce more library professionals to provide better library services to person with disabilities
  • Uniform standards and norms are required to facilitate physical access to library (such as ramps and toilets and other physical facilities).
  • Uniform collection policy is needed to fulfill the information need of person with disabilities
  • There is a need to develop Digital Accessible Information System Consortium in India.
  • There is a need to produce more Braille literature in different regional languages.
  • Application of ICT should be facilitate to provide better and quality services to person with disabilities
  • In absence of National Policy on ‘Library and Information Services to Persons with disability’, there is a need to follow standards provided by IFLA and UNESCO

Summary

 

We may conclude that in a knowledge society every person has right to access information globally whether he/she is normal or with different categories of disability. There is an urgent need to develop inclusive ‘National Policy on Library and Information Services to Persons with disabilities ‘by the Govt. of India.

 

In a country like India where more than 26,810,557 people are disabled all over the country, which includes rural and urban people. It becomes necessary to develop national uniform standards for library services, assistive ICT’s for person with disabilities to make possible to access on line information sources, and to prepare skilled library professionals to facilitate effective library services to person with disabilities.

 

13 REFERENCES 

  • Bajpai, Punam. (2010). A Study of Library Services for Disabled Persons in India with Special reference to visually handicapped in Madhya Pradesh. Ph.D. Thesis. Jiwaji University: India
  • Eskay, Michael, and J N Chima. “Library and Information Services Delivery for the Blind and Physically Challenged in University of Nigeria Nsukka Library.” European Academic Research5 (2013): 625-35.
  • IASLIC Newsletter, November 2014.p6