Can new laws make public services better? Reflections on diversity legislation for libraries

This paper argues that government-led social legislation inspired by Victorian ideals of paternalistic law-making is still an appropriate way of intervening to promote citizenship and equity in the information society of the twenty first century. However, to do so effectively is more complex than traditional models suggest and needs ongoing and energetic participation from the LIS profession to ensure good laws are put on to the statute book

PROVISION OF LIBRARY RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS AT OYO STATE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND OGBOMOSO, NIGERIA.

The paper examined provision of library resources and services to visually impaired students at Oyo state school for the blind, Ogbomoso, Nigeria, the study preempt at the type of visual impaired students to be partially sighted, low vision, legal blind and totally blind, provision of information resources and services are important ranging from braille books, large print books, audio tape, tactile sign, language book, braille machine, adaptive technology, CCTV, magnifying glass/sheet and audio magazines among others should be provided for these target groups, the descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study, using questionnaire as instrument for data collection, sample of 50 visual impaired students was used ,the findings of the study revealed that, information need on health, job security, education scholarship, sport and recreation etc are not provided at all. Based on the findings, the study recommended that, the visually impaired students need special attention, care and all information resources should be adequately provided, make available for use with ease and established good relationship among the library staff and students with disabilities and government should pay good attention to these categories of students

Review of state of knowledge regarding the safety, access and usability needs of children with disabilities

Within European countries and the European Union, there is wide recognition that special consideration must be given to the needs of both people with disabilities and to young people. In terms of ergonomics design, consideration needs to be given to access to public buildings, safety in the home, school buildings and educational services, ability to make use of public transport, etc. This research focused on children who also have disabilities, an area that is less well understood and where it is uncertain whether standards or legislation exist. Interviews and discussions with experts were conducted to locate knowledge about design for disabled children in different contexts. This document reports the results of the research sponsored by ANEC (www.anec.org). The study identified relevant standards, legislation or guidelines within Europe and outside which could potentially be employed by the standards bodies within the European Union and promulgated more widely. The report also showed that there are gaps in knowledge indicating a requirement for further research to be carried out to generate suitable guidelines for standards bodies to consider

Factors influencing library use by students with disabilities in Zimbabwe: The case of United College of Education (UCE)

The study investigated the factors that influence library usage by students with disabilities at United College of Education in Zimbabwe. The study employed a qualitative approach. Interviews were held with sixteen students with disabilities, the chief librarian, two library assistants, and one library intern. Data were also collected through observations. Results reveal that great effort has been made to provide inclusive library services to students with disabilities; however, challenges remain. These include: physical inaccessibility of the library to students living with disabilities, lack of infrastructure to support available assistive technologies, information resources that do not accommodate students living with disabilities, and staff that is not adequately trained to handle users with disabilities. The study contributes to global debate about provision of library services to people living with disabilities from a Zimbabwean perspective. The study’s recommendations provide ideas that can be adopted by libraries to improve inclusivity

Perceived Influence of Copyright Act 2004 on the provision of Information Services in selected Law Libraries in Universities in North Central, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the influence of Copyright Act, 2004 on the provision of information resources in academic law libraries in North Central Nigeria. Three (3) objectives with corresponding resaerch questions guided the study while hypothesis was formulated. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study surveyed 303 respondents (comprising 13 staff (Law library staff} and 290 law students{500 level undergraduate law students). The sample was drawn across five(5) law libraries in universities in North Centra, Nigeria. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection for the study. Descriptive statistical tools such as tables, frequencies and percentages were employed for data presentation and analysis, while chi-square statistic was used for the test of hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed that selected law libraries in universities in North Central Nigeria are aware of the provisions of the Copyright Act, 2004. Findings also revealed that the copyright Act 2004 has significant perceived influence on the provision of information services in selected academic law libraries in universities in North Central, Nigeria. However, findings indicated that, there is partial observance and enforcement of the provisions of the Act in the law libraries. This largely is as a result of some of the challenges identified during the cause of the study. These challenges as indicated by the study include: lack of proper organization of right owners in various aspects of intellectual property industry, lack of legal education on implication of intellectual property, lack of professional specialization in the practice of intellectual property, globalization and technology, dynamic nature of intellectual property, poor judicial sympathy and difficulty in negotiating licensing agreement for online databases. The study finally, made recommendations based on the findings

Library Services for Blind and Visually Impaired People

This literature review summarizes, evaluates and compares some of the existent literature about Library Services for Blind and Visually Impaired People. It provides a critical overview of the presence and organization in different areas of Library Services for readers who cannot make use of the traditional printed material, while pointing out their strengths and weak points. It also singles out themes and critical trends regarding the subject, while suggesting ways to improve the above said services. The necessity of further studies in the field is also put forward and strongly recommended

Disability and accessibility in the library and information science literature: a content analysis.

Abstract The library profession is a strong and vocal proponent of increased information access for people with disabilities. With the discipline\u27s longstanding interest in the subject of services to people with disabilities, questions arise about how the profession perceives the phenomenon. How is library and information science (LIS), as a discipline, conceptualizing disability and accessibility? A content analysis of the LIS literature was conducted to examine this question. The literature provides a fertile ground for study as it reflects the profession\u27s approaches to, and perceptions of, a topic. This research identifies the major issues and trends in the research about accessibility and disability in the LIS literature throughout a 10-year period, 2000–2010. The strongest theme in the literature is accessibility as it relates to web, database, and software, while the prevailing disability of focus is visual disabilities. The overall environment emphasizes technology more than attitudinal aspects associated with disabilities. The research could benefit from increased direct participation of people with disabilities. Highlights ► Content analysis was performed on accessibility and disability in the LIS literature. ► Coded themes included disability types and participation of those with disabilities. ► The literature focuses on electronic accessibility and visual disabilities. ► People with disabilities are rarely active participants in the literature

LIBRARY FUNDING AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

One principal factor determining the provision of the required information resources and facilities that meet the needs of physically challenged students is funding. This study investigated library funding and physically challenged students in Nigerian universities, Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study was 236 librarians in 17 public universities in South-west, Nigeria. Total enumeration sampling technique was used for the study. The instrument of data collection was questionnaire. Out of the 236 copies of the questionnaire administered, 171 copies were retrieved, representing 72.5% response rate. Data collected were analysed using percentage, frequency count and statistical mean. The study found that: the library facilities for physically challenged students in universities are walkway free of obstacles, clear and well lit signs in the building, and automatic doors; the challenges faced in providing services for physically challenged students include lack of funds to acquire special equipment, costly equipment, and lack of orientation on how to use the library; and the budgetary provision for meeting the library facilities needed by the physically challenged students is low. It was recommended that the management of the library should provide facilities that can help the physically challenged students use the libraries; consideration should be given to the physically challenged students in the architectural design of the library; and a significant portion of the library budget should be devoted to acquiring the facilities that can ease the use of the library by the physically challenged students

Attitude of Library Staff towards People with Visual Impairment in the Provision of Library and Information Services in University and Public Libraries in Tanzania

This paper investigated the attitude of library staff towards people with visual impairment in university and public libraries in Tanzania, with regard to the provision of library and information services. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study population was randomly and purposively selected; and involved patrons with visual impairment, library staff, library directors, readers for people with visual impairment, institutions associated with people with visual impairment. Snowball techniques were used to select library users with visual impairment and readers for users with visual impairment. The findings revealed that the attitude of library staff towards people with visual impairment was positive. However, lack of policy on how to handle this disadvantaged group makes the service inadequate; users with visual impairment were not satisfied with the service because the environment was not conducive enough for them to be independent. The findings also indicated that libraries in Tanzania are not in a position to provide the best library and information services to people with visual impairment because there were many things to implement, correct and improve. The study concludes that, library and information services are not offered uniformly in the libraries surveyed depending on the nature and the needs of their users, mainly due budget constraints. Therefore, all the surveyed libraries need to review their policies, practices and procedures in order to make their services amenable to the needs of people with visual impairment. The study, therefore, recommends that awareness-raising programmes should be developed, and a policy should be formulated on library and information services for people with visual impairment; and both university and public libraries should devise formula to ensure reasonable budget allocation for library and information services for people with visual impairment. Moreover, there is a need for integrating special needs into Library and Information Science (LIS) curriculum