Equality in Library Services

Rangashri Kishore
Library, UNICEF
New Delhi, India

CREATING A MODEL LIBRARY PROGRAMME FOR THE DISABLED

In order to create an efficient and effective library programme for the disabled, Libraries need managers who are upto date and are aware of the latest developments that are likely to have profound effect on their services. It is their collective responsibility to promote quality services by gaining a good insight into the problems faced by the disabled.

Library staff must recognise that some disabled persons have no control over their behaviour and must be competent enough to handle difficult situations. They must be prepared to give individual attention so as to understand their strongest communication mode . Therefore the following aspects are essential to develop a model library programme for them by way of: a) Training of Library staff, b)Developing User Assistance Schemes, c) Offering Special Services

TRAINING OF LIBRARY STAFF

Professional library services depends largely on the continuous upgrading of staff through training on a regular basis. It could be fortnightly, monthly, or seasonal training. Special training requirements can be determined by the Library management and training Officers depending upon the skills and training needs of the individuals. Once the need has been assessed the method of training can be planned. Here is a simple and effective training plan that can be implemented:

Objective

To familiarize with important aspects of disability and disabled users in a Library environment.

Structure

A five day course of lectures, discussions and practical work. The practical training could be held in small groups giving each group an opportunity to work with all types of disabled users.

Materials

A resource package of the training manual.

Contents

• Concepts on disability: (visits to hospitals, centres for the blind and other kinds of handicapped persons).
• Developing communication and counselling skills.
• Professional library services, single line of command, concentration of effort, time bound work, field orientation and linkage with research.
• Case studies.

Review

In training and work review sessions staff of all levels can report and discuss their successes from which lessons may be drawn.

DEVELOPING USER ASSISTANCE SCHEMES

Once the Library worker gets trained they will feel that it is their collective responsibility to provide quality services by gaining a good insight into the problems faced by the disabled and thereby he/ she will be competent enough to create an efficient and effective user assistance scheme such as:

• Providing the disabled users with reading lists and catalogues, high demand materials and lecture tapes that are held in open reservation.
• Delivering books and other documents from library shelves.
• Photocopying of Library materials and enlarging for the partially blind.
• Paging books from stacks and shelf areas.
• Extending loan periods or modifying other lending rules on an individual basis.
• Accepting telephone requests and providing reference service.
• Conducting orientation tours and information skills sessions.
• Providing audio visual equipments.
• Assisting in the use of computer aided learning equipments such as CD-ROMS, optical disks etc.
• Providing access to library facilities by ensuring that directional signs are labelled at appropriate locations with large, simple and clear messages.

OFFERING SPECIAL SERVICES

Different types of disability require different types of specialised services. The same theory holds good for library services as well and hence the trained library personnel will taken into consideration the following points to fulfil the objectives:

• Library services for the blind must enable them to have access to equipments such as Braille printers, Braille embosser and tape duplicators, Kuzweil reader ( a text- to speed reading machine with synthesised speech output) , closed circuit TVs for magnifying regular text, PCs with CD ROMS, Powermacs with CD ROMS, large print tape writers, special track tape recorders, computers that are having adaptable equipments such as voice eyes.
• Services for speech and hearing impaired users must include TTD communications (a device also known as TTY-text type telephone) for those needing library questions answered on telephone. Librarians must also familiarise themselves with American sign language which is considered to be the common language of the deaf community.
• For the physically challenged the library facility must be barrier free to wheel chairs and other mobility devices and ensuring that all devices including door handles are designed for easy manipulation.
• Persons suffering from mental disability can be served by helping to locate and retrieve materials. Because reading is a common problem for them they may enquire assistance in identifying the materials of both the print and electronic types of documents. They also need help in turning catalogue cards or keying in commands on the computer. People suffering from mental illness such as Schizophrenia must be motivated to read books on self-development and may require constant counselling to use library resources to overcome their depression. This is termed as "Bibliotherapy", that is, using books for therapy.

Libraries and library workers can thus play a significant role in bringing hope to the otherwise dismal situations of the disabled world. Adequate financial support must be sought in order to sustain the above mentioned library services and subsequently expand them to suit the latest technological advancement.

There is a need to explore new sources of funding taking into account the reality that the networking of Indian libraries can save funds by way of avoiding duplication of services and also help in providing an efficient inter library loan service thus reducing the time of the reader considerably.

Like normal individuals the disabled also need information and other services to help them raise above their disability. Library and information centres in educational institutions must be encouraged to raise funds by marketing their services.

In the process they must try to integrate not only persons with disability with normal users but also integrate the electronic media with their collections and develop local networks. Libraries and Librarians will thus bridge the gap of disability and ability by creating a networked society where in, every individual will be connected without any discrimination.