Special resources and services provided to the disabled

people by public libraries in the Western Province

S.M.V.N.K.S. Wickramasinghe

kumariwick@gmail.com

“I have a Disability yes that's true, but all that really means is I may have to take a slightly different path than you.”

Robert Michael Hensel (A Guinness World Records holder for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair, covering a total distance of 6.178 miles)(http://roberthensel.webs.com/myquotes.htm)

Objectives

• To identify the special services and resources catering the disabled people by

public libraries in Western Province

Introduction• “disability is a restriction or lack (resulting from

an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range consider normal for a human being”

(WHO 1980 )

• “ Any person who, as a result of any deficiency in his physical or mental capabilities, whether congenital or not, is unable by himself to ensure for himself, wholly or partly, the necessities of life.”

(Sri Lanka Ministry of Social Welfare 2003)

• Disability in Seeing Totally Blind One eye blind Weak vision

• Disability in Hearing/Speaking Dumb; Deaf; Dumb and Deaf; Speaking difficulties

• Disability in Hands Loss of one hand including elbowLoss of both hands including elbowsLoss of one hand below elbowsLoss of both hands below elbowsParalysis of one handParalysis of both handsOther disability in one handOther disability in both hands

• Disability in Legs Loss of one legs including kneeLoss of both legs including kneesLoss of one leg below kneeLoss of both legs below kneesParalysis of one legParalysis of both legsOther disability in one legOther disability in both legs

• Other Physical Disability

Reference: 2001 Census of Population and Housing in Sri Lanka

Rationale of the study

• In Sri Lanka 83.9% of the disabled population are unemployed

• Highest percentage of employed has engaged in elementary occupations

• 31.7% have not attended school

(Department of Census and Statistics 2003)

How can we give them quality of life through knowledge and

capacity building?

Will Public Libraries be a possible answer?

UNESCO Public library manifesto

• “The public library is the local gateway to knowledge and provides a basic condition for life long learning, independent decision making and cultural development of the individual and social groups”

(UNESCO 2001)

• Public libraries are excellent network of resources for any individual provided that they are barrier free and equipped with special resources

Study Sample

Graph 4.1: Distribution of public libraries in each district in the Western province

(National Library and Documentaion Service Board, www.natlib.lk)

n=14 (including National Library)

(4)

(7)

(2)

Methodology

• Literature Review– Identify the resources and services

• Primary data collection – Survey method

• Questionnaire – Distributed to librarians– 1 returned (99% success rate)

A checklist for the public libraries

• Physical access

• Media formats

• Service and communication

• (Irvall and Nielsen, 2005)

Findings

FacilityNumber of

libraries

Location closer to public transport 13

Ramp 2

Sufficient shelf space 6

Standard tables and chairs 6

Internationally recognized signs 4

Open door 13

Mobile service 2

Accessibility

The special resources

Talking booksLarge print booksBraille booksEasy to read booksVideosDVD Books with subtitles or sign language

(IFLA Standing Committee of Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons (LSDP))

Availability of special resources in libraries

Type of materialNumber of

libraries

Brail books 2

Talking books 4

Large Print books 4

Audio Visual media 4

Conclusion

• Library resources and services allocated to the disabled people are insufficient in public libraries in Western Province

Recommendations

• Staff Attitude

• Staff training

• Simple reading aids (magnifying glasses)

• Access to catalogues

• Extension services

Persons with disabilities have a significant positive impact on society, and their

contributions can be even greater if we remove barriers to their participation. With

more than one billion persons with disabilities in our world today, this is more

important than ever.

• UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, 3 December 2012 –

on International Day of Persons with Disabilities(www.un.org)

Are we ready

toremove the barriers?

Thank you