the key role of cooperation to keep library service for the blind and visually impaired sustainable...
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The key role of cooperation to keep library service for the
blind and visually impaired sustainable
Case study of Public Library in Koprivnica, Croatia
Dijana Sabolović-Krajina
Public Library “Fran Galović” Koprivnica,CROATIA
IFLA Libraries for the Blind Section Conference, Belgium/Netherlands, 17-20 August 2009
Better Library Services for Print Disabled Persons through Partnerships with Publishers and Public Libraries
How did we start?
• Implementation of new service in 2006
• Grant from the European Union for the
project
“Library service for the blind and
visually impaired in Koprivnica-Krizevci
county”
Steps in implementation
Education of library staff
Purchase of special reading materials
Purchase/installation of special IT
equipment
Informing the patrons on new service
Education and animation activities for
patrons
Why did we do it?
The service reflects basic values
of Public Library of Koprivnica:
“Library open to everybody”
“Literacy for all”
General aim
Equal involvement (social
inclusion) of the blind and
visually impaired into the local
community and society in general
through public library
What is different about it? (1)
An integrative character : inclusion of reading collection and technology into all
library divisions and services
equal participation from visually impaired and sighted
individuals in the most of educative and animation
activities
What is different about it? (2)
Promoting of reading and literacy
among the blind and print disabled via
local public library
Spreading sensibility of sighted
population to the needs of visually
disabled persons (added value of the
service)
Fundamental challenge - How to keep service sustainable?
Reading materials and IT equipment are not enough to keep service sustainable
Networking - Cooperation with numerous partners on local and national level is a key to keep service sustainable
Critical point 1:
How to keep attention of users?
Strategic partners:
County Association of the Blind
Croatian Library for the Blind
County Association of the Blind
The most important and reliable partner
Years-long collaboration
Groundwork for starting the service, from
project planning to implementation in 2006
Groundwork for service sustainability
Common programs and projects 2006-2009
Animation and attraction: information, education, and leisure time opportunities
for the blind and visually impaired in the library
Integrative approach – a way to social inclusion
Preschool children workshops
In cooperation with Rehabilitation Center for
Blind Preschool Children with Multiple
Disabilities, Zagreb, Croatia
(logopedists, therapeutists, special education teachers)
“Let's play with tactile toys and picture books”
“How to shape your own toy”
“Let’s play with eco toys”
Workshops for teenagers In cooperation with special education teachers
from Educational Centre for the Blind,
Zagreb, Croatia
“Reading in a different way”
Visual arts workshop
“How the young can communicate better in everyday
life”
Art workshops for teenagers
In cooperation with art teachers from local schools
“How to make Easter eggs”
“How to make Christmas postcards”
Joint workshops for teenagers and adults
“Special reading materials and how to use them”
with librarians from Croatian Library for the Blind in Zagreb
“Special technical devices and its use”
with IT specialist from Croatian Union of the Blind in Zagreb
Workshops for parents and experts
“How to use tactile toys and picture books”
In cooperation with logopedist, and special
education teachers from Rehabilitation
Institution for Blind Preschool Children with
Multiple Disabilities, Zagreb, Croatia
Workshops for adult users
In cooperation with special education
teachers from the Education Center of
the Blind, Zagreb, Croatia
“How the blind and sighted can communicate
better in everyday life”
Other programs (1)
Literature events with blind writers and
actors
Meetings of Top readers of talking and
paper books in Public Library in
Koprivnica”
Other programs (2)
Training courses for adult blind
patrons in:
Braille (cooperation with Educational Centre
for the Blind in Zagreb)
IT (cooperation with IT specialist from the
Association for Education of Adult Blind
Persons, Zagreb)
Croatian Library for the Blind
The most important, vital part of cooperation:
- procurement of talking books
Critical point 2:How to keep attention of local
community?
Projects and programs of spreading
sensibility, prevention, and
education for sighted kindergarten
children, primary and secondary
school students and wide public
Local ophthalmologists
Campaigns in the library on prevention of blindness:
leaflets sight checking eye pressure measuring
“Glaukoma Day”“Take care about your sight”
Croatian Association for Guide Dogs Training
Campaigns in library on importance of guide
dogs for the blind
storyteling hours for pre-schoolers
exhibitions
Visits and workshops in local kindergartens,
primary and secodary scool classes
Critical point 3: How to keep attention of library
community?Regional level - interlibrary loan to other public
libraries in region
National level - Croatian Library for the Blind;
Croatian Library Association-Library Service for
Special Needs Persons Committee; Croatian
Librarians In-Service Education Center;
Conferences, round tables, workshops…
International level - Conferences
Critical point 4: How to keep attention of local
and national authorities?
Cooperation in financing the library
service helping to increase the quality of
life and social services for print disabled
persons in local community and society
in general
Conclusions (What happened?) 1
Sustainability of the service for the blind and visually impaired has been achieved in Public library of Koprivnica
• Networking• Cooperation with numerous partners• Educated library staff and their eagerness to
cooperate with print disabled patrons and to educate themselves further
The number of libraries in Croatia offering such
service has increased
The Croatian Ministry of Culture has been inspired by
our experience to support similar local community
library services for print disabled in county centres of
Croatia
Croatian librarianship lacks an overall library strategy,
which would stimulate planned systematic nationwide
services for the blind and visually impaired, or the
handicapped in general, into public libraries
Conclusions (What happened?) 2
