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, 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  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

Thank you!