1. Academic Libraries and Patrons with Disabilities
Rozita Petrinska, MLS
Head of FEEIT/FME Library
Skopje, Macedonia
2009 JFDP Fellow

2. Role of Academic Libraries
Support the mission of the University/Faculty
Serve as an access point to information resources (support studying, teaching and research) - help users locate, retrieve and use materials
Provide space for studying
Promote life-long learning
Promote information literacy

3. Patrons with Disabilities
Physical handicap (motor or orthopedic disabilities)
Blind or visually impaired persons
Deaf or hearing impaired persons
People with speech and language disorder
Persons with learning disorder
Mental handicap (mild or moderate)

4. IFLA – International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
Access to libraries for persons with disabilities –CHECKLIST (Brigitta Irval and Gyda Skat Nielsen), 2005

5. Providing Physical Access for Patrons with Disabilities (1)
Suitable parking space for the disabled
Automatic doors (power doors)
Wheelchair ramps with railings
Smooth and non-slip entrance
No doorsteps

6. Providing Physical Access for Patrons with Disabilities (2)
Entry phone accessible for deaf users
Clear signage (pictogram signs)
Elevators suitable for the disabled
Especially designed toilets for the disabled

7. Access to library services and materials (1)
Shelves reachable form a wheelchair
Accessible computer spots with Assistive Technology (AT)
Enough space between shelves
Visible and audible fire alarm
Chairs with sturdy armrests
Adjustable circulation/reference desk
Induction Loop System for hearing impaired persons

8. Access to library services and materials (2)
Adaptive keyboards or keyboards overlays for users with motor impairments
Designated computers equipped with screen reading programs, enlargement, and synthetic speech
Designated computers equipped with spelling, and other instructional software suitable for persons with dyslexia

9. Assistive technology (AT)
devices can enable people with disabilities to take advantage of traditional library resources and services;
low-tech devices, such as magnifiers, or
high tech devices, such as computer software with large print or voice output.

10. Aid for persons with disabilities (1)
A colored tactile line (yellow line)
Magnifying glass
Illuminated magnifier
Tape recorder
CD player

11. Aid for persons with disabilities (2)
Closed-Circuit Televisions (Print Magnifiers)
Alternate keyboards (Programmable keyboards , On-screen keyboards, Large Print/Large Keys)
Alternate Mice
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Software and Scanners
Digital Audio Information System (DAISY)
Computers with screen adapters and software designed for persons with reading and cognitive disabilities

12. Aid for persons with disabilities (3)
TTY/TDD’s
Voice Recognition
Assistive Listening Devices
personal use (PocketTalkers)
group use (conference room systems

13. Media formats for people with disabilities
E-books
Large print materials
Tactile picture books
Braille books
Easy-to-read books
Talking books/periodicals/newspapers
Video/DVD books with subtitles and/or sign language

14. Communication with patrons with disabilities
Specially trained staff
Home delivery service
Consultations for persons with disabilities
Guided tours for people with disabilities
Information about access, services, materials and programs available in alternative formats

15. Library web-site access
Design – logical and easy to navigate
Software to enlarge text, change font and contrast, length of lines and space between lines
Search capability
Accompany audio with text

16. Cooperation with disability organizations
Planned activities
Meetings, conferences
Campaigns and exhibits
Booths with info materials
Discussion groups
Regular meetings with organizations
Projects
Joint media contacts

17. Benchmarking – University of Iowa
Assistance for Users with Disabilities
Other University of Iowa Resources
University of Iowa's List of Disability Resources
Information Technology Services (ITS) Assistive Technology Support
Student Disability Services
Faculty and Staff Disability Services

18. Acts that have made difference
USA – Rehabilitation Act (1973) - Section 504
Americans with Disabilities Act –ADA (1990),
The UK Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Act (2002)
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
- Article 24 - Education

19. Academic Libraries in Macedonia and Patrons with Disabilities
Legislation (RM)
Constitution of Republic of Macedonia
Numerous Laws (different spheres of life)
Law on Prevention and Protection from Discrimination (Official Gazette of RM, No. 50, from )

20. Academic Libraries in Macedonia and Patrons with Disabilities A Survey (1)
Thesis:
Academic Libraries in Macedonia do not provide complete access to library programs and services to patrons with disabilities

21. Academic Libraries in Macedonia and Patrons with Disabilities A Survey (2)
Electronic questionnaire
9 questions (7 yes-no questions, 2 multiple-choice questions)
sent to 21 addresses (2 reported as failed, 12 people filled-in)
sent to librarians in academic libraries (one per institution)
anonymous
63% response

22. 58.33% of the respondents reported to have disabled patrons
Survey Results (1)
58.33% of the respondents reported to have disabled patrons

23. Survey Results (2)

24. Survey Results (3)
75% of the libraries have had no contacts with organizations or associations of people with disabilities
In only 16.67% of the libraries a seminar, training or lecture was organized treating the library services and programs for people with disabilities

25. Survey Results (3)
58.33% of the academic libraries have enabled physical access (power doors, ramps, special parking places etc.) to PWD
41.67% have enabled access to library programs and services to PWD
16.67% provide materials appropriate for persons with special needs (e-books, books with Braille alphabet, video materials, books with large print etc.)

26. Survey Results (4)

27. Survey Results (5) Conclusions:
Academic Libraries in Macedonia do not provide enough support for the students/staff with special needs;
Indirect discrimination;

28. Further steps Raise public awareness
Media, conferences, seminars
Raise awareness among the persons with disabilities
Provide funds for SWD (state level, university level)
Make researches to support the campaign against discrimination and discrimination in education

29. Bibliography (1): Americans with disabilities Act of 1990,
URL:
B. Irvall, G. S. Nielsen, Access to libraries for persons with disabilities - checklist , IFLA, The Hague (2005).
Disability in higher education. OECD (2003). OECD iLibrary. URL:
Equity in education: students with disabilities,learning difficulties and disadvantages. Statistics and indicators, OECD (2004). OECD iLibrary. URL:
H. C. Dequin, I. Schilling, S. Huang. “The attitudes of academic librarians toward disabled person's, in Journal of Academic Librarianship, Vol.14, No.1, pp , March 1988.

30. Bibliography (2):
IFLA: about the Library services to people with special needs section. URL:
K. Hadjikakou, D. Hartas, Higher education provision for students with disabilities in Cyprus, University of Warwick, 2007 URL:
Librarians connections: assistive technologies for patrons who are blind or have other disabilities, URL:
M. K. Mason, User Groups in Academic Libraries, URL:
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Public Law rd Congress, H. R September 26, 1973, URL:

31. Bibliography (3):
The University of Iowa Libraries. URL:
UN: Enable. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, URL:
Закон за спречување и заштита од дискриминација, Службен весник на РМ, бр. 50, URL:
Џералдин Скалион консалтинг, Шила Роџерс, Прирачник заштита од дискриминација:примери на добра пракса за примена на принципот на еднаков третман и недискриминација во Европската унија, Министерство за труд и социјална политика, Сектор за еднакви можности, 2010, URL:

32. Thank you for your attention!