Special resources and services provided to the disabled people by public libraries in the Western Province

1. 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

2. “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)

3. Objectives
• To identify the special services and
resources catering the disabled people by
public libraries in Western Province

4. 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)

5. • 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 elbow
Loss of both hands including elbows
Loss of one hand below elbows
Loss of both hands below elbows
Paralysis of one hand
Paralysis of both hands
Other disability in one hand
Other disability in both hands
• Disability in Legs Loss of one legs including knee
Loss of both legs including knees
Loss of one leg below knee
Loss of both legs below knees
Paralysis of one leg
Paralysis of both legs
Other disability in one leg
Other disability in both legs
• Other Physical Disability
Reference: 2001 Census of Population and Housing in Sri Lanka

6. 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)

7. How can we give them quality of
life through knowledge and
capacity building?
Will Public Libraries be a
possible answer?

8. 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)

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

10. 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)

11. Methodology
• Literature Review
– Identify the resources and services
• Primary data collection
– Survey method
• Questionnaire
– Distributed to librarians
– 1 returned (99% success rate)

12. A checklist for the public libraries
• Physical access
• Media formats
• Service and communication
• (Irvall and Nielsen, 2005)

13. Findings
Facility
Number 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

14. The special resources
Talking books
Large print books
Braille books
Easy to read books
Videos
DVD
Books with subtitles or sign language
(IFLA Standing Committee of Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons
(LSDP))

15. Availability of special resources in libraries
Type of material
Number of
libraries
Brail books 2
Talking books 4
Large Print books 4
Audio Visual media 4

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

17. Recommendations
• Staff Attitude
• Staff training
• Simple reading aids (magnifying glasses)
• Access to catalogues
• Extension services

18. 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)

19. Are we
ready
to
remove the barriers?

20. Thank you