The review of the organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted in the selected countries

ABSTRACT Purpose: Models of organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted from the view of special and public librarianship in selected countries were examined. In addition, theoretical and legislative frameworks, professional guidelines and trends are explored. Some terminol...

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Main Authors: Damjana Vovk, Branka Badovinac
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Slovenian Library Association & University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) 2011-06-01
Series:Knjižnica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.uni-lj.si/knjiznica/article/view/14354
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author Damjana Vovk
Branka Badovinac
author_facet Damjana Vovk
Branka Badovinac
author_sort Damjana Vovk
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Purpose: Models of organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted from the view of special and public librarianship in selected countries were examined. In addition, theoretical and legislative frameworks, professional guidelines and trends are explored. Some terminological inconsistencies and obstacles in performing the services are also presented. Methodology/approach: The explorative-comparative study carried in the years 2008-2010 includes the comparative analysis of data acquired by the survey and literature desktop research. The research sample included 14 countries – eleven European countries, USA, Australia, and Canada. Results: The findings show great varieties among the selected countries, however, there is the trend of moving the organization of services based on a private charitable association to the formalized state supported system. The majority of countries have applied the centralized model with one specialized (national) library. There is rarely a case of formal inclusion of public libraries in the organization of services. Recent major professional interests in the field of providing library services to visually impaired are broadening the copyright exceptions and user groups, and the implementation of information technology for bigger production of alternative formats and availability of library materials. Research limitation: The low rate of survey response and the differences in the organization of library services influenced on the lack of data and low level of data comparability. Originality/practical implications: The results are useful for designing a model of library services in Slovenia.
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spelling doaj-art-2e2f8d2f380b4ca8923da25e775af3732025-08-20T01:58:08ZengSlovenian Library Association & University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)Knjižnica0023-24241581-79032011-06-01552-310.55741/knj.55.2-3.14354The review of the organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted in the selected countriesDamjana VovkBranka BadovinacABSTRACT Purpose: Models of organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted from the view of special and public librarianship in selected countries were examined. In addition, theoretical and legislative frameworks, professional guidelines and trends are explored. Some terminological inconsistencies and obstacles in performing the services are also presented. Methodology/approach: The explorative-comparative study carried in the years 2008-2010 includes the comparative analysis of data acquired by the survey and literature desktop research. The research sample included 14 countries – eleven European countries, USA, Australia, and Canada. Results: The findings show great varieties among the selected countries, however, there is the trend of moving the organization of services based on a private charitable association to the formalized state supported system. The majority of countries have applied the centralized model with one specialized (national) library. There is rarely a case of formal inclusion of public libraries in the organization of services. Recent major professional interests in the field of providing library services to visually impaired are broadening the copyright exceptions and user groups, and the implementation of information technology for bigger production of alternative formats and availability of library materials. Research limitation: The low rate of survey response and the differences in the organization of library services influenced on the lack of data and low level of data comparability. Originality/practical implications: The results are useful for designing a model of library services in Slovenia.https://journals.uni-lj.si/knjiznica/article/view/14354library servicesmodelsblindpartially sightedvisually impairedprint-disabled
spellingShingle Damjana Vovk
Branka Badovinac
The review of the organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted in the selected countries
Knjižnica
library services
models
blind
partially sighted
visually impaired
print-disabled
title The review of the organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted in the selected countries
title_full The review of the organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted in the selected countries
title_fullStr The review of the organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted in the selected countries
title_full_unstemmed The review of the organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted in the selected countries
title_short The review of the organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted in the selected countries
title_sort review of the organization of library services for the blind and partially sighted in the selected countries
topic library services
models
blind
partially sighted
visually impaired
print-disabled
url https://journals.uni-lj.si/knjiznica/article/view/14354
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