   
Section of Libraries for the Blind
Annual report:
September 1, 1997 - August 31, 1998
Scope of statement of Section: The Section of Libraries for the Blind concerns itself with library services for the blind and other print handicapped readers. The main purposes of the Section are to promote national and international cooperation in this field, and to encourage research and development in all aspects of this area, thus improving the access of information for the blind and other print handicapped persons.
The Section is thus concerned with the implementation of service goals, standardisation of material, problems of copyright, bibliographic control, technical standards, free transmission of postal and telecommunications or any means of distribution of material, and the identification of the locations of special format collections and activities for the blind and other print handicapped readers.
Membership
Officers:
Beatrice Christensen Sköld, Chair
The Swedish Library of Talking Books and Braille (TPB)
SE-122 88 ENSKEDE
Sweden
Tel. +46-8-399374
Fax +46-8-659 94 67
e-mail: bea.christensen@tpb.se
Karen Marie Ellefsen, Secretary
Norsk lyd- og blindeskriftbibliotek, NLB
P.B. 5834 Majorstua
N-0308 OSLO
Norway
Tel. +47-22 06 88 00
Fax. +47-22 60 74 73
e-mail: karen.m.ellefsen@nlb.no
Information Coordinator: The Chair
Meetings
The Standing Committee held its traditional midwinter meeting at the CNIB Library in Toronto Canada, February 9-10, 1998. Number of attendants: 14 SC Members and 2 Observers.
During the General Conference in Amsterdam August 16-21 14 SC members attended the SC Committee meetings as well as 20 section members.
Among items discussed were: Metadata, Copyright and electronic media, updating of the International Directory of Libraries for the Blind, Cooperation with the new organisation FORCE.
Projects
The Braille Guidelines were approved by Professional Board after some minor amendments.
Publications
Two IFLA/SLB Newsletter were published during this period. The Newsletter was also translated into Russian and Spanish. Galina Diyanskaja of the Russian State Library for the Blind translated and distributed the Russian version. The Spanish Organisation ONCE translated the Newsletter into Spanish, while the Swedish Library of Talking Books and Braille (TPB) distributed this version mainly to libraries in Latinamerica.
The following Conference papers were published in Booklet 3, Division of Libraries Serving the general Public:
Electronic library services for the visually disabled in the Netherlands
By Theo Walraven and Maarten Verboom (CGL, Grave, Netherlands)
Preparing for the millennium: linking libraries for the print disabled by
Rosemary Kavanagh (CNIB Library for the Blind, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Toronto, Canada) and Michael Moodie (National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington DC, United States)
Rights v. Rights - when copying is not copying. How copyright impinges on digital media and visually impaired readers
by David Mann (Royal National Institute /RNIB/, Peterborough, United Kingdom)
Disabilities information resources; accessible website building merges DAISY on the Internet
by Hiroshi Kawamura (Information Center of Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD, Tokyo, Japan)
The papers are available on IFLA's website: www.ifla.org
Conference programmes
Open Session: Overcoming the Barriers of the virtual Library. Linking Communities, People and Services
Attendants: Approximately 95 people.
Speakers/Title of Paper/Abstracts:
Theo Walraven and Maarten Verboom: Electronic Library Services for the Visually Disabled in the Netherlands
Abstract: The creation of the federation of the libraries for the Blind in the Netherlands will lead to a more efficient, coherent and accessible service. Also the development of new services will get more attention through the construction of a strong research and development organization. One of the first results is a design for the development of existing electronic services into a complete electronic library for people with reading disabilities. Despite promising initiatives in adaptive technology, the graphical interfaces that are commonly used in the world of sighted people, are still difficult to handle for visually disabled persons; in fact they are only accessible for a small group of experienced and skilled computer-users. Therefore access to the information-society is given through a specially designed user-interface.
Rosemary Kavanagh and Michael Moodie: Preparing for the Millennium: Linking Libraries for the Print-Disabled
Abstract: High costs and lengthy delays in translating print materials into formats accessible by print handicapped individuals limit the number of materials available in alternate formats in comparison to print. To close the gap, alternate format libraries must link their holdings electronically to facilitate interlibrary loan and exchange of production masters or copies. While a union catalog is a first step in this direction, use of the Z39.50 protocol promises a more timely, lower-cost solution. Finally, linking to documents in electronic form at other libraries and on the Internet will greatly broaden the scope of materials available.
More frequently today, libraries serving the print disabled are daring to dream about a world of library of alternate format materials. The vision of seamless access to a braille book produced in another country, or to a talking books recorded on another continent, all enabled by linked network of alternate-format libraries, inspires hope o far greater access by print-disabled people to information resources. It has primarily been developments in information and communications technology that have driven the formation of this vision. But beyond the technology are some profound issues which make it imperative to work to realize the dream.
Relationship with other bodies
In conjunction with the midwinter meeting in Toronto the SC met with Dr Euclid Herie, President of the World Blind Union, in order to seek cooperation.
The chair was invited to attend the meeting of the WBU Literacy Committee which was held immediately after the IFLA General Conference in Amsterdam, August 21-22 1998.
David Mann: Rights v. Rights - when copying is not copying. How copyright impinges on Digital media and Visually Impaired Readers
Abstract: This paper highlights the copyright barriers that can arise for visually impaired readers in the context of the "Information Society". It starts by enunciating certain basic rights which set the backcloth for the ensuing discussion.The historical setting of the pre-electronic era is briefly described. Recent ground-breaking legislation is then summarised. The author the details some of the new copyright issues posed as a result of the opportunities opened up by information technology. Finally, the paper reviews some of the ways in which legislators have begun to address these new questions.
Hiroshi Kawamura: Disabilities Information Resources: Accessible Website Building merges DAISY on the Internet
Abstract: People with disabilities are challenged by rapidly growing World Wide Web. Contracting with the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan, the Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (JSRPD) is building an accessible multimedia website to disseminate information on disabilities. Software including non-visual browser, telephone browser and DAISY compliant recording software have been developed. The website is being developed following the international open standards of the DAISY Consortium and Web Accessibility Initiative of W3C.
Simultaneous interpretation was given.
Workshop in cooperation with Section of Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons "Readers with Special needs, their library service needs and experiences"
Attendants : Approximately 70 persons.
Programme
Lotta Rosenström and Bror Tronbacke (The Swedish easy-to-read Foundation)
Reading Representatives - a model for library services to easy-to-read customers.
Shinichiro Kadokawa ( Chairman of Osaka Deaf-blind Society, Japan)
The Needs of Information of the Deaf-blind Reader
Marij Schols ( Deputy Director,Nederlandse Luister en Braille Bibliotheek, the Hague, Netherlands)
Large print in the Netherlands
Cathy Evans (Library Service Manager, Worcestershire County Council. UK)
The Disability Discrimination Act in the UK
Marie-Pierre Tallec (Librarian of the Mediathèque of la Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie in Paris, France)
Visually impaired readers in public libraries: The Louis-Braille Reading Room in the Mediathèque of the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie in Paris
No official simultaneous interpretation during the workshop but the organisation FORCE helped to interpret into Spanish. Mr Kadokawa had the help of three Japanese sign language interpreters an of John Day, Section of Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons, who translated Mr Kadokawa's speech into spoken English.
Other Events
On April 21 the Chair inaugurated a conference on Services for People with Physical Limitations in Public libraries, in St Petersburg, Russia
Author: Beatrice Christensen Sköld
Date: September 21, 1998
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