Medium Term Programme 1998-2001

IN THIS DOCUMENT:

Scope

Goals, 1998-2001 - Action Plans, 2000-2001

Medium Term Programme Archive

Section of Libraries for the Blind

Scope

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, standardization of material, problems of copyright, bibliographic control, technical standards, free transmission of postal and tele-communications 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.

Goals, 1998-2001 - Action Plans, 2000-2001

Goal 1

Encourage the establishment of library service to print handicapped persons in countries where it does not exist or is inadequate, thus bridging the information gap.

Action:

1.1 Delegate to FORCE to arrange a training seminar for libraries for the blind in Francophone African countries.

Goal 2

Establishment of guidelines for library services for print handicapped persons.

Action:

2.1 Investigate guidelines for digital library services and report on requirements for IFLA support.

Goal 3

Provide proactive leadership in the evolution of the digital library for the visually handicapped.

Action:

3.1The Standing Committee will continue to follow the developments and advocate mainstream industry standards where appropriate and applicable. Furthermore the Standing Committee will initiate and evaluate projects in this field.

Goal 4

Reduce the major obstacles for free international flow of special format, such as copyright regulations, technical standards, postal regulations etc.

Actions:

4.1 The Standing Committee will investigate and clarify questions of copyright regulations regarding electronic text and digital audio as well as older formats such as braille and talking books on analogue cassettes.

4.2 The Standing Committee shall look after postal regulations, as free postal distribution of special format material is fundamental for library services to the visually impaired.

Goal 5

Promote the use of cataloging standards to make alternate material accessible.

Action:

5.1Follow the development of projects with metadata and cataloging standards for alternate format material.

Goal 6

Encourage the training and continuing education of professionals in the field service to print handicapped readers.

Action:

6.1 Arrange open sessions, workshops at IFLA General Conferensces and also arrange preconferences and/or training seminars every other year.

Goal 7

Promote international interlibrary loan materials for print handicapped readers.

Actions:

7.1 Maintain and make the International Directory of Libraries for the Blind accessible on Internet.

7.2 Publish a Hand book for interlending for Libraries for the Blind in cooperation with FORCE.

Goal 8

Provide information about the work of the Section and the Standing Committee to those interested in library services to the blind and other print handicapped.

Actions:

8.1 Publish two issues of the Section's Newsletter each year, in English, Russian and Spanish. Printed versions as well as in braille and on diskette. Forward machine readable versions to IFLA-Net for inclusion. (Ongoing)

8.2 Continue to publish and update section brochures in English, German, Russian, French and Spanish.

Goal 9

Cooperate with appropriate international organizations, by recognizing the need of users, and by promoting cooperation between libraries serving print handicapped readers and user organizations.

Actions:

9.1 Improve the cooperation with the World Blind Union and other international organizations representing the print handicapped, regarding such issues as copyright, standards of talking books and braille, free postal matters etc.

9.2 Investigate other co-operative activities with the regional bodies of WBU such as EBU.

Latest Revision: May 5, 2000