Newsletter of the Section of Libraries for the Blind

Spring 1998

The IFLA - SLB Newsletter is issued twice a year: spring and autumn.

Rosemary Kavanagh

Distribution:

Beatrice Christensen Skld,

The Newsletter is available in braille and on diskette.

New Medium-Term Programme

The Medium-Term Programme of IFLA Section of Libraries for the Blind 1998-2001 Goals

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.

2. Establishment of guidelines for library services for print handicapped persons.

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

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

5. Promote the use of cataloguing standards to make alternate materials accessible.

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

7. Promote international interlibrary loan materials for print handicapped readers.

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.

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

Midwinter Meeting in Canada

Meeting with Dr Herie, President of the World Blind Union
Delegates were welcomed by the Executive Director of the CNIB Library and the President of the World Blind Union (WBU) Dr. E. J. Herie. Dr Herie attended the meeting on February 9 in order to discuss common problems. Beatrice Christensen, Chair, outlined the issues surrounding library service for the blind in developing countries, free postage for the blind and copyright rules. Stephen King expressed the concern that some forces were at work to change the longstanding privilege of free postage for blind persons which could seriously impact the delivery of information and library service to blind people.

Additionally copyright restrictions worked differently in various countries and limited access for blind and visually impaired people. Close cooperation between the Section and the World Blind Union was required in coming up with a common or shared strategy to address these issues. Additionally, new opportunities such as exploring lower telecommunications costs as had been done in the USA for many service agencies such as Libraries to ensure affordable delivery of electronic formats to blind people needed to be explored. Dr. Herie reminded the group that in assuming the Presidency his mission was directed to ameliorating the condition of blind women and the use of technology for improving conditions of blindness. However, he indicated that in some parts of the world destitution was so great that the basic necessities of life, not library service, was the first order of business. He cautioned the group that any strategy could not jeopardize what was already in place and solutions had to be affordable and accessible to those at whom it was directed. He explained the role and function of Norma Toucedo the WBU liaison member of the Section.

Dr. William Rowland had been appointed by the WBU to address developments in digital audio but this mandate could be expanded to include some of the other concerns which had been raised. He urged the Section to direct these issues to Dr. William Rowland. Dr. Herie promised the ongoing cooperation of the WBU with the Section.

In the evening Dr. E. J. Herie at a special dinner hosted by the CNIB told both visitors and guests how much he valued and respected the work of the Section in developing Library services and asked them to bear in mind the contrasting levels of development and ability to afford basic necessities for many blindness communities across the world. Beatrice Christensen thanked Dr. Herie for his remarks and said how much as a group the Section valued the contribution of the CNIB and the CNIB Library to its work.

Coordinating Board Meeting in Winchester

At the meeting issues like the IFLA structure and management were discussed. The future of the round tables within the division was given several hours of discussion. It was suggested that the Round Table of the Mobile Libraries should merge with the Section of Public Libraries. Each section presented the programs for the Amsterdam and the planning of the Bangkok conference.

In the evening of the 12th of March the City Councilor of Winchester, Mr. Fred Emery-Wallace, hosted a dinner for the Coordinating Board in the ancient council building. Beatrice Christensen Sköld

Working Group on Metadata formed

At its meeting in Toronto the Section addressed the issue of setting digital audio standards which could be applied by the groups evolving new media for the conversion of existing and new collections. One of the concerns being addressed by all these groups working on the next generation of talking books is the standard definition of elements to be marked up in any text forming the basis of the master file.

It was felt that at minimum the Section of Libraries for the Blind should maintain some connectedness with these developments and assess and report their relevance to Libraries for the Blind. An expert on Metadata is to be invited to the next meeting of the Section in Amsterdam. A further extension of the Working Groupīs responsibility is the examination of the relevance of the Z39.50 protocol to exchanging material between Libraries for the Blind. Both Metadata and Z39.50 are felt to be important to the ultimate vision of a world library of alternate format material accessible from any point in the globe.

Appointed to the working group are:

Michael Moodie, National Library Service to the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, U.S.A.
Barbara Mates - Cleveland Public Library and American Library Association representative to the Section, U.S.A.
Diane Bays, Industry Canada
Karen Marie Ellefsen- Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille
Rosemary Kavanagh, CNIB Library for the Blind, Canada

International Directory of Libraries for the Blind to appear on the World Wide Web

A demonstration was provided to members of the Standing Committee on February 10, 1998. The site is expected to be ready within another month. Print and braille versions of the Directory will also be made available. For Libraries wanting to ensure the entry of their libraries in this directory forms may be requested from the following sources or at the following website: when operational: the address is www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/dbase/

African Seminars

Beatrice Christensen Sköld , Chair
c/o The Swedish library of Talking Books and Braille (TPB),
S-122 88 Enskede.
Phone +46-8-39 93 74,
Fax +46-8-659 94 67,
e-mail: bea.christensen@tpb.se

or

Nic Snyman
BLINDLIB
S.A. Library for the Blind
P.O. Box 115
Grahamstown, 6140
South Africa
Telephone: 27 461 622 7226
Fax: 27 461 622 7650
email:blindlib@iafrica.com

A French African seminar is to be considered but will require further development. Consultation with the Francophone Forum of the World Blind Union is being explored for the future development of a similar seminar in French Africa.

Conference News

Workshop Programme

09.00		Introduction Sue Lithgow SLSDP, Beatrice Christensen Sköld SLB
09.15		The Disability Discrimination Act in the UK Cathy Evans
10.00		The Needs of Information of the Deaf Blind Reader Satoshi Fukushina, Associate Professor, University of Kanazawa
10.50		Large print in the Netherlands Marij Schols, Nederlandse Luister en Braillebibliotheek (the Dutch Library of Audio and Braille)
11.30		La mediateque at la Cité in Paris Marie-Pierre Tallec, Conservateur, La Cité
12.00		Lunch
13.00		Reading representatives - a model for library service to Easy-to-read-customers Bror Tronbacke and Lotta Rosenström , The Easy-to-read Foundation, Sweden
13.50		Panel discussion The above speakers and the auditorium
14.30		Conclusion Sue Lithgow and Beatrice Christensen Sköld

If you are interested in participating in this workshop, please complete the registration form attached to this Newsletter. For further information please contact :

Beatrice Christensen Sköld,
Fax +46-8-659 94 67 or
e-mail: bea.christensen@tpb.se

Open Session
The Open Session will have as its theme Overcoming the Barriers to the Virtual Library: Linking Communities, People and Service. Four papers are planned:

1. Creating a structure of Digital Library Services to the Visually Impaired in the Netherlands presented by: Theo Walraven and Maarten Verboom, Centre for Spoken Literature (CGL) the Netherlands.
2. Disabilities Information Resources: An accessible Website Building Merges DAISY on the Internet presented by: Hiroshi Kawamura, Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons, Japan.
3. Preparing for the Millenium: Linking Libraries for the printdisabled by Rosemary Kavanagh, CNIB library for the Blind, Canada and Michael Moodie, National Library service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, USA.
4. Copyright: The focus on Digital Media and the Visually Impaired Reader presented by: David Mann, Royal National Institute for the Blind, United Kingdom.

Accommodations for IFLA Amsterdam
Matthijs Balfoort will coordinate ac-commodations for members of the Standing Committee. He has reserved a block of rooms at the Novotel within walking distance of the Congress building. The price per room is : D.fl. 230,00 not including breakfast. Breakfast is D.fl. 27,50 per person. Please note on your registration form: Libraries for the Blind. He suggests that members also e-mail their name, date of arrival etc. so that he can confirm with the organizers. The e-mail address of Matthijs Balfoort is mbalfoort@svb.nl

IFLA Bangkok 1999
The 65th General Conference of IFLA is to be preceded by an Expert Meeting of Libraries for the Blind. While the location of the Expert meeting is not yet confirmed items for the agenda are being developed around the theme Bridging the Gap between Developed and Developing Countries. The Section welcomes suggestions and key presenters in Australia and other countries in Asia. Please contact the chair Beatrice Christensen Sköld or the Secretary of the Section Karen Marie Ellefsen.

News from Libraries for the Blind Around the World

Fifth Anniversary International Conference Crimea 98
The Fifth Conference is to be held in June 6-14, 1998 in Sudak, Crimea, Ukraine. The Conference is being organized by the Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia and the main sponsors are Minsitry of Culture of Russia, Moscow, Russia, Martinus Nijhoff Eastern Europe Subscription Agency (The Netherlands), Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation). The Participation of other organizers and sponsors is being invited as well as a call for papers. For further information contact:

The Organizing Committee:
Fax: +7 (095) 921 9862
Telex:411180bgpnt su
email:CRIMEA98@gpntb.msk.su
Conference Website:
http://gpntb.litp.ru/crimea98/

National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress Conference
The 1998 Conference for Librarians serving blind and physically handicapped individuals is to be held in Burlington, Vermont, May 3 -7 1998 at the Radisson Hotel. This conference which convenes every two years will begin with a pre-conference workshop for Reader Advisors on Saturday May 2nd 1998. Conference attendees will also visit Quebec on Tuesday, May 5, for a special presentation in the afternoon on CNIB Library service. For further information please contact Michael Moodie, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington DC or email: mmoo@loc.gov

German Braille Code Revised
Since the German orthography has, in parts, been modernised, the German braille code had to follow the alterations. The new rules will become effective by August 1,1998 .
Starting in 1996 the German Braille Authority (Braillesschriftkommission deutschsprachiger Länder BSK/DL) discussed in several meetings how to integrate the modern development into the existing system (Braille Grade II in the current version has been in use since 1984).
On January 20th 1998 the BSK/DL passed the revised system. It will soon be available in braille as well as in ink-print. The changes compared to the preceding edition will be published in braille in the BLISTA periodical "Marburger Beiträge zum BlindenBildungswesen and in ink-print in Horus 50, no 2/1998. Rainer F.V. Witte

Discount on Telecommunications Expenses
The National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Network Bulletin No. 97-66 outlines how network libraries in the USA might become included in State plans to secure discounted telecommunications rates for Internet and other telecommunications access. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandates that the Universal Service Fund used to offset the higher costs of rural telephone service be increased and made available to rural health-care providers, school and libraries to make information exchange through telecommunications available throughout the United States. The discounts proposed are between 20% and 90% to all telecommunications services.