Section for Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons

Annual Report 1994-1995

Ms Kerstin Thulin (Stockholms Stadbibliotek, Box 47601, S-117 94 Stockholm, Sweden (fax:+(46-8) 7756677)) is Chair of the Section of Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons, succeeding Frances Kaiser (Netherlands). Ms Vibeke Lehmann (State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections, 149 E. Wilson Street, POB 7925, Madison, WI 53707, USA(fax: +(1-608) 2671751; e-mail: lehman@macc.wisc.edu)) is Secretary, succeeding Suzanne Bruhn (Australia).

Standing Committee and Section Membership

The Standing Committee now has 12 members from eight countries, five corresponding members, one observer and one special advisor. Section registration stands at 70. The Standing Committee held its mid-winter meeting in London, 16-17 February 1995, and will hold its 1996 mid-winter meeting in Stockholm, 18-19 March.

Projects

Guidelines for Library Service to Hospital Patients

A draft was presented in French during the Istanbul Conference and approved by the Standing Committee. Work will continue on the project during 1996.

Guidelines on Easy to Read Publications

This project was approved by the CoordinatingBoard and will continue in 1996.

Library Service to the Elderly and Housebound Readers

The goal was to develop guidelines for library service to these groups in cooperation with other Sections within the Division. However, since there was no interest expressed by other groups, the Section will stop action on this project.

The Disadvantaged in Library School Curricula

Following the workshop held in Barcelona on this topic, Anne Galler (Canada) began a survey on this topic on library schools in Canada. The Standing Committee agreed that the questionnaire should be translated into the IFLA languages and circulated widely. The survey will serve several purposes:

to raise awareness in library school personnel to the special needs of the disadvantaged;
to enable library school students to identify these special groups and to respond to their needs;
to compile the results and prepare guidelines for an inclusive curriculum suggesting the best ways to respond to the needs of the disadvantaged; and
to stimulate the preparation ofspecial materials.

Publications

Four issues of the Section Newsletter were issued during the report period. Anne Galler (Canada) edited the Newsletters, which contained reports on Section activities and some brief articles on library services to several disadvantaged groups.

Guidelines for Library Services to Prisoners

The revised edition of the Guidelines was competed and issued in English and in a German translation (Richtlinien zurBibliotheksversorgung van Haftlinge) as IFLA Professional Reports Nos. 46 and 47. An Arabic version, in cooperation with the ALP Core Programme, is also being prepared.

Future Conferences

Beijing 1996

The Section agreed to meet under the theme, "Marketing your Library".

Copenhagen 1997

The Section will hold a workshop co-sponsored by the Sections of Children's Libraries and School Libraries with the theme, "Reading Promotion to Disadvantaged Children". The theme selected for the open session is "Reading Promotion to the General Public".

Istanbul Meetings

Open Session

The Section participated in the joint programme organized with the Sections of Libraries for the Blind and Public Libraries, and the INTAMEL Round Table. The session was attended by more than 200 persons meeting under the theme: "New Technologies: How Does This Influence the Library Service for Libraries Serving the General Public?"

Papers presented

Canadian Information Highway: Special Needs Addressed
by MARY FRANCES LAUGHTON

Abstract:
The Information Highway is the current preoccupation of much of Canada's advanced technology sector. Persons with disabilities have major reasons for use of adaptive systems. These individuals are often handicapped by not having access to traditional form of communication and information. An individual who is blind cannot read print information. A person who is deaf cannot usually obtain information directly by telephone. An individual with a speech impairment may have the same problem with respect to telephone contact. A person who is in a wheelchair may not have physical access to buildings which house information services and, even if they can get in, their physical limitations may prevent them from using those services without extraordinary assistance. The Canadian Federal Government through Industry Canada has been involved for a number of years with the development of assistive devices in partnership with a number of Canadian organizations. The search for a global market is always there.

Strategies to Educate Librarians to Introduce New Technologies to Users, Especially Disadvantaged Ones
by ANNE M. GALLER

Abstract:
The paper suggests some strategies to introduce users to specific technologies(online searching and teaching the use of the Internet) with emphasis on recommendations to be applicable to new technologies in general.

New Technologies - New Opportunities? The Virtual Library in a Prison Situation
by FRANCES E. KAISER

Abstract:
Not available.

Latest Revision: May 26, 1996