Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons Section
Strategic Plan
2006-2007
(Updated 14 June 2006)
Mission
The Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons Section provides leadership to libraries, associations, and government bodies for the development of specialized services to those groups within the community who are unable to make use of conventional library services.
These groups include persons in hospitals and prisons, the elderly and others in nursing homes or care facilities, the house-bound, the deaf, the physically and developmentally disabled, and persons with reading difficulties.
The Section provides an international forum for the discussion of ideas and sharing of expertise. It develops projects that promote and improve library and information services to all.
Goals
1 Promote the development and adoption of standards and guidelines to ensure equal access to library services
(Professional priorities: (b) Defending the Principle of Freedom of Information; d) Providing unrestricted access to information; (i) Promoting standards, guidelines, and best practices. Society Pillar: addresses barriers to access to information; enables education and research; serves society by feeding development; supports international understanding and community well being. Professional Pillar: improve methods, technical means and standards; improvement of library services)
Actions:
1.1 Complete the translations of the Section's publications into all IFLA languages, and where possible, other languages.
1.2 Provide training on the development and adoption of national guidelines and standards.
1.3 Encourage the development of national strategies and legislation for library services to people with disabilities.
1.4 Develop guidelines for services to persons with dementia.
2 Identify and demonstrate successful practices in the provision of services
(Professional priorities: (a) Supporting the role of libraries in society; (d) Providing unrestricted access to information. Society Pillar: addresses barriers to access to information; enables education and research; serves society by feeding development; supports international understanding and community well being. Professional Pillar: improve methods, technical means and standards; improvement of library services)
Actions:
2.1 Research existing programs and methods with demonstrated success.
2.2 Develop conference programs that demonstrate and inform about model services.
2.3 Provide workshops on how to implement successful practices in the field.
2.4 Cooperate with other IFLA units in providing programs and workshops.
2.5 Provide technical assistance and consultation services to libraries and other agencies.
2.6 Continue to develop training resources.
3 Identify potential partners outside of the library profession
(Professional priorities: (a) Supporting the role of libraries in society; (f) Promoting resource sharing. Society Pillar: addresses barriers to access to information; enables education and research; serves society by feeding development; supports international understanding and community well being. Professional Pillar: improve methods, technical means and standards; improvement of library services.)
Actions:
3.1 Identify international organizations that focus on the Section's target populations.
3.2 Establish relationships in order to inform about library resources and services.
3.3 Continue to encourage joint programs between libraries and other organizations.
4 Provide information about the work of the Section and Standing Committee
(Professional priorities: (f) Promoting resource sharing; (i) Promoting standards, guidelines, and best practices. Society Pillar: addresses barriers to access to information; enables education and research; serves society by feeding development; supports international understanding and community well being. Professional Pillar: improve methods, technical means and standards; improvement of library services)
Actions:
4.1 Prepare and distribute the Section Newsletter.
4.2 Report on Section activities to the Coordinating Board of the Division of Libraries Serving the General Public.
4.3 Provide information for publication in IFLA Journal and on IFLANET.
4.4 Maintain the brochure about the Section's program for each conference and include details about the Section's work.
4.5 Maintain the Section's history.
4.6 Maintain review of literature to facilitate access by keeping bibliography up to date.
5 Promote membership of the Section and maintain as broad an international representation as possible
(Professional priorities: (a) Supporting the role of libraries in society. Society Pillar: addresses barriers to access to information; enables education and research; serves society by feeding development; supports international understanding and community well being. Professional Pillar: improve methods, technical means and standards; improvement of library services)
Actions:
5.1 Encourage members of the Sections of Division III to participate in joint projects and programmes.
5.2 Target libraries and library organizations that may be interested in joining the Section.
6 Promote availability of and access to resources for persons who need alternative materials and/or services
(Professional priorities: (b) Defending the Principle of Freedom of Information; (d) Providing unrestricted access to information) (e) Balancing the Intellectual Property Rights of Authors with the Needs of Users. Society Pillar: addresses barriers to access to information; enables education and research; serves society by feeding development; supports international understanding and community well being. Professional Pillar: improve methods, technical means and standards; improvement of library services)
Actions:
6.1 Identify appropriate IFLA units and other bodies to work to remove copyright restrictions that prevent equal access.
6.2 Put all of the Section's guidelines and translations on the Section's web site on IFLANET.
7 Identify and demonstrate tools and methods that facilitate access
(Professional priorities: (b) Defending the Principle of Freedom of Information; (d) Providing unrestricted access to information; (e) Balancing the Intellectual Property Rights of Authors with the Needs of Users. Society Pillar: addresses barriers to access to information; enables education and research; serves society by feeding development; supports international understanding and community well being. Professional Pillar:> improve methods, technical means and standards; improvement of library services)
Actions:
7.1 Work with the Libraries for the Blind Section to organize a complementary section programmes at the Seoul conference.
