• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.48-58
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• 2014

Public libraries provide information to all persons and its users are the inhabitants of the community it serves. This may not be the reality in some cases as some category of persons may not be properly served by the public library. This study assesses the provision of information materials in alternative format, in terms of its availability, access and level of use by the visually impaired in public libraries in southwestern Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design. Four (4) public libraries in four states were purposively selected because they are the ones that provide alternative format for the use of a sizable number of the visually impaired. Complete enumeration was used to capture all the 166 registered users of the libraries through the use of observations checklist and interview schedule. Data from 69.2% of the 166 visually impaired persons that were interviewed, and the observations made were analyzed. The result reveals that alternative formats availability were inadequate and, e-resources were not available while access to formats and information desired by the users were limited. Braille is the most utilized format; audio materials and large prints were seldom used. The demand for alternative formats is high but it is not related to level of use of materials. Provision of information materials in alternative formats for the visually impaired in public libraries cannot support the needs of the visually impaired; it requires intervention from all stakeholders. The study recommends improved investment and funding for public libraries and services to persons with disabilities.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2015

Nigeria's non-government organization (NGO) libraries for the visually impaired has over the years been at the forefront of information services provision to persons with visual impairment. This study adopted a survey research design to investigate use of alternative formats and perceptions of information services to the visually impaired, focusing on two purposively chosen NGO libraries for the visually impaired in Nigeria. Using a complete enumeration approach, data were gathered from 180 users of the libraries through the use of a structured questionnaire with a reliability score (${\alpha}=0.74$). Data from 112 (62.2%) of the 180 administered copies of a questionnaire that were retrieved were analysed. The study found that Braille materials had a high level of utilization ($\bar{x}=4.46$) and were the most frequently utilized (90.9%). Perception of information services by the visually impaired was positive while use of alternative formats was significantly and positively related to users' perception of information services (r = .041; p < 0.05). The study recommends improved transcription and investment in alternative formats and in e-resources. It also recommends collaborations to widen access as well as constant evaluation of services.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.165-184
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• 2016

Generally, Bibliotherapy is aimed to cure the emotional or psychological wounds by using books for common users as self-treatment. But, Bibliotherapy for disabled people is carried out by alternative formats instead of a book. In library for the disabled, it is developing various bibliotherapy programs, but not yet activated. In order to carry out bibliotherapy, it is necessary to improve the bibliotherapy catalog preferentially. However, most Bibliotherapy catalogs are created for the common users, not for disabled people specially. How to make the special catalog for disabled people and catalog of alternative formats according to pathological symptom or situation is still a big problem. Basing on this premise, the author examined the necessity of bibliotherapy catalog for disabled people, and the present situation of alternative materials for the bibliotherapy. And then, the author proposes plans of bibliotherapy for how to build the bibliotherapy for disabled people.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.215-246
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• 2017

Alternative materials for the visually disabled are very important factors for accessing and using information, dissolving the knowledge information gap, social participation and integration. Nevertheless, since alternative materials have been produced, until recently, even under the voluntary efforts of the braille library and the financial support of local governments, the scope of the materials is restricted to literary materials and hobby books, duplicated in title, and limited in format. In this study, we investigated and analyzed the cases of domestic and international library and related organizations' alternative material production and the current state and perception of alternative materials by applying the survey method to special libraries for the visually disabled and the visually disabled. Based on these results, we added suggestions for the improvement for alternative material production and utilization.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.51-67
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to diagnose the current status of alternative materials in Korea and to suggest directions and goals for the development of alternative materials. The comprehensive list of national alternative materials and the list of popular and new books were analyzed using the collection evaluation method. Results first the percentage of alternative material collections based on the popular book list for 10 years is 90.1%. The production rate of alternative materials is low in the subjects of 'Language', 'Art' and 'Technology and Science'. Most of the service formats were 'text only daisy'. Second, the CCHR(Common Collection Holding Ratio) and CUI(Collection Uniqueness index) of alternative materials were analyzed using the union catalog. Libraries with a large volume of books have a high proportion of CCHR and CUI. Topics with the highest CCHR are 'Literature' and 'Social Science'. The subjects with the highest collection uniqueness index are 'religion', 'art', and 'language'. Third, the replacement ratio of new books for 3 years is 5.09%. During the same period, the average book purchase rate of public libraries was 8.83%. The average book purchase rate in public libraries is 8.83%, and it is necessary to increase the collection rate of alternative materials based on this ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.73-91
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• 2022

For everyone, books are not only a passage to break down temporal and spatial barriers, but also a passport to the world. However, books are neither a passage nor a passport for persons with print disabilities. They are suffering from a severe book famine, with only 1-7% of alternative materials in accessible formats. The Marrakesh Treaty is an international agreement promoted by the WBU and WIPO to reduce such access gaps and inequalities. Accordingly, this study intensively analyzed and linked the global book famine and the Marrakesh Treaty for the persons with print disabilities including the blind and visually impaired, and suggested strategic tasks and implementation plans to strengthen the services of the disabled in domestic libraries. The government and libraries should concentrate all their competencies on improving awareness, inducing standardization of alternative materials in the publishing industry, amending and supplementing the copyright act and related laws, strengthening the digital file collection and service of the National Library for the disabled, and developing and applying library guidelines to implement the Marrakesh Treaty. This is because if food supports the body of the disabled, reading fosters their spirit. In order to solve the global book famine for persons with print disabilities, it is necessary to improve the publishing industry's cartels, copyright holders' barricades, and the weak platform of the library industry. All copyright holders, publishers, and libraries should participate in reducing the 95% gap in access between non-disabled and disabled people. That is the mantra of the book famine.