• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.113-132
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• 2005

The aim of this study is to expand and deepen our knowledge of Braille libraries in Japan. This study begins with a different viewpoint than previous ones. It does not view Braille libraries solely from the institutions themselves but it locates them within the historical context of Japanese society and both Braille and public libraries. It finds that although Braille and public libraries began with similar purposes, they drastically diverged after 1949 when the former’s welfare center-like function for the blind became more apparent. But by the 1970s, Braille libraries shifted in the direction of its original library function at the impetus of the Blind Reading Rights Movement.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.24
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• pp.139-169
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• 1993

The major purpose of this study is to scrutinize and analyze various factors in numerous aspects of two different library systems for the visually handicapped, namely braille library and a special section for the visually handicapped in the public library system. The analyses may provide theoretical and conceptual framework on which strategies to enhance services for the visually handicapped is to be developed. More specifically, this study seeks (1) to examine a linkage between the degree of maintenance of staffs, collections, and equipment and the level of satisfactions of librarians and (2) to come up with more effective mechanisms of welfare services for the visually handicapped in each library system. This research is qualitative-descriptive and uses interview method. Fourteen libraries throughout the nation (4 public libraries with a reading room for the visually handicapped and 8 braille libraries) which had been in operation more than one year were selected as subjects for the research. Findings and results of the analyses are summarized as follows : 1. There seems to be general consensus that each of public and braille library has significant but, to a certain extent, different roles to play in order to enhance library services for the visually handicapped. Recruitment of qualified librarians, increase of the volume of collection, and enlargement of reading room space are noted as immediate concerns for the former. For the latter, it was suggested that increase of the number of staff for publishing, securing more equipments for pulication in braille, and wider scope as well as more variety of publications are the pressing problems at hand. 2. Both public and braille library employ one librarian for the visually handicapped who is required to have educational background in library science and special education. In addition, one must have competence in reading braille types. 3. Majority of reading rooms in those libraries is so small in physical aspect that size and number of seats are 66m2 and 15 seats respectively because circulation services are mainly in use due to the problem of inaccessibility which is commonly suffered by the visually handicapped. 4. Library services for the visually handicapped are heavily concentrated upon the large urban area. In fact, most of braille libraries are located in Seoul whereas a reading room for the visually handicapped in the public library system are exclusively placed in the large cities such as Inchon, Taejon, and Taegu. 5. All of the public library is neither equipped with necessary facilities to publish in braille nor secured supporting instruments which may facilitate library use for the visually handicapped. On the contrary, most of braille libraries are equipped with arrangements to publish in braille despite supporting devices are gererally lacking. 6. Consequently, provision of services In the public library is largely confined to reading and circulation of materials purchased from braille libraries while major task of braille libraries centers around publication and distributions of the reading materials in braille.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.137-161
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• 1999

The purpose of this study provides the conceptual and practical framework on the strategy to enhance services for the visually handicapped in the braille libraries. In order to achieve this purpose, the questionnaires, the interview, and the observation of the data collection techniques are used in the study, and the braille libraries throughout Korea which are in operation are selected as subjects for the research and survey. The results of the study are summarized as follows. 1. Most of the braille libraries, about 70%, are located in Seoul. It thus appears that this geographical unbalance cause the visually handicapped inconvenience in use, who is especially living at the regions where no braille library is located nearby. 2. To enhance the efficiency of the library services for the visually handicapped, first of all, the limited scope of the subject as well as the poor volume of the collections should be resolved as soon as possible. 3. Most of the libraries are neither equipped with necessary facilities to publish in braille nor secured the supporting instruments which facilitate to use library services for the visually handicapped satisfactorily. 4. The collections for the visually handicapped consist of the brailles and the recordings mainly. Because the visually handicapped is difficult to access and visit at the libraries alone, these materials are generally circulating rather outward by postal service than inward. 5. The qualified staff who has the very responsible position for reading and circulation is required to have educational background in library and information science, to have passions for the visually handicapped, and to have abilities to understand and translate the materials in braille.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.215-230
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• 2002

A braille library undoubtedly changes with a changing information environment. However "changing information service" as a topic couldn't be found among previous researches. That's the reason it felt necessary in this paper to analyze the way service in a braille library changes according to a changing environment. as well as to make clear the meaning and the role a braille library has for blind people. As a first step, a questionnaire aimed at Korean braille libraries was carried out in order to understand changes of library service. Results showed that most changes in braille library service were due to the influence of internet, directly or indirectly. In this connection. the way braille libraries made us of this new tool was analyzed as follows. Firstly braille libraries were found to help a better circulation of information from internet towards blind people. It appeared secondly that internet was also used in order to improve already existing services as well as new services. Thirdly libraries were shown to have developed new services related to internet although these services weren't initially library ones. These new aspects of library service constitute by themselves a proof of the importance of braille libraries, although blind people might in some cases obtain the wished piece of information without them. Therefore braille libraries prove to be remained necessarily even if information environment changes.t changes.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.343-350
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• 2017

Music Braille is essential and academic materials for the blind to learn and enjoy music. In Korea, National Library for the Disabled is the public institution for the manufacture digital music braille by the request and the center of music rehabilitation the disabled also make the digital music braille on a welfare level. However, most of braille libraries in Korea do have little music braille compared to other braille books. This paper reports the current situations how braille libraries including National library for the Disabled contain braille books, music brailles and digital music brailles to find out that the blinds can be provided exact informations about music brailles and digital music brailles so they can learn music with the right materials such as music brailles. In conclusion, the construction of Database for the digital music brailles is required and necessary for the blind to have better activities of music from the welfare and artistic point of view.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.51-57
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• 2015

Digital braille music is an indispensible instrument for the blind persons to enjoy music and to proceed the more professional music education. Producing braille music requires professionals such as braille translators thereby it costs money for an individual to order braille music. Therefore, public libraries involve in producing and distributing braille music. Current status of digital braille music in Korea has been far from the fulfillment with the unmet needs of the blind people for diversity in their music preferences. This paper analyses the present condition of braille music possession in Korea National Library. Based on the analysis, policy proposals has been proposed.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.93-118
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• 1999

This study analyzes the problem of braille library information services for visually handicapped and suggests the alternatives to solve the identified problems. This study uses a case study method and Pusan Braille Library was selected as a case. The data for this study were collected by the following two methods : (1) document analysis; (2) interviews with 1 staff and 6 users in the Pusan Braille Library. The emphasis of this study was on analyzing the problem; in braille library services, particularly from the following three aspects : (1) both quality and quantity of materials; (2) the facilities; (3) the human factors staffs and volunteers. Suggestion are made to improve the quality in information services of braille libraries - particularly, producing many diskette materials, establishing collection development policy of diskette materials, pervading computers and its facilities, reeducating braille library staffs to cope with rapidly developing information technology.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.29-35
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• 2023

Braille can be said to be an essential means used for the visually impaired to communicate or acquire information on visual materials in their lives. However, the rate of interpretation of braille among the visually impaired is insignificant at 5%. As a result, libraries for the visually impaired produce various types of materials that can obtain various information for the visually impaired and also have assistive technology equipment to interpret them. However, the publication rate of Braille books is too low to purchase and interpret Braille books. In addition, the Braille interpretation rate is too low, and the purchase of assistive technology devices is too expensive and slow. Therefore, in this paper, we implemented a system that displays Braille using Arduino to help visually impaired people in addition to the existing methods they use to obtain information. For Braille display, Korean data is transmitted from Python through serial communication between Python and Arduino, and Arduino, which receives the data, compares the Korean data with the data in the array in the program and retrieves the Braille values of the Korean data. Here, the Braille value was expressed by controlling the servo motor perpendicular or horizontal to the body using white and black circles based on the Braille list.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.40
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• pp.181-223
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• 2014

This study aims to present a Braille Library document creation and management status, and to identify ways to improve. This research field surveys and interviews were conducted three institutions, the quality requirements of the ISO 15489 standards. As a result, the Braille Library document management improvement plan is as follows. First, the policy and regulatory maintenance is needed. Copy of the regulations on the creation and management, access rights and related document management policies should be developed. Second, the document creation process needs to be improved. Electronic approval system responsible for the creation of persons who are visually impaired, visually impaired people can read documents created during document creation, and introduced measures and braille labels on the files attached to will have to be prepared. Third, the document management process needs to be improved. Changes in the creation copy of the records, and preserved along with the preservation of the original and the copy to have the same period, appointed to manage one set of all copies of the authentic copy of the plan is also required. Finally, for document management system should be introduced. Systematic document management system that can be introduced is required. This system will be designed to be accessible to the visually impaired, the search.

• 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.