• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.147-168
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to present suggestions for Korean libraries for disabled person after collecting and analyzing qualitative data upon library policies of national libraries, public libraries and libraries for disabled person in European countries including Sweden, UK and France. Korean national library support center for the disabled should be independent in order to have consistent policy and ability for its execution. It should also support private libraries for the disabled in inheriting professionalism and accumulated history. Developing alternative material, integrated catalogue and professional service is required by cooperative and systematic arrangements among national and public libraries for disabled person including schools and university libraries. Also, it should be able to grow not only on the basis of internal cooperation among libraries but also with the help of external organizations like social and legal systems, organizations related with the disabled and regional self governing bodies.

• 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 the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-304
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• 2021

The study has a purpose of understanding the factors that affect the oranizational commitment of the employees working in the libraries for visually impaired. To do this, the study chose personal background, emotional labor, role, job characteristics, organizational culture and organizational justice and attempted to find out how these factors affect the oranizational commitment. As a research method, mixed study method was used where quantitative analysis was complemented by qualitative analysis. For quantitative analysis, statistical analysis was conducted using the retrieved questionnaires. For qualitative analysis, the researcher had a one-on-one talk with the experts and employees who want to participate using an interview note was recomposed based on the survey responses. In the study results, emotional labor, job characteristics, organizational culture and organizational justice was proven to have influence on job engagement. To improve the job engagement, autonomy should be guaranteed by minimizing the organizational intervention to the assigned works and expanding the discretionary power. Furthermore, intensive management of the employees' emotional labor and fair process regarding the work performance is highly important.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.37-58
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to find ways to improve the legal system for supporting libraries for the disabled. For the stdy, related precedent studies were historically analyzed, and the legal definition of libraries for the disabled and related laws were discussed. Through this, it was confirmed that the current 「Library Act」 does not have sub-regulations of the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules supporting the regulations related to library support for the disabled, and the 「Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act」 replaces them. In addition, through research on the current status of libraries for the disabled and interviews with field workers in libraries for the disabled, the need for improvement of the legal system related to libraries for the disabled was confirmed. In conclusion, three improvement plans for supporting libraries for the disabled were proposed as follows: First, the definition and duties of libraries for the disabled through the 「Library Act」; second, preparation of regulations on support for library services for the disabled and fulfillment of duties through the 「Enforcement Decree of the Library Act」; third, through the 「Library Act」 and 「Enforcement Decree of the Library Act」, standards for facilities, collections and manpower of libraries for the disabled are presented.

• 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.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.35-50
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• 2023

Assistive technologies are necessary for ensuring independent living and equal participation in an information-based society for people living with disabilities (PLWD). This study investigated the assistive technology preference of students with visual disabilities, and the approach academic libraries should adopt in procuring assistive technologies. The study adopted a quantitative research method, with a survey as the research design. The study was conducted among visually disabled students in four public universities in Nigeria. Using the total enumeration method, an online questionnaire was used to obtain information from 151 students who voluntarily agreed to partake in the survey. The study found that access to electronic resources, scanning/conversion of print resources to electronic formats and access to information on the Web were among the technology-based services provided to visually disabled students. COBRA, ZoomText, Supernova and Dragon Naturally Speaking are the most preferred assistive technologies (software). At the same time, handheld scanners ($\bar{x}=4.40$) and braille keyboards ($\bar{x}=4.60$) are the most preferred assistive technologies in the hardware category by visually challenged students. The study further revealed that the library management should consult with students living with a visual disability before procuring assistive technology. Findings from this study thus provide further evidence of the need for librarians to fulfil their moral and legal obligation in advocating the provision of assistive technologies. Library administrators and university stakeholders should expedite actions on meeting the assistive technology needs of people living with visual disabilities. These actions should transcend mere policy formulation on the provision of assistive technologies to restructuring their services and spaces to accommodate assistive technologies as information service delivery tools for people with visual disabilities.