• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.197-219
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• 2013

This study focused on current status of Korean public library services for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as problems associated with managing the services, in order to suggest future directions for implementation. To analyze the current status, the researcher conducted a case study of current Korean public library services for people with intellectual disabilities. This research also conducted a focus group interview with librarians experienced in providing such services. The results show that the services are provided with the support of a community welfare center, in the form of a program over short periods of time. The librarians agreed on the appropriateness of the services but emphasized various difficulties associated with service management. Based on the results, we suggest possible points of consideration, including support for increased funding, more qualified personnel, adequate policies, and development of a model service for people with intellectual disabilities.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.99-122
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• 2013

With the recent opening of The National Library for Individuals with Disabilities, interests in library services for the disable have been increasing. For the purpose of promoting library services for the disabled all the more, the study is to provide cooperative plans in policy between the social welfare and the library and information service based on library perceptions of social workers as specialists in disability and welfare fields. Cooperative plans in policy provided by this study are as follows: (1) The unique communication channel between librarians and social workers should be constructed through social networks. (2) Public relations on the value and necessity of both the library and librarians should be enhanced. (3) Education on the expertise of the social welfare for librarians should be enriched. (4) Clear-cut identities between librarian's and social worker's tasks should be established.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.73-91
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• 2009

There has been almost studies focused on public library in the provision of the use and needs of library services for persons with disability. However, the number of disabled students are rising steadily in university library. So university libraries must make reasonable efforts to give disabled people the same access to information, programs and resources enjoyed by those who are not disabled. The study result showed that despite most university library already is recognized the necessity offering service for disabled, however, due to lack of understanding of services for disabled, legal standards rather than to have made only partial support to them. Therefore, librarians for the disabled in every sector(library-related organizations, groups, and association) have to play an important role in policies and financial support them. Also, active guidance and public relations about library services, improvement of accessibility for the disabled by using homepage, and the arrangement of librarians for the disabled and education for them should be supported for improving library services for the disabled student.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.289-316
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• 2015

The disabled suffer great difficulties from public library access and data use due to reasons such as disabilities, mobility limitations, and lack of alternative materials and services. To overcome this, through outreach services for the disabled, public libraries should meet the multiple needs of people with disabilities. As such, the purpose of this study is to derive suitable strengthening plans of outreach services based on the size of the targeted user and disability type by analyzing outreach service operation practices in libraries in Korea and overseas and by researching and analyzing the status and awareness of outreach services for the disabled in Korean public libraries.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.201-221
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• 2012

The study identified the various service factors for dyslexia-friendly library in promoting accessibilities and eliminating barriers. The results from the in-depth interviews and social survey for dyslexia students and their guardians suggested some of the new library policies. These are: 1) more intensive need for PR and ads programs; 2) the revision of the existing library regulations and the assignment of dyslexia librarians; and 3) the expansion and customization of library stocks and dyslexic private rooms.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.353-379
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• 2009

Since April last year when "the disability discrimination act" became effective in Korea, public libraries in Korea have been obligated to provide library service to the disabled. But most of public libraries in Korea do not and are not ready to service them. After finding out the characteristics of Korean disabled people and investigating current state of services for them in the public libraries of Korea by analyzing related statistics and laws, suggestions for the enhancement of public library service for disabled people in Korea were proposed.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.189-207
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• 2010

To provide appropriate use of information and learning opportunities for ensuring to disabled, university libraries are needed to be equipped with facilities and conveniences. This study aimed to suggest the improvements of university library services of disabled student with a focus group interview and through conducting comparative analysis of domestic and foreign cases. On the basis of analysis, this study concluded that a library administrator should reflect the views of users(disabled student) in university sector and provide a dedicated space for disabled student only. Also, the arrangement of librarians for the disabled and education for them should be back up for improving library service for the disabled. In addition, groping the ways of cooperation with campus organizations, and operating the regular evaluation is the factors which should be considered in.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 2023

This article is a spinoff of a doctoral study that was completed at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) in 2018 on provision of information services to persons with visual and physical impairments in public university libraries in Kenya. The article examined how ICTs such as internet, e-resources and e-databases, word processing, websites and more were being used in public university libraries to provide access to information by visually and physically impaired persons. Data were collected from the visually and physically impaired students, University Librarians, Systems librarians, staff from disability departments and library staff who provided services to visually and physically impaired persons. The findings revealed that the visually and physically impaired persons in most of the libraries could not access information owing to lack of the necessary assistive and adaptive technologies and weak institutional support and framework. The study recommend that the libraries improve assistive technology infrastructure, embrace new assistive technologies such as telepresence robots, virtual realities and more, and put in place enabling policies and capacity building programmes for library staff to enable them to provide services to persons with impairments.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.1-25
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• 2020

The World Health Organization estimated that more than a billion people (or 15% of the world's population) lives with disabilities. They have the same information needs as non-disabled people. Nevertheless, as the World Blind Union estimated, less than 10% of published books are ever made into accessible formats in developed countries. The role of the national library should be very important to improve the information accessibility for the disabled. Based on this perspective, this study analyzed and compared the history and development, legal basis and organization, main functions and tasks, and service features for the disabled for the Library of Congress of the United States, MTM(Myndigheten för Tillgängliga Medier) of Sweden, National Diet Library of Japan, and SALB (South African Library for the Blind) of Republic of South Africa representing the nationwide disability services by continent. And based on the results of the analysis, this study suggested ways to strengthen the capacity of the National Library for the Disabled of Korea.