• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.71-92
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to identify the service factors of university libraries which aim to improve the educational welfare of the disabled, and to develop an evaluation indicator to evaluate these vital service factors. To proceed with this study, guidelines of public library services for people with disabilities, and previous research and job description of academy library analysed and developed indicators suited for evaluating academic library services for people with disabilities. A pilot survey and main survey about the evaluation factors and indicators conducted with librarians who work for university libraries, and the questions were refined by exploratory factor analysis of the data collected from the survey. As a result, through the process of identifying reliability and validity, it turned out that the evaluation factor and subordinate index of university library services for the disabled consisted of 8 factors and 33 indicators.

• 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.

• 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.32 no.4
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• pp.229-256
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• 2001

Library service should be available and accessible to every one. But people with disabilities were much excluded from library and information service in Korea. The information and communications revolution ought to be a passport to inclusiveness the disabled in library and information service. This study describes current library services for the visually handicapped and reviews related critical issues in Korea and the state of the art in adaptive technology for low vision and blindness. And proposes necessary methods to improve library and information services for the visually handicapped in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.29-49
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• 2010

In an increasingly digital world, knowledge and information accessibility is becoming a key factor to personal, professional and national development. But only 5% of the world's publishing output is made accessible in alternative formats for people who cannot use print. People with disabilities say that the biggest barrier to access to the material they want or need to read is a lack of accessible information. This study aims to analyze the development policies(governance and role, funding and support, production and distribution system, etc.) of alternative formats for people with disabilities in major countries(Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Sweden, UK, and USA). And result of this preliminary study will be used as background information for development of the national plan and role model for production and distribution of the alternative formats in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.1-23
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• 2022

Access to knowledge and information is a universal human right. However, even after the Marrakesh Treaty was adopted on June 27, 2013, only 1-7% of standard printed materials are accessible to people with reading disabilities, including the visually impaired, and library services are very weak. As a result, the book famine of people with reading disabilities continues. This study, focusing on such severe access gaps and inequalities, analyzes Learning Ally and Bookshare in the US, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in the UK, Bibliothèque Numérique Francophone Accessible (BNFA) in France, and SAPIE in Japan, which are considered private organizations leading library services for the disabled in major developed countries. And based on the derived implications and the Marrakesh Treaty, a strategic plan was proposed to strengthen the services of the disabled in domestic libraries. It is urgent to enact the 'Act to Resolve Reading Barriers', amend the provisions related to the Copyright Act that restrict library services, strengthen the organizational capacity of the National Library for the Disabled, raise the service index for the disabled in library evaluation, and establish a library cooperation system centered on regional representative libraries and expand services, etc.

• 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.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.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.173-191
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• 2018

Over the past decade, the environment around libraries for the disabled has been greatly improved. Related legislation was established, facilities and facilities expanded, and the number of related collections and programs increased. In order to solve this problem, a survey of users' needs in accordance with the changing environment needs to be completed. In this study, we studied the existing research and analyzed the core needs of each type of disability employing user interviews and expert Delphi research. Users demanded quantitative and qualitative expansion of resources as well. Users needed personalized services and programs, convenience in using facility, accessibility of web and applications, and professional staff.