• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.1-25
• /
• 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 Korean Library and Information Science Society
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.45-69
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this study is to suggest how to improve the public library service for the disabled, by analyzing stakeholders' needs for it. To this end, it analyzed stakeholders' needs, by conducting an analysis on the current condition of the public library service for the disabled, and IPA on and FGI with the disabled, beneficiaries of the service and service provides, employees in charge of it. The findings show that the current condition of the public library service for the disabled is very poor in terms of disabled users, budget for the service for the disabled and special data for the disabled. For the analysis on the needs for the service for the disabled, the results of IPA suggest that it is necessary to improve relevant policies and manage integrated programs reflecting users' needs, and those of FGI indicate that perceptions on disability need to be improved among the disabled, the non-disabled and employees, and that the usage guidance and publicity are required for disabled users to generally use the public library service.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
• /
• v.56 no.3
• /
• pp.73-91
• /
• 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
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.1-23
• /
• 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
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.29-49
• /
• 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 the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.179-207
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted by surveying users' perception about the public libraries' current public relations, which can contribute to developing the most appropriate public relations strategies for persons with disabilities(PWDs). This study concluded, first, PWDs' experience with the PR of the library services was a very low 32.4%. Intellectual disabilities, especially, were reported to have no experience in public relations. Second, the library public relations media which PWDs utilized the most were the Internet, library bulletin boards, banners, ARS services, and podcasting, in that order. However, satisfaction with promotions appeared below average(3 points or less). On the other hand, interest in public relations media was very high. Third, it appeared that library users with disabilities most frequently use the websites of their school library, the National Library of Korea, and public libraries in that order. However, the usage rate of services and users' satisfaction with them were very low. Finally, a high demand for facilities with accessibility to PWD users emerged as a result of this study. Therefore, this study recommends greater accessibility, convenience, and ease of facility use for persons with disabilities.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.123-150
• /
• 2023

The National Library for the Disabled was upgraded to a primary affiliated organization of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on June 4, 2020, in accordance with Article 24 (1) of the Library Act (Law No. 16685). The National Library for the Disabled is currently preparing to build an independent library building. Now that the National Library for the Disabled has secured its independent legal status, it must become a specialized national library by comprehensively collecting not only alternative materials for the disabled, but also domestic and foreign materials useful to researchers related to the disabled. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to conduct basic research for comprehensive and strategic collection of library materials for people with disabilities, which is an essential part of the statutory work of the National Library for the Disabled. To this end, the concept and category of library materials for the disabled that are expected to be useful for satisfying the intellectual needs of the disabled and for education and research related to the disabled were established targeting knowledge information resources produced and distributed domestically and internationally. Next, based on the current collection development policy of the National Library for the Disabled, an implementation strategy and mid to long term roadmap for comprehensively collecting library materials were presented.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.135-155
• /
• 2016

The study aims to discuss issues on alternative materials for the disabled. For the purpose, it analyzed related policies and legislations. As a theoretical study, it explored definitions and types of altermative materials, and discussed a history of the information access rights for the disabled. Then, the study analyzed the disabled service part of the library development master plan. Futhermore, it discussed library act, disabled welfare act, and copyright act which define the rights and responsibilities of the interested groups. Based on the analysis, the study conducted interviews with members of the interested groups to explores their acknowledge and perspective. As a result, it argued the problems related to production and service of alternative materials, and provided five enhanced strategies.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.283-301
• /
• 2017

Recently, an integrated electronic publishing format that can be used by disabled people and the general public is expected. If applied to national alternative material production strategy, it is expected that not only the problem of alternative material production strategy using existing DTD(Document Type Definition) but also various alternative material corresponding to the demand of consumer can be supplied. In order to cope with changes in the production and management strategy of the substitute materials for the rapidly changing persons with disabilities, it is necessary to develop the substitute materials related to the substitute materials, such as 'production of alternative materials', 'research and education of alternative material', and 'operation of alternative material network' The organization of the National Library for the Disabled should be expanded and reorganized so that a constructed center can be established and demonstrated its expertise.

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