engleski

Literacy of print disabled persons – a challenge for society

The level of social care for physically impaired persons can measure level of democracy in one society. One of the efforts in increasing the level of social care is improving literacy opportunities of print disabled persons, especially in the field of their access to sources of knowledge and information in their local community, such that they get better education and information opportunities, complete their formal education, obtain professional qualification, find employment and contribute to the life of the community and society in general in a more substantial way. In addition to Croatian Library for Blind, Public library of Koprivnica has started to contribute to spread literacy opportunities among print disabled children, youth and adults in its local community. According to the public library mission to be local cultural and information center to support education and lifelong learning, as well as creative leisure time activities, it has started to deliver quite new service for blind and partially sighed persons in Croatia. The new service has been made possible due to the grant of European Union, accomplished in the partnership with County Association for Blind. In the competition of 113 Croatian project which aim was to improve social standard delivering by non-profit sector, project “ Library service for blind and partially sighted persons” was among ten awarded projects recognized worth ones to be realized in Croatian society. The aim of this paper is to present main activities of this pilot project in Croatia on procurement of special library materials (tactile toys and tactile picture-books, talking books and large-print books, Braille alphabet books), as well as of very expensive for individual purchase unattainable technical equipment (magnifiers, PC’ s with soft-wares, Braille display and Braille printer). Prerequisite for the inclusion of the new service was training for library staff in delivering new service, as well as a set of educational and animation programs for children, youth and adults which aim was to attract their attention to new literacy opportunities in local community. This project is one of numerous efforts all over the world, which use technology in improving literacy capacities of print disabled and make easier their inclusion in local community and society in general. In the same time, it uses and improves capacities of the local library to be common meeting and learning place for all citizens.

Literacy; print disabled persons; contemporary society; democracy

Vrsta sudjelovanja - workshop/radionica