Libraries for visually challenged
IFLA and UNESCO have issued many guidelines in order to provide library services to the students. Physical status should not prove to be a hurdle to a student if he/she wants to avail the facilities of a library. The Government of India and UGC have tried to work according to these guidelines. The main aim is “access for all”. Libraries are a significant part of academic institutions. Every student has the right to reap the benefit of the available resources in a library. The term “access” means physical access alon with the provision of aids and appliances and many other resources and services. This needs the development of various policies, programmes and strategies. Sensitizing people and development of right attitudes also a pre-requisite to it and the over all services need to be monitored.
Some of the Indian universities have come forward and have initiated the concept of developing specialized library services for the students with special needs. Some of these universities are:
Bharathihar University,Tamil Nadu Here a ‘Talking Book Library’ has been set up. There are 1,000 books in the form of CDs and audio cassettes available for the visually impaired students. There is also a proposal to modify the physical infrastructure of the Bharathiar University according to the needs of disabled students.
Jammu University has made available software known as JAWS i.e. (Job Access with Speech). This software helps in converting hard copy to voice. A Resource Cell too has been opened to look after the needs of the visually impaired.
Delhi University has launched a multi-purpose resource center. The Braille Library has been extended which was established in the Central Reference Library. The facilities like Braille production, talking books and electronic text preparation are provided. More than 400 visually challenged students benefit from this. There is computer equipped special software. It can translate textbooks in regional languages in Braille format. There are modern equipments like Braille printer, audio cassettes containing reading and reference material. It has a huge collection of study material in Braille format. There are special studios where audio cassettes are converted into text messages in Braille.
JNU Library is a treasure house of all Govt. publications and publications of some important International Organizations like WHO, European Union, United Nations and its allied agencies etc. There is a separate unit named Hellen Keller Unit in the Reading Hall. There are twenty computers and scanners with screen, reading and speech software. This special unit ensures that the blind students don't face any shortage of study materials. They have access to twenty two international online databases which cover about 10,000 full text journals. Besides that there are 4,500 full text scholarly electronic journals from 25 publishers across the globe.
Punjab University has also established a special section library for visually impaired. Special software is provided that can convert the contents of the books into voice.
University of Calcutta and National Association of the Blind (NAB) together have opened a ‘Digital Braille Library and Audio Recording Workstation’. It is remarkable step as now the visually disabled persons have all modern learning equipments.
Lucknow University’s library, Dr. Manohar Lohia Library, has been set up for visually disabled students. Fifty students can sit here at a time.
