Submission Type

Paper Abstract Submission

Symposium Selection

Equity, diversity, and inclusion

Keywords

Library accessibility, visual impairment, mobility impairment, Nigeria, Academic Libraries, Nnamdi Azikiwe Library

Abstract

The problem of access to library services for students with visual impairment in African countries has been noted by several authors (Ekwelem (2013), Ayoung, Baada & Baayel (2021) and Aubrey & Mapulanga, 2016)). In response to many of the problems people with visual impairment encounter in libraries, the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) in 2016 endorsed the Marrakesh treaty and encouraged other libraries to adopt it to minimize the key barriers to access to information experienced by people with visual impairment. In line with this, many academic libraries in Nigeria, notably, Nnamdi Azikiwe Library University of Nigeria, Nsukka modified existing services and introduced new ones to cater for the interest of students with visual impairment. However, since the introduction of the new services, there has not been any assessment of the new services to determine the extent to which the services have been able to meet the expectations of students with visual impairment or conform to the specifications by IFLA. This study is an attempt to address this issue.

The study is a descriptive study that employed qualitative design. Focus group discussion will be used for data gathering. 73 students with visual in the University of Nigeria will serve as participants to the study. An interview guide prepared by the researcher for this purpose will be used for the data gathering (focus group discussion). Content analysis involving sorting, coding and tallying will be employed for data analysis. The result of the study will be presented in tables and narrative.

References

Ayoung, D .A., Baada, F. N. & Baayel, P (2021). Access to Library services and facilities by persons with disability: Insight from academic libraries from Ghana. Journal of Librarianship & Information Science. 53:1. 3-15

https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000620917723

Chaputula, A. H. & Mapulanga, P. (2016). Provision of Library services to people with disabilities in Malawi. South African Journal of Library and Information Science. 8:2, 1-10

https://sajlis.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1619/1470

Ekwelem, V.O (2013). Library services to disabled students in the digital era: challenges and outcome assessment. Library philosophy and practice e-journal.

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/970/

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Previous Versions

Oct 25 2021

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Addressing inaccessibility to library services: perspectives of students with visual impairment in a Nigerian University

The problem of access to library services for students with visual impairment in African countries has been noted by several authors (Ekwelem (2013), Ayoung, Baada & Baayel (2021) and Aubrey & Mapulanga, 2016)). In response to many of the problems people with visual impairment encounter in libraries, the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) in 2016 endorsed the Marrakesh treaty and encouraged other libraries to adopt it to minimize the key barriers to access to information experienced by people with visual impairment. In line with this, many academic libraries in Nigeria, notably, Nnamdi Azikiwe Library University of Nigeria, Nsukka modified existing services and introduced new ones to cater for the interest of students with visual impairment. However, since the introduction of the new services, there has not been any assessment of the new services to determine the extent to which the services have been able to meet the expectations of students with visual impairment or conform to the specifications by IFLA. This study is an attempt to address this issue.

The study is a descriptive study that employed qualitative design. Focus group discussion will be used for data gathering. 73 students with visual in the University of Nigeria will serve as participants to the study. An interview guide prepared by the researcher for this purpose will be used for the data gathering (focus group discussion). Content analysis involving sorting, coding and tallying will be employed for data analysis. The result of the study will be presented in tables and narrative.

References

Ayoung, D .A., Baada, F. N. & Baayel, P (2021). Access to Library services and facilities by persons with disability: Insight from academic libraries from Ghana. Journal of Librarianship & Information Science. 53:1. 3-15

https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000620917723

Chaputula, A. H. & Mapulanga, P. (2016). Provision of Library services to people with disabilities in Malawi. South African Journal of Library and Information Science. 8:2, 1-10

https://sajlis.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1619/1470

Ekwelem, V.O (2013). Library services to disabled students in the digital era: challenges and outcome assessment. Library philosophy and practice e-journal.

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/970/

This document is currently not available here.

PLUMX METRICS

SHARE