LIBRARY SERVICE TO THE DISABLED

Recent legislation has mandated equal rights for disabled people and an appropriate education for all disabled children. All professions are upgrading service, making architectural adaptations for the physically disabled, and adapting programs to the needs of this important segment of the population. The library profession needs to deuelop information and referral collections for disabled persons, learn about special curriculum materiales for disabled children, and deuelop the new field of "Rehabilitation Librarianship," since many rehabilitation facilities do not yet haue trained librarians on their staffs. Most important information is to be found in periodicals and newsletters. This bibliography offers a basic listing of journals in the fields of medical and uocational rehabilitation, special education, and journals written for disabled people themsleues. Existing data bases are mentioned and the continuing need for a central information clearinghouse cited.     

Rehabilitation literature: a guide to selection materials

The rehabilitation of physically disabled persons is an expanding and interdisciplinary field, and the literature on this topic has grown rapidly in recent years. Bibliographic control of rehabilitation literature is poor, and selection of materials about physically disabled persons can be a difficult undertaking. The present article describes and evaluates various selection tools on the basis of their coverage of rehabilitation literature and their usefulness to academic, public, and special librarians.     

Library Resources on the Employment of People with Disabilities

This chapter brings together a number of sources on the employment of individuals with disabilities for both employers and employees. It is designed as a guide to assist disabled individuals, educators, librarians, service professionals, and employers who have made a commitment to assist or employ disabled people to locate needed information dealing with employment.     

The Reference Librarian as Audience for NLS Reference Publications

The author describes the collections, roles, and services of the Reference Section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress. He suggests that there is an audience among reference librarians for the publications produced by the NLS Reference Section. The reference librarians of the NLS network of regional and subregional libraries serving visually impaired and physically disabled readers are, of course, a primary audience for NLS reference publications. However, all items may be used as well by other librarians serving visually impaired and physically disabled people, the majority of whom undoubtedly work in public libraries. The author argues that as reference tools these publications may be used to answer quite specific inquiries and to make sound referrals on a wide range of questions. Librarians may request individual titles or have their libraries placed on a mailing list for any of the cited series.     

On the Other Side of the Reference Desk:

In order for reference librarians to overcome feelings of inadequacy which they experience in aiding physically disabled patrons, they must educate themselves about the special needs of these patrons. This article will address the concerns, common mistakes, and difficulties involved in personal interactions with disabled individuals, particularly as they relate to the reference setting. In addition, specific steps will be described to minimize the difficult aspects of these interactions; these will be presented in terms of attitudinal and service activities. An attempt also will be made to describe aspects of these reference interactions which are unique to various health care settings.     

On the other side of the reference desk: the patron with a physical disability.

In order for reference librarians to overcome feelings of inadequacy which they experience in aiding physically disabled patrons, they must educate themselves about the special needs of these patrons. This article will address the concerns, common mistakes, and difficulties involved in personal interactions with disabled individuals, particularly as they relate to the reference setting. In addition, specific steps will be described to minimize the difficult aspects of these interactions; these will be presented in terms of attitudinal and service activities. An attempt also will be made to describe aspects of these reference interactions which are unique to various health care settings.     

Non-librarian health professionals becoming librarians and information specialists: results of an Internet survey

OBJECTIVES: To obtain basic information about non-librarian health professionals who become librarians and information specialists. METHODS: The survey was a Web-based questionnaire. A non-random sample of persons was obtained by posting messages to several large Internet electronic discussion groups. Individuals who met the selection criteria and were willing to participate filled out a Web-based form designed using common gateway interface (CGI) programming. RESULTS: 118 forms were analyzed. Three subgroups of participants were identified and statistical comparisons among these groups were carried out for many of the quantitative questions. Information concerning reasons they left their original field; factors influencing their choice of the field of library and information science; reactions of family, friends, and colleagues; and interactions with patrons and other information about this group was obtained and summarized. A health sciences background was seen as helpful in the new career as information specialist. Most people were happy with their new profession despite negative reactions from colleagues, relatives, and, occasionally, patrons. Feelings of regret and abandonment of their patients were noted by some. Many persons did not know that peers had made similar career changes. CONCLUSIONS: A health sciences background imparts an expertise in both the vocabulary and subject matter of medicine that non-biomedical individuals would not ordinarily have. Although becoming a librarian may be perceived as a very positive career change for an individual, societal opinion and pressure can make such a career change difficult. Nevertheless, participants in this survey demonstrate a high level of satisfaction with their new careers and are quite happy with their work.     

Reexamining Diversity: A Look at the Deaf Community in Museums

In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, museums serve their deaf visitors by offering assistance through accessibility programs designed specifically to provide access to the museum, its collections, and/or information in an exhibition or program that would otherwise be unattainable by a person with a disability. Accessibility provisions such as signed tours, TTYs, and subtitled audio information have helped deaf people experience and enjoy museums. While these programs and provisions are necessary museum services, they do not acknowledge the view of many Deaf people—that they are not disabled but rather members of a community that does not hear. Nor do accessibility programs generally include programs on the shared traditions, values, and language that make up the culture of the Deaf community. This paper seeks to introduce museum professionals to the Deaf cultural community and Deaf cultural exhibitions that celebrate the history, achievements, and tradition of Deaf people; it offers steps to follow in planning such exhibitions and provides some examples.     

The library's role in the continuing education of health professionals

Health sciences librarians have historically viewed disseminating information to health professionals as a major role. Typically, they have provided individualized services and are among the professions that help health professionals further their education after finishing formal education. Another group directly involved in health professional continuing education is continuing education (CE) providers who offer ongoing learning through group activities. These two professions often reached the same audiences in the past, and their different approaches--individual and group--were complementary. Health professionals who needed information immediately or who wished individual learning used the library while those who wanted to hear eminent colleagues tended to use CE meetings or seminars; some did both. The librarians and CE providers rarely interacted, but this is now changing. With the introduction of personal computers, medical librarians have expanded their responsibilities to include formalized classroom instruction. At the same time, CE providers have increased their scope beyond formalized group instruction into individualized education. Librarians and CE providers can either collaborate and share their expertise or they can compete against each other.     

The Unbearable Insecurity of the Electronic Resources Librarian

The article will outline the Core Competencies for Electronic Resources Librarians (NASIG Core Competencies Task Force [July 2013]) and intersect them with the practical everyday working experiences of an e-resources and periodicals librarian. The aim of the article is to convey an understanding of working in a practical library office environment, while being aware of the complexity of the theoretical competencies that are desirable and recommended. While it is aimed mainly at librarians, it should also be of interest to publishers and other vendors as they gain an understanding of what it is that librarians (their customers) do all day.     

Diaries of lifelong learners: Information seeking behaviors of older adults in peer-learning study groups at an academic institution

Although not much has been written about older adults' use of academic libraries, they experience challenges navigating these considerable physical and online library spaces. Members of a university lifelong learning community were recruited for a 10-week diary study. They were asked to record their real-time information seeking behaviors related to their study groups, and the challenges they faced looking for or using information. They were also asked to rate their enjoyment to determine whether the joy of engaging in community learning extends to the information seeking process. Findings from sixteen diarists show that they sought information primarily on a specific topic, person, or book. They used a variety of resources but found books and periodicals most useful. They struggled with trust, technology, time management, library anxiety, information overload and dissemination. With increased understanding, librarians can be better equipped to reach older adults that are doing scholarly research and contribute to their success.     

My User is a Machine: Making Information Accessible to Disabled Users by Structuring for Machine Intermediaries

Abstract

Accessibility to information for disabled human users has increasingly become a legal and ethical concern for public education institutions. The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees freedom from discrimination for disabled Americans, and recent lawsuits and formal complaints about inaccessible website content have propelled enforcement from an historically reactive stance to one that is proactive. Librarians pride themselves on providing information to all users, and the profession has long understood the need to structure data for other applications. However, many of us fail to use even the simple features built into software packages that can ensure accessible documents and presentations from the point of creation. This failure sets up a paradigm of perpetual effort required to remediate content for accessibility. Effective use of accessibility tools in document creation solves two accessibility problems for two audiences at once: humans and machines.     

Government Periodicals and the Reference Librarian:

Government publications in serial form provide timely, authoritative information on a range of subjects but reference librarians are not always aware of what is available in these sources. In libraries with separate documents departments, reference staffs may abrogate all responsibility for government publications, relying upon commercial sources to fill information needs more appropriately met with government periodicals. Documents librarians and reference librarians can facilitate the incorporation of govemment information in serial form into the general reference process. Benefits will include improved service to library patrons and an expanded user base to support the continued publication and distribution of government periodicals.     

The Serials Librarian and the Reference Department:

Reference librarians are persons who deal with users directly, providing services which cover a wide range of subjects and formals. Sometimes these librarians have subject expertise or are strong in certain areas. Serials librarians are also providing services to users but the nature of their contribution is sometimes overlooked, often misunderstood. The serials librarian can provide a useful link to the world of periodicals, journals, directories and other reference sources because he or she is familiar with the types of materials available, the treatment of serials, and the problems which are posed by this format's complexity. This paper presents the role of the serials librarian not only as a technical services professional, but also as a valuable associate to reference and public services. The main purpose of this discussion is to describe ways in which both reference and serials librarians can work together toward the ultimate goal of providing quality patron service.     

U.S. Depository librarians in reality and myth: A framework for a future government information program

How do the librarians in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) plan to perform a role in the electronic environment? Depository librarians must meet the challenge of changing how they think about government information libraries and their mission in order to provide citizen access services in an electronic environment. The new mission is to connect the user with information at the time of need, to instruct citizens in gaining access to government information, and to develop networking applications and programs that will help to put valuable content in the information infrastructure. If the FDLP and depository libraries are to prepare to perform that role, librarians need to take stock of their technological environment, deal with the political realities, and be critical of FDLP ideals that have taken on mythological proportions. A framework for the future of the FDLP can be built if depository librarians take advantage of the new communication technology. Depository librarians can use this technology to develop partnerships and networks of depository libraries, government agencies, commercial publishers, organizations of information professionals, and citizens. In turn, depository librarians could form the virtual associations needed to develop new dissemination programs; create user interface software; consolidate lobbying efforts to develop a nationwide electronic information policy; and provide community information networks with national links. Finally, communications technology could enable depository librarians to form a consortium of depository libraries to manage a government information dissemination library program.     

Periodicals for Librarians and Information Professionals in Central Europe

In May 1994, ASSIST INTERNATIONAL INC. began the Cooperative Periodical Program, which provides for delivery of donated copies of 25 leading American library and information science periodicals to 50 libraries in 13 newly independent countries of central Europe and the former Soviet Union. The periodicals are donated by 14 publishers. Shipment and other costs are covered by contributions from firms and organizations that advertise in the periodicals. Librarians report that the periodicals are the most important source of information about library and information services available to information professionals in their countries.     

学术期刊移动出版的可行性及功能分析

针对学术期刊是否适合移动出版的问题,概述国内外学术期刊移动媒体应用现状,对学术期刊移动出版的功能进行分析.认为移动出版以其获取信息便捷、传播信息快速的优势,在学术期刊数字化出版中可发挥的独特功能如下:架起学术与科普的桥梁;充当期刊的大众宣传与内容导读平台;提供便捷的检索查询途径.调查结果显示,以中国科协精品科技期刊为代表的中国优秀学术期刊对新兴移动传播方式具有很高的积极性,微信传播发展快速.这些都表明学术期刊移动出版具有可行性,可与期刊网站等其他出版形式共同构筑学术期刊的数字化出版格局.     

Private Pensions Plans: Internet Sources for Keeping Current with Developments and Research

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 51% of American workers receive some type of pension from their employers. Yet surveys have shown that recent changes in government regulation and employee benefit practices have left workers and employers at a loss. This article evaluates Web sites that provide business librarians with information to keep up to date with changes in private pension systems. Business librarians will find the research and data provided on the sites useful for a broad range of library patrons including workers, retirees, business professionals, students, and the media. Clearly, as 71 million baby boomers head to retirement over the next two decades, private pensions will persist as a crucial issue for all Americans.     

Qualifications and Skills of Subject Librarians in Selected African Countries

Although subject librarians are found in many academic libraries worldwide, not enough has been written about the profession on the African continent. A study was, therefore, conducted, with the aim of adding to the knowledge about subject librarianship as it is practised in selected southern African countries. This article reports on the findings related to one of the main objectives of the study, which was to determine the qualifications and skills of subject librarians. The survey method was used to collect data from study participants. Semi-structured questionnaires were sent to 279 subject/learning support librarians, and semi-structured telephonic interviews were conducted with selected library managers from selected institutions included in the survey. The study revealed that most respondents held degrees and/or postgraduate qualifications in library and information science, that more than half of them also held qualifications in other disciplines at various levels, and that many of them felt that they needed to acquire more information and communication technology skills.