The switch library: new service in rehabilitation librarianship

This article discusses the role of assistive devices in patient rehabilitation programs and the problems in evaluating and assessing patients for prescribing these devices. The rehabilitation library can solve many of these problems and enhance patient rehabilitation programs by providing a circulation service for adapted microswitches and other assistive devices. The article outlines library management of such a program, including funding, acquisitions, classification, and cataloging strategies. A comprehensive library classification scheme for assistive devices is proposed, and schedules are given for microswitches and environmental controls. It is predicted that this service will rapidly expand nationally over the next decade to become an integral part of rehabilitation library patient services.