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Vaziri E, Feizabadi M. Identifying and Prioritizing the Disabled Needs to Design and Plan Suitable Services in Public Libraries. Research on Information Science and Public Libraries 2021; 27 (2) :359-393
URL: http://publij.ir/article-1-2329-en.html
, evaziri@uoz.ac.ir
Abstract:   (7076 Views)
Purpose: Disability is a biosocial reality that is defined as an obstacle to a person’s ability in doing an activity in a natural position. People with disabilities are the largest minority in the international community, and more than two-thirds of the world’s disabled people are living in developing countries. The present study aimed to identify and prioritize the most important needs of the disabled in order to design and plan suitable services for Iranian public libraries.
Method: The present research is an applied study in terms of purpose, a descriptive-analytical one in terms of nature, and a survey in terms of the method of implementation, and was conducted during a particular period. The statistical population of this study consisted of all physically disabled, blind and visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing people aged 15 and over 15 who were under the auspices of the Welfare Organization. Using sample power software, the sample population for every group of disabled consists of 82 people that were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling among 10 provinces of Iran. The data gathering tool was 3 researcher-made questionnaires which were used in two print (paper) and online formats. Two questionnaires related to the deaf and physically disabled, in addition to the paper questionnaire, were designed in the online format using WordPress. The questionnaire for the blind was designed by Google Form due to the need to coordinate with screen reader software. To analyze data, SPSS version 23 was used.
Findings: Friedman statistical test was used to rank the needs. The result of the study showed that expert librarians with proper behaviors, having Elevator or Lift if the library is multi-storey building, and supporting the need of disabled by managers and other responsible people were the most important needs for physically disabled persons. In the blind and visually impaired group, having elevator with a braille button if the library is multi-storey building, allocating suitable budget for providing related resources and providing access to full catalogs of audiobooks in Iranian public libraries via the Internet, were in the top priorities. Among the deaf and hard of hearing people, holding group programs and recreational trips, presence of translators familiar with sign language skills and holding sign language classes were among the top third high-priority needs.
Originality/value: Up till now, no research has been conducted on a population as wide-ranging as the population of this research to consider diverse needs of three groups of the disabled. Public libraries can help empower the disabled people and provide them with equal access to information by considering various needs of them, thus providing a better life conditions for them.
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Type of Study: quantitative | Subject: Libraries Services for Special Groups
Received: 2021/06/10 | Accepted: 2021/08/10 | Published: 2021/09/7

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