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Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences , feizabadi_mns@ut.ac.ir
Abstract:   (1796 Views)
Purpose: The present study aimed at discovering the status of the public libraries affiliated with Iran Public Libraries Foundation in terms of their services to the disabled (physically disabled, blind and visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing people).
Method: The present research is an applied study in terms of purpose and is a survey in terms of implementation, that was carried out within a certain period. The research population consisted of all public libraries affiliated with Iran Public Libraries Foundation. The data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. To analyze the data, SPSS 23 was used.
Findings: The findings showed that in terms of services to different groups of the disabled, 50% of libraries provide services to the physically disabled, but only 11% of libraries provide services to the deaf and hard of hearing, and 12% provide services to the blind and visually impaired people. The status of services of the investigated libraries in the 7 categories of services and activities (including policymaking and budget, library accessibility and physical structure, advertising and service development, ancillary services and programs, collection, staff training, and auxiliary technologies and equipment) was under average. The highest average belonged to library accessibility and physical structure (2.49) and staff training (1.49) was the lowest average among the public library services. In the policymaking and budget category, the manager’s support for delivering services to the disabled is in the first rank. In the category of library accessibility and physical structure, most of the libraries (84.9%) were equipped with suitable light and only 7.7% of them had toilets. In the advertising and service development category, informing library activities and programs through multiple channels was the most important factor. In the staff training category, most of the libraries suffered from qualified librarians. the familiarity of librarians and managers with the types of disabilities and the services they need and the existence of trained librarians are not in a good condition (1.4). In the category of auxiliary technologies and equipment, the most important equipment was scanner that existed in 632 libraries (6.2%).
Originality/value: Libraries must pay attention to the needs and expectations of people with disabilities. The study of the status of public libraries in providing services to the disabled has not been done to such an extent. The findings of this study can pave the way for public library administrators, and librarians to provide better services to this group of society.
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Type of Study: quantitative | Subject: Libraries Services for Special Groups
Received: 2022/06/10 | Accepted: 2022/08/13 | Published: 2022/08/22

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