Title: The key role of cooperation
1The key role of cooperation to keep library
service for the blind and visually impaired
sustainable Case study of Public Library in
Koprivnica, Croatia Dijana Sabolovic-Krajina Publ
ic Library Fran Galovic Koprivnica,CROATIA IF
LA Libraries for the Blind Section Conference,
Belgium/Netherlands, 17-20 August 2009 Better
Library Services for Print Disabled Persons
through Partnerships with Publishers and Public
Libraries
2How did we start?
- Implementation of new service in 2006
- Grant from the European Union for the project
- Library service for the blind and visually
impaired in Koprivnica-Krizevci county - Â
3Steps in implementation
- Education of library staff
- Purchase of special reading materials
- Purchase/installation of special IT equipment
- Informing the patrons on new service
- Education and animation activities for patrons
4Why did we do it?
- The service reflects basic values of Public
Library of Koprivnica - Library open to everybody
- Literacy for all
5General aim
- Equal involvement (social inclusion) of the
blind and visually impaired into the local
community and society in general through public
library
6What is different about it? (1)
- An integrative character
- inclusion of reading collection and technology
into all library divisions and services - equal participation from visually impaired and
sighted individuals in the most of educative and
animation activities
7What is different about it? (2)
- Promoting of reading and literacy among the blind
and print disabled via local public library - Spreading sensibility of sighted population to
the needs of visually disabled persons (added
value of the service)
8Fundamental challenge - How to keep service
sustainable?
- Reading materials and IT equipment are not
enough to keep service sustainable - Networking - Cooperation with numerous partners
on local and national level is a key to keep
service sustainable
9Critical point 1 How to keep attention of users?
- Â Strategic partners
- County Association of the Blind
- Croatian Library for the Blind
- Â
10County Association of the Blind
- The most important and reliable partner
- Years-long collaboration
- Groundwork for starting the service, from project
planning to implementation in 2006 - Groundwork for service sustainability
11Common programs and projects 2006-2009
- Animation and attraction
- information, education, and leisure time
opportunities for the blind and visually impaired
in the library - Integrative approach a way to social inclusion
-
12Preschool children workshops
- In cooperation with Rehabilitation Center for
Blind Preschool Children with Multiple
Disabilities, Zagreb, Croatia - (logopedists, therapeutists, special education
teachers) - Let's play with tactile toys and picture books
- How to shape your own toy
- Lets play with eco toys
13Workshops for teenagers
- In cooperation with special education teachers
from Educational Centre for the Blind, Zagreb,
Croatia -
- Reading in a different way
- Visual arts workshop
- How the young can communicate better in everyday
life
14Art workshops for teenagers
- In cooperation with art teachers from local
schools - How to make Easter eggs
- How to make Christmas postcards
15Joint workshops for teenagers and adults
- Special reading materials and how to use them
- with librarians from Croatian Library for the
Blind in Zagreb -
- Special technical devices and its use
- with IT specialist from Croatian Union of the
Blind in Zagreb
16Workshops for parents and experts
- How to use tactile toys and picture books
- In cooperation with logopedist, and special
education teachers from Rehabilitation
Institution for Blind Preschool Children with
Multiple Disabilities, Zagreb, Croatia Â
17Workshops for adult users
- In cooperation with special education teachers
from the Education Center of the Blind, Zagreb,
Croatia - How the blind and sighted can communicate better
in everyday life
18Other programs (1)
-
- Literature events with blind writers and actors
- Meetings of Top readers of talking and paper
books in Public Library in Koprivnica
19Other programs (2)
- Training courses for adult blind patrons in
- Braille (cooperation with Educational Centre
for the Blind in Zagreb) - IT (cooperation with IT specialist from the
Association for Education of Adult Blind Persons,
Zagreb)
20Croatian Library for the Blind
- The most important, vital part of cooperation
- - procurement of talking books
21Critical point 2How to keep attention of local
community?
- Projects and programs of spreading sensibility,
prevention, and education for sighted
kindergarten children, primary and secondary
school students and wide public
22Local ophthalmologists
- Campaigns in the library on prevention of
blindness - leaflets
- sight checking
- eye pressure measuring
- Glaukoma Day
- Take care about your sight
23Croatian Association for Guide Dogs Training
- Campaigns in library on importance of guide dogs
for the blind - storyteling hours for pre-schoolers
- exhibitions
- Visits and workshops in local kindergartens,
primary and secodary scool classes
24Critical point 3 How to keep attention of
library community?
- Regional level - interlibrary loan to other
public libraries in region - National level - Croatian Library for the Blind
Croatian Library Association-Library Service for
Special Needs Persons Committee Croatian
Librarians In-Service Education Center
Conferences, round tables, workshops - International level - Conferences
25Critical point 4 How to keep attention of
local and national authorities?
- Cooperation in financing the library service
helping to increase the quality of life and
social services for print disabled persons in
local community and society in general
26Conclusions (What happened?) 1
Sustainability of the service for the blind and
visually impaired has been achieved in Public
library of Koprivnica
- Networking
- Cooperation with numerous partners
- Educated library staff and their eagerness to
cooperate with print disabled patrons and to
educate themselves further
27Conclusions (What happened?) 2
- The number of libraries in Croatia offering
such service has increased - The Croatian Ministry of Culture has been
inspired by our experience to support similar
local community library services for print
disabled in county centres of Croatia - Croatian librarianship lacks an overall library
strategy, which would stimulate planned
systematic nationwide services for the blind and
visually impaired, or the handicapped in general,
into public libraries
28Thank you!
-
- dijana_at_knjiznica-koprivnica.hr