The study sought to investigate access to and use of libraries among students with special needs at two tertiary institutions in Ghana. They are the University of Education, Winneba and Kumasi Polytechnic, Kumasi. A total of 40 participants comprising 20 students with special needs and 20 library staff were selected for the study. Questionnaire was used as the main research instrument for gathering data. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to sample the students with special needs and the library staff for the study. The study revealed that though both institutions’ libraries have students with special needs who sometimes use the library, there are no specialized facilities in terms of equipment and reading materials for them. Also, the libraries do not have a policy which takes care of the needs of these groups of students. Finally, the staff who assist these students with special needs are not specially trained to assist them. Based on the problems identified above, it was recommended among others that the library must have separate rooms stocked with modern equipment and other materials for use by students with special needs. Also staff who assist these students with special needs must be given some training to be able to offer better services to them. Finally, there should be a policy governing access and use of the library of which students and staff would be educated on.

The need for information among libraries and information users today has increased as a result of the advantages that it offers in terms of the decision making power especially in political, economic and social aspects. Thus the right of access to information is no longer optional to any library users irrespective of their myriads as stipulated in Articles 18(1) and 18(2) of the Constitution of United Republic of Tanzania. With the help of Information and Communication Technologies, librarians have been working closely with library users so as to meet their information needs. Much has been done in Academic libraries such as the use of various information sources which are in different forms including print and electronic so as to suits the information needs of different categories of library users. In Academic libraries, staffs are expected to serve various categories of users including those with disabilities. In achieving this goal, the use of assistive technologies have been provided to library users with special needs to enable them to access the information at the right time and thus fulfilling the five laws of Library Science (i.e books are for use, every reader his/her book, every book its reader, save the time of the reader, and library is a growing organism). Despite the fact that right of access to information is a fundamental right to any human being including those with disabilities, still most academic libraries face challenges in serving students with disabilities. This paper seeks to investigate the challenges that academic libraries face in serving students with disabilities focusing on Moshi Cooperative University Library. The paper will also come out with solutions and recommendations to address the identified challenges.

International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Research, 2018

Despite the availability of library and information services in University libraries, the services are not accessible and optimally utilized and benefited by persons with disabilities (PWDs). This is because the typical library favors the able-bodied patrons more. Therefore, this study sought to find out challenges that Persons with Disabilities in University libraries in Meru County faced in accessing library and information services and to present practical solutions that were appropriate to the situation. The researcher adopted descriptive survey design. The study targeted four (4) University Libraries in Meru County. The study population comprised of all professionally trained librarians from the selected universities and all library users with disabilities with biasness towards the visually impaired, the hearing impaired and the mobility impaired. A purposive sampling technique was employed and the sample size was fifty five (55) respondents composing of thirty one (31) librarians, six (6) visually impaired library users, sixteen (16) mobility impaired library users and two (2) hard hearing users. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedule. Data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using descriptive statistics. The results were presented by use of percentages, frequency tables, bar graphs and pie-charts. The evidence emanating from the study strongly indicated that provision of library and information services in the four libraries to students with disabilities was largely characterized structural inadequacies, unskilled staff , and absence of internally formulated policy frameworks. In particular, the study revealed that the libraries had no sufficient facilities, resources and equipment such as the lifts, spacious ramps, Braille materials, hearing aids required by students with disabilities. Thus, the study concluded that the libraries do not have the needs of students with disabilities at heart. The study makes several recommendations for considerations to the research community, library decision makers, staff at the various library sections and to students with disabilities themselves.

South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the provision of library services to people with disabilities in Malawi. A mixed methodology was used as the research design. All participating libraries (fifty-six) were sampled to participate in the survey while fourteen students with disabilities (one from each institution, where possible) were purposively chosen to be interviewed. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires whilst qualitative data were collected through interview guides. Quantitative data was analysed using Microsoft Excel while qualitative data was analysed thematically. The paper highlights the lack of library and information services to disabled people and acknowledges possible barriers. The study has revealed lack of equipment to support disabled access to library and information resources. Similarly, despite an increase in the number of people with disabilities, the majority of the libraries do not offer specialised training such as induction sessions or market services that cater for those with disabilities. The study, among other suggestions, recommends that equipment deemed necessary for people with disabilities (such as Braille books) be procured. Libraries should also take necessary steps to address accessibility challenges faced by people with disabilities when using their libraries. Libraries should take further steps to either introduce or enhance services that cater for people with disabilities.

Library Philosophy and Practice, 2018

The paper examines an assessment of the resources and services provision for the disabled library users in University of Ilorin and Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo. The study adapted the qualitative research approach in order to carry out the investigation. The population for this study consisted of all the disabled library patrons in University of Ilorin and Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo. The purposive sampling was used to select sample for this study. Three data gathering instruments consisting of questionnaires, observation and interview were used in this study. Data were analysed using frequency and percentages findings of the study showed that the deaf constitute 126%, follow by the dumb which is 84%. While others are the least in the University of Ilorin and Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo. Most of the disabled library users indicated that the resources and services of the library are accessible in Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo u...

developments taking place in libraries had improved user satisfaction as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. However, there are different users in academic libraries including physically challenged students who might find it difficult to access information resources in a digital environment. The study is a survey which seeks to evaluate the services that are offered in academic libraries in Zimbabwe and identify the challenges that are faced by physically challenged students in accessing and using information resources. Librarians in institutions of higher learning were purposively sampled and interviewed to ascertain the services that they provide to patrons with disabilities. An interpretivism paradigm using the qualitative method which employed interviews and a questionnaire was used to collect data from the twenty three institutions. It was noted that there are three major types of disabilities which mostly affect library patrons which are visual impairments, hearing impairment and mobility impairment. The findings showed that only three institutions have services specifically for patrons with disabilities and one of these have a disability resource centre with a librarian dedicated to assist patrons with disabilities. The major challenge that is experienced by the institutions of higher learning is lack of funds to purchase assistive technologies and lack of trained library staff to assist patrons with disabilities. The authors recommend that libraries should strive to meet the standards stated in the IFLA access to libraries for persons with disabilities and use the principle of universal design to make the library services and facilities accessible.

International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 2016

This article argues that accessibility to, and of information in institutions of learning is as much a right as is education to all human beings. The premise for this deductive declarative observation is based on the understanding that information is a facility that enhances learning without which we can hardly talk of education. Many countries in the world, Zimbabwe included, ratified and signed protocols on equal access to education for all their citizens. For that reason, Zimbabwe formulated regulatory policies on inclusive education as a way of discouraging discrimination in education and society at large. In short, the implied value of inclusivity is equal access to education in spite of mental, physical challenges or otherwise. These researchers argue that equal access to education is much more than having the various categories of learners in one class, one group or same institutions or signing protocols but includes all the support services that should act as equalization facilities. This research, therefore, examined to what extent tertiary and university libraries in Masvingo urban fulfill this mandate.

This article is based on a study that examined library services provision for people with visual impairments and in wheelchairs in academic libraries in Tanzania. The article looks at access to the information resources available and the layout of library buildings in five universities in Tanzania. The broader issues in this study were grounded in the importance of access to information as a fundamental right and, particularly, in university studies. The study drew on a pragmatism paradigm and the social model of disability of Oliver which emphasises universal access as the norm. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to conduct survey and observation-based research. The findings reveal that academic libraries provide services to people with visual impairments and in wheelchairs but these services are not inclusive or universal.The study therefore recommends that academic libraries, as manifest in the social model, should strive to provide inclusive services to all users including people with disabilities. To achieve this universal access requires the formulating of policy regarding provision of library services to people with disabilities, providing adequate budgets and staff training. In addition, practical measures are needed such as constructing library buildings with ramps and maintaining working lifts, acquiring Braille and large print information resources, as well as providing assistive equipment.

Library Philosophy and Practice, 2018

This paper investigated the provision of library services for people in wheelchairs in two university libraries in Tanzania. The paper studied access to the information materials collected in the libraries and the building structure of the two university libraries. At a wider aspect the paper looked at significance of access to library information as the basic right, specifically in higher learning institutions. The study used pragmatism paradigm which is a mixed method approach. Statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 was used to analyze quantitative data while thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The results revealed that the two academic libraries are not complying with library universal services to users in wheelchairs. The study therefore suggested that the libraries should strive to offer services that are inclusive to all users including those in wheelchairs. It was also recommended that the two libraries should formulate policies that...