TOWARDS FEDERATION 2001: Linking Australians with Their Heritage Review Meeting 1993

Progress Reports 1994-1996

Section B - Services to Special Communities
K: People with Disabilities


RKA1 That institutions' collection development policies for Australia's documentary heritage include alternative format materials and other materials for people with disabilities.

1994 REPORT

All institutions who submitted information agree with this resolution. The State Library of South Australia has included special format materials and materials for people with disabilities in their current collection development policy. The University of Queensland Libraries coordinate an extensive tape reading service for print disabled students; and the State Library of Victoria is producing topical material on tape cassette, and collects material and information about disabilities, including legislation and awareness raising literature.

1996 REPORT

The National Braille Reserve collection is maintained at the National Library of Australia. A large print book publisher has been added to the Cataloguing in Publication (CIP) program.

University of Sydney Library will adhere to this advice where appropriate. Given the nature of the Australian Defence Force Academy Library's primary clientele they believe there is little need to provide this kind of specialised assistance. Should the need arise in the future then we would examine the matter again. University of Adelaide will do so when relevant.

State Library of Victoria does not collect alternative formats as these are very well covered in this state by the Braille & Talking Book Library (Association for the Blind) and the Talking Book Library (Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind). These libraries collect works in Braille, large print and audio formats. Alternative formats are acquired under legal deposit. State Library of South Australia's Collection development policy includes references to alternative format materials as well as its strategy of providing access to Library materials through use of new technologies.

The current State Library of New South Wales Collection Development Policy supports the collection of alternative format materials relating to Australia's documentary heritage. The State Library of New South Wales has a collection of alternative format materials for use by people with disabilities which is available for loan to NSW public libraries. The collection includes:

The Library also collects publications on disability issues. All public libraries in NSW have the State Library's catalogue on CD-ROM. Instructions on how to create lists of alternative format material from this CD-ROM are available.

RKA2 That institutions develop specific preservation policies and plans for alternative format materials (including master versions, such as audio masters, where appropriate) and report these to the National Preservation Office.

1994 REPORT

All institutions who submitted information have agreed to follow this advice where relevant. 21% already have preservation policies and plans for alternative format materials in place, or will include them in the next revision of their preservation policies.

1996 REPORT

The National Library of Australia has plans in place for sound preservation. A strategy to transfer from analogue to digital technology for the preservation of the Library's Oral History collections is currently being implemented. Storage and back up of CD's generated from the Library's IMAGES1 project have also been taken into account. A pilot project to test the implications of preserving online information is currently being undertaken by a subcommittee of the Library's SCOAP (Selection Committee on Online Australian Publications) Committee. In addition the library is involved in an AVCC funded project which considers the preservation implications of digital and microfilm technology. Other partners in this project are the University of Sydney, the State Library of New South Wales and Monash University. A national strategy for preserving digital information has not yet been developed though many of the activities described above and also in RGA2 are intended to lead towards this.

University of Sydney Library will adhere to this advice where possible. The Australian Defence Force Academy Library has recently built a purpose built cool room as part of its extension programs. This room is designed for the storage for alternative format materials which are part of manuscript collections, and for the storage of the Library's unique footage (e.g. interviews with Australian writers). The Library will undertake a specific alternative format conservation survey by the end of 1997, and will then implement a formal preservation policy for these materials. University of Adelaide will do so when relevant.

At the State Library of South Australia a Non-Print Committee formed in 1996 has a watching brief over alternative format materials. The State Library of New South Wales is currently developing a policy for the preservation of information in electronic formats and anticipates having a draft policy in place by December, 1996.

RKA3 That institutions develop and implement access technology plans for people with disabilities which will assist their access to collections, bibliographical tools, premises and services.

1994 REPORT

All institutions who submitted information acknowledged their support for this resolution. Many of them already have access technology plans in place for people with disabilities. Some of the facilities which have been provided to assist in access to collections, bibliographical tools, premises and services are:

1996 REPORT

At the National Library of Australia the needs of people with disabilities are taken into account in the provision of technology in the Reading Rooms (e.g. Kurzweil Machine, desks designed to accommodate wheelchairs), but there is never sufficient IT budget to purchase special computer equipment to meet particular needs (e.g. magnifying screens and voice translators).

University of Sydney Library has established a special services room with appropriate equipment for people with disabilities. Given the nature of the Australian Defence Force Academy Library's primary clientele we believe there are limited requirements for provision for people with disabilities. However, the Library does have a lift and appropriate toilet facilities. There is also an enlarger for print materials. There has been considerable activity to improve access in the libraries of University of Adelaide.

Although the State Library of Victoria does not have a formal plan we have a range of technology to assist people with disabilities, including

They are currently considering introducing large print OPACs and a Internet access screen. Physical access for disabled people is a major consideration in the design of new and refurbished buildings.

State Library of South Australia has recently completed a Disability Services Policy and a three year Action Plan and has produced a brochure Disability Services for distribution and for customers. A workshop was held in conjunction with Arts in Action on State Library of South Australia's technology for use by people with disabilities.

Library and Information Service of Western Australia has developed a Disability Service Plan, and provides a range of equipment within the Alexander Library Building to assist people with disabilities eg. Kurzweil Reading Machine, telephone typewriter, Visualtec CCTV, Braille printer.

The State Library of New South Wales provides a variety of computer software and equipment for people with a disability to improve access to a range of print and electronic information resources in the library. With the refurbishment of the General Reference Library reading room adaptive technology software will be networked allowing mainstream access to CD-ROM resources. The State Library of New South Wales has TTY access for people who are Deaf. Hearing loops are being installed throughout the Library and a portable loop system is available for meetings and functions. The CD-ROM catalogue may be used with both speak output and image magnification software. A Garaventa platform is provided for wheelchair access to the Mitchell wing. The State Library of New South Wales World Wide Web page has been designed taking into account guidelines for access by people with disabilities. Current adaptive technology in use throughout the library including:

Resources and instructions in appropriate formats are being produced to support independent use of this equipment as well as referral details, to other institutions, for clients who require training in the use of the adaptive technology.

RKA4 That institutions report to the NBD their holdings of materials that are specifically accessible to people with disabilities and provide cataloguing to ensure effective bibliographic access.

1994 REPORT

All institutions who submitted information are supportive of this resolution, where relevant to their collections. Activities include the cataloguing of material for people with disabilities on the NBD by the State Library of South Australia; and the installation of voice and text enlargement software to computer catalogues thus providing independent access to the library's collections by people with print or visual disabilities by the State Library of Victoria. The State Library of Tasmania does not add holdings for lending items (Hear-a-Book tapes, large print, sub-titled videos, etc) to the NBD since the material is not considered unique and is accessible to all Tasmanians through TALIS, and to interstate libraries through the Internet.

1996 REPORT

The print component of the collection at the National Library of Australia is controlled on the NBD.

University of Sydney Library adheres to this advice where appropriate. Australian Defence Force Academy Library has no holdings of this kind. University of Adelaide: will do so when relevant.

Material received under legal deposit by the State Library of Victoria is catalogued onto the NBD. State Library of South Australia continues to catalogue materials accessible to people with disabilities onto ABN as acquired.

Library and Information Service of Western Australia adds holdings to the National Bibliographic Database (NUC:D) those materials specifically made available for people with disabilities. This includes sound recordings and captioned videos. In addition, all audio/visual and large print resources in public libraries throughout Western Australia are listed in the Library and Information Service of Western Australia database which is accessible on the Internet.

The State Library of New South Wales maintains a collection of materials specifically accessible to people with disabilities including talking books, captioned videos, reading development materials including tape and text, and large print books. Full cataloguing is provided to ensure effective bibliographic access and holdings are places on the NBD.

RKA5 That institutions:

1994 REPORT

All institutions who submitted information have already implemented, or are in the process of implementing the actions proposed in this resolution, as resources permit. The University of Queensland Libraries have an advisory committee specifically to monitor and promote services to those with disabilities. The National Library has established a specialist Community Liaison Section as part of an overall commitment to equity and balance in the provision of library services to the Australian community. The Section develops and promotes library services for people with disabilities and literacy problems. The State Library of South Australia is a member of the Disability Information Network of South Australia, and also the South Australian Advisory group on Library Services for People with Disabilities. In Tasmania, the State Advisory Council of Library Services to people with disabilities provides a consultative mechanism.

1996 REPORT

Information Services staff at the National Library of Australia receive training in serving people with disabilities as part of general interaction with the public raining. Availability of special equipment is limited due to budget constraints. The Library has cooperated with the Round table on Reading Materials for People with Print Disabilities to improve the accuracy and currency of Works-In-Progress records on the NBD. It has been agreed that all Works-In Progress records more than 12 months old would be routinely deleted from the NBD. However, it is regretted that the deletion of records has not yet commenced due to re-deployment of staff to WORLD1 and CJK tasks. Works-In-Progress records report Braille and talking book materials which are planned or in production. The Library has invited the Round Table on Reading Materials for People with Print Disabilities to comment on a proposal to create CD-ROM catalogue from ABN.

At the University of Sydney Library a set of consultative practices developed to ensure access to material via the new library system (INNOPAC), including equipment. Staff training has also been carried out for staff working directly with users with disabilities.

The Australian Defence Force Academy Library works within the established policies of The University of New South Wales and the Department of Defence to provide appropriate access to people with disabilities. In the recent extension and refurbishment of the Library particular care has been taken to ensure that people with disabilities have ready access to the library and that lifts and disabled facilities are clearly marked and signed.

Activity in relation to this advice is happening at the University of Adelaide.

The State Library of Victoria is actively pursuing these goals. Some specifics include

State Library of South Australia has recently completed a Disability Services Policy and a three-year Action Plan. The Cultural Diversity Services team of State Library of South Australia has responsibility for services for people with disabilities and liaises with the public library network. It is a member of the Disability Information Network of South Australia and also the South Australia's Advisory Group on Library Services for People with Disabilities. Service staff have received disability awareness training in the form of introduction to resources in the disability access area, and have viewed videos on awareness of the special needs of customers with vision and hearing impairment.

These issues are addressed in the Disability Services Plan of the Library and Information Service of Western Australia. The Alexander Library Building was designed for people with disabilities and has received accreditation for this.

State Library of New South Wales Disability Strategic Plan prepared in response to NSW Disability Services Act 1993, is currently under review. Meetings are held with people with disabilities to consult on specific issues such as building access, adaptive technology and alternative format materials.

The State Library of New South Wales has a Disability Access Service with 3 staff and an operating budget to cover the costs of achieving the following three key activities:

Other branches of the library carry budget components to meet the mainstreamed access to services to people with disabilities. The State Library of New South Wales has a commitment to having 85% staff trained in Disability Awareness. This training consists of two components, general disability awareness and library and information services for people with a disability. The Library and information service for people with disabilities component is open to public library staff, staff from other agencies (TAFE and Universities) and clients with a disability. Training and consultation sessions are conducted in public libraries. Articles in appropriate journals and talks at conferences and seminars are provided on request.


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