Information and knowledge accessible to the visually impaired at university libraries

Abstract

University libraries need to be accessible in order to answer the public’s demand for different kinds of information and that includes the visually impaired. Libraries are part of the academic development of the students with visual impairments, fulfilling their elementary functions which are to support research and promote access to information. For this to occur there must be a concern on the part of universities to adapt and build a structure designed to meet this type of users needs. The librarian is responsible for mediating access to information as well as allowing the visually impaired to take advantage of such access. Drawing on the experience of José Alvarez de Azevedo Braille Library, located in Goiania, and in the subject-specific literature, it was made some suggestions for university libraries’ equipment and software which target the visually impaired public. We concluded that software and equipment are important tools to enable the visually impaired to access information. It is also important to prepare the professionals who will help them in doing so. Considering all good resources freely available on the market, university libraries can set up their spaces of support to the visually impaired, especially with regard to Internet access.