Thanks to everyone who commented on this.
The answer to the question posed:
'...Is there *any* library which has well and truly 'cracked' the deployment of Accessibiity ICT/Adaptive Techology *and* the effective take-up of use by the community...'
is - NO!, which is kinda what I thought...
Views of respondents seem to fall into two camps - those who believe that there is good stuff out there, and it is just a matter of time, plus continued advocasy and partnership, and all will be well, and those who believe that it doesn't work, and won't work with the current technology, staffing support and funding, and that it is not what clients (users/customers) want, or, if they do want it, how they want to use it
I attach some (anonymised) quotes which I think sum this up - and the originators acknwledge themselves the danger of over-simplification.
'...You don't go to a swimming pool if you can't swim; you don't catch a bus if you can drive; you don't go to the library if you don't or can't read...'
'...we need adequate investment in equipment and staff training...'
'...Far more important for us is getting the full range of input/language options for the much larger group of people who want them...'
'... it is still very difficult to build a robust business case to support the release of staff for this purpose...'
'...My feeling is that it needs somebody to be pushing the availability of such software and hardware for take up to ever go beyond a token amount...'
So it's the *whole* accessibility 'bit' (le.g. language provsion, physical access etc.), which is at issue, not just 'disability', the funding, training and support, the right tools to do the job, and a user base who wants to come to us, for something they actually want, for something we can *actually* provide, as we did with the PN.
Regards
JU
John Usher
ICT Development Manager
Islington Library & Cultural Services
Customer Focus
Islington Council
Central Library
2 Fieldway Crescent
LONDON N5 1PF
tel: 020 7527 6920
mobile: 07929 009686
fax: 020 7527 6926
email: mailto:[log in to unmask]
website: www.islington.gov.uk/libraries
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for the People's Network Project [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Usher, John
Sent: 03 August 2006 12:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PEOPLESNETWORK] Accessibility ICT/Adaptive Technology in libraries
Sorry for cross-posting
Is there *any* library which has well and truly 'cracked' the deployment of Accessibiity ICT/Adaptive Techology *and* the effective take-up of use by the community, particularly in these DDA-focused days.
Our aim seems to be to provide aids widely to make our general services accessible, to encourage non-users who have not used library services to do so, or to ease the problems of those who do use the service, but have difficulty.
The only specifc stated user demand I have been able to glean to date is for training in anything we provide - which can only be done in a limited form in a general library context.
Users either have the aids already, or specialist providers such as NLB, RNIB, RNID, TNAUK etc. provide them directly to the users.
They don't work well in a general library context, with PC's which are not easily customisable to the individual - even some of the suppliers tacilty seem to recognise that - though they have a better 'fit' in a dedicated 'Learning Centre' where staff can support the users directly.
The public can now bring in (if they have it) USB-based versions of their preferred adaptive software - but @ upto £800 a unit, can we afford to buy and loan (or give?) such offerings? Is that our role?
Staff are resistant to training, as they feel that they are being asked to take on a specialised role for which there is little demand - and as there is so little takeup from users, they lose currency in the acquired skills.
And now, with DDA, we seem to be driven to pack more in - such as Dyslexia aids, over and above Visual and Hearing Impairment aids and physical adaptations - despite there being little obvious 'market' (if one can use such a word in a 'Social Enterprise' context) for it.
Video Conferencing is useful for a variety of purposes - Hearing impairment, translation, etc. - *if* there is a sufficient spread of equipment, availability of Bandwidth, and an affordable support service behind it, @ hours people might use it.
Even relatively 'passive' aids, such as lens magnfiers which fit over PC screens, or CCTV magnifiers, all of which require little technical or staff assistance, seem to go unused - the good old hand-held magnifying glass kept on the counter being the most-often requested and used item!
Partnerships with local and national bodies seem difficult to build and sustain.
And all this before we go anywhere near making hard-copy provision truly accessible.
Any ideas?
Best wishes
JU
John Usher
ICT Development Manager
Islington Library & Cultural Services
Customer Focus
Islington Council
Central Library
2 Fieldway Crescent
LONDON N5 1PF
tel: 020 7527 6920
mobile: 07929 009686
fax: 020 7527 6926
email: mailto:[log in to unmask]
website: www.islington.gov.uk/libraries
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