The impact of ICT on library services for the visually impaired

Abstract

ICT gives visually impaired people two fundamental freedoms - Independence and Choice in library services. Before electronic information and on-line catalogues became available visually impaired people required assistance with reading and had limited choice of reading material. But now visually impaired people are no longer disabled in searching and surfing information on digital libraries. This study examines the ICT impact on library services for the visually impaired in mainstream libraries. New opportunities for mainstream libraries to integrate visually impaired people are discussed as well as the problems facing the mainstream libraries. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.