Library Facilities and Services to Users with Disabilities at Jawaharlal Nehru University

A Pilot Study

Abstract

A large number of disabled students are studying in various educational institutions of India.   Some educational institutions have been observed to provide disabled users with adequate access to library facilities. The majority of them, however, do not have this capacity. This research, as part of a project entitled "Access to libraries for persons with disabilities: An investigation into library facilities and services in India," funded by the ICSSR under the IMPRESS scheme, aims to assess the library facilities (physical access to library building, access to library material and services, and assistive technologies) for disabled users at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). A questionnaire was designed to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The investigator also observed the availability of facilities and services at JNU. Nearly enough facilities are available on the library campus and within the main library building. The circulation and reference desks are challenging to reach because they were located at a high altitude. The JNU library supports disabled researchers and students with specialized services and assistive technologies. Braille, large print, audio, and electronic books are among the options accessible for the study materials. With bookshare.org, the library provides relevant collections in multiple formats such as daisy mp3, and e-text to visually challenged users.