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ERIC Number: ED374819
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1994-May
Pages: 165
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Adult Library Patrons with Disabilities: An Assessment of Information Access Needs.
Hole, Wanda Clements; Holt, Cynthia
The Phoenix Public Library's Special Needs Center (SNC) has provided service to disabled patrons and professionals who serve the disabled community for over 10 years. Determined to stay abreast of changing needs, the SNC initiated a needs assessment project which included staff, professionals, and patrons. The purposes of the needs assessment were to: (1) assist with long range planning; (2) identify patron and professional needs; (3) document needs that can be used in preparing grant proposals; and (4) identify additional arenas in which the SNC may be of service. The data were gathered through the use of staff, patron, and professional surveys. Data indicated patrons most often used special needs services/resources for personal enjoyment while professionals used services for their jobs, to assist clients, and for professional development. Among patrons, highest use of services occurred in the Large Print Books by Mail Program, using staff to help locate references, and use of assistive technology to read materials. Highest areas of use among professionals were related to braille production, checking out regular print books in the Center, word processing in the computer workplace, and using Center reference materials. Based on a review of the literature and analysis of the needs assessment data, an "Information Access Planning Guide" was developed to assist in planning. The survey instruments used in the study are appended. (Contains 25 references.) (JLB)
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Phoenix Public Library, AZ.
Identifiers - Location: Arizona
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A