The key role of cooperation

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The key role of cooperation to keep library
service for the blind and visually impaired
sustainable Case study of Public Library in
Koprivnica, Croatia Dijana Sabolovic-Krajina Publ
ic Library Fran Galovic Koprivnica,CROATIA IF
LA Libraries for the Blind Section Conference,
Belgium/Netherlands, 17-20 August 2009 Better
Library Services for Print Disabled Persons
through Partnerships with Publishers and Public
Libraries
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How did we start?

• Implementation of new service in 2006
• Grant from the European Union for the project
• Library service for the blind and visually
  impaired in Koprivnica-Krizevci county
•  

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Steps in implementation

• Education of library staff
• Purchase of special reading materials
• Purchase/installation of special IT equipment
• Informing the patrons on new service
• Education and animation activities for patrons

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Why did we do it?

• The service reflects basic values of Public
  Library of Koprivnica
• Library open to everybody
• Literacy for all

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General aim

• Equal involvement (social inclusion) of the
  blind and visually impaired into the local
  community and society in general through public
  library

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What is different about it? (1)

• An integrative character
• inclusion of reading collection and technology
  into all library divisions and services
• equal participation from visually impaired and
  sighted individuals in the most of educative and
  animation activities

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What is different about it? (2)

• Promoting of reading and literacy among the blind
  and print disabled via local public library
• Spreading sensibility of sighted population to
  the needs of visually disabled persons (added
  value of the service)

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Fundamental challenge - How to keep service
sustainable?

• Reading materials and IT equipment are not
  enough to keep service sustainable
• Networking - Cooperation with numerous partners
  on local and national level is a key to keep
  service sustainable

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Critical point 1 How to keep attention of users?

•   Strategic partners
• County Association of the Blind
• Croatian Library for the Blind
•  

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County Association of the Blind

• The most important and reliable partner
• Years-long collaboration
• Groundwork for starting the service, from project
  planning to implementation in 2006
• Groundwork for service sustainability

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Common programs and projects 2006-2009

• Animation and attraction
• information, education, and leisure time
  opportunities for the blind and visually impaired
  in the library
• Integrative approach a way to social inclusion

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Preschool children workshops

• In cooperation with Rehabilitation Center for
  Blind Preschool Children with Multiple
  Disabilities, Zagreb, Croatia
• (logopedists, therapeutists, special education
  teachers)
• Let's play with tactile toys and picture books
• How to shape your own toy
• Lets play with eco toys

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Workshops for teenagers

• In cooperation with special education teachers
  from Educational Centre for the Blind, Zagreb,
  Croatia
• Reading in a different way
• Visual arts workshop
• How the young can communicate better in everyday
  life

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Art workshops for teenagers

• In cooperation with art teachers from local
  schools
• How to make Easter eggs
• How to make Christmas postcards

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Joint workshops for teenagers and adults

• Special reading materials and how to use them
• with librarians from Croatian Library for the
  Blind in Zagreb
• Special technical devices and its use
• with IT specialist from Croatian Union of the
  Blind in Zagreb

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Workshops for parents and experts

• How to use tactile toys and picture books
• In cooperation with logopedist, and special
  education teachers from Rehabilitation
  Institution for Blind Preschool Children with
  Multiple Disabilities, Zagreb, Croatia  

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Workshops for adult users

• In cooperation with special education teachers
  from the Education Center of the Blind, Zagreb,
  Croatia
• How the blind and sighted can communicate better
  in everyday life

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Other programs (1)

• Literature events with blind writers and actors
• Meetings of Top readers of talking and paper
  books in Public Library in Koprivnica

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Other programs (2)

• Training courses for adult blind patrons in
• Braille (cooperation with Educational Centre
  for the Blind in Zagreb)
• IT (cooperation with IT specialist from the
  Association for Education of Adult Blind Persons,
  Zagreb)

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Croatian Library for the Blind

• The most important, vital part of cooperation
• - procurement of talking books

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Critical point 2How to keep attention of local
community?

• Projects and programs of spreading sensibility,
  prevention, and education for sighted
  kindergarten children, primary and secondary
  school students and wide public

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Local ophthalmologists

• Campaigns in the library on prevention of
  blindness
• leaflets
• sight checking
• eye pressure measuring
• Glaukoma Day
• Take care about your sight

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Croatian Association for Guide Dogs Training

• Campaigns in library on importance of guide dogs
  for the blind
• storyteling hours for pre-schoolers
• exhibitions
• Visits and workshops in local kindergartens,
  primary and secodary scool classes

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Critical point 3 How to keep attention of
library community?

• Regional level - interlibrary loan to other
  public libraries in region
• National level - Croatian Library for the Blind
  Croatian Library Association-Library Service for
  Special Needs Persons Committee Croatian
  Librarians In-Service Education Center
  Conferences, round tables, workshops
• International level - Conferences

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Critical point 4 How to keep attention of
local and national authorities?

• Cooperation in financing the library service
  helping to increase the quality of life and
  social services for print disabled persons in
  local community and society in general

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Conclusions (What happened?) 1
Sustainability of the service for the blind and
visually impaired has been achieved in Public
library of Koprivnica

• Networking
• Cooperation with numerous partners
• Educated library staff and their eagerness to
  cooperate with print disabled patrons and to
  educate themselves further

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Conclusions (What happened?) 2

• The number of libraries in Croatia offering
  such service has increased
• The Croatian Ministry of Culture has been
  inspired by our experience to support similar
  local community library services for print
  disabled in county centres of Croatia
• Croatian librarianship lacks an overall library
  strategy, which would stimulate planned
  systematic nationwide services for the blind and
  visually impaired, or the handicapped in general,
  into public libraries

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Thank you!

• dijana_at_knjiznica-koprivnica.hr