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 Sabolović-Krajina
Public Library “Fran Galović” Koprivnica,CROATIA
IFLA 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
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 KoprivnicaKrizevci county”
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
Why did we do it?
The service reflects basic values
of Public Library of Koprivnica:
“Library open to everybody”
“Literacy for all”
General aim
Equal
involvement
inclusion)
of
the
(social
blind
and
visually impaired into the local
community and society in general
through public library
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
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)
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
Critical point 1:
How to keep attention of users?
Strategic partners:
County Association of the Blind
Croatian Library for the Blind
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
Common programs and projects
2006-2009
 Animation
and attraction:
information, education, and leisure time
opportunities for the blind and visually impaired
in the library
approach – a way to
social inclusion
 Integrative
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”
“Let’s play with eco toys”
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”
Art workshops for teenagers
In cooperation with art teachers from local
schools
“How to make Easter eggs”
“How to make Christmas postcards”
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
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
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”
Other programs (1)
Literature events with blind writers and
actors
 Meetings of Top readers of talking and
paper books in Public Library in
Koprivnica”
Other programs (2)
Training courses
patrons in:
for adult blind
 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)
Croatian Library for the Blind
The most important, vital part
of cooperation:
- procurement of talking books
Critical point 2:
How 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
Local ophthalmologists
Campaigns in the library
prevention of blindness:
 leaflets
 sight checking
 eye pressure measuring
“Glaukoma Day”
“Take care about your sight”
on
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
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
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
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
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
Thank you!
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