Academic

 A 1976 study at Ohio State University of visually impaired students population 38; surveyed, i.e., who could be reached: 26 including 6 blind students and 20 partially sighted students) concerning their special equipment needs showed that4 of the blind students reported a need for a braille writer; 1 blind student reported a need for an Optacon; 4 of the partially sighted students reported a need for a television-type magnifier; and 16 of both blind and partially sighted groups reported a need for a tape recorder. 7 of the partially sighted students reported no need for any of the equipment.                       (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that 9 (45.0%) of the partially sighted students and 1 (16.7%) of the blind students reported using none of the available library equipment for the visually impaired.                         (Source)

 Public

 A 1971 survey of Canadian public libraries serving communities with populations of more than 8,000 people conducted by the Adult Services Section of the Canadian Library Association concerning service to the physically handicapped (survey size: 222; responding: 111 or 50%) showed thatthe number of libraries providing various special materials was as follows:

                large print books                    90 (81.1%) libraries

                films                                      64 (57.7%) libraries

                cassettes                                23 (20.7%) libraries

                cassette players                     16 (14.4%) libraries

                opaque projectors                    9 (8.1%) libraries

                overhead projectors                 7 (6.3%) libraries

                talking books                           4 (3.6%) libraries

                talking book machines              3 (2.7%) libraries              (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatthe following number of libraries provided the following types of services or facilities for handicapped patrons:

                home delivery service                           46 (41.4%) libraries

                wheel chair ramps, elevators                 31 (27.9%) libraries

                books or other material by mail            24 (21.6%) libraries

                programs for the handicapped              13 (11.7%) libraries

                television/radio programs                        3 (2.7%) libraries

                deposit collections:

                        senior citizen homes                      60 (54.1%) libraries

                        nursing homes                               32 (28.8%) libraries

                        hospitals                                       28 (25.2%) libraries

                        senior citizen centers                     22 (19.8%) libraries

                        drop-in centers                                4 (3.6%) libraries

                        other                                             14 (12.6%) libraries                       (Source)

Dr. David Kohl

 "Libraries in the digital age are experiencing the most profound transformation since ancient Mesopotamian scribes first began gathering and organizing cuneiform tablets."

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