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Funding and governance of library and information services for visually impaired people: international case studies
Part2:Country studies
Japan
Materials Supply (Public Libraries)
Braille
Original materials supplied: Most of the original materials are purchased by libraries. Some materials are published in the form of Braille.
Conversion: Braille transcribers and volunteers registered at the libraries. Some library staffs.
On-demand: In principle, yes. (Some of the materials are selected and converted by the libraries.
Stock: In principle, conversion is done on-demand basis, and all the properly converted materials are stored as collection.
Targets for range/depth/speed: We try to produce as soon as possible, but there is no target speed.
Audio - standard cassette and CD
Original materials supplied: Most of the original materials are purchased by libraries. Some materials are published in the form of standard cassette and CD.
Conversion: Narrators and volunteers registered at the libraries. Some library staffs.
On-demand: In principle, yes. (Some of the materials are selected and converted by the libraries.)
Stock: In principle, conversion is done on-demand basis, and all the properly converted materials are stored as collection.
Targets for range/depth/speed: As for the quality of the converted materials, we try to achieve the high quality but there are not clearly defined targets. There is no target regarding the term.
Audio Daisy
Original materials supplied: Most of the original materials are purchased by libraries. Some materials are published in the form of DAISY audio. However, DAISY materials on sale are quite few.
Conversion: DAISY editors registered at the libraries. Some library staffs. Commissioned producers.
On-demand: In principle, conversion is done on-demand basis, and all the properly converted materials are stored as collection.
Stock: In principle, yes. (Some of the materials are selected and converted by the libraries.)
Targets for range/depth/speed: No targets
Digital audio download
Original materials supplied; Conversion; On-demand; Stock; Targets for range/depth/speed: Download is not available at present.
However, Osaka Prefectural Central Library had provided streaming distribution from 2000 to 2003 as a project of "Multimedia Pilot Town Project (multimedia model museum (library))", which is a project to research and develop communication and broadcast by TAO (Telecommunications Advancement Organization of Japan), and it has also provided since 2003 as a demonstration experiment for “Network Distribution of Talking books” as a project developing Osaka Prefecture Multimedia Model libraries.
Daisy text and audio
Original materials supplied: This is not being provided. In Japan there are hardly any productions of this type. When producing, in most cases it is commissioned to groups of specialists.
Conversion: ----.
On-demand: ----.
Stock: Very few libraries purchase and possess several titles which are published
Targets for range/depth/speed: ----.
Handmade large printed books
Original materials supplied: Very few libraries provide this service in Japan. Almost no example. Most of the original materials are purchased by libraries. Some libraries purchase published Braille books.
Conversion: Braille transcribers and volunteers registered at the libraries.
On-demand: In principle, conversion is done on-demand basis, and all the properly converted materials are stored as collection.
Stock: In principle, yes. (Some of the materials are selected and converted by the libraries.)
Targets for range/depth/speed: We try to produce as soon as possible, but there is no target speed.