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Funding and governance of library and information services for visually impaired people: international case studies

Part2:Country studies

Australia

Participation by visually impaired people

VA has a strong consultative framework with boards and a library client committee. It also undertakes specific surveys and research into client expectations and satisfaction. Governing Board of VA includes several users of the service. A sub-committee of the Board oversees all client services including the library.

Universities

Within UTAS, some staff involved in Disability Support have a visual impairment. There are student representatives on relevant university committees.

People with a vision disability have little leadership or operational involvement in relation to services provided by other organisations assisting tertiary sector libraries in meeting their needs. Students with vision and other print disabilities have some involvement via provision of feedback to library staff regarding service availability and quality and participation on advisory committees designed to monitor service provision issues for library users with disabilities. However, their level of involvement varies from one university to another.