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

Part2:Country studies

The Netherlands

Funding sources and adequacy

National or Federal Government provides 90% of funding (through the Ministry of Culture). Third sector (charities, voluntary organisations etc) provides less than 5%

Charity foundations and commercials donations also provide less than 5%, as does international funding from the European Commission.

Users themselves contribute 5%.

Dedicon's budget is €12.0 million. There are some 30.000 clients registered, so the funding per visually impaired person is ?390.

Funding is adequate for the existing services provided but is static, and an extension of the service is needed. To provide a proper service for study materials in increase of approximately 30% is needed. The proposed structure for general literature through public libraries will probably need a more generous budget as well (around 0% to extend their services).