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

Part2:Country studies

UK

Overall availability of material in alternative formats

According to research commissioned by RNIB from LISU in 2005 only 4.4% of the print output of UK publishers becomes available in an accessible/alternative format.

The percentage of periodicals, newspapers, educational materials and official publications has not been estimated but is not thought to be as high as for books.

However, it was pointed out that:

“the digital era has changed the potential for accessing the contents of these formats because of the growth of web based newspapers, periodicals and official publications. The obvious proviso is that he terms of library licences and the application of DRM does not prevent access via the assistive technologies which visually impaired people are dependent upon to access content which was not previously available to them in libraries, at home, at work or elsewhere.”

According to a report published by MLA in 2005 [http://www.mla.gov.uk/resources/assets//l/id1868rep_doc_5330.doc.]

“There are around 420,000 titles available in the UK, and around 125,000 new and revised titles are published each year. Less than 10,000 titles from these 125,000 are available in any accessible format (unabridged audiobook, Braille, large print or eBook). The RNIB notes that even for 100 bestsellers, less than 25% are available in unabridged audio. A smaller number still will be available in large print. For those that do become available, the delay between standard and accessible versions is usually measured in months.”

Materials provision

The same report noted that “much of the conversion to an accessible format is undertaken by voluntary organisations: in one study, of 46 non-fiction titles available in an alternative format, 43 were produced by voluntary organisations.”

NLB

Braille

Original materials supplied: NLB, RNIB and a few other producers

Conversion: ----.

On-demand: No.

Stock: Book selections: At NLB/RNIB through a standard (like other libraries) process with input from users

Targets for range/depth/speed: At NLB, Collection development policy covers adults, children, Learners, popular, “Widening choices”. collections development, Moon, Giant print etc. Level is general reading and speed depends on type of material.

Share the Vision

Supplied in alternative formats

how supplied: ----

who supplies: This is the area where the private sector is involved. There are 3 main companies involved in the production of Large Print, Ulverscroft Group, BBC and W.F. Howes. They also produce audiobooks as do some mainstream publishing houses. Whereas LP is clearly dedicated to meeting the needs of people with low vision and almost exclusively sold to public libraries audiobooks attract a wider audience and are available in commercial outlets which LP is not. However, there is a growing awareness of the potential of digitisation to permit the supply of LP on demand.

Basis for decision to acquire: Stock for public libraries is chosen by their staff following their authority’s book selection policy and local targets. However, this may change depending on the response to the MLA commissioned report from PWC, “Better stock: better libraries”, August 2006.

Targets for range/depth/speed: ----.