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

Part2:Country studies

Canada

Funding sources

CNIB Library's operating budget is $10 million CDN. This service is funded by donations. Public libraries do have talking book and access technology budget items, but this widely varies across the country. Library and Archives Canada is currently pursuing funding to improve access to information for print disabled Canadians.

Public libraries, colleges and universities, and ministries of education will have funding designated for special needs services.

Adequacy

The Canadian Library Association Report Opening the Book stated:

"Canada lags behind other major industrialized nations in that it does not legislate support or provide long-term funding for a national library service for persons with print disabilities."

The report determined that a significant increase in funding would are to occur to increase content and to provide a more equitable service. Part of the CLA Opening the Book report recommends determining more fully what this cost will be. CNIB would estimate that the current funding is likely less than 10% of what is needed to close the information gap and to provide an equitable service.