rightscom

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

Part2:Country studies

Croatia

Models and responsibilities

Currently there is only one library for visually impaired people in Croatia and its users are isolated from all other libraries [http://www.it.lth.se/koraljka/Lund/publ/BOB2001Gabriel.pdf]. The function of libraries is not at any point clearly defined. Their role is still not recognised at the level of legislative regulations.

The Croatian Library for the Blind works partly with general public libraries. However, these organisations have no clear roles and responsib ilities in providing or funding library services to visually impaired people.

The Croatian Library for the Blind expects that organizations, especially public libraries, will change in the next few years, They are likely to change in part to move to a position nearer to the Scandinavian model. They will have a collection of books for visually impaired people as well as adapted equipment, computers with Braille display, Braille printers, CC-TV etc.