A project to help people with disabilities to access public libraries was launched yesterday at the National Library in Dublin.
Making Access Happen is a joint publication of the Equality Authority and An Comhairle Labharlanna, and is based on pilot projects in four local authority areas - Cavan, Dublin City, Kildare and Mayo.
The booklet outlines the experience of the four library authorities.
The key to change was found to be the involvement of people with disabilities in the training of staff and in consultation, combined with a commitment from senior staff in its practice.
Cavan library authority has compiled a database of all local disability groups, which will feed into its development plan.
In Dublin, a handbook for staff was drafted and some building modification was carried out. Library purchasing policy was reviewed from the viewpoint of people with disabilities, and technology for disabled people was tested on site.
In Kildare a staff manual on disability was also prepared. A staff member has been appointed to co-ordinate the programme of making services accessible, and each library branch has established contact with its local disability groups.
In Mayo, home to a very dispersed population, a training programme was initiated for staff and improvements made to the layout of libraries.
The Equality Authority's CEO, Mr Niall Crowley, praised the initiative and said it could be extended across the library sector and the entire local authority sector.