The key role of cooperation to keep library service for the

blind and visually impaired sustainable

Case study of Public Library in Koprivnica, Croatia

Dijana Sabolović-Krajina

Public Library “Fran Galović” Koprivnica,CROATIA

IFLA Libraries for the Blind Section Conference, Belgium/Netherlands, 17-20 August 2009

Better Library Services for Print Disabled Persons through Partnerships with Publishers and Public Libraries

How did we start?

• Implementation of new service in 2006

• Grant from the European Union for the

project

“Library service for the blind and

visually impaired in Koprivnica-Krizevci

county”  

Steps in implementation

Education of library staff

Purchase of special reading materials

Purchase/installation of special IT

equipment

Informing the patrons on new service

Education and animation activities for

patrons

Why did we do it?

The service reflects basic values

of Public Library of Koprivnica:

“Library open to everybody”

“Literacy for all”

General aim

Equal involvement (social

inclusion) of the blind and

visually impaired into the local

community and society in general

through public library

What is different about it? (1)

An integrative character : inclusion of reading collection and technology into all

library divisions and services

equal participation from visually impaired and sighted

individuals in the most of educative and animation

activities

What is different about it? (2)

Promoting of reading and literacy

among the blind and print disabled via

local public library

Spreading sensibility of sighted

population to the needs of visually

disabled persons (added value of the

service)

Fundamental challenge - How to keep service sustainable?

Reading materials and IT equipment are not enough to keep service sustainable

Networking - Cooperation with numerous partners on local and national level is a key to keep service sustainable

Critical point 1:

How to keep attention of users?

  Strategic partners:

County Association of the Blind

Croatian Library for the Blind  

County Association of the Blind

The most important and reliable partner

Years-long collaboration

Groundwork for starting the service, from

project planning to implementation in 2006

Groundwork for service sustainability

Common programs and projects 2006-2009

Animation and attraction: information, education, and leisure time opportunities

for the blind and visually impaired in the library

Integrative approach – a way to social inclusion

Preschool children workshops

In cooperation with Rehabilitation Center for

Blind Preschool Children with Multiple

Disabilities, Zagreb, Croatia

(logopedists, therapeutists, special education teachers)

“Let's play with tactile toys and picture books”

“How to shape your own toy”

“Let’s play with eco toys”

Workshops for teenagers In cooperation with special education teachers

from Educational Centre for the Blind,

Zagreb, Croatia

“Reading in a different way”

Visual arts workshop

“How the young can communicate better in everyday

life”

Art workshops for teenagers

In cooperation with art teachers from local schools

“How to make Easter eggs”

“How to make Christmas postcards”

Joint workshops for teenagers and adults

“Special reading materials and how to use them”

with librarians from Croatian Library for the Blind in Zagreb

“Special technical devices and its use”

with IT specialist from Croatian Union of the Blind in Zagreb

Workshops for parents and experts

“How to use tactile toys and picture books”

In cooperation with logopedist, and special

education teachers from Rehabilitation

Institution for Blind Preschool Children with

Multiple Disabilities, Zagreb, Croatia  

Workshops for adult users

In cooperation with special education

teachers from the Education Center of

the Blind, Zagreb, Croatia

“How the blind and sighted can communicate

better in everyday life”

Other programs (1)

Literature events with blind writers and

actors

Meetings of Top readers of talking and

paper books in Public Library in

Koprivnica”

Other programs (2)

Training courses for adult blind

patrons in:

Braille (cooperation with Educational Centre

for the Blind in Zagreb)

IT (cooperation with IT specialist from the

Association for Education of Adult Blind

Persons, Zagreb)

Croatian Library for the Blind

The most important, vital part of cooperation:

- procurement of talking books

Critical point 2:How to keep attention of local

community?

Projects and programs of spreading

sensibility, prevention, and

education for sighted kindergarten

children, primary and secondary

school students and wide public

Local ophthalmologists

Campaigns in the library on prevention of blindness:

leaflets sight checking eye pressure measuring

“Glaukoma Day”“Take care about your sight”

Croatian Association for Guide Dogs Training

Campaigns in library on importance of guide

dogs for the blind

storyteling hours for pre-schoolers

exhibitions

Visits and workshops in local kindergartens,

primary and secodary scool classes

Critical point 3: How to keep attention of library

community?Regional level - interlibrary loan to other public

libraries in region

National level - Croatian Library for the Blind;

Croatian Library Association-Library Service for

Special Needs Persons Committee; Croatian

Librarians In-Service Education Center;

Conferences, round tables, workshops…

International level - Conferences

Critical point 4: How to keep attention of local

and national authorities?

Cooperation in financing the library

service helping to increase the quality of

life and social services for print disabled

persons in local community and society

in general

Conclusions (What happened?) 1

Sustainability of the service for the blind and visually impaired has been achieved in Public library of Koprivnica

• Networking• Cooperation with numerous partners• Educated library staff and their eagerness to

cooperate with print disabled patrons and to educate themselves further

The number of libraries in Croatia offering such

service has increased

The Croatian Ministry of Culture has been inspired by

our experience to support similar local community

library services for print disabled in county centres of

Croatia

Croatian librarianship lacks an overall library strategy,

which would stimulate planned systematic nationwide

services for the blind and visually impaired, or the

handicapped in general, into public libraries

Conclusions (What happened?) 2

Thank you!

dijana@knjiznica-koprivnica.hr