Development of Learning

Centre for Visually

Impaired at CUG The learning center for visually

challenged persons started from

January 2015.

A special grant of amount ₹ 7 lakh

was allocated by the parent university

out of which ₹ 6.5 lakh was utilized.

And before setting up this centre a

pilot study was done.

There are 4 dedicated desktop

computers and specific equipments for

visually impaired users.

School of Chemical Science, CUG

is conducting 6 months certificate

course of analytical technique for

visually challenged persons by utilising

the resources of this centre.

Visually impaired students have

subscribed individually to “Sugamya

Pustakalaya”, India’s largest online

library for print disabled and it is

satisfying them in a great extent.

Resources available at CUG

Library for Visually

Impaired Persons

Learning Center for Visually

Impaired at Central University

of Gujarat

Sachin Katagi Sourav Debnath

Student of M.L.I.Sc. Student of M.L.I.Sc.

School of Lib. & Info. Sc. School of Lib. & info. Sc.

Central University of Gujarat Central University of Gujarat

sachin.s.k971@gmail.com nathsouravdeb@gmail.com

Abstract

Availability of reading materials and assistive technology services adapted for visually impaired users

would be one of the pillars of an integrated library. Enrolment of visually impaired users in Indian

universities is showing a good number of percentage. Universities are also taking initiatives to setup

special centres within its library for these special need users and Central University of Gujarat is one

of them. In this poster we have presented a case study done of the information services and

resources available for users of Leaning Center for Visually Impaired, Central University of Gujarat.

We also focused on salient features, special services, resources, futuristic plans of this centre.

Analysing the feedback from users some propositions have given to concern authority for further

betterment of services.

DAIZY book reader

LIFE-2017, Library of IISER, Pune

Index Basic-D V5 tractor fed Braille embosser

Introduction Information and communication

technology (ICT) changed the present

scenario of information accessibility for

the visually impaired users in such a

way that no one had thought ever before.

University libraries are taking benefit

of it to cater the special user’s need.

In spite of expressing a strong

commitment towards equal rights and

opportunity for all, libraries are lagging

behind the benchmark of services, which

can be provided within the capacity.

Users feed backAfter the analysis of feed backs from

visually impaired users it was found that

they are happy with services provided to

them compared to their previous

university and they have rated 4 out of 5

point scale.

User’s expectations Expertise information literacy program

more frequently.

Regional as well as foreign languages

conversion system should be

established .

Research output of different

languages should be made available

in Braille form .

Future Plans To keep pace of perennial

development access to these

resources will be made to satisfy

users need.

Center will allow nearby universities

visually impaired to access these

resources.

More user friendly multilingual

software (like ABBY, NVDA) will be

installed in coming days.

Conclusion To minimize the digital divide between

sighted and unsighted person, only we

have to extend our hands by providing

information on their electronic gadgets.

Establishing this kind of center more

and more will help to reach the goal of

“Information for all” in near future.

Kurzweil 1000 read software MAGic 13.1 screen magnifier

User scanning himself and hearing by SARA at CUG

Angel Pro low cost talking

Methodology

Case study.

Interviewed two students, one faculty

and the Librarian of the Central

Library, Central University of Gujarat.

10 questions were asked to the

users.

Analysed feedbacks and have given

some propositions for improvement of

services.