Serving the Needs of Visually Impaired Information Seekers in UK Public Libraries.

This paper reports on a 1999 study of services to visually impaired users in United Kingdom (U.K.) public libraries. Data were gathered using a mail questionnaire survey of all U.K. public library authorities: 208 in all, of whom 141 responded. Findings are reported in the following areas: (1) information needs; (2) the context of the provision of information services, including campaigns for accessible information, commercial organizations, access technologies, and European Union initiatives; and (3) information provision through U.K. public libraries, including policy statements, budgetary provision, staffing, partnerships, service evaluation, materials provision, library statistics, equipment, provision and access, and promotion. The conclusion discusses issues that impact on public library services, including fragmentation of resources, as well as exclusion and segregation of visually impaired users. (Contains 15 references.) (MES)