Library education and disability issues

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Koulikourdi, Anna

Affiliations: Athens Information Technology Institute (AIT) Library, Marcopoulo Avenue, 190 02 Peania, Athens, Greece. Tel.: +30 2 10 6682737; Fax: +30 2 10 6682739; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: This paper aims at presenting disability issues in library and information science education in general and in Greece in particular. It also examines whether issues such as people with disabilities, accessibility, alternative format material and assistive technologies are incorporated in the library schools' curricula. Furthermore, the results of this study depict that library education still focuses on services for non-disabled users and the level of awareness of the needs of disabled library users' is lower than necessary. This paper is useful for all stakeholders in the LIS field (faculty and students) so as to help them understand the importance of library services for people with disabilities, review their curricula and finally, incorporate disabled patrons in them.

Keywords: LIS studies, education, disabled people

DOI: 10.3233/EFI-2008-263-404

Journal: Education for Information, vol. 26, no. 3-4, pp. 203-212, 2008