Academic librarian perceptions of facilities and services for persons with visual impairments

Abstract

Persons with disabilities have physical or intellectual limitations on doing things they want, especially finding information and increasing knowledge at the library. As an information center, the academic library must provide facilities and services for persons with disabilities. This study aims to analyze the perceptions of academic librarians regarding facilities and services for people with visual impairments. This study uses a qualitative approach through interviews with ten people: head librarians, librarians, functional persons in the disability service unit, and persons with visual impairments. The analysis revealed that, from the 12 conceptual themes identified in the qualitative data, the library's services remain suboptimal and essential facilities for visually impaired people are lacking. Data was gleaned through three methodologies: observation, interviews, and documentary analysis. There is no collaboration between university libraries, faculty libraries, disability service units, and students with disabilities, which affects the knowledge of the head of the library and librarians. The study concludes that the lack of accessibility and library policies for people with visual impairments and the lack of collaboration with disability service providers have impacted the librarians' professionalism.