Information Behaviour of Students Living With Visual Impairments in University Libraries: A Review of Related Literature

Abstract

Reviews related empirical and theoretical literature on the information behaviour of students living with visual impairments in university libraries. The literature reviewed show that students living with visual impairments in University libraries need information for writing assignments, tests, examinations, research and more like their counterparts without visual impairments. In addition, the sources of information preferred by students living with visual impairments include library staff, classmates, friends, readers employed by disability units to assist them to read, OPAC and databases. Furthermore, their preferred sources of information should be appropriately packaged in print and electronic formats. The literature further reveals that assistive technologies can effectively be used to facilitate access to information by students living with visual impairments in University libraries. It was revealed that shortage of information resources in Braille and large print, inaccessible library buildings and lack of assistive technologies are the major challenges affecting access to and use of information by students living with visual impairments.Therefore necessary policy and practical interventions where they do not exist should be promulgated so that assistive technologies, infrastructure (e.g. building layout) and resources are made available to alleviate these challenges facing students living with visual impairments in the universities.