Discover the World with Other Senses
Improving knowledge in the library system of how to serve people with sight disabilities.
The Local Challenge
Liepaja Central Scientific Library (LCSL) is a public library in the Liepaja municipality. It provides the biggest network of information, cultural and lifelong learning centres in the region. In July 2023, the Dienvidrietumu Library, a specialist library for visually impaired people, joined this network with its own specific knowledge, experience and a community of library readers. Librarians from other branches of LCSL have limited knowledge, experience and equipment to work with people with print disabilities. To address this situation, the Liepaja Society for the Blind group is developing skills across this library network.
The Initiative
The project partners plan are collaborating with school speech therapists, city social workers and students of the social work programmes at the local universities to learn how to serve people with print disabilities (people with visual impairments or low vision as well as reading or other physical disabilities). In addition, they see general society has a limited awareness about the needs of people with print disabilities and the broad spectrum of disabilities relating to low vision. They are expanding general knowledge on this through the libraries as well as encouraging visitors with print disabilities to attend the other library spaces.
After The Europe Challenge
The project partners have developed tools and access to their library services and are opening up to people with different kinds of physical and mental capacities. They have become a very trusted local institution to these new visitors and have created an example in that embracing diversity is beneficial for everyone. They plan to extend their training to other librarians in other districts to widen the accessibility of libraries that can provide the necessary tools and services to access information for everybody, regardless of their age, income level or physical ability.
Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.
