A Study on Librarian Service Providers' Awareness and Perceptions of Library Services for the Disabled

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to improve library promotional marketing for thedisabled by identifying requirements of public library disability services. This study aimed to investigate librarian service providers' awareness of libraryprograms for the disabled in order to prepare a systematic plan for promotingsuch library services. Research methods used are a literature analysis and survey. First, the ratio of respondents with experience promoting activities and servicesfor the disabled was less than 50%. Second, regarding methods for promotinglibrary disability services, the respondents used library homepages, press releases,library user guides, library newsletters, and library pamphlets in that order. Third, when asked what kind of PR media the library disability service providershad experience with and how often they use it, library boards and bannerswere the most common response. Fourth, suggested improvements to the currentdesign and content of PR materials included: clearer word choice (or greaterunderstandability), more detailed descriptions, simpler layouts, and more interestingor eye-catching content in that order. Fifth, the library disability serviceswhich are in the most need of public relations were guide information for librarydisability services, Library and Information Service (DOI services and searchservices), using alternative materials and the library collection, and aiding theinformation search. Overall, when evaluating the promotion of disability services in Korea, thelibrary's public relations for disabled services needs to improve because currentlyneither librarians nor the disabled community they are targeting has frequentor quality experience with it.. Thus, the policy department for the library disabilityservices must develop a variety of promotional strategies adjusted for eachtype of the disability and distribute PR materials to service providers individually,making sure to utilize effective PR methods.