Disability policies to guide the provision of facilities, services and resources to students with disabilities: The case of ten Ghanaian academic libraries

IF 2.5 3区管理学 Q2 INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE

Journal of Academic Librarianship Pub Date : 2024-11-01 DOI:10.1016/j.acalib.2024.102970

Augustine Aduko Alu , Lizette King

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Ghanaian students with disabilities face challenges in accessing facilities, services and resources in academic libraries.

Purpose

This study examines the existence of disability policies to guide the provision of facilities, services and resources to students with disabilities in ten Ghanaian academic libraries.

Method

Qualitative data gathered using document analysis and interviews with 28 university librarians, heads of disability units and heads of development officers was analyzed and themed using AtlasTi software. The study was underpinned by the Social Model of Disability.

Findings

Seven Ghanaian public university libraries did not have disability policies resulting in limited accessibility to physical libraries, inaccessible library websites, OPACs and databases as well as inadequate alternative format resources and assistive technologies needed by students with impairments.

Practical implications

Ghanaian public universities may redesign their libraries to accommodate students with disabilities and as such motivate them to pursue and complete tertiary programs. If more students with disabilities can access and utilise academic libraries, the cost effectiveness of libraries, services, and collections would improve.

Originality/value

Originality lies in the applied methodological triangulation to determine how disability policies guide the provision of facilities, services and resources to students.

查看原文本刊更多论文

指导向残疾学生提供设施、服务和资源的残疾政策：十所加纳学术图书馆的案例

背景加纳残疾学生在使用学术图书馆的设施、服务和资源方面面临挑战。目的本研究探讨了加纳十所学术图书馆是否制定了残疾政策，以指导向残疾学生提供设施、服务和资源。方法通过文件分析和对 28 名大学图书馆员、残疾部门负责人和发展官员进行访谈收集到的定性数据，并使用 AtlasTi 软件对这些数据进行了分析和专题研究。研究结果七所加纳公立大学图书馆没有制定残疾政策，导致实体图书馆的无障碍程度有限，图书馆网站、OPAC 和数据库无法访问，替代格式资源和残疾学生所需的辅助技术不足。如果更多的残疾学生能够进入并利用学术图书馆，那么图书馆、服务和藏书的成本效益将得到改善。原创性/价值原创性在于应用三角测量方法确定残疾政策如何指导向学生提供设施、服务和资源。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Academic Librarianship INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE-

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

15.40%

发文量

120

审稿时长

29 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Academic Librarianship, an international and refereed journal, publishes articles that focus on problems and issues germane to college and university libraries. JAL provides a forum for authors to present research findings and, where applicable, their practical applications and significance; analyze policies, practices, issues, and trends; speculate about the future of academic librarianship; present analytical bibliographic essays and philosophical treatises. JAL also brings to the attention of its readers information about hundreds of new and recently published books in library and information science, management, scholarly communication, and higher education. JAL, in addition, covers management and discipline-based software and information policy developments.