Inclusiveness of academic libraries: The case of assistive and adaptive technologies
| dc.contributor.author | Kiana, Lucy | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ujakpa, Martin Mabeifam | |
| dc.contributor.author | Leonard, Anna | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2022-01-26T07:04:08Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2022-01-26T07:04:08Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study assessed the state of inclusiveness of academic libraries in Namibia and Ghana by examining the adoption of assistive and adaptive technologies in their spaces and services to cater for users with disabilities. Applying a quantitative design approach, data were collected though face to face interviews from a sample of 12 library staff , 7 lecturers and 9 disabled students. The study found that the state of adoption of assistive and adaptive technologies is poor. Very minimum assistive and adaptive technologies are available in the libraries. Several reasons accounted for the minimum ATs in libraries but most prominent among them is lack of knowledge on ATs. As a result of this, library inclusion in terms of ATs ranged from very poor to fair. Lack of policy and financial constraints were cited as barriers for creating inclusive libraries. The study recommends the formulation and implementation of policies governing libraries to make them more inclusive; provision of adequate funds to academic libraries to enable them to incorporate assistive and adaptive technologies in their spaces and services. This study used a few university libraries from Namibia and Ghana and hence generalizing the result should be done with caution. Future studies should include more libraries including national and community libraries. This study has made a significant contribution in the understanding of the adoption of assistive technologies by academic libraries in providing spaces and services to users with disabilities. The findings and recommendations could also benefit similar academic libraries and further research in developing countries. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Kiana, L., Ujakpa, M.M., & Leonard, A. (2021). Inclusiveness of academic libraries: The case of assistive and adaptive technologies. In C. Mnubi-Mchombu., Nengomasha, C., W. Uutoni (Ed.), Proceedings of the 24th Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations, pp. 20-31. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3117 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | Assistive/ adaptive technologies | en_US |
| dc.subject | Inclusive libraries | en_US |
| dc.subject | Inclusiveness | en_US |
| dc.subject | Disabled users | en_US |
| dc.title | Inclusiveness of academic libraries: The case of assistive and adaptive technologies | en_US |
| dc.type | Article | en_US |