Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

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Browsing Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences by Author "Nyaboke,Onsinyo, Charity"

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    CHALLENGES OF ACCESSING LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICESFORPERSONSWITHDISABILITIESINUNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN MERU COUNTY, KENYA
    (IJEBMR, 2018) Nyaboke,Onsinyo, Charity
    Despite the availability of library and information services in University libraries, the servicesare not accessible and optimallyutilized and benefited bypersons with disabilities (PWDs). This is becausethetypicallibrary favorstheable-bodied patrons more. Therefore, thisstudysought to find out challenges that Persons withDisabilities inUniversitylibraries in Meru Countyfaced in accessing library and information services and to present practical solutions that wereappropriateto thesituation. The researcher adopted descriptivesurveydesign. The studytargeted four (4) University Libraries in Meru County. The study population comprised of all professionally trained librarians from the selected universities and all library users with disabilities with biasness towards the visually impaired, the hearing impaired and the mobility impaired. A purposive sampling technique was employed and the sample size was fifty five (55) respondents composing of thirty one (31) librarians, six (6) visually impaired library users, sixteen (16) mobility impaired library users and two (2) hard hearing users. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedule. Data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using descriptive statistics. The results were presented by use of percentages, frequency tables, bar graphs and pie-charts. The evidence emanating from the study strongly indicated that provisionoflibraryand informationservices inthe four libraries to students withdisabilities was largely characterized structural inadequacies, unskilled staff , and absence of internally formulated policy frameworks. In particular, the study revealed that the libraries had nosufficient facilities, resources and equipment such as the lifts, spacious ramps, Braille materials, hearing aids required bystudents withdisabilities. Thus, the studyconcluded thatthe libraries do not have the needs of students with disabilities at heart. The study makes several recommendations for considerations to the research community, librarydecision makers, staff at the various library sections and to students with disabilities themselves