Issued by An Chomhairle Leabharlanna (The Library Council) No. 244 October 2004 ISSN 0332-0049
SOUNDS REASONABLE NEW LEARNING CENTRE FOR LOUTH COUNTY LIBRARY An Chomhairle Leabharlanna and The Equality Authority have published Making Access Happen, the second publication dealing On Friday 23rd April Mr Dermot Ahern, T.D., then Minister for with the reasonable accommodation of people with disabilities. Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, officially opened Making Access Happen was launched by Kildare County Manager, a new Learning Centre, in the County Library, Dundalk. The idea Niall Bradley (below) at the National Library, on 23rd September. for a Learning Centre stemmed from a visit undertaken by the former County Manager, John Quinlivan, to a similar model in Middlesbrough. The project of setting up the Learning Centre was a joint initiative between the library service and the Social Inclusion Unit of Louth Local Authorities. The Social Inclusion Unit is one of eight pilot units established in various local authorities around the country as a result of the government’s commitment to tackle poverty, inequality and social exclusion in Irish society. The main objectives of the unit are as follows: ¥ To build on, and develop current social inclusion related activities in the local authority; ¥ To pilot new projects aimed at addressing social exclusion and disadvantage in each section of the local authority; ¥ To carry out research into the causes and effects of social exclusion and disadvantage; ¥ To mainstream social inclusion in the local authority corporate planning process. The Learning Centre is targeted at people who have experienced a disadvantage in accessing education and training in the past. The project was unique in that the local agencies and education providers were involved in the setting up of the Centre, from the start, and had a major input into all aspects of its development. The Learning Centre consists of 10 thin client computers, LCD projector and screen, network printer, tutorial space for 10 persons and a resource area. Groups are accompanied by a tutor from their own agency, while individual users follow the self directed computer learning programmes, with backup support, when needed, from library staff.
Other speakers at the launch were Josephine Brady (County Librarian, Cavan County Council), Karen Erwin (Chairperson of the Equality Authority), Niall Crowley (CEO, Equality Authority) and Norma McDermott (Director, An Chomhairle Leabharlanna). Making Access Happen explores practical initiatives to reasonably accommodate library users with disabilities. It is based on four pilot projects in Cavan, Dublin City, Kildare and Mayo public library services. These projects tested out new approaches to ensuring the library service is relevant and accessible to people with disabilities. It is hoped that these approaches can now be taken up across the library sector and within the local authorities where they are located. The booklet is the second element in a joint project between An Chomhairle and the Equality Authority: Library Access, published in 2003, provided guidelines on reasonable accommodation for public libraries. Back row standing (from left to right): Mr John Quinlivan Copies of both publications are available free of charge from An (Former Louth County Manager), Mr Seamus Byrne (chairman, Chomhairle Leabharlanna or The Equality Authority or it may be Dundalk Town Council), Mr Ger Murphy (Social Inclusion Officer), downloaded in either PDF or RTF format from our website at Ms Mary Capplis (Assistant Librarian) Mr Michael Curran (Director www.librarycouncil.ie of Services, Community & Enterprise). Seated: Mr Dermot Ahern, Minister for Communications, Marine For further information please contact Alun Bevan in An and Natural Resources and Ms Martina Moloney (Louth County Chomhairle Leabharlanna. Manager). news & events
Q: What does Helsinki City Library have in common with libraries This course was officially launched to mark National Heritage in some of the poorest areas of Bogotá (Columbia) and Cape Week (5th-12th September). Other events organised in Fingal Town (South Africa), a network of libraries and technology centres County Libraries included: Dublin 15 and Beyond Ð a talk and in rural Guatemala and the Biblioteca del Congreso in Argentina? exhibition of sketches by local author Cecil Coyne in and A: They are all past recipients of the Bill and Melinda Gates Exploring the Unique Landscape of the Liffey Valley by Professor Foundation’s Access to Learning award. The award is open to J V Rice. public libraries, or similar organisations, outside of the United States which offer free access to digital information to the public. Preference Galway County Library: The former UK Secretary of State for is given to organisations that reach out to underserved populations, International Development, Claire Short MP, was a recent visitor to such as poor or disabled patrons, or those from minority groups. This the public library in Spiddal, County Galway. year, the award of US$1 million was shared by Aarhus Public Libraries and China’s Evergreen Rural Library Service. Aarhus Public Libraries was awarded the 2004 Access to Learning Award for its extensive training and technology programs, and commitment to delivering innovative library services to disadvantaged refugee and immigrant communities in Denmark.