This study is a survey of the services to mobility handicapped persons in the 62 public and special libraries among 93 in Korea as of 1985.
The survey used a questionnaire with 22 questions for the public libraries and 27 questions for the special li...
This study is a survey of the services to mobility handicapped persons in the 62 public and special libraries among 93 in Korea as of 1985.
The survey used a questionnaire with 22 questions for the public libraries and 27 questions for the special libraries concerning the basic elements of the library service to the crippled persons.
The survey results revealed many problems demanding correction.
The measures to correct the problems in the public and special libraries are as follows.
1. Grading of the ground for a ground-level entrance should be planned. It is desirable that walks should be at least 152.4㎝ wide with a grade no greater than 8.33% and with a clearance no less than 152.4㎝×152.4㎝ at the top.
2. All doors should be operable by an automatic, or single effort, and a kick plate of 40.6㎝ high for wheelchairs is needed. In addition, a clear opening width no less than 81.3㎝ for all interior and exterior doorways is needed.
3. It is desirable that all aisles should be 152.4∼181.8㎝ wide and space between stacks should be 138∼182㎝ wide.
4. In more than 2 floors, elevators or ramps instead of stairs are needed. Ramps, interior or exterior, should have a slope less than 8.33%, nonslip surfaces, clearance of at least 91.4㎝×91.4㎝ at the middle and 152.4㎝×152.4㎝ at the top, and at least one handrail with 81.28㎝ high.
5. It is advisable that rest rooms should have enterance no less than 90.9㎝ wide, doors no less than 81.3㎝ wide, and at least one toilet stall 50.8㎝ high with handrail 83.8㎝ high on each side.
6. It is desirable that the height of coin phones should be 80∼96㎝.
7. It is advisable that the table height should be 80㎝ without aprons and pedestals.
8. It is desirable that the maximum shelving height should not exceed 151㎝. And it is desirable that the bottom shelf has a ground clearance of about 25㎝.
9. It is advisable that the maximum height of card cabinets should be 107㎝. And it is advisable that the bottom trays has a ground clearance of about 40㎝.
10. It is desirable that the circulation desk should be 80㎝ high and 30㎝ deep.
11. It is advisable that public libraries should provide the basic library services within the building to mobility handicapped persons, such as preparing wheelchairs and page turners, retrieval of material from shelves for mobility handicapped users, readers' advisory, information and referal service on community sources for handicapped users, book discussion and film program for handicapped persons, etc.
12. It is desirable that public libraries should offer the extension services to mobility handicapped persons, such as loan of books by mail, outreach services by library staff or volunteers, publicity concerned to the library service activities, and providing collections to facilities for mobility handicapped persons.