Restricted Technical Report RP/1979-80/5/10.1/05 MALAYSIA

Technical cooperation with M e m b e r States in the field of information on operational projects

Library Services for the Visually Handicapped

by Ragnhild Berntsson

ARCHIVES PC/

Serial N o . F M R / P G I / 8 0 / 1 6 6

NESCfl Paris, 1980

M A L A Y S I A

LIBRARY SERVICES FöR THE VISUALLY HANDICAPPED

by Ragnhild Berntsson

Report prepared for the Government oí! Malaysia by the united Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco)

Ü N E S C 0

Technical Report RP/1979-80/5/10.l/05 FMEl/PGl/80/166(Berntsson)

,30 September 1980

* © Unesco 1980 Printed in France

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ft

Page

Summary 3

Acknowledgements 3

Introduction 4

Main findings and conclusions 4

Recommendations for future action 13

Summary of recommendations 14

ANNEXES:

I - ROUND TABLE LIBRARIES FOR THE BLIND 15

II - SOME ADDRESSES OF FIRMS DEALING IN TECHNICAL AIDS FOR THE VISUALLY HANDICAPPED 16

III - TENTATIVE COST FIGURES 17

List of abbreviations used

GEATC Gumey Evaluation and Adjustment Training Centre

IFIA International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

KL Kuala Lumpur

MAB Malayan Association for the Blind

FES Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind

SBWM Society of the Blind in West Malaysia

BAM Brother Augustus of Mary Library for the Blind

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Summary

This report was prepared for the Government of Malaysia after a one-month consultant mission to provide guidance for the development of library services for the visually handicapped (initially comprising the National Library, the university Library, Universiti Malaya, the public libraries, the libraries of the Malayan Association for the Blind, St.Nicholas School for the Blind, Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind) which might serve as a model for library cooperation and library services for the visually handicapped in the Asian region.

During the mission a survey was made of the existing library services : the Braille book library at MAB, the talking-book libraries at St.Nicholas School for the Blind and at the University Library, Universiti Malaya. Two-track cassettes are being used for talking-books in Malaysia. The Library of the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind and some public libraries were also visited by the consultant. Every state of Malaysia has a public library, and many are equipped with book mobiles, which could be used to bring library services to the visually handicapped in the rural areas. The mission was carried out in close cooperation with the National Library, where a seminar/dialogue session was held and the above-mentioned survey presented.

Acknowledgements

The consultant expresses her great appreciation for the assistance given by the Ministry of Welfare Services, the National Library, the Public Libraries, the University Library, Universiti Malaya, the University Library, Universiti Sains Malaysia, the Malayan Association for the Blind, the Society of the Blind in West Malaysia, the St.Nicholas School for the Blind, the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind, the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, the Lincoln Cultural Centre, the British Council and the Brother Augustus of Mary Library for the Blind.

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INTRODUCTION

1. At the request of the Government of Malaysia, the Director-General of Unesco arranged a one-month consultant mission within the framework of Unesco's

Participation Programme for 1979-1980. The mission was carried out from 14 April to 14 May 1980 with the following terms of reference:

in close co-operation with the government authorities, organize a seminar on the provision of library services for the visually handicapped and survey existing library resources and facilities for the visually handicapped.

/ 2. The project was executed in close co-operation with the National Library,

with kind assistance given by Mr. D.E.K. Wijasuriya, Executive Director-General of the National Library, and his staff. Visits were paid to the Malaysian National Comnission for Unesco, where useful information was received from Mr. S. Sachihanandam. A survey of existing library services and facilities for the visually handicapped was made. Visits were paid to: the Ministry of Welfare Services; the University Library, Universiti Malaya; the Malayan Association for the Blind; the Society of the Blind in West Malaysia; the St. Nicholas School and Home for the Visually Handicapped, Penang; the B.A.M. Library for the Blind, Penang; the Public Library-Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Pulau Penang; the Audiovisual Section, University Library, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang; the Public Library-Perpustakaan Tun Razak, Ipoh; Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind, Johore Bahru; the Public Library-Perpustakaan Sultan Ismail, Johore Bahru; the Public Library of Selangor-Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Negeri Selangor, Kuala Lumpur; the Audiovisual Section of the Library of the British Council, Kuala Lumpur; the Library of the Lincoln Cultural Centre, Kuala Lumpur; the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Language and Literary Agency of the Ministry of Education), regarding book production in large print and readership promotion campaign. A meeting was also held with the Education Working Committee of the Malayan Association for the Blind.

3. A seminar-dialogue session was held at the National Library on 12 May 1980 with representatives from the Ministry of Education; the National Library;

the Public Libraries of the different States of Malaysia; the University Library; Universiti Malaya; the B.A.M.; the SBWM; the Specialist Teachers' Training College; the St. Nicholas School for the Blind; the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind; the B.A.M. Library for the Blind, Penang; the Lincoln Cultural Centre; Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka; Sek. Men. Khas Kanak-kanak Buta; Perpustakaan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

4. It was noted that, for the production of talking books, the-same type of two-track-compactus-cassette was used throughout the country.

5. All of the 13 States of Malaysia have a Public Library that could serve as a kind of network for the distribution of library services to the visually

handicapped.

6. The library services to the visually handicapped should include books in Braille; large-print books; talking-books; audiovisual aids; as well as

librarians especially in charge of these services.-

MAIN FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

The National Library

7. In 1971 the National Library of Malaysia was formally established, and in 1972 the National Library Act was passed by the Parliament of Malaysia.

The National Library already holds some large-print books, mainly in English.

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The present book collection consists of 40 percent Malay and 60 percent English books. The goal is to have 60 percent Malay and 40 percent English books. At present there is little space for an audiovisual section in the National Library. However, some place could be found to store some audiovisual aids such as different kinds of tape recorders as well as information on Braille books and talking-books already available in the country or from abroad. In the new building of the National Library - planned to be constructed in 1983 - there will be a special audiovisual section with good library services for the visually handicapped.

Visit to the Ministry of Welfare Services

8. Statistics on the blind population are based on the 1958-1959 survey carried out by the Department of Social Welfare. This survey revealed that the

handicapped made up approximately one percent of the population of West Malaysia. Of this figure the blind comprised 0.32 percent. Taking the population of West Malaysia to be 12 million, we arrive at a figure of approximately 120,000 disabled persons, thus giving us a projected estimate of 40,000 blind. Since registration of the blind is not compulsory in Malaysia, only 8,000 blind people have registered so far with the Ministry of Welfare Services. Another reason for the small fraction of registered blind is that most of the blind people are old persons who do not want to register. Cultural beliefs, too, preclude many from registration. The main causes of blindness in Malaysia are infections, injuries and industrial and road accidents; other less important causes include cataract, glaucoma, nutritional blindness, hereditary and congenital blindness, as well as retinal detachment. Primary education for the blind is free, just as it is for sighted children. There are two residential primary schools for the blind - the St. Nicholas School for the Blind in Penang and the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind in Johore Bahru. In these schools the children are also given free board, accommodation and clothing, as well as some pocket allowance. There are also many Open Education programmes throughout the country. Malaysia's goal for 1981 - the International Year of the Disabled - will be integration of the disabled in the general population.

9. With regard to library services for the visually handicapped and talking-books, great interest was shown in use of the talking-books, not only for the

visually handicapped but aiso for other handicapped persons, and even for non-readers or illiterates. In this connection, close attention should be paid to the copyright law. It is very important to provide talking-books for persons other than the visually handicapped (i.e. the physically and mentally handicapped). It is worth considering whether the use of the talking-books would deter illiterates from learning to read, although it may be preferable to acquire knowledge through talking-books than not at all. In any case, it must be stressed that talking-books should be used primarily for the visually and otherwise handicapped. •

The University Library, Universiti Malaya

10. Since 1970, the University of Malaya has integrated blind students with the sighted. So far the University has graduated eight blind students. A few

Braille titles have been acquired by the Library and carrel facilities are provided for every blind student. In 1979, the University administration also undertook to issue on long-term loan tape recorders to any blind student too poor to purchase his own machine. For the new decade of the eighties, the University intends to launch a new programme to provide more facilities and services for the blind students on campus. The core of the programme is a project to create and to maintain a store of master tapes in the Library, so that:

(i) readers' efforts are not lost when students leave;

(ii) a store of essential core readings is slowly built up in readiness for blind students ;

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(iii) students are able to tape not only this Library's resources, but also have access to those of overseas as well, including the massive tape collection at the Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

11. To carry out this project, 500 blank high-fidelity cassette tapes have been presented to the University Library by the Association of British Women in

Malaysia. Ten ladies of this Association have volunteered to read for the project in order to create a store of master tapes. Tandberg recording equipment has been acquired for this purpose. When a student needs a book not yet available as a talking-book, it is taped at the University Library, either by volunteers or by the library staff. About nine titles were being produced in 1980, including some books in Malay. When a student needs a talking-book in English, the librarians check whether it is available from the Library of Congress or from the Royal National Institute for the Blind; if it is, the book is borrowed from overseas. The talking-books for the blind are sent post-free. However, international loans raise a problem, in that different types of cassettes are used for talking-books. The United Kingdom uses a larger type of cassette (the Clarke & Smith cassette), while the United States of America and parts of Australia and Canada are using the four-track cassette at a lower speed. As Clarke & Smith cassettes were used for producing the first talking-books in Malaysia at St. Nicholas School for the Blind in Penang, some Clarke & Smith tape recorders are still available in Malaysia for listening to these cassettes. The University Library has ordered the four-track machines from the United States of America to be able to lend them to the students.

The Malayan Association for the Blind (MAB)

12. Miss Winnie Ng, Executive Director of MAB provided information about the aims of her association:

(i) to help blind individuals to adjust to their blindness;

(ii) to prepare blind persons for a vocation and so a gainful and in­dependent life;

(iii) to inform and educate the public to be aware of the needs, abilities and capabilities of the blind and so to afford them opportunities for employment;

(iv) to undertake and encourage measures for the prevention of blindness.

13. The MAB provides numerous services for the visually handicapped in Malaysia. These services include programmes on rehabilitation, education, vocational

training and placement. It also has a programme on prevention of blindness, whereby thousands of persons are being examined annually for eye defects through its Mobile Eye Clinic. Many, too, have their sight restored through its "Operation Cataract" Projects. More recently it has embarked on an effort to enlist eye donors for corneal grafting and restoration of sight. MAB runs one residential school (the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind (PES), accepting 90 children from 6 to 13 years) and one rehabilitation training centre: the Gurney Evaluation and Adjust­ment Training Centre (GEATC), in Kuala Lumpur, with a capacity of 50 persons, aged from 16 to 30.

14. The services of GEATC are evaluation and adjustment programmes : counselling; case work; psychological assessments; orientation and mobility; techniques of

daily living; communication skills as well as vocational training; stenography; telephony; light engineering and cane work.

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,,15. MAB also runs a Rural Training Centre in Pahang: capacity; 40,persons, aged 18-35; training in agriculture and animal husbandry, viz: rubber and

rice cultivation, fruit and vegetable planting, poultry, quail and goat rearing; local craftmaking and domestic training (cooking, sewing, housekeeping, etc.). Concerning library services to the visually handicapped, MAB also runs the Braille Publishing Unit and the Braille Library. The Braille Publishing Unit, established in 1959, is responsible for the transcription and printing of all the Braille textbooks for schools and universities. It sells special equipment for the blind i.e. Braille watches, white canes, etc. It also runs the Braille Library established in 1951. Provides Braille Lending Library Service. At present, about one-third of the Braille books is in Malay and two-thirds are in English; this will soon be the reverse i.e. two-thirds in Malay and one-third: in English. The talking-books and the Braille books are post-free. At present, 395 readers are registered at the MAB library and half of them are regular borrowers. It is mostly students who are borrowing the Braille books. The library holds at present 1,754 titles in 3,745 volumes. Currently, 70 titles are produced each year. The Braille Publishing Unit is assisted by volunteers. The production of Braille books is concentrated on textbooks in the first part of the year, i.e. from January to August; from August to December there is more time available for fiction. Miss Anna Koay of the Braille Publishing Unit, and the Braille Library informed the consultant that the MAB at the time, could meet the demand for Braille books in Malaysia. As the Braille books are very bulky, a need for more space was expressed. The MAB would be happy to deposit Braille books at the National Library as well as at public libraries and blind schools.

The Society of the Blind in West Malaysia (SBWM)

16. A pleasant meeting was arranged with some of the members of SBWM, among others the former president Mr. Ivan Ho, the former secretary, Mr. Liong

Teck Yau and the present editor Mr. Lim Wah Heng. With a nucleus of 20 members, the Selangor Society of the Blind, the first organization of the blind in Malaysia, was established in 1964. For the most part of its first decade, its main emphasis had been on social activities. This was done with the aim of pro­viding fellowship for members and building up their self-confidence.

17. In 1972, at the Society's eighth Annual General Meeting, it was resolved that the State-based Selangor Society of the Blind should become a national

organization: the Society of the Blind in West Malaysia. This decision enabled the Society to programme its activities to serve a wider area and a larger number of blind people.

18. In addition, to improve its social activities, SBWM has oriented its develop­ment towards the welfare of the blind. To give an example, the SBWM EMPLOY­

MENT FUND was started in order to improve and widen the scope of employment opportunities for the blind in Malaysia and to co-operate in this field with other organizations in establishing similar projects for the blind.

19. The Society also conducts and sponsors surveys and/or research. Since the introduction of this scheme it has granted two requests for assistance.

They were:

(i) an interest-free loan to enable a member to start a small business ; and

(ii) a grant to three blind persons in a rural area who wanted to develop their lands for cultivation and poultry rearing.

The money for this project was made available to the Society by the Royal Common­wealth Society for the Blind.

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20. The SBWM edits a review: HARAPAN ORANG ORANG BUTA which appears on an irregular basis several times per year. The consultant gave a copy of the

latest issue to the National Library. This review contains a great deal of use­ful information that could be of value to the public as well as to library staff; it is hoped that soon it will be available in all public libraries, in schools for the blind as well as in the Specialist Teachers * Training College and in the university Library.

21. The plans for an audiovisual section in the new building of the National Library were much appreciated. However, one problem was touched upon:

with the heavy traffic in Kuala Lumpur how will the blind persons reach the library? This problem might be solved by the creation of some sort of transport service, either organized by the library or by volunteers: there might be a special telephone number the blind could call in order to get information on transport services. Great interest was shown in the possibility of setting up a service in the library to which the blind could apply to get information : for example request a newspaper article or a reference in an encyclopaedia. The library would then have these things read on to a cassette and would send it to the blind. The visually handicapped seem to prefer having such a reading service instead of having to consult a Braille encyclopaedia that is somewhat bulky. There was a great demand for dramas on cassettes. Maybe the National Library could register the dramas broadcast over the radio so that, later, cassettes could be borrowed by the visually handicapped,. other handicapped persons and maybe anyone desiring to do so. Some agreement with the radio could be reached on this matter. Why not start such a service in 1981, The International Year of the Disabled?

Visit to the St. Nicholas School and Home for the Visually Handicapped

22. The St. Nicholas School for the Blind was established by the Anglican Medical Mission in Malacca in 1926. It was moved to Penang in 1931. Until

the creation of the Malayan Association for the Blind in 1951, St. Nicholas was the only organization in the country for the blind. Since 1951, its objectives have been to supplement and complement the work of the MAB and the government and to pioneer new services for the blind in Peninsular Malaysia wherever necessary and possible. From the outset, St. Nicholas was established to serve the visually handicapped of all races and religions.

23. The school receives substantial partial aid from the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Welfare Services makes a small annual grant to the Occupation

Centre and a few northern States also contribute yearly. The organization is heavily dependent on voluntary donations for its running expenses. This primary school is residential and provides primary education for visually handicapped children from 6 to 15 years, with accommodation for up to l'OO children.

24. The St. Nicholas School has a talking-book library and produces talking-books. Books which have been recorded on tape are lent free of charge to

registered visually handicapped members throughout Malaysia and Singapore. From the beginning, the Clarke & Smith type of cassette was used. However, the deci­sion has recently been taken to turn over the production to two-track compactus cassettes. The reason for this is that the tape recorders for the two-track cassettes are easily available in Malaysia and are also easily repaired in the country. The talking-book production unit has already started to transform the Clarke & Smith cassettes to two-track cassettes. Talking-books are recorded at the studio of the St. Nicholas School which produces about 50 titles per year, both in Malay and in English. The production centre holds about 400 master-tapes, the majority of which are in English. There is a great need for readers in Malay.

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The English readers are usually volunteers. The library holds 33 books in Malay on cassettes. The talking-books in English include books by John Braine, Pearl Buck, Joseph Conrad, E.M. Forster, William Golding, Graham Greene, Ernest Hemingway, Aldous Huxley, Somerset Maugham, Mario Puzo, Nevil Shute, Agatha Christie, Alistair MacLean, Dorothy Sayers, Georges Simenon, R.L. Stevenson and Tolkien; you also find biographies by James Herriot, Henri Charriere, and Anne Frank, to mention but a few. The school also runs a Braille Publishing Unit. Some reading material and textbooks, both in Bahasa Malaysia and in English are produced for the use of the pupils. Lists of the talking-books available from the St. Nicholas School library have been sent to the National Library after the seminar-dialogue session. They have also been sent to public libraries, and it is hoped that they will continue to be distributed also to other institutions such as the MAB, the SBVM, the Specialist Teachers' Training College, the University Library, Universiti Malaya, and the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind.

25. At present, the school holds about 50 tape recorders of the Clarke & Smith type. These tape recorders might be distributed to the National Library,

to the University Library, the Universiti Malaya, and to public libraries. The • technician of the talking-book production unit of St. Nicholas School is trying to have a local firm produce packaging of hard plastic used to store and dispatch the cassettes. The size of the letter-boxes in the country is being considered.

26. To turn over the Clarke & Smith cassettes to two-track requires some more staff. More staff would also be needed to supply the northern part of the

country with talking-books. To produce the two-track talking-books, some more equipment would be required.

27. The Braille library urgently needs more staff,at least one librarian. At present, a teacher very interested in the library, works there in her free time

together with other volunteers. One library assistant is employed in the talking-books library. The library assistant is co-operating with the librarian of the Public Library in Penang for-the preparation of a relevant catalogue.

The B.A.M. Library and Recreation Centre for the Blind

28. This is a private library run by one of the teachers of St. Nicholas School. It is usually open during the weekends and anyone is free to borrow from the

library which contains Braille books as well as periodicals such as The Reader's Digest or the National Geographic Magazine. After the seminar-dialogue session on 12 May 1980, lists of the material available in the B.A.M. Library were sent to the National Library, public libraries, the University Library, Universiti Malaya, the Specialist Teachers' Training College, the PES, St. Nicholas School for the Blind, to the MAB as well as to the SBWM.

The Public Library, Penang - Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Pulau Pinang

29. The Public Library is very interested in library services to the visually handicapped. Co-operation with St. Nicholas School's talking-book library

has already been established in the field of cataloguing. There might be room in the Public Library to store audiovisual aids such as tape recorders. A book­mobile could bring tape recorders and talking-books to people in rural areas. The talking-book library of St. Nicholas could become a branch of the Public Library - using the facilities of St. Nicholas; this suggestion should be con­sidered further.

The Audiovisual Section, University Library, Universiti Sains, Malaysia, Penang

30. The audiovisual section of the University Library is interesting. The future audiovisual section of the National Library, Kuala Lumpur, might derive

valuable information, knowledge and ideas from this section of Universiti Sains.

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The Public Library - Perpustakaan Tun Razak, Ipoh

31. The Public Library is very interested in a library service to the visually handicapped. The library owns four Sony tape recorders (TC-63) as well as

headphones vhich are used for language courses. It also has four booths where students can sit down and listen to the courses. These tape recorders could also be used for listening to talking-books. The Public Library has the facilities for an audiovisual section.

The Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind, Johore Bahru

32. This school was established in 1948. It is a residential school providing primary education for blind children in the age group 6-13. It has a capacity

for 100 pupils. Since 1960 the school has come under the Ministry of Education. The MAB is helping financially. At present, the school has 83 children and a staff of 46 to take care of the children (13 members of the staff are teachers). Some­times volunteers come to play games, to read, or take the children out on excursions. At present, the school library has Braille books in English only (they were donated to the library) . However, those books are more suitable for adults and should be transferred to an appropriate library. There is currently a great need of books for the children of PES, particularly fiction books in Malay in Braille, large-print and talking-books. Staff is needed for the library. At present a teacher who is interested in the library takes care of it. This teacher, who is blind, is very keen to acquire a copy of the Koran in Braille for the library. He said that he had heard some years ago that Egypt sent, through Unesco, free copies of the Koran in Braille to Moslem countries and added that the PES was interested in having a copy. Interest was also shown in the Optacon, Closed Circuit TV, in a talking-book deposit, in tape recorders and (as mentioned above) in large-print short stories for children (the school has at present 22 low-vision children).

The Public Library - Perpustakaan Sultan Ismail, Johore Bahru

33. At present there is no library service in the Public Library for the visually handicapped. There is no space and no staff for it and, so far, no need

has been expressed. However, the librarian was very interested in such a service and hoped to have a section for the visually handicapped in the new library building. The library might also be able to assist the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind in library questions. The Public Library has some book-mobiles that go to rural areas. The book-mobiles could bring tape recorders and talking-books to the blind living in those areas.

The Public Library of Selangor - Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Negeri Selangor, Kuala Lumpur

34. This Public Library also has book-mobiles that go to rural areas, sometimes staying two days in one place. Projects to stimulate interest in reading are

being carried out by the library in co-operation with future teachers who go with the librarian in the book-mobiles. Reading hours, competitions are some of the programmes designed to primóte interest in libraries and in books. There are plans for a new building and for a service for the visually handicapped in this future building.

The Audiovisual Section of the British Council, Kuala Lumpur

35. This section of the British Council library offers the visually handicapped the opportunity to listen to music as well as to dramas on cassettes and

gramophone. The list of the dramas and books on cassettes available will be revised and sent to the National Library. The blind could come to this section and use the cassettes on the spot or borrow them. Usually this library is not used by the visually handicapped, probably because of lack of relevant information and of the difficulties encountered in getting there.

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The Library of the Lincoln Cultural Centre, Kuala Lumpur

36. When revised, a list of these cassettes will be sent to the National Library from this well-equipped library, which was established in 1950.

The visually handicapped are welcome to borrow books on cassettes. Great interest was shown in this Unesco project concerning library services for the visually handicapped in Malaysia and many worth-while suggestions put forward: why not start a Society of Friends of Libraries for the Visually Handicapped, and by means of this Society try to improve the provision of library services for the visually handicapped? Volunteers might help with the transportation of the visually handicapped to the services, already available, and perhaps this scheme could start during 1981, the International Year of the Disabled. Reading hours for the handicapped could be arranged at the National Library, at public libraries, at the Lincoln Cultural Centre, at the British Council; also some technical firms might be interested in depositing some audiovisual aids such as tape recorders, headphones with the National Library, public libraries, the St. Nicholas School for the Blind, the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind, the University Library, the Specialist Teachers1 Training College, the MAB and the SBWM. A weekly magazine on cassette could appear during the International Year of the Disabled as well as several radio and TV programmes dealing with the visually handicapped and their situation, their need for work, for services and recreation. Some radio programmes especially dedicated to them could be produced.

Visit to the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Language and Literary Agency of the Ministry of Education)

37. A visit was paid to the unit producing children's books. Needs for more large-print short-story books in Malay for the low-vision children were

expressed. The trend in the schools is to try to have the children use different audiovisual aids. However, for the smaller low-vision children that are as yet not so skilled in using these aids, there is a demand for such books.

38. At the Dewan Bahasa information was also given on a very interesting cam­paign run by the General Publishing Division, i.e. the READERSHIP PROMOTION

CAMPAIGN. The following is quoted from a project paper "Compared to that of many developing countries, the literacy rate in Malaysia is quite high. However, it is generally observed that the motivation to read is low. The 'Campaign' will focus on the age group of 10-40 years old. Attention will be given on this target group to inculcate reading habits. And for the schoolchildren the focus is on the reading activities outside formal school hours... The goals of the 'campaign*: To improve existing library services and to encourage the extension of library services to rural areas such as the setting up of more mobile libra­ries and reading rooms for rural populations ... To plan and carry out activities to promote good reading habits, improvement of libraries, increasing publications and indirectly improve the distribution network of reading materials... To carry out relevant pilot studies or projects related to readership 'campaign'."

39. After the visit to the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, another visit to the MAB was paid. Talking about "Readership Promotion Campaign", strong wishes

were expressed that this Campaign should include the visually handicapped.

40. The consultant attended a meeting of the MAB Education Working Conmittee held in Petaling Jaya on 10 May 1980. The following notes were taken:

Many committees are working to organize transport for the handicapped, and to enable, them to have easy access to houses. About 400-500 children are currently integrated in ordinary schools. In 1980, the first blind person was admitted to the Specialist Teachers* Training College, Kuala Lumpur. The MAB has asked the Ministry of Health to carry out a survey on the reasons for blindness in Malaysia. The Education Working Committee is striving to find new jobs and professions for the visually handicapped. A Low Vision Clinic, which volunteers

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help to run, has just started at St. Nicholas School for the Blind. For 1981 a Conference on the Training of Blind Women is planned to be held in Malaysia.

Seminar-dialogue-session, held at the National Library on 12 May 1980

41. More than 30 persons from the Ministry of Education, the National Library, the University Library, Universiti Malaya, the Public Libraries of the different

States, the MAB, the SBWM, the Specialist Teachers' Training College, St. Nicholas School for the Blind, the PES, the B.A.M. Library for the Blind, the Lincoln Cultural Centre, the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Sek. Men. Khas Kanak-kanak Buta, Perpustakaan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia were present at the National Library. The seminar-dialogue-session was opened by Mr. D.E.K. Wijasuriya, the Executive Director-General of the National Library. The consultant surveyed the present library services of Malaysia for the visually handicapped, and then reported briefly on the library services for the visually handicapped in Scandinavia. The session ended with plans for the future: how to improve the library services for the visually handicapped in Malaysia.

42. Practical results of this seminar-dialogue-session: In the near future some blind children are going to take part in story hours at the National Library.

This will also give sighted children a possibility to mingle with the visually handicapped and vice-versa. It was decided to have information on the present library services to the visually handicapped i.e. lists of the talking-books avail­able from St. Nicholas School for the Blind, from the Lincoln Cultural Centre, the British Council, lists of the Braille books available from the MAB and from the B.A.M. Library for the Blind sent to the National Library, the University Library, Universiti Malaya, public libraries, to the MAB, to the SBWM, the Sarawak Society for the Blind; the Sabah Society for the Blind, the Specialist Teachers* Training College, the St. Nicholas School for the Blind, the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind. The Harapan Orang Orang Buta should also be sent to the above-mentioned institutions.

43. It was also decided to keep in contact and to organize similar seminars or dialogue sessions with representatives of the above-mentioned libraries and

institutions. It was recommended that the National Library be equipped with lists and catalogues of talking-books and Braille books as well as large-print books available on loan or for sale from, for instance, the Library of Congress, the RNIB, from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hongkong and India. The National Library should also be equipped with tape recorders of different types and with record players, in order to offer listening services to the handicapped who should also have the possibility to borrow tape recorders.

44. As regards the production of talking-books, the oldest and most experienced talking-book unit of Malaysia is that of Penang which made the following sug­

gestions : "To provide adequate library service to the blind we need only to set up main units in the capital, in Kuala Lumpur and in the States of Penang and Sabah. The Penang Centre would serve the Northern States i.e. Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Trengganu; the Kuala Lumpur Centre would serve Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johore and Pahang; and the Sabah Centre would serve Sarawak and Sabah. Most of the adult working blind are concentrated in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. As a postal service, the three centres mentioned would be able to serve the blind well. (Stock: two copies of each title in each centre and one master copy). For a start, the St. Nicholas talking-book production unit is of the opinion that it might be too costly to set up a talking-book section in every public library in all States and that the blind from the rural areas would not benefit as most public libraries are. situated in the urban areas".

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Recommendations for future action

45. With the International Year of the Disabled - 1981 - ahead of us, it is to be hoped that the mass media, the radio and the television as well as the news­

papers will devote much information to the visually handicapped. An objective of the utmost importance is to get the visually handicapped to register; once registered they will get aid and information about available services.

46. As regards the National Library, it was recommended that 15 units of talking-book cassette players be ordered immediately to enable the visually handicapped

to listen to the four-track talking-books already available from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and U.S.A. These cassette players can also be used for two-track talking books, thus making it possible to listen to the talking-books produced at St. Nicholas School. In addition, 15 pairs of headphones should be bought.

47. As regards the new building of the National Library, planned for 1983, its blueprints are not yet available. It was strongly recommended to have this

building so designed that the visually handicapped can have easy access to it; it should be equipped with Braille information rails, elevators, etc. In the audio­visual section, there should be enough space for the visually handicapped to sit down and listen to music and to talking-books. Audio-visual aids recommended for the future are closed circuit television set, Optacon, magnifier of the Coloreader-type which enlarges up to 20 times in full colour, some sort of reading machine producing synthetic speech. As all these machines are being continuously improved it might be well to wait until 1983 to order them. The time will then be ripe to buy a paperless Braille-VersaBraille machine. For the present an audio recorder/ player to record radio dramas (if it can be arranged with the Radio Corporation) should be bought as well as a copying machine to have at least three copies of each work.

48. For immediate consideration, at least one person should be employed to take care of the library section for the visually handicapped, thus permitting reading

service, and also some sort of home service, so that the librarian visits the visually handicapped and supplies them with tape recorders, talking-books and Braille books as well as large-print books.

49. As regards the University Library, Universiti Malaya, it is recommended that six additional units of talking-book cassette players that can be used for two-

track as well as for four-tracks be ordered, plus six headphones, plus one cassette-copying machine. For present use, one Optacon unit plus one set of closed circuit television should be bought. It is also recommended that the Specialist Teachers' Training College pay study visits to the University Library to learn how to use these machines. For study purposes, it is recommended that one staff member visit another university library serving; visually handicapped students (e.g. in Australia, Canada, Europe or.the U.S.A.).

50. It is recommended that the public libraries of the 13 States have four units of talking-book cassette players plus four headphones per library, for a start.

51. The St. Nicholas School for the Blind needs more staff and equipment to cover the northern States with talking-book service. A librarian is needed to take

care of the Braille library. Some equipment to produce magazines in Braille is badly needed. Fifteen units of talking-book cassette players plus 15 headphones should be bought.

52. It is recommended that the Princess Elizabeth School for the Blind have 15 units of talking-book cassette players plus 15 headphones. As mentioned above (great

interest was shown in the Optacon and a closed circuit TV set, as well as in large-print books.

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53. It is recommended that the MAB have more staff - at least one more person -so that textbooks can be produced at the same time as fiction books in Braille.

When the demand for Braille books increases printing machines might be needed for computerized Braille production.

54. As regards the B.A.M. Library for the Blind, great interest was shown in the production of a newspaper or magazine on cassette; it is therefore recommended

that an audio-recorder/player plus a copying machine be ordered, as well as cassettes.

55. This report was finished on 27 June, the birthday of Helen Keller, during the Helen Keller Centennial Congress which was then being held in Boston. About

2,000 persons took part in many interesting meetings, sessions, and conferences. The motto of the congress was a sentence Helen Keller often used: "As they said amongst themselves it cannot be done, it was done". Let us hope that during 1981 the International Year of the Disabled, much shall be done regarding services for the visually handicapped.

56. Summary of reconmendations:

(i) to establish in the new National Library building (planned for 1983) an audio-visual section for library services for the visually handicapped;

(ii) to expand the production of talking-books;

(iii) to equip the National Library, the public libraries, the University Library, Universiti Malaya, the libraries of MAB, PES and St. Nicholas School for the Blind with enough staff as well as technical aids. Enough staff should be employed to start reading services and home services for the visually handicapped. In the hospitals, libraries should be started with special library service for the visually handicapped in the eye clinics;

(iv) to have the visually handicapped included in the Dewan Bahasa Readership Promotion Campaign;

(v) during 1981 - The International Year of the Disabled - through radio, TV, and newspapers, focus on the visually handicapped to get them to register; thus, the number of the visually handicapped will be more accurately known and a better library service will be organized, taking their exact number into account.

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Annex I

ANNEX I

"ROUND TABLE LIBRARIES FOR THE BLIND", WORKING WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS, IS PROMOTING LIBRARY SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND HAS THE FOLLOWING SUBCOMMITTEES:

1. Bibliographical exchange;

2. Postal/customs ;

3- Copyright;

4. African Seminar;

5. Developing countries;

6. Braille/recordings;

7. Biobibliographical directory;

8. Guidebook of Braille and Recorded Book Libraries and Production Facilities;

9. Co-operation with WCWB;

10. Computerized booklending;

11. United Nations International Year(s) for Disabled Persons/PR, information.

The IFLA/RTLB is also going to present a Copyright Study, and a paper on Typography for partially-sighted people.

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Annex II

ANNEX II

SCME ADDRESSES OF FIRMS DEALING IN TECHNICAL AIDS FOR THE VISUALLY HANDICAPPED

Copeland Extralens, Inc., 129 East 61st Street, New York, N.Y. 10021, U.S.A. (concerning the Copeland ColoReader magnifier up to 20 X in full colour).

Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt (Library Services and Braille Production), Am Schlag 8, D-3550 Marburg, West Germany (concerning computerized Braille-production).

Apollo Electronic Visual Aids, 6357 Circle, Los Angeles, California 90045, U.S.A. (concerning closed-circuit TV).

Kurzweil Computer Products, 33, Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, Mass.02142, U.S.A., (concerning Reading-Machine producing synthetic speech and also concerning Print to Braille System).

Telesensory Systems, Inc., 3408 Hillview Avenue, P.O. Box 10099, Palo Alto, California 94304, U.S.A. (concerning the Optacon, the VersaBraille that produces paperless Braille) (also developing a reading machine producing synthetic speech).

TELEX Communications, Inc., 9600 Aldrich Ave. SO., Minneapolis, MN 55420, U.S.A. (concerning equipment for talking-book production, headphones, talking-book cassette players, copying machines, record players).

Visualtek, 1610 - 26th Street, Santa Monica, Ca. 90404, U.S.A. (concerning closed-circuit TV).

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Annex III

ANNEX III

TENTATIVE COST FIGURES FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS

1981-1982

103 talking-book cassette players $120.-/unit 12,360

103 headphones $10.-/unit 1,030

4 record players (National Library, PES, BAM) $300.-/unit 1,200 cassette 2 units 1 1

3 copying machines (National Library, University Library, BAM) $995. 2,085

1 Optacon (University Library) 3,795

1 closed-circuit TV (University Library) 2,350

It would also be desirable to order during 1981: The International Year of the Disabled

2 Optacons (St. Nicholas School Library, Princess Elizabeth School Library) $3,795. 7,590

2 closed circuit TV (St. Nicholas School, PES) $2,350 4,700

35,110

To expand the talking-book production: 1-3 persons should be sent to study similar productions in other countries during 1981 to be able to set up this service as soon as possible.

Tentative cost figures for expanded talking-book productions :

Talking-book production centre, Kuala Lumpur (100 titles/year) 100,000 Cost to run this centre/year $25,000. 25,000

Talking-book production centre Penang 50,000

Talking-book production centre Sabah/Sarawak 50,000

1983-1985

225,000

Closed-circuit TV (National Library) 2,350

Optacon (National Library) 3,795

Coloreader ( National Library) 975

VersaBraille 2 units (1 National Library, 1 University Library) $4,750 9,500

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MAB: 1 unit of ED (2 input-places) $8.500. për place 17,000 1 unit embossing machine 50,000

to expand the Braille production and enable computerized Braille production in connection with a flat bed printing press of the Heidelberg type cassette desk

Total amount

To be noted: the prices quoted are those at June 1980. For 1983-1985 it might also be considered to acquire a reading machine producing synthetized speech, present price about $25,000 25,000

Total 448,730

80

163

423

,000

,620

,730

Also to be noted: the importance of checking the electric current on which the equipment works.

During the Helen Keller Congress, the consultant heard about a solar energy battery once used for the Amazonian region when the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, lent talking-books for this area. This might be a very interesting type of battery for a sunny country like Malaysia.