Once Upon a Library:NVDA and The Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa

Keiran McNabb & Moata TamairaRound Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc. 2010

Hawera Library,Manaia

Hawera Library

The Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa...what

is that, exactly?

The Digital Strategy (2005)

► Connectivity

► Confidence

► Content

We provide -

► Fast broadband

► PCs & Printer

► Wifi

► Digital repository & scanner

► Helpdesk support & staff training

The Funding

► National Library of New Zealand funding

► Funding from the Digital Strategy through the Community Partnership Fund and latterly direct grants.

► Contribution from Partner Libraries needed to retain the current level of support long term.

Where are the APNK partner libraries and marae?

DunedinCity Library

Gene Gibson & Keiran McNabb with Extra Touch Awards, October 2009

What is NVDA?

NVDA = Non Visual Desktop Access -

► Free open source product

► Available in a portable version for use on USB drive

► Works with Windows operating system

► Available in over 20 languages

The New Inventors [video]

ABC TelevisionBroadcast date 10 March 2010

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/video/video.htm

One person, acting locally

► Brought the product to our attention

► Made suggestions about how to configure it

► Provides us with ongoing feedback

► Keeps us in the loop on other products that are available

Effects

► Over 500 PCs in 120 APNK libraries all over NZ now have accessibility software installed

► Christchurch City Libraries has followed suit in their 20 libraries

► Who will be next?

The recipe to making it work

► A solid, secure, stable infrastructure

► Belief in the “access for all” philosophy

► Listen to, and communicate with your customers. They’re experts...not you.

► Having a free, usable product available – if no one makes one, we can’t use it.

The best thing about a recipe is that anyone can follow it.

► APNK and Christchurch City Libraries have come on board. Who is next?

► Ingredients aren’t that exotic.

► Why stop at libraries?

► Think globally, Act locally!