Safaa M. Issa Abdou Professor of Architecture-Menofia University

Egypt

1990 World Conference Jomtien ThailandAdoption of UN Declaration Education for AllStress upon specific Targets Specific Groups

The Disabled Disadvantaged The Poor

Drawbacks

High Drop Outs Rates Poor Learning Achievements

This Study aims at the following: Showing the Role Libraries could

play in achieving the Aim of Education for All.

Clarifying the Role of the Architect in providing Accessible libraries for Vision Impaired Students.

Studying an example of Accessible Libraries, Cairo University new library, Egypt.

Blind Individuals No Difference Light & DarkVision Impaired Sharp Reduction Vision

No medical Lenses CorrectionLegal Blindness 20/200Color Blindness No Access to Jobs

Pilots..Police..80 Million vision Impaired 80% Develop. Countries1 Person looses his sight every 5 Seconds1 Child looses his Sight every Minute Worldwide

*Microbial + Viral Infection Cornea .*Diseases Pregnant Women.

Malnutrition+ Lack of Hygiene+ UV Radiation without Eye protect ion

Possible Causes of Vision Impairment /Blindness.

*Diabetic + High Blood Pressure Persons

Possible Candidates of Vision Loss

Society’s Treatment Shifted From: Isolation +Stress on Disability

Recognition of Person’s Inner Abilities

Barriers to Integration

Architectural Transport Communication

Libraries include material Print and Non print

Helping Individuals :

Education Pursuit Information Research Creative Use of leisure T

Information for Disabled Individuals

Self Confidence knowledge Equal Opportunities able-bodied

Libraries allow Access to the Internet Blind Individuals

Review Books Perform Tasks

Assistive Technologies

Devices Tools Systems

Help Improve Disabled Person’s Performance *Tools and systems for living independently.*Architecture elements removing negative impactOf Barriers.*Systems that use computers*Technologies helping the sensesTechnologies used in the process of Education.

Providing services from accessible workstations.

Providing the software to help disabled individuals in using the computer and the Net.

Arranging all seminars in sites without architectural barriers.

Locating reading halls site accessible to the disabled individuals.

The use of magnifying devices consisting of a closed Television circuit with a video camera, a television screen, and a sliding tray underneath the camera allows magnifying up to 60 times.

Using the program that allows Magnifying, Like Zoom Extra text.

Provision of books in Audible tape “Talking books” and displaying information on ways to use these devices

Accessing information from the internet requires the provision of a device that could read the screen for the vision impaired through the screen reading software.

JAWS program (Job Access with Speech) allows its use with windows and with internet explorer.

OMNI 1000 program allows copying info. from journals use of a scanner audible form.

Providing Braille printing papers.

General Guidelines for Accommodating Libraries to the needs of Blind &Vision Impaired Persons:

1-Building should be located on site accessible with Parking spaces and transportation systems.

2- Glass doors should be marked. 3-Protruding Objects and architectural barriers in

existing bldg. should be removed and objects should be put in an alcove inside the wall.

4-Guiding Signs should not protrude more than 4” if located between 68,5 -204 cm from the ground.

5-Braille language should be used to write Signs. 6-Choosing finishing materials that does

glare. 7-Corridors and foot path should

accommodate a wheelchair user and a walking person with cane no less than 4’ or 122 cm.

8-Reading areas for blind persons should be wide enough to accommodate the guiding dog.

9-Devices that magnify texts should be in areas with moderate light intensity.

10-Tactile control systems for devices used by Blind people

11-Using effective alarm system to guide the Blind in Emergencies

12-Designing lifts with the capacity to allow their doors to stay opened no less than 3 seconds

13- Insuring the ability of vision impaired persons to use the alarm phones located in lifts.

14-Using firm, non slip floors in all the library floors.

15- Using the Mowatt device that is an ultra –sonic spectacle connected to a small device that produces vibrations that emits an audible sound if there is a barrier in front of the person wearing this device. The vision impaired person receives this sign through an earphone.

*Organized by Demetrius the student of Aristotle during the reign of Ptolemy.

Included shelves for 500000 books gathered from beyond borders on Papyrus scrolls at the time of Ptolemy II.

It was home for International Students and a Research Institute and It kept our heritage of the Ancient world .

It was destroyed by fire during the Alexandria war when Julius Caesar troops burned the Egyptian Fleet.

Old Library of Alexandria.

Main Entrance of the New Library of Cairo University

Old Library 1932 : Could not provide needed up-to date Services.Objectives of New Library:*Provide Undergraduate Developed Services

*Meet Needs of Higher Studies and Scientific Research

*Link with world Libraries and Specialized Information Centers.

Integrating New Library with Developed Libraries in Egypt.

*Linking Cairo University with world movement of Scientific research

1-Computerized Management technically or administratively .

2- Internal Network between information systems and the new library services; linking with internal and external libraries; and connecting with Internet.

3- Possessing unconventional information media, CD-ROMS.

4- Providing Blind Researchers with library information service.

5- Preparing Orientation Programs for library frequenters.

6- Paying attention to preserving, manuscripts +storing CD ROMS

7- Expanding scope of service to external researchers.

8- Providing Acquaintance with current information service.

9-The following information services:· Search service in different databases · General index search service on direct line. · Elective information search service. · Document procurement service. · Linkage to sources of information service. Reply to Inquiry Services.

Schematic Drawing of first floor where Taha Hussein Hall for the Blind is located.

Hall view

Printer on Braille paper

Named after the famous Arabic writer who was blind and got his PH. D. from the Sorbonne and he was considered The Dean of Arabic Literature.

* Education is The Right of All People.Access DenialHigh Drop-outs Rates

PROBLEMSPoor Achievements

ACCESSIBLE LIBRARIES SOLUTION

The Cornerstone to Education for ALL

World Health Organization, “Vision 20/20 The Right to Sight,” Press release, Geneva, October 2010.

World Health Organization. The World Health Report. Disease Trends. Accessed August 10,2010

Hollistone Library, available online at: http:// www.hollistonlibrary.org/holliston/documents/select

ion_policy.pdf, 2011

- Scott, W. & Archer, A., “The Accessible Canadian Library II a resource tool for libraries serving persons with disabilities”,2011.