The Importance of Having Digital Services Library Services for Persons with Print Disabilities in Finland in context of the COVID-19 Kirsi Ylänne, Celia Library, Finland IFLA Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabilities Zoom Conference 5 November 2021
Celia Library
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• Thanks to Kati Mattsson, service manager at Celia for proving the information • Funded by the Finnish government • Under the ministry of Education and Culture • The official name is Library for the Visually Impaired • Founder Ms. Cecilia “Cely” Mechelin > Celia
Celia Library
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• Users are persons with a print disability • Visual impairement • Dyslexia • Learning difficulties • Physically not able to handle printed books
• Finnish Copyright Law, an exception to produce and deliver accessible book formats
A Digital library • Built around DAISY format • DAISY – Digital Accessible Information SYstem • Digital talking book format • Navigable • Allows synchronizing text and audio • Delivered on CDs and online
• First an online user interface for managing loans • In 2013, over 900,000 loans on CDs • Online delivery system (www.celianet.fi) • used via browser or via mobile apps (Pratsam Reader)
Reaching out to readers who need accessible formats
• Estimation that 5 % of the population can benefit from accessible book formats • 250,000 people in Finland • In 2013, Celia had only 30,000 users
• A project Library for All 2013-2015 • Collaboration with public libraries around Finland • Developed a service model where new users are registered in local libraries
• Collaboration also with academic libraries and special teachers in schools • Nowadays, over 50,000 users
Raising awareness of accessibility 1. Accessibility issues in education of future librarians 2. Accessibility Guidelines for Public Libraries https://www.celia.fi/eng/accessible-library/
Effects of COVID-19 pandemic • No effect on Celia’s online services • Public libraries closed the doors in the lockdown => Drop in the amount of registered new users • In 2019: 17,300 and in 2020: 14,100 • Solution: registering via telephone by public librarians
• Disruptions in public and academic library services • access only the reserved materials, or a small proportion of the collection
Effects on Celia’s personnel • Working from home since March 2020 • Good internet connection • Telephone, chat service, email
• Only persons handling physical loans working at the library office • DAISY books on CDs • Children’s tactile books
Other effects • Commercial book online service became popular • Subscription services (like Storytel) • A customer gets an access to the audio and e-book collection with a monthly fee
• Finnish publishers increased significantly the production of audiobooks • 1700 audiobooks published in 2020
Comparison with other libraries serving person with print disabilities • 2020: • In some countries high rise in the amount of downloads • At Celia rise of users 16 % and rise of loans 14 % • In Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands decreases in audiobook productions because of lockdowns • In Finland, Celia has outsourced DAISY book production. Also co-operation with publishers in audio production. No decline in the production.
Challenges of digital services • Different needs of visually impaired and dyslectic users • Depending on the text & AT vs. Needing images and other visual help in the user interface
• Activating registered new users • Support and help needed • Need for an easy to use interface
Digital services + physical services • Accessibility regulations in European Union will help making digital services better for all user • Web Accessibility Directive • European Accessibility Act in 2025 • E-books, software for reading e-books, e-readers
• Need for physical materials like Braille books • Meeting people face-to-face! • Digital library services + physical services => Inclusive and equitable library services
Thank you! Kiitos! Email: kirsi.ylanne@celia.fi
Loans at libraries for the print disabled • Finland, Celia • The rise of loans 14 % in 2020. Increase of users (16 %). • The total amount of all loans was 1.2 million loans. • Belgium, Luisterpuntbibliotheek • The increase of active users grew 24 % from 2019. Active users with dyslexia increased by 80 % (being 1400 in 2020). • The amount of Daisy loans was 155,000 in 2020. More than half of the loans were streaming. • Denmark, Note • The increase of new users 18,000. Total amount 192,000 in 2020. • The rise of loans 10 % in 2020. Total amount nearly 2.6 million. • Norway, Norsk lyd- og blindeskriftbibliotek (NLB) • The increase of new users 21 % in 2020, Total number 98,000 users. • The rise of loans 25 %. Total amount 1.2 million. • The greatest growth was in loans of university materials, 64 %, (over 102,000 loans).