Safaa M. Issa Abdou Professor of Architecture-Menofia University Egypt

1. Accessible Libraries for Mainstreaming Blind and Vision Impaired Individuals The cornerstone to Education for All Case Study: Cairo University New library, GuizEh, Egypt. Safaa M. Issa Abdou Professor of Architecture-Menofia University Egypt

2. Introduction 1990 World Conference Jomtien Thailand Adoption of UN Declaration Education for All Stress upon specific Targets Specific Groups The Disabled Disadvantaged The Poor Drawbacks High Drop Outs Rates Poor Learning Achievements

3. Aim of work • 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.

4. Who are the Members of the Vision Impaired Group? Blind Individuals No Difference Light & Dark Vision Impaired Sharp Reduction Vision No medical Lenses Correction Legal Blindness 20/200 Color Blindness No Access to Jobs Pilots..Police.. 80 Million vision Impaired 80% Develop. Countries 1 Person looses his sight every 5 Seconds 1 Child looses his Sight every Minute Worldwide

5. Causes of Blindness and Vision Impairment *Microbial + Viral Infection Cornea . *DiseasesPregnant 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

6. Vision Impaired Individuals and Society • Society’s Treatment Shifted From: • Isolation +Stress on Disability • Recognition of Person’s Inner Abilities • Barriers to Integration • Architectural Transport Communication

7. United Nations Convention on Education for All • World Declaration Education For All 1990 Basic Education Mobilizing Information + Including: Poor +Disabled + Drop Outs Librariesas a tool should be used to perform any obligation set by IFLA Life long learning Independent. Cultural Decision Develop

8. Libraries and Services for All Society Members • 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

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

10. Assistive Technologies in Libraries • 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.

11. How to accommodate Vision Impaired 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

12. Screen Reading and Voice Output Mechanisms • 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.

13. Accessible Libraries for Blind Individuals and The Architect • 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.

14. 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

15. 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.

16. Egypt and Libraries Alexandria Ancient Library *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.

17. Cairo University New Library, Guizeh Main Entrance of the New Library of Cairo University

18. Cairo University New Library, Guizeh 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

19. Technical Services and Aspects of the New Central Library (1) • 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.

20. Technical Services and Aspects of the New Central Library (2) • 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.

21. Taha Hussein Blind and Vision Impaired Students’ Hall Hall view Schematic Drawing of first floor where Taha Hussein Hall for the Blind is located. 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. Printer on Braille paper

22. Conclusion * Education is The Right of All People. Access Denial High Drop-outs Rates PROBLEMS Poor Achievements ACCESSIBLE LIBRARIES SOLUTION The Cornerstone to Education for ALL

23. Recommendations • Disability Code Activated • Future Architects Accessibility Issues • More Funds Library’s Accessibility • Media Campaign • Society’s Awareness • Integration of Disabled Individuals

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

25. THANK YOU