Print Disabled Service Policy

User Policy

The National Public Library, Archives and Documentation Services, in partnership with Accessible Books Consortium (ABC), has developed and is offering a service for persons who are print disabled.

ABC is a multi-stakeholder partnership, comprising the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and organizations that serve people with print disabilities.

Their goal is to increase the number of books worldwide in accessible formats - such as Braille, audio, e-text, large print – and to make them available to people who are blind, have low vision or are otherwise print disabled.

What is a print disability?

A print disability is a difficulty or inability to read printed material due to a visual, physical or learning disability.

The reasons for print disability vary but may include:

  • vision impairment or blindness
  • physical dexterity problems such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, arthritis or paralysis
  • learning disability, such as dyslexia
  • brain injury or cognitive impairment
  • literacy difficulties
  • early dementia
  • Vision Australia

Access to and use of the print disabled service is restricted to authorized users.

Authorized users" are persons who have registered to use the resource with the National Public Library, Archives and Documentation Centre.

Registration/Membership

  • Registration is required to access the service
  • Registration to this service also allows you to also become a member of the National Public Library. However in order to complete membership to the library a photograph has to be taken
  • The registration process must be completed online
  • The link for the online form can be found on the library’s FaceBook page (National Public Library of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Instagram page (nationalpubliclibrarysvg) and department’s website
  • Assistance is available for filling out the form via telephone or in person at the National Public Library

User requirements

  • Persons must be print disabled. Definition can be found in the section ‘What is a print disability’
  • Persons must possess or have access to a smart phone, tablet or computer

Persons without access to any of these devices may use the computers at the National Public Library

  • Persons must have a Gmail account.

Assistance in the creation of an account is available at the National Public Library, if needed

Categories of users

Children – Up to the age of 12 years

Young Adults – 13 to 15 years old

Adults – 16 to 54 years old

Senior Citizens – 55 years and over

Loan period

  • Audio book files would be available for use for a period of 14 days after the links to the books are sent.
  • Links may remain active after the 14 day period

Renewal

  • Audio book titles can be renewed for an additional 14 days, once requested
  • Requests must be made three (3) days before the end of the initial loan period
  • Renewal can be done via telephone, WhatsApp or email

Request for specific titles/genres

  • Persons may request specific titles however, there is no guarantee that the specific title would be found
  • Requests can also be made for specific genres

Borrowing limits

  • There are no limits to how many audio books can be listened to during the 14 day loan period.
  • The number of books that can be accessed is limited to the number of books the library makes available for that period.

Access to material

  • A link, that will take persons directly to a specific book, will be sent via email or Whatsapp
  • Links would remain available for a minimum of 14 days

Selection of books

  • Books made available for the 14 day period may be a combination of books selected by library staff as well as specific books or types of books requested by persons
  • The library’s staff will work closely with persons to ascertain the types of books they wish to listen to

User responsibility

Users agree that they will not:

  • Violate any copyright, trademark, patent, or other intellectual property right associated with the electronic resource
  • Use the electronic resource for commercial purposes
  • Attempt to download, alter or copy the electronic resource
  • Facilitate use or access by non-authorized users
  • Distribute the electronic resource to others
  • Use the electronic resource in an illegal or otherwise improper manner