Dear Friends,

I am asking you to aide the American Library Association (ALA) and myself, 
alert libraries to the computer and web access needs of patrons with print 
disabilities by responding to this short questionnaire. Please feel free to make 
copies of this questionnaire for friends who do not have computer access.

I have long been an advocate of access for all, and while I have seen 
progress in the areas of “accessible technology” in both public and academic 
libraries it still lags, and have authored the book Adaptive Technology for the 
Internet ( RC 51780)  I am hoping that perhaps reading about the need of access 
from the patrons themselves might encourage more to “do the right thing.” 

The results of this short survey will be incorporated in a special issue of 
Library Technology Reports, published by ALA and hopefully read by Automation 
Services staff and administrators throughout the country.

It is interesting to note that many librarians are convinced that their 
particular library doesn’t have any “blind or visually impaired” persons residing 
in their service area. Hopefully enough of you will speak up through this 
brief survey and convince my colleagues you are out there and would use their 
libraries if they were accessible.

A Big Thank You to All! Please respond by November 28, 2003.
Sincerely,
Barbara Mates, Head, Cleveland Library for the Blind 
[log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] 
later than November 28, 2003. 
Responses can be mailed to: Barbara Mates c/o Cleveland LBPH, 17121 Lakeshore 
Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44114


What state do you live in?             

If Ohio, which county?

2. Do you use a public or academic library? If the answer is No, please skip 
to question 8.
  

3.If you use a public library does it support adaptive technologies (AT) 
which you can use?


If yes, how did you find out that it was available? ____library staff
____library web site
____friend/relative told me
____computer user group informed me
____information in a consumer orientated newsletter
____received flyer in the mail
____other

4. If you use an academic library does it support AT which you can use?




If your library does support AT what is available? (Example JAWS, ZoomText, 
Braille printer, special keyboards)





Do library staff know how to use the equipment?















If your library does not support AT have you requested that it be added?


If you have requested it be added what response did you receive?



Would you use your public library if it supported AT?





9. If you have had the occasion to use AT in an academic or public library 
setting, how did it change your life?  Note: If it did not, it is o.k. to state 
this.




Please add any information you feel would be useful to readers of the 
forthcoming work.

Return to: Barbara Mates 17121 Lakeshore Blvd. Cleveland, Ohio 44114 . An 
electronic version of this text may be obtained from: [log in to unmask] or 
[log in to unmask] Deadline Nov.  28, 2003.