---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 14:58:05 -0500 From: "GraceAnne A. DeCandido" <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list <[log in to unmask]> Subject: ARL: Transforming Libraries/Disabilities January 3, 1999 Dear colleagues and friends, Happy new year! I am about to embark on a six- week project for the Association of Research Libraries, writing another in their ěTransforming Librariesî series. This one focuses on service to people with disabilities. ěTransforming Librariesî attempts to take a snapshot of where academic libraries are at a particular point in time: in this one, we are trying to come to grips with a number of questions about assistive technology. We want to know: what kinds of equipment are college and university libraries using for their computer setups and screens? Are they designing equipment themselves? What kinds of vendors are they using? How are they locating specialized equipment? How are they getting funding for these specialized needs? Are they addressing all kinds of needs, or are they prioritizing based on specific needs on their own campus? Where and how are they getting information about their specific needs? Are they working with groups on campus? How are they letting people know what special arrangements are or can be made available? I would be interested in comments in response to these questions and others; and I am particularly interested in interviewing librarians who are responding to these kinds of questions on their own campuses. I would also like, if possible, to interview students with disabilities who are using their college libraries and finding them responsive to their particular needs. These interviews can be conducted via e-mail or telephone. I will also be interviewing people at the American Library Association Midwinter meeting in Philadelphia Jan 29-Feb 3, 1999. I am building on some basic information available from a 95-96 ARL survey (Results of the entire survey are at <ftp://www.arl.org/stat/innovate/innov96.txt> The survey is described briefly at <http://www.arl.org/stats/specproj/> and you can get the raw data there as well). My own credentials and c.v. are available on my web site, see URL in my sig file, below. Please feel free to post this message to other lists where there may be interest. Thanks very much. Best, GraceAnne GraceAnne A. DeCandido Blue Roses Editorial and Web Consulting 350 E. 236th St. Bronx, NY 10470-2104 voice: 718/994-7794 * fax: 718/994-9851 E-mail [log in to unmask] http://www.well.com/user/ladyhawk/gadhome.html Jean Ashmore Director of Services for Disabled Students Rice University, MS 529, Ley Student Center 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005 (713)737-5841, FAX (713)285-5199 e-mail: [log in to unmask] www.rice.edu/dss