New digital library revolutionises access for people with vision impairment

Disability Services Minister Simon O'Brien today promised more than $1.3million to the Association for the Blind of WA - Guide Dogs WA to fund the ambitious new digital audio library project, 'Beyond Books, Beyond Barriers'.

In presenting a Lotterywest grant for $979,017, Mr O'Brien also announced that the State Government would provide an additional $360,000 to fund the library's ongoing operating costs.

"Just because someone is blind or vision impaired does not mean that they don't require the same access to literature and other traditional printed material, as non-vision impaired people," he said.

"Without accessible information, people with vision impairment are denied the opportunity to fully and actively participate in society."

The Minister said that the 'Beyond Books, Beyond Barriers' project allows users to access the association's Braille and Talking Book Library via online web kiosks where they can view book catalogues and download digital books in any format to suit specialist or generic player devices.

"The project will build stocks of digital books, to be made available to users online or posted out to users in other digital formats," he said.

"For many years, the association's Braille and Talking Book Library used audio cassettes, but cassettes are now reaching the end of their useful life.

"They are being replaced by digital talking books - produced in a variety of audio formats, enabling them to be played on iPods and other MP3 players."

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said the Department of Culture and the Arts' funding of $120,000 towards the project was an important contribution. He said the association's Braille and Talking Book Library lends up to 800 talking books a day, making it one of the State's best used libraries.

"Despite the strong demand for audio material, it is currently estimated that of all printed material published, only 10 per cent is available in an alternative format," Mr Day said.

"New initiatives such as the one being undertaken by the association will assist in reversing the current situation."