Developing an accessible, inclusive, and responsive (AIR) library services framework for deaf communities in city libraries of National Capital Region

• Main Author: Flores, Roana Marie L.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2020
• Subjects: Libraries and deaf people > Philippines > National Capital Region; Public libraries > Philippines > National Capital Region; Deaf people; Disability Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/13214
• Institution: De La Salle University

The research agenda is to develop a library services framework for city libraries inorder to cater to the needs of the deaf community. In doing so, existential trends and practices of city libraries in the National Capital Region (NCR), Philippines were explored vis-a-vis deaf community members' library experiences and third place preferences. The study supports first and foremost the objectives of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals distinctively, goal no. 10, which is to reduce inequalities and goal no. 11, which is to produce sustainable cities and communities. The study employed a mixed method descriptive research design. Respondents are composed of two clusters: 1) library personnel from 11 city libraries in NCR which were chosen using purposive sampling; and 2) a total of 159 deaf community members selected by means of snowball sampling. Three major research instruments administered in three different methods were used which included two modified survey questionnaires and one interview module for a focus group discussion. Critical findings of the study revealed that presently, city libraries in NCR have no existing library programs and services specifically designed for the deaf community. This result correlates as well to the lack of library collection suited for their needs, unavailability of facilities, equipment i.e. assistive technologies and failure to adjust library space design. Budget allocation for programs targeted to the deaf community is non-existent. Likewise, no effort has been made in educating the personnel in ways on how to communicate and work with the deaf community members. Library cooperation outside the institution is not evident as well. This was aggravated by the gathered data showing that 140 out of 159 deaf community members alleged that they have not visited any city library nor have an idea about its existence and use. Scrutinizing over the data, the researcher halted that there is a significant relationship between the library experiences of the deaf community and their third place preferences. The low preference for the librsry as the third place of the deaf is because the city libraries are presently inaccessible, non-inclusive and unresponsi ve to the needs of the deaf community members. Inspired by the outcomes of the study, the researcher developed a library services framework.