Initiative for Equitable Library Access

Introduction

The mandate of the Initiative for Equitable Library Access (IELA) is to create the conditions for sustainable and equitable library access for Canadians with print disabilities. Library and Archives Canada has been asked to develop and cost a strategy for implementing nation-wide partnerships, activities and services to meet the long-term library and information access needs of Canadians with print disabilities.

IELA Fact Sheet

A Progress Report on the Initiative for Equitable Library Access, February 2009

What is a print disability?

Print disabilities prevent people from reading standard print. They can be due to a visual, perceptual or physical disability which may be the result of vision impairment, a learning disability or a disability that prevents the physical holding of a book. Canadians with print disabilities require publications in multiple formats, such as braille, audio, large print and electronic text. They may also require assistive technology to meet their information needs.

Why?

More than three million Canadians (10%) have a print disability and require information in multiple formats. However, less than 5% of published Canadian material is available in multiple formats.

Resources

In addition to IELA, Library and Archives Canada continues the work of the Council on Access to Information for Print-Disabled Canadians and its efforts to ensure that access to information is a reality for all Canadians. The Council's website maintains an extensive list of national and international resources for users and producers of multiple formats, and for organizations that provide services to people with print disabilities.

The ACCESSINFO-L discussion list also provides a means for IELA and the Council to hear from and consult with people with print disabilities, multiple format producers, publishers, libraries and service providers in government, not-for-profit and private sectors on the systems and services needed to support access to information and knowledge for people with print disabilities.

Contact Us

Initiative for Equitable Library Access
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0N4
CANADA
Telephone: 819-934-5807
Fax: 819-934-5835
Email: IELA-ISBE@lac-bac.gc.ca
Website: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/iela/index-e.html