Based on the principle of equal access to information and knowledge, the Library and Information Center of the Hellenic Mediterranean University in Heraklion has created a Support Service for visually impaired readers. The service aims to support print-disabled students (blind, severely visually impaired) in their efforts to search, retrieve and use the printed material and electronic resources available at the University Library, as well as to convert accessible form the educational material they need.
The conversion of printed or electronic documents into accessible material is done by the specialized staff of the Library as well as by the Network of volunteers, who are provided with information on the protection of the authors’ copyrights and the rights of visually impaired students, a confidentiality and confidentiality agreement is signed for the personal data and a certificate of participation in the program is given. The Library has special equipment for blind and partially sighted students and the use of the laboratory equipment is done after consultation with the specialized staff of the Library.
The service operates in accordance with Ministerial Decision YPPO/DIOIK/98546 (ΕΚΒΒ2065 24.10.2007) “Reproduction of intellectual property works for the benefit of the blind and deaf-mute, and extension of the regulation to other categories of persons with disabilities”. The Library and Information Center of the Hellenic Mediterranean University is considered the competent body for the reproduction of works, which will be made available exclusively to beneficiaries with visual impairments. At the same time, as a member of the Association of Greek Academic Libraries, it participates in the Accessible Multi-modal Electronic Library (AMELib), created by Panteion University, an accessible multi-modal electronic library which aims to strengthen the effort to remove obstacles for print-disabled users of Greek academic libraries.
See Cretalive’s tribute: https://www.cretalive.gr/…/oi-anthropoi-tis…
