Library goes digital for visually impaired

• Source: Global Times
• [23:05 December 06 2009]
• Comments

A visually impaired man using the CDLVI system. Photo: Xinhua

By Du Guodong

At a time when technology is dominating many aspects of society, visually impaired people in the community are now benefiting from the latest innovations in terms of reading. Through a series of user-friendly interfaces, those who previously had limited access to books and information are being ushered into a world of knowledge where they can read and learn at will.

China Digital Library for Visual Impairment (CDLVI) is an online library, mainly accessible via the Internet. In combination with specially designed screen readers, software that reads out loud what is shown on the screen, CDLVI is enabling people who are blind and visually impaired to use shortcut keys to navigate websites divided into different areas. The innovation was recently acknowledged by the Ministry of Culture for its unique role in benefiting the visually impaired.

Created by the National Library of China, China Disabled Persons' Federation and China Braille Publishing House, the library enables the visually impaired to listen to e-books, music and online lectures whenever they choose.

"The library has opened a new vision for the visual impaired and they are no longer being excluded from public culture facilities," commented Yang Jia, a frequent user of the Internet, who is also blind and serves as the vice chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

"It is unfortunate for blind people not to see the world with their own eyes and during the present cyber age, they should not be left behind again," she added.

CDLVI began testing in October 2008 and has around 1,500 audio books in its library. Much of the current collection includes works on Chinese medicine and massage, which are popular among users.

"We constantly collect suggestions from the blind [about which books to include] and we will add to the library the books proposed by them first," director of CDLVI, Li Chunming, told the Global Times.

"Beginning from the end of December, the library will add 20 books each month and is expected to increase the volume as technology improves and more personnel come on board with the project in the future," Li added.