Accessibility in the libraries of The Federal University of Bahia

Abstract

The importance of information for social development is unquestionable. From the 20th century onwards, it became of fundamental importance for the development of post-industrial and post-modern society. In this way, the access to information is a right for everyone, including people with disabilities, who historically fight for their fundamental rights, a fight that was ratified by the United Nations in 2008, in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Since information is a right for everyone, this right also includes the person with a disability and that university libraries must take mediation actions that guarantee equal access to information by users with disabilities within the scope of the University Library System (SIBI) of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). With the objective of knowing the conditions of physical and informational accessibility in these libraries, aiming at the construction of the Accessible Libraries Project of SIBI/UFBA, the present research was carried out, with the application of the questionnaire “Consultation on Accessibility in SIBI/UFBA Libraries” , using the Google Forms tool, to know the conditions of physical adequacy, collections and existing equipment, and besides to obtain diagnosis of the quality of service offered in the libraries. The results revealed the precariousness of the physical and informational structure existing in most libraries, demonstrating the need to promote substantial improvements in the adequacy of spaces, supply of equipment and specific collections that allow the provision of quality service that meets the informational needs of people with disabilities at UFBA and society in general.