Best Practices

Lesotho

 

The Library of the National University of Lesotho (NUL) started admitting blind students in 1997. Then, when a visually impaired student came to the library with a request for a book she would like to read, the book would be checked out to the Special Unit of the Faculty of Education where it would be transcribed into a Braille copy for that student. The Unit was the only office with expertise and relevant equipment. In April 2009, the Library inaugurated its own service for library patrons with disabilities. A suite of equipment included an embosser, a reader and a printer, all of which were accessed with special assistance and guide. In Lesotho, there is no exception to copyright specifically permitting such assistance to visually impaired people, but there is a broad private copying exception in copyright law which should cover transcription to provide a personal copy in response to a request from a student.

 

EIFL-IP, an independent foundation that leads, negotiates, and advocates for the wide availability of electronic resources by library users in transition and developing countries, including the investigation of copyright issues affecting blind and visually impaired people, has raised awareness of the limitations of relying on such exceptions alone which may restrict re-use of the material by the library for the benefit of visually impaired students. EIFL-IP has highlighted the wealth of information available in Braille and other accessible formats, in particular in digital form, in other countries and the advantages of avoiding duplication of effort if material is shared, but that in order to benefit from the sharing, suitable provision needs to be made in copyright law in Lesotho.

NUL is cooperating with a number of offices and organizations within Lesotho in various initiatives so that its information facilities contribute meaningfully to the success of learners with disabilities.