Many Iranians are not aware of the National Library’s special section for the low-sighted or visually impaired with more than 9,000 audio books and 1,500 books in Braille.
Books are provided freely in different areas including cultural, religious, political, economic and social subjects, IRNA quoted Reza Shahrabi, director general of the information unit of National Library and Archives Organization of Iran (NLAI) as saying.
“The section was launched in 2006 and has been gradually updated. We have decided to increase the number of books to provide better reading opportunity for people with the disability,” he said.
At present, there are 20,000 audio books available in the country, 9,000 of which have been collected for the section so far.
Stating that the organization plans to launch a website for the blind, he said that we are loading the website content. The website will be unveiled in the near future.
The website is designed for use by web surfers with visual impairment. The website provides text equivalents for all non-text objects on the page.
People who are blind or visually impaired can check the news, sports, weather, and make banking transactions using the website.
He said publishers have not yet been requested to provide audio book for each book due to improper enforcement of copy right laws that leaves many publishers reluctant to provide electronic versions of their books.
In addition to Iran’s National Library, Rudaki Institute, Husseinieh Ershad Religious Institute and the Malek National Museum and Library provide audio books to the visually impaired.
NLAI is based in Tehran with several branches scattered throughout the city. Prior to the library’s official inauguration in 1937, other libraries existed that performed the same function informally. The National Library incorporates many collections from older libraries, including many rare and valuable manuscripts. It is located at National Library Blvd., Haqani Highway, Tehran.
