Qatar National Library (QNL) today launched its Book Club for the Blind, a project that provides social opportunities and promotes equal access to the resources and services of the library. The project aims to share common reading interests, and allows participants to experience the natural connection between reading and communication in unique ways.
Dr. Frederic Schroeder, President of the World Blind Union, attended the launch, saying, “This library is an important symbol literacy and the power of education. Literacy brings the opportunity to become fully engaged with society, and the launch of this book club is an important step forward in ensuring everyone has access to education.”
Ekrami Fouad, representing the Qatar Social and Cultural Center for the Blind, urged those in attendance to use QNL’s many resources for the visually impaired and print disabled: “There is a lack of access to print materials for the blind, but QNL and this book club provide us with a huge opportunity to bridge this knowledge gap, and we must take advantage of this opportunity.”
QNL’s main collection includes materials produced for those with special needs, such as large print books. In collaboration with the MADA Assistive Technology Centre, the library also provides equipment and software, such as scanning pens with headphones and portable video magnifiers, to help visually impaired users.
Dr. Nouf Khashman, QNL Outreach and Community Engagement Manager, inaugurated the book club. “One of QNL’s key objectives is to provide sustainable knowledge, and an environment of innovation and inclusiveness for those with special needs, including the visually impaired and print disabled. QNL is designed to be accessible to everyone, and the launch of this book club is an extension of that.”
The event concluded with the book club’s first discussion, on the book Man, the Unknown, by Alexis Carrell. The book explores the knowns and unknowns about life and the human body, and how humanity can overcome its shared problems.
