Enhancing Information Access And Use For The DyslexicsAdopting New Strategies For Public Libraries In Nigeria

It is estimated that dyslexia affects 8 -10% of the world's population and between 5 to 10% of a given popufat1on .. The purpose of this paper ts to create awareness among librarians about dyslexia an(} to introduce some of the issues that dyslexic people ftice ·;n connection with using the public library. The paper identifies likely factors. that can discourage dyslexic people from visiting and using libraries including· difficulty w1th reading quietly in a library and problems with locating books and other resOU(Ces. The paper recommends some low cost measures for ; enhancing access and use of information by the Dyslexics and l suggests that librarians should go the extra ml!e by providing f access to information and resources in a yanety of media, along with providing pictograms, talking books, bold use of siqnage and selective dissemination of information. These will help in achieving one of the goals of the public library which is to provide equal access to all library users mcluding people with dyslexia ·their attendant problems notwithstanding.·