Computer Center for the Visually Impaired Opens in Romania

Until recently, visually impaired visitors to a local library in Iasi, Romania had to hire someone to read aloud for them at selected hours. Thanks to IREX and the Association for the Visually Impaired, a new public access computer center enables the community to scan documents and books and use special software to listen to the text as it is read aloud.

The center was made possible by the association and the IREX-implemented Global Libraries program in Romania, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In addition to providing practical resources, the center is an inclusive social setting for its members. The participation of the association in the Global Libraries planning stage gives IREX insight to the potential for setting up further facilities for groups with special needs, in addition to the public libraries already targeted for the national program.

With this new technology, individuals are now able to access books and resources at their own convenience and the association will be able to expand its collection of audio books. Costel Soldan, president of the association, explained how the new equipment will improve access for users: “We have a new library now, with printed books, Braille books, and audio books ... It’s so important for us to have computers in the association library, because anybody can come in and use them freely.”

The Iasi center is one of 13 pilot sites IREX has helped to establish through the Global Libraries planning grant. These sites have allowed IREX to test different approaches and find successful ways to serve communities both in libraries and, potentially, other locations. Through this planning grant, IREX has worked with local libraries to help provide the necessary hardware and software to best meet the needs of different communities across the country, including those who might not otherwise experience the benefits of new technologies.

With the experience gleaned from establishing pilot sites in a range of environments, IREX is now preparing to implement the full country program in Romania this winter. The Iasi public access center for the visually impaired will continue to serve as a model for how the program can work with local organizations to include underserved populations.