Pretoria - The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has called on the public to submit recommendations on what services should be made available to people living with disabilities in order to make their visits to libraries more pleasant.
Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said community members and organisations can give input on what kind of special services a person who is visually impaired, blind or deaf would require at a library.
"The constitution of South Africa, which happens to be one of the most progressive documents categorically, states that everyone has the right to access to information.
"Without making primary institution of information such as libraries accessible to all members of society, this right which is guaranteed by the Constitution, cannot be safe guarded," said Dlamini.
He pointed out that even in this era of technological advancement, a library remains an important facility in any community.
Currently, the Ekurhuleni Metro has minimal services at some of its libraries, where the digital accessible information system commonly known as the Daisy system is used.
The municipality has prioritised the provision of special services for the visually impaired, blind or deaf for implementation within the next five years.
Suggestions may be handed in to staff at the counter at all libraries throughout the Metro during the month of June.
