LIBRARY ACCESS AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Released on July 13, 1995

Municipal Government Minister Ed Tchorzewski today announced the public
libraries in Oxbow and Prince Albert were the winners of the 1995
provincial accessibility awards.

The awards are presented annually in conjunction with National Access and
Awareness Week (NAAW) to libraries that make the most significant
contribution toward having their facilities, programs and services more
accessible to people with physical, visual, speech or learning
disabilities.

The Oxbow public library branch in the Southeast Library Region won the
award for communities under 5,000 population for working in partnership
with local groups and individuals to improve services for people with
disabilities. Local groups purchased additional resources for the
library collection and are providing volunteers to deliver materials to
residents. The service was implemented when the librarian, Marty James,
conducted a survey to determine the library needs of residents in
Special-care facilities.

The John M. Cuelenaere public library in Prince Albert in the Wapiti
Library Region won the award for communities with a population of more
than 5,000 for providing wheelchair access its new automated library
catalogue service for adults and children and in its audio-visual and
periodical areas. Chief Librarian Eleanor Acorn and her staff further
demonstrated their commitment to fulfilling the needs of people with
disabilities by responding in other areas of library service.


The winners were chosen by a three member panel representing libraries,
the provincial NAAW committee and people with disabilities. The project
is coordinated by the Provincial Library.

A wide-range of library services are available to people with
disabilities. These include the provision of alternate format materials
such as large print books and books on audiotape, the delivery of library
materials to people confined to Special-care homes and home care
recipients, wheelchair accessibility to library facilities and designated
parking spaces.

The minister complimented communities for being supportive of these
initiatives. Tchorzewski said, "It is important to provide opportunities
for persons with disabilities to have access to library services that are
available to the community generally."

The NAAW is observed in June to draw special attention to the
achievements of people with disabilities, to determine the needs of
people with disabilities and to plan future community action to meet
those needs.

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For more information contact:

Maureen Boyle
Manager of Communications
Saskatchewan Municipal Government
Regina
Phone: 787-5959

Marie Sakon
Head of Client Projects and Assessment
Provincial Library
Regina
Phone: 787-2984