En bok kan berika livet om man får ta del av den
En intervjustudie med bibliotekarier och läsombud om utvecklingsstörda och läsning
The aim of this master thesis is to discuss the access to literature and reading by mentally retarded persons, and how this is affected by library and care taking staffs awareness of mentally retarded persons needs of literature and reading. The reason why we decided to choose this essay topic, is that there is a lack of research about mentally retarded persons relationship with libraries, literature and reading in the field of library- and information science. This groups needs must be brought to sight, so that they can take part in the literature just as anyone else, on their own conditions. Our study involves interviews with four librarians, three reading representatives and a co-ordinator at the Easy-to-Read Foundation. We can establish that all of our informants prove to have significant knowledge about mentally retarded persons and their needs of literature and reading. They are also greatly committed to their work in the librarys activity for the mentally retarded and in the reading representatives activity. In the results we have seen that both the librarians and the reading representatives on different terms affect the mentally retarded persons book choice. A big part in the relationship between mentally retarded persons and the care taking staff is about empowerment. Empowerment represents the possibilities for the individual to have control over his/her choice. It is important that the reading representatives have the support of their work-mates and their unit directors. Another important issue is that there is a well-functioning local working group to maintain the reading delegates activity.