Provision of Library Resources and Services to the Hearing Impaired in Special School Libraries in South South Nigeria

Abstract

This work focuses on the provision of library resources and services to hearing impaired students in special school libraries in South-South, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 60 hearing impaired students drawn from twelve public and private special schools in South-South, Nigeria. Stratiϔied random sampling technique was used to select 5 respondents from each of the schools. The instrument for data collection is a structured questionnaire. Out of 60 copies of questionnaire administered, 56 were found valid for analysis. The data was analyzed using percentage and mean scores. The study revealed that there was a shortage of information resources in alternative formats and services, and a lack of skilled and qualiϔied teacher librarians to provide suitable library services to support the hearing impaired students amongst others. The study therefore recommended that library resources and services for hearing impaired learners should be acquired, made available and accessible for use: library schools should include special education, especially sign language in the curriculum so as to ensure that libraries and librarians are skilled to meet the needs of special learners. Also special school management should take proactive steps to improve their libraries so that they can be more supportive of the needs of hearing impaired students.