ACCESSING LIBRARY SERVICES IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING: THE EXPERIENCES OF ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

This study sought to examine the experiences by students with disabilities in accessing the library at Zimbabwe Open University, Bulawayo Campus.The survey design was used to examine the experiences of students with disabilities in accessing library services at Zimbabwe Open University library.The sample for this study consisted of twenty-five students with disabilities who have access to Zimbabwe Open University library and ten library staff members who are in contact with the students. These participants were used in this study because they have experiences on how students are accessing library facilities at Zimbabwe Open University library. Questionnaires were used in this research in an effort to reach the respondents.The respondents indicated that, the entrance, restrooms, stairs, elevators and special rooms of the library are not easily accessible to students with disabilities. The library needs to have specially trained staff that assists students with special needs. The library should be stocked with modern equipment like computers with JOS connected to the Internet, books in Braille, books on cassette or CD’s, for use by students with visual impairment, and also, closed caption decoder, hard-wired, personal FM system and telecommunication devices for the hearing impairment