Program Deliverables

As it is stated in the project's Final Report, ACCELERATE project met all the initial objectives set in the proposal and more. The objectives set were:
a) Provision of equal access to the library services for the visually impaired users by two Academic Libraries at University of Macedonia (EL) and University of Cyprus (CY)
b) Improvement of the competitiveness of the visually impaired people in labour market by upgrading their educational level on the use of ICT tools
c) Dissemination of the project' s outcomes and results to other Public, Academic Libraries and Organisations of/ for the Blind

The activities undertaken by the partnership scheme were grouped and implemented on the basis of six (6) main Actions through which a series of innovative products were delivered:

ACTION 1: Extension of the library services of the University of Macedonia to the visually impaired users

ACTION 2. Extension of library services of the Library of the University of Cyprus to the visually impaired users, with the support of the Cyprus Library

These two core Actions delivered by University of Macedonia and University of Cyprus (based also on Deliverable 7.2. produced by TESTLAB project: Feasibility Study for an area without library services for the visually impaired users) the installation of two P/C Workstations with adaptive equipment at their Libraries for the blind and visually impaired users to access. The steps followed were market research -equipment purchase -workstation installment -evaluation of the workstations by the users at both Libraries. Two introductionary seminars held at UOM- for the acquaintance of the library staff with the new services, supporting them on how to deal with the visually impaired library users and how to assist them, even physically. The seminars were conducted by the Voluntary Work of Thessaloniki

ACTION 3: Production of the Training Package «Train the trainers» for the librarians to train the visually impaired users on accessing the modern ICT tools
* (to be issued in the Greek and English languages)

Production of the Training Package "Train the trainers" (TTT) by the University of Graz, addressed to the librarians assisting them to obtain the global information background on blindness and the state of art of the development of libraries for the blind on the modern ICT environment. This Action delivered the TTT Handbook titled "Development of Library Services to the visually impaired users: Guide for Hellenic Libraries” produced in print and large print in English and Greek languages, also available on Internet: Greek language and English language. The Handbook provides overall information on library services to the visually impaired users. Reading and discussing the different chapters will guide the librarian to better understand the users' needs. Besides the intellectual understanding of the challenges for both librarian and visually impaired users, the most important is developing the enabling attitude.

In the course of this action a consice guide on itellectual property and neighbouring rights in Greece was produced (available in Greek language only).

ACTION 4: Production of a Training Package «Train the visually impaired Users» users to access the modern ICT tools of an Academic Library; production in the Greek and English languages. Production of the Training Package "Train The visually impaired Users" (TTU) on how to access the modern ICT tools of an academic library, the windows environment and the special equipment for the blind and partially sighted users by the University of Linz. The Action delivered a full Tutorial (TTU), pilot and innovative at European level, developed to enable blind and partially sighted users of the University Libraries at UOM and UCY to use the workstations equipped with the special accessibility hardware and software as well as to learn how to use the computer as independently as possible. The TTU tutorial as electronic text in so-called HTML format (hypertext mark-up language) is available on CD-ROM and online on the web at: http://www.lib.uom.gr/accelerate/deliverables/tutorial and at: http://www.aib.uni-linz.ac.at/accelerate/ttu/ both in English and Greek languages. A Short Reference Guide, as part of TTU tutorial, was delivered also containing the most important keystroke commands of the documented Screen Reader programs, the very basics of using Internet Explorer to make the reading of this tutorial possible and Braille graphics of screen shots which should "visualize" different types of graphical objects for blind users. The Short Reference Guide is available as MS Word document in English and Greek languages in normal print, large print, braille and electronic format on CD-ROM.

The Train the Users short reference guide in English language and in Greek language.

ACTION 5. Evaluation - Measurements

Evaluation of the adaptive workstations at UOM and UCY and the new services available conducted by FNBB (National Federation of Dutch Libraries for the Blind) on the basis of interviewing the target groups of the potential users. Three different measurements (0 -1 -2) conducted at different times upon two separate library user groups at UOM and UCY.using a different questionnaire form each time. The 0 measurement took place before the installation of the workstations and determined the profile of the potential library users: fundamental demographical information, their computer skills, most used application, their expectations towards the project and opinion about the university's and library's accessibility. The measurement 1 was conducted half way the project after the workstations were installed and first impressions were asked from the users/ respondents. The final measurement 2 took place a few months after measurement 1 to find out the opinion of the workstation's users after using it for a while. The questionnaires were fulfilled by interviews with the user group in both areas: Thessaloniki and Nicosia. The data coming from these interviews were analysed. Three Evaluation Reports have been delivered in which the results of the measurements are described.

Measurement 0: Report, Questionnaire in English, Questionnaire in Greek
Measurement 1: Report, Questionnaire in English, Questionnaire in Greek
Measurement 2: Report, Questionnaire in English, Questionnaire in Greek

ACTION 6. Dissemination activities

Dissemination of the project activities and transfer of the results. Due to the special target group of the project, the blind and the partially sighted library users, and the innovative/ pilot outcomes, a wide dissemination was strongly held by all partners. University of Macedonia and University of Cyprus organised large scale dissemination activities such as Open Info Days in Thessaloniki and Nicosia and the Final Dissemination Conference in Thessaloniki. In parallel, the University of Graz, the University of Linz, the University of Cyprus and the University of Macedonia organised visits to the local/ regional Schools for the Blind for all partners in the contexts of the project meetings.

This Action was mainly focused on the awareness of the education communities and open public as well but also of the visually impaired people themselves -especially the students and the potential ones- on the solutions that the new technologies provide today to access the Information Society and the Library services particularly.

A series of promotional material produced in Greece and Cyprus to spread project further: informational brochures, dissemination brochures, posters, agendas and programmes of the public events. A big number of announcements on local and national radio stations and TV channels and Press Release as well were given by the partners.

A special website about ACCELERATE project was designed and released by the University of Macedonia from the very beginning of the life of the project. The partnership scheme, the project content, all the activities implemented, the outputs delivered and multiple links are set up on this website: http://www.lib.uom.gr/accelerate

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