5.3.1.2.2 Preferred information sources and formats of the postgraduate blind students
Appendix 4 Interview schedule for the visually impaired students
1. Gender: [ ] Male [ ] Female 2. How old are you?--- 3. What is your level of study?
[ ] Undergraduate;
[ ] Postgraduate.
4. Which category are you?
[ ] Full time student
[ ] Part time student
5. Are you staying [ ] off campus or [ ] staying at university residence?
6. Please describe an instance where you had a need to find information at UKZN.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 7. What format of information did you need?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 8. Was that situation
[ ] Related to an academic issue?
[ ] Related to personal matters?
[ ] None of the above (please elaborate)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
9. Please explain how you go about meeting your information need or solving a problem.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 10. What information sources do you consult at UKZN?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 11. Which information format is preferable? i.e. print, electronic, face-to-face, audio etc.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 12. Was the information obtained useful? [ ] Yes
[ ] No
13. If the information obtained was not useful, why was that the case?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 14. Are you aware of the services that are provided by the Disability Unit?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
15. If yes, how did you get to know about those services?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 16. Among the services that are provided by the Disability Unit, which ones are of use to you?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 17. Which ones are not useful/ helpful to you? (please explain)
--- --- --- --- --- --- 18. What are the barriers to the use of the services that are provided by the UKZN- PMB?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 19. Is there a way that services for visually impaired students can be improved at the UKZN-PMB?
--- --- --- --- ---
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 20. Are there any other resources that are not at the campus that you are aware of which may assist visually impaired students?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 21. Any other comments?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Thank you very much for your time.
Appendix 5
Case No…..
Subject Librarians’ questionnaire.
I am a student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg (UKZN, PMB) studying towards a Masters in Information Studies. The purpose of the research is to determine whether the services that are provided by the UKZN, PMB meet the information needs of students with visual impairments and to establish their information seeking and use. Some of these relate to services provided by the library, hence the questionnaire below. The research is important in that it will assist to identify barriers that students with visual impairments face as they go about seeking information and how services that are provided for them can be improved. Please answer all questions as honestly as possible. The questionnaire is anonymous and all responses shall be treated with strict confidentiality.
Instructions for completing the questionnaire.
a) Unless otherwise instructed, please tick in the space provided or fill where necessary the answer applicable to you.
b) Use the space provided to answer all questions applicable to you.
1. Gender [ ] Male
[ ] Female 2. Age……….
3. How long have you worked for this library?--- 4. How often do you assist students with visual impairments?
[ ] Very often [ ] Often [ ] Sometimes [ ] Rarely [ ] Not at all
5. What sources of information do visually impaired students use the most in the library?
[ ] Print [ ] Electronic [ ] Face-to-face
[ ] Other, please specify
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
--- --- 6. In your opinion, why is that?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 7. What in your opinion prevents students with visual impairments from accessing services the library offers?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 8. Are there any specialised services provided by the library for visually impaired students? [ ] Yes [ ] No
9. If yes, what are they?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 10. If not, why?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
11. Are there any initiatives in the place regarding services in library for students with visual impairments?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 12. In your opinion are visually impaired students satisfied with the services the library offers? Please elaborate.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 13. If you were asked to make recommendations about the services the library offers for visually impaired students, what would you say?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 14. Any other comments? Please elaborate.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Thank you very much for your participation.
Appendix 6
Case No…..
Questionnaire for the Disability Unit Coordinator
I am a student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg (UKZN, PMB) studying towards a Masters in Information Studies. The purpose of the research is to determine whether the services that are provided by the UKZN, PMB meet the information needs of visually impaired students. The research is important in that it will assist to identify barriers that visually impaired students face as they go about seeking for information and how services that are provided for them can be improved.
Please answer all questions as honestly as possible. The questionnaire is anonymous and all responses shall be treated with strict confidentiality.
Instructions for completing the questionnaire.
c) Unless otherwise instructed, please tick in the space provided or fill where necessary the answer applicable to you.
d) Use the space provided to answer all questions applicable to you.
1. How long have you been working for the disability unit?--- 2. What services are provided by the unit for the visually impaired students?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 3. Are the students aware of such services?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
4. If they are aware of them, please explain how you make them aware.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 5. Which services are mostly utilised?
--- --- ---
--- --- --- --- --- 6. If there are, in your opinion why?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 7. Which services are under-utilised?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 8. For the services that are under-utilised, in your own view why is that the case?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 9. What would you say is/are barrier(s) in the provision of services to visually
impaired students?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
10. What initiatives are there regarding information services for visually impaired students?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 11. Any other comments? Please elaborate.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Thank you very much for your participation.