Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they support the provision of library services to the blind and partially sighted.

Local authorities in England have a statutory duty under the Public Libraries & Museums Act 1964 to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service that meets local needs.

Public libraries have a number of services and facilities available to support visually impaired library users. These include access to e-books and e-audio books, and in some cases the loan of e-book readers and other technology to enlarge the print. Other services include specialist software and hardware to aid the use of computers and specific reading groups.

Libraries Connected has developed the Six Steps Promise with the Royal National Institute for the Blind and Share the Vision to ensure libraries can support people with reduced vision. The promise includes a commitment to:

? ensuring that all blind and partially sighted customers are connected to the most appropriate service for their reading needs and that they are able to make full use of an accessible public library service

? using Reading Sight, a free website supporting practitioners and blind and partially sighted people to access reading and reading services; and

? providing local collections of accessible reading materials and information in physical or digital formats, and the ability to signpost library users to a wider range of resources

Many public libraries will be taking part in the Share the Vision, HI VIS initiative over the two week period 1 – 14 June 2020. The initiative is a celebration of accessible library services and alternative formats and its aim is to champion and raise awareness of the range of library services and activities that are available to visually impaired people to access.