DALETH – Library Gateway for Visually Impaired

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Aim and purpose of the application

Library gateway for visually impaired (www.teiresias.muni.cz/daleth) is an internet interface developed in cooperation with partner institutions (since the initial stages particularly with Centre Elsa – formerly Centre TEREZA – at Czech Technical University in Prague) which enables searching the catalogues of participating libraries, or sharing metadata using Z39.50 protocol.

The primary aim of the interface is to provide accessibility of the academic and non-academic libraries designated for visually impaired users, which offer publications relevant for visually impaired (accessible e-documents, tactile prints, audio or hybrid publications), via one web interface eliminating the necessity to use various interfaces and different instruments for the same type of activity. The formal design of the interface, which follows the Guidelines for creating accessible web (www.pravidla-pristupnosti.cz, in Czech), also conforms to the target users.

In the second place, the interface is available to any other users for searching the libraries which make their catalogues accessible via Z39.50 protocol and are currently participating in the application (see below).

Access to the library gateway


More detailed technical information intended for staff of libraries which offer formats relevant to the target group and which could potentially join the Library gateway, are summarized here. Detailed user description of the interface can be found here.

Participating partner libraries

[as of January 2018]

  • University Library for Students with Special Needs MU (Teiresias Centre Library)
  • Centre Elsa Library, Czech Technical University in Prague
  • Carolina Laboratory, Charles University in Prague
  • Digitalized publications, Faculty of Education, Charles University in Prague
  • Augustin Centre Library, University of Hradec Králové
  • Digital Library of Documents for Students with Special Needs, Brno University of Technology
  • Library of Centre for Helping Students with Disabilities, Palacký University Olomouc
  • Library of Support Centre for Students with Special Needs, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
  • Library of Digital Documents, Czech Blind United
  • Library of JABOK, Academy of Social Pedagogy and Theology, Prague
  • K. E. Macan Library and Printing Office for the Blind, Prague
  • National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, USA