Acesso à informação científica para utentes com necessidades educativas especiais: caso Biblioteca Central Brazão Mazula da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane

Abstract

Starting from the premise that university libraries must provide the academic community, including those with visual, physical and deafness, information resources, offering services and products that are differentiated according to their limitations and potential. The present work sought to answer the research question that is to find out how the Central Library Brazão Mazula of the Eduardo Mondlane University contributes to the access to scientific information for users with special educational needs. Thus, the study aimed to analyze the contribution of the Brazão Mazula Central Library of Eduardo Mondlane University in providing access to scientific information for users with special educational needs. In order to ensure a better achievement of the established objectives, we chose to use the quali-quantitative method as it is a field study that favored direct contact with the environment and the object of study. For data collection, observation and questionnaire were used. In this way, 15 information professionals from the Brazão Mazula Central Library were inquired, whose main objective was to know their profile and understand to what extent the library responds to the informational needs of people with SEN. The survey covered only employees of the library under study. However, the research allowed us to conclude that at the level of the Brazão Mazula Central Library of the Eduardo Mondlane University there are still several challenges to be overcome, such as improving the conditions of access to the building and training of information professionals in terms of assistance to users with educational needs specials. Among several recommendations, it is suggested the organization of the physical space to allow better mobility of the physically and visually impaired within the library facilities, continuous training in Librarianship with special attention to the care of people with SEN.