Comparison of the Library Services for the Handicapped in Japan and Arizona

The present work consists of comparative case studies of services for the handicapped provided by several libraries in Japan and Arizona. Discriminatory treatment of the handicapped is legally prohibited in the U. S. and Japan by Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities and Americans with Disabilities Act, respectively, which requires appropriate measures for handicapped users. This poster describes services for the handicapped provided by libraries as highly public facilities. Comparison of such services by libraries in Japan and Arizona reveals the difference between the two countries in detail. Specific aspects of the services were investigated by field survey. Results showed that the Japanese and Arizona libraries focused on similar target groups, but the American services were superior in scale and diversity.