Abstract

This study examined directions for improvement and implementation strategies for the National Library for the Disabled (NLD) in Korea regarding the production and collection of alternative materials for users with various disabilities. Since it was elevated to a primary agency under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in June 2020, the NLD has been preparing to construct an independent building. As a result, the NLD needs to expand its role beyond its traditional function of producing disability-specific alternative materials and develop into a specialized national library that comprehensively collects domestic and international popular and academic materials useful not only to people with disabilities but also to researchers in disability-related fields. The study conducted an in-depth analysis of the alternative materials produced and acquired by the library to date, categorizing them by disability type and subject area to identify existing limitations and challenges. Furthermore, interviews with five experts were conducted to gather suggestions for improving the production and collection of alternative materials. Based on these findings, the study proposed directions for developing alternative materials to address gaps in access to and use of knowledge and information for people with disabilities, which is the most urgent and important task for the NLD in strengthening library services for disabled users.