§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to improve the availability in public libraries of reading material for those with reading disabilities. [176522]
§ Estelle MorrisIt is for local authorities to make decisions about the reading stock provided in public libraries. We have funded the National Library for the Blind to provide seminars for library staff, and people with sight problems to promote a better understanding of services available and customer needs. With the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) we are bringing together a number of disability organisations and library agencies, to look at what practical improvements could be made. The People's Network of computers in all libraries, provided by early last year with 100 million from the National Lottery, enables texts to be printed in large formats. MLA is looking at how this and other services could be improved.