More than two million people are estimated to be living with sight loss in the UK. Library and information services can provide support and help make a difference to daily life.
The Vision and Print Impaired People’s Promise outlines the core principles and practical steps libraries can take to support people with vision loss. It was created by the Share the Vision coalition in 2020 – a group of UK organisations including the Scottish Library and Information Council. Share the Vision works to improve the quality, availability and accessibility of library services for people with a vision or print impairment.
Vision and Print Impaired People’s Promise
All public library services should:
- Ensure that all blind and partially sighted customers are connected to the most appropriate service for their reading needs and that they are able to make full use of an accessible public library service.
- Use Reading Sight, the free website supporting blind and partially sighted people to access reading and reading services.
- Provide local collections of accessible reading materials and information in physical or digital formats, and be able to signpost customers to a wider range of resources.
- Plan your digital and physical access strategies in consultation with blind and partially sighted people.
- Designate a champion for the reading needs of blind and partially sighted people, who has familiarised themselves with the specialist resources and services available.
- Support and promote Hi Vis fortnight run by Share the Vision, which is an annual celebration to encourage accessibility and inclusivity for all blind and partially sighted people in local libraries.
The Impact on Services
Through adopting the Vision and Print Impaired People's Promise, libraries can make a significant impact on the services they offer to blind and partially sighted people in their communities.
Further information and resources can be found on the Reading Sight website. This includes:
Evidence-Led Libraries: Inspiring Innovation and Creating Communities
Scottish Library & Information Council
Annual General Meeting 2025
