AN EXAMINATION OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACCESSTO LITERARY WORKS BY DIFFERENTLY-ABLED PERSONSIN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN BENUE STATE – NIGERIA

Abstract

This work is a doctrinal examination of the legal framework for access to literary works by differently-abled persons (persons with disabilities), focusing on public academic libraries in tertiary institutions in Benue State, Nigeria. It highlights that literary works are essential for learning and enable knowledge seekers to access information available in academic or institutional libraries. All library users, regardless of their status or circumstances, should be treated equally, and this principle extends to academic libraries, which must comply with existing laws facilitating access to literary works or information resources for persons with disabilities. The policies of these academic libraries must consider the needs of differently-abled persons in acquiring literary works and leverage existing laws to expedite or facilitate access to these resources. However, academic libraries in Benue State lack formatted literary works for access by differently-abled persons, depriving them of inclusiveness in educational development as mandated by international legal regimes such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) and the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired (2013). Despite the domestication of these conventions and their inclusion in the Copyright Act (2022) and the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act (2018), inadequate funding and neglect of these laws by academic library managers in Benue State hinder the availability and access to literary works for differently-abled persons.