Member Detail: Finnish DAISY Consortium

The Finnish DAISY Consortium is a joint Full Member of the DAISY Consortium. The organizations forming the Finnish DAISY Consortium are:

1. Celia Näkövammaisten kirjasto (Celia Library for the Visually Impaired)
2. Näkövammaisten Keskusliitto (Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired FFVI)
3. Näkövammaisten kirjastoyhdistys (Library Association of the Visually Impaired)
4. Norra Österbottens Svenska Synskadade r.f.

• Celia Library for the Visually Impaired (Celia Näkövammaisten kirjasto) is a state-owned library specializing in serving the visually impaired and print disabled in the whole of Finland. The purpose of the library is to increase equality for the disabled in terms of access to literature and information as well as to provide the visually impaired and print disabled with opportunities for access to information, study, literature and artistic pursuits, and recreation. Celia Library produces and lends Braille books, talking books, electronic books and other special materials. Moreover, the library produces the textbooks required by visually impaired school children and students. It also acts as a centre of expertise for talking book and braille book services, as well as a central library, where other libraries may borrow materials for their print disabled patrons. Celia Library is a non-profit organization. Additional information is available on the Celia Library Web site.
• Näkövammaisten Keskusliitto (Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired - FFVI) is a special service provider with a social element as well as an advocacy organization for the blind and the partially sighted. FFVI is a non-profit organization. Additional information is available on the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired Web site.
• Näkövammaisten kirjastoyhdistys (Library Association of the Visually Impaired) promotes reading and interest in literature among visually impaired persons, contributes to the development of library services and accessible ICT for visually impaired persons. It is a not for profit private association. Additional information is available on the Library Association of the Visually Impaired Web site.
• Since 2002 the Northern Ostrobothnian Swedish organisation for visually impaired, NÖSS, has been developing a system for internet distribution of content in DAISY and other customized formats for visually impaired. The system includes a tool for production of content, a server for distribution and administration of users/clients/content/statistics and end user clients such as a customized box with internet capabilities and Windows software. The project focuses now on the development of DAISY Online, new end user client models and a Finlandswedish TTS. More information is available at http://www.pratsam.org.