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As part of a general move to community care and concurrent closure of a 280 bedded hospital, West Dorset Health Authority, as an interim measure two years ago, moved 17 clients with severe learning difficulties and challenging behaviours to three smaller residential units together with two ladies who also showed frequent challenging behaviours. As part of a continuing evaluation of the quality of provision for this group of clients, the authors looked at the present levels of skills of the residents compared with those in evidence three years ago when the 17 were on a secure ward with attendance at a special day care unit. In addition, measures were taken of engagement levels and of the number and type (whether positive or negative) of interactions between staff and residents. For all parameters, significant improvements were evident, supporting the view that small units facilitate the learning of new skills and provide a better quality of life for the residents.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.

The paper introduces and annotates periodical articles, monographs, and audiovisual material examining library instruction and information literacy.

Information is provided about each source, and the paper discusses the characteristics of current scholarship, and describes sources that contain unique scholarly contributions and quality reproductions.

The information may be used by librarians and interested parties as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.

The purpose of this paper is to explore barriers to employment for visually impaired (VI) women and potential solutions to those barriers.

Mixed methods, comprising three phases; first, exploratory interviews with VI women (n=6) and employers (n=3); second, a survey to assess the barriers to employment experienced by this group (n=96); and third, in-depth interviews with VI women (n=15). This paper reports phases 2 and 3.

The most commonly reported barriers to work were: negative employer attitudes; the provision of adjustments in the workplace; restricted mobility; and having an additional disability/health condition. Significantly more barriers were reported by women: who reported that their confidence had been affected by the barriers they had experienced; with dependents under 16; and women who wanted to work.

Key solutions to these barriers included: training for employers; adaptive equipment; flexibility; better support; training and work experience opportunities; and more widely available part-time employment opportunities.

This paper adds to the literature in respect of the key barriers to employment for VI women, together with providing key solutions to these barriers.