Cork County Council’s Library and Arts Service is now associated with the JAM Card initiative, a system that allows people with learning difficulties and communication barriers to ask for a minute of patience when they need it.
Developed by the NOW Group, which supports people with learning disabilities, it is a discreet way of allowing people with any type of communication difficulty to ask for ‘Just A Minute’ of patience as they go about their daily lives.
Following staff training, Cork County Council’s Library Service has recently received a Certificate of Accreditation from the NOW Group. The Library Service takes pride in providing excellent customer care to all patrons and this new initiative will encourage JAM Card users to feel more confident when visiting their local library.
Any time a person with a JAM Card needs that little bit of extra assistance or time, they can approach a library staff member, present their JAM Card, and then relate with trained staff who will give those extra few minutes that may be required.
Speaking at the launch, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan said: “Cork County Council’s libraries are among the most popular and most important ways that we engage with our communities. They represent the fundamental values of the Council, championing inclusion, support and learning.
“In adopting the JAM card initiative and engaging in accredited training, our libraries are building on their immense work in ensuring that libraries are welcoming to everyone. This is an opportunity for JAM card users, library staff and the wider community of library users to come together and strengthen local community bonds.”
ENCOURAGING ITS USE
The JAM Card can be used either as a card or an app and is designed to be used by children and adults. It is available free of charge to anyone who needs it (visit www.jamcard.org)
Cork County Librarian Emer O’Brien added “At Cork County Council Library and Arts Service we pride ourselves on continuously testing our services to make sure they are as accessible and barrier free to everyone who wants to engage with our library staff and our services. The JAM Card is another very important step for us.”
For further information on the JAM Card and Cork County Council Library and Arts Service, please contact your local branch or mobile library.
