(12 Jun 2026) A university in this western Japan city has set up a permanent bookshelf called the “Apple Shelf” in its library to create a place for people facing various difficulties in life. The Apple Shelf originated in a Swedish library in 1993 for children who had difficulty reading and the project has been gradually spreading in Japan, too.
According to Misako Tada, a librarian at “Echthes” at Shikoku Gakuin University, the Apple Shelf is a reading accessibility initiative that began in Sweden. It is a bookshelf gathering materials for children who cannot read printed books due to visual impairments, dyslexia and other conditions, allowing them to experience reading by listening, touching or using devices. The university plans to further develop this concept so that anyone can find hints for living.
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