Description from website:
The National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) is the library of the [United States] National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). We collect, catalog, and disseminate the articles, reports, curricula, guides, and other publications and products of the research projects funded by NIDILRR, as well as the wider community of disability and rehabilitation research.
Description from an online review:
Established in 1977, the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) is the library for the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). NARIC’s primary mission is to collect and share research funded by NIDILRR. NARIC provides access to several databases, allowing users to search thousands of documents. Students looking for journal articles, books, and reports can use NARIC’s REHABDATA database. This database also includes international research that was originally collected by the Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange. In addition, REHABDATA is accompanied by a thesaurus of controlled vocabulary terms. NARIC’s Knowledgebase contains information about organizations, agencies, and online resources supporting people with disabilities. Users may limit Knowledgebase searches by state as well. In addition, the NIDILRR Program Database is available to assist users in finding more than 2,800 current and completed research projects funded by the organization since 1986. Students may also browse this database by outcome domains and funding mechanism. Each listing in the program database includes contact names, a project abstract, and links to additional resources.
The site also contains a collection of NARIC publications such as Librarian’s Picks, a series of librarian-selected disability resources that serve as a ready reference collection for students looking for quick information on topics such as “Assistive Technology,” “Independent Living,” and “Universal Design.” Also included among the NARIC publications is a weekly digest called Research In Focus. It includes summaries of NIDILRR-funded research projects. NARIC also provides a weekly newsletter called “News and Notes” from the NIDILRR Community and beyond, which spotlights the accomplishments of NIDILRR-funded projects across the United States.
The site’s multimedia collection contains videos, podcasts, and webcasts. Students also get access to NARIC’s own “Spotlight Podcast,” which touches on a variety of topics related to disability, rehabilitation research, and the latest research from NIDILRR grantees. Each podcast includes both English and Spanish transcriptions.
In addition to providing thousands of online resources, NARIC librarians provide reference services via live chat, email, and telephone. Students looking for resources on disability and independent living are sure to find plenty of reliable resources at the National Rehabilitation Information Center.