Developing Accessible Libraries and Inclusive Librarians in the 21st Century: Examples from Practice
Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and the Inclusive Future of Libraries
ISBN: 978-1-78560-653-3, eISBN: 978-1-78560-652-6
Publication date: 14 December 2015
Abstract
Purpose
Accessibility and inclusion are at the very core of what libraries are all about and libraries and librarians have an essential, catalytic role to play in facilitating the full participation of people with disabilities in society. Inclusive librarians ensure that their library’s facilities, services, programs, collections, and technology are designed in ways in which all people, regardless of their ability, have an opportunity to participate in and use them. The purpose of this chapter is to raise librarian awareness to the importance of providing effective, well-designed, inclusive programs and services to patrons with disabilities and ensuring that all libraries are physically and virtually accessible to everyone.
Methodology/approach
The chapter provides a brief review of the history and current state of accessible and inclusive libraries, including the laws and policies governing it and identifies some of the major barriers to successful accessibility and inclusion (including insufficient time and money, externally controlled decision-making, unawareness of existing services, and inadequate training).
Findings
The chapter offers a variety of practical strategies for overcoming those barriers, with potential or actual examples of how librarians have/can put them into action.
Originality/value
The chapter concludes with descriptions of special national, regional, and state initiatives, including Syracuse University’s Project ENABLE (Expanding Non-discriminatory Access By Librarians Everywhere), Florida State University’s Project PALS (Panhandle Autism Library Services), and the Illinois State Library’s Targeting Autism projects, all designed to help librarians ensure that their library’ facilities, programs, and services are accessible and inclusive.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
We wish to acknowledge the contributions of Suzanne Schriar, Associate, Library Automation & Technology, Illinois State Library and Director of the IMLS-funded Targeting Autism: A National Forum on Serving Library Patrons on the Spectrum and Meg Kolaya, Director, Scotch Plains (NJ) Public Library and Dan Weiss, Director, Fanwood Memorial Public Library and Co-Directors of the Libraries & Autism Project.
Citation
Small, R.V., Myhill, W.N. and Herring-Harrington, L. (2015), "Developing Accessible Libraries and Inclusive Librarians in the 21st Century: Examples from Practice", Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and the Inclusive Future of Libraries (Advances in Librarianship, Vol. 40), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 73-88. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0065-283020150000040013
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015 Emerald Group Publishing Limited