Accessible Libraries On Campus

Libraries have an ethical, and usually a legal, obligation to make their services accessible to disabled patrons and employees. Making the Library Accessible for All is a single-source guide that librarians can refer to when planning, remediating, or evaluating accessibility. With a unique holistic approach, it emphasizes the perception of people with disabilities as partners in meeting a common goal rather than as a population to be “served.” Topics addressed and updated in this second edition include: Multiple interviews with librarians and other experts in the field about proven accessibility strategies for libraries, personal experiences, and cutting-edge innovations; Innovations in providing assistive digital technology, many of which are free or built into common programs; An overview of changes coming to accessibility guidelines for digital content; Up-to-date information on legislation that may affect some or all libraries; An evaluation of how the COVID pandemic has changed both library services and patron needs

Developing a Library Accessibility Plan: A Practical Guide for Librarians provides library professionals with the knowledge, tools and templates, and practical examples necessary for developing a tailored and comprehensive accessibility plan for their institution. Part One provides foundational knowledge about disability experiences in libraries, including an overview of existing legislation and a breakdown of the disability community in the United States. This part also names and defines the impact of different accessibility barriers within online, physical, and instructional settings for different populations. Part Two outlines the initial stages of a developing a comprehensive plan for resolving accessibility issues. These chapters explore how to conduct an environmental scan of existing challenges, strategies for identifying potential partners in the resolution of these problems, and how to prioritize accessibility initiatives and projects. Part Three provides several practical, real life examples of projects and initiatives drawn from the author's professional experiences. These case studies offer a summary of each accessibility project along the corresponding impact, finished by an analysis of "lessons learned" from the experience. A copy of all tools, templates, and other planning documents are available in the chapter itself. The book will help readers understand how to inventory, prioritize, plan, implement, and assess a comprehensive improvement plan for electronic, physical, and instructional and/or programming-related accessibility issues within their library.

With contributions from researchers, educators, and practitioners from across a range of fields, this volume will be an important resource for library professionals in all types of libraries as well as a reference for researchers and educators about the efforts, challenges and opportunities related to the inclusive future of libraries.

How can libraries, museums, and archives update their policies to balance legal requirements with the needs of their users? Although such issues have always permeated the information environment, traditional responses are no longer enough. This in-depth treatment provides concrete background and guidelines for every library, museum, or archive, no matter what the size or mission. Issues related to the components of the collection, gifts, and donations (real property and tax implications), rights to privacy, users' rights of access, copyright and information control, and responsibility for safety in public spaces are covered in depth. A complete chapter is devoted to a discussion of the proper structure and elements of library, museum, or archives policy content-a superb blueprint for effective policy drafting at all levels of the institutional lifecycle. Finally, a resource list of ethical and legal materials in print and on the Web points the way to a wealth of highly specific and useful information. Timely and essential.

"Exploring the myriad issues regarding web accessibility, this book specifically focuses on the design and implementation of web-enabled teaching tools. Educators from across the United States and Canada present their ideas on such topics as legal implications, overcoming organizational barriers, and course designs for the electronic classroom. Also discussed are special opportunities provided by web accessibility in education, such as web-based distance learning and teaching technology for blind or visually impaired faculty."