Making the Library Accessible for All

Book excerpt: Any library open to the public has a legal and ethical obligation to make their services accessible. This book is intended to be a single-source guide relevant to all library functions that librarians can easily refer to when planning, remediating, or evaluating for accessibility. It has a unique holistic perspective, as well as an emphasis on perceiving people with disabilities as providing resources to meet a common goal rather than as a population to be “served.” Accessibility is becoming an issue that libraries can no longer ignore. Making the Library Accessible for All provides a holistic guide to accessibility that addresses common issues and gives strategies for responding to unique situations. Topics addressed include: Increasing effectiveness of interactions with patrons who have disabilities Interpreting the real intent behind architectural and website accessibility guidelines Making events and trainings inclusive for everyone