Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and the Inclusive Future of Libraries

by Brian Wentz (Editor), Paul T. Jaeger (Editor), John Carlo Bertot (Editor)

Overview

All libraries have patrons and staff members with disabilities, making equitable service a priority for these organizations as they provide diverse services to their entire communities. Although rapid technological changes in recent years have offered challenges to libraries, these same technologies provide opportunities to embrace the concept of accessible library services and create innovative new services for patrons with disabilities. Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and the Inclusive Future of Libraries, edited by Brian Wentz, Paul T. Jaeger, and John Carlo Bertot, focuses on the issues at the intersection of disability, accessibility, inclusion and libraries. The chapters in this volume provide best practices and innovative ideas to share amongst libraries, explore the roles that internet and communication technologies play in the context of inclusive libraries, illuminate the important contributions of libraries in promoting social inclusion of and social justice for people with disabilities, and help libraries to better articulate their contributions in these areas as they engage with disability groups, funders, policymakers, and other parts of their communities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781785606533
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Publication date:	12/14/2015
Series:	Advances in Librarianship , #40
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.75(d)

Table of Contents

Editors' Preface to the Advances in Librarianship Series xi

Accessibility, Inclusion, and the Roles of Libraries Paul T. Jaeger Brian Wentz John Carlo Bertot 1

I Introduction 2

II Libraries and Patrons with Disabilities 2

III Libraries, the Internet, and Patrons with Disabilities 4

IV About This Book 5

V Conclusion 6

References 7

Libraries and Patrons with Disabilities

Improving Services for Patrons with Print Disabilities at Public Libraries: Moving Forward to Become More Inclusive Jonathan Lazar Irene Briggs 11

I Introduction 12

II Background 13

III About the BCPL 14

IV About the Class 15

V Research Methodologies 16

VI Research Findings 17

VII Turning the Research Findings into Practice 24

VIII Changes at the BCPL: Looking Toward the Future 25

IX Summary 30

Acknowledgments 30

References 31

Selected Resources 32

Universally Accessible Makerspace Recommendation to the District of Columbia Public Library Rhett Moeller Carly Bastiansen Laura Gates Mega Subramaniam 33

I Introduction 34

II Purpose 34

III Literature Review 35

IV Description of Method 37

V Recommendations 42

VI Conclusion 48

Acknowledgments 49

References 49

Accessibility and the Maker Movement: A Case Study of the Adaptive Technology Program at District of Columbia Public Library Patrick Timony 51

I Introduction 52

II Accessibility at DCPL 52

III Collaboration, Outreach, and Community Engagement 54

IV The Maker Movement and Accessibility at DCPL 55

V Conclusion 57

Appendix: Accessibility Resources for Libraries 58

Creating a Community-Centered Library for Individuals with Print Disabilities: A Blueprint and a Challenge Jill Lewis 59

I Rise of the Community-Centered Library 60

II Reinventing MDLBPH 62

III The Importance of Community Partnerships 63

IV Accessibility and the Next Generation 65

V Collaborations with State Agencies 67

VI Strategic Planning Initiatives 67

VII Libraries Working Together 68

VIII Conclusions and Future Directions 71

Reference 71

Appendix 72

Developing Accessible Libraries and Inclusive Librarians in the 21st Century: Examples from Practice Ruth V. Small William K. Myhill Lydia Herring-Harrington 73

I Introduction 74

II The Current State of Accessible and Inclusive Libraries 74

III Major Barriers to Accessibility and Inclusiveness and Potential Strategies for Overcoming Them 77

IV Conclusion 85

Acknowledgments 86

References 86

A Case Study in Practice: Providing Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities at the College of Staten Island Library Kerry Falloon 89

I Introduction 90

II Past and Current Practices at CSI Library 90

III Assistive Technology Workstations 91

IV Sensitivity Training 92

V Instruction and Research Assistance 94

VI Workshops for Students 94

VII Media Services 96

VIII CUNY Services 97

IX Community Resources 98

X Future Initiatives at CSI Library 98

XI Library Tools and Webpages 101

XII Database Procurement 101

XIII E-Books, E-Textbooks, and E-Readers 102

XIV ERs and Discovery Tools 104

XV Conclusion 105

References 106

Libraries and Digital Resource Accessibility

Collection Development, E-Resources, and Barrier-Free Access Axel Schmetzke 111

I Introduction 112

II Guidance by Professional Organizations 114

III What Student Might Learn, or Not Learn, in Library School 119

IV Collection Development Literature 122

V CD Policies and Selection Practices 127

VI Discussion 133

References 136

Supporting Web Accessibility with HTML5 and Accessible Rich Internet Applications: Insights for Libraries Debra A. Riley-Huff 143

I Introduction 144

II Why Is Web Accessibility a Library Concern? 144

III Standards and Literature Review 145

IV Exploring the Resource and Functional Problems 149

V In with the New: HTML5 and WAJ-ARIA 152

VI ARIA Live Regions 155

VII ARIA via Scripts and Advanced Widgets 156

VIII Research into the Current Library Related Use of HTML5 and WAI-ARIA 157

IX Accessibility Advocacy 158

X Conclusion 159

References 159

Appendix 162

Managing Accessible Library Web Content Binky Lush 169

I Literature Review 169

II Background 170

III Accessibility Advantages with a CMS 171

IV Content Inventory and Evaluation 172

V WCAG 2.0 AA Standard 172

VI Testing 174

VII Remediation 176

VIII Redefining Author and Publisher Roles and Content Workflow 177

IX Training 179

X Remediation 181

XI Outsourcing Accessibility 183

XII Reporting 184

XIII Communications 184

XIV Conclusion-Lessons Learned 186

References 188

Further Reading 188

Digital Library Accessibility-Laws, Policies, and Compliance

The Digital Inclusiveness of State Library Websites Norman E. Youngblood 193

I Introduction 194

II Literature Review 194

III Research Questions and Hypotheses 201

IV Methods 201

V Results 203

VI Discussion 206

Acknowledgments 208

References 208

Digital Inclusion, Disability, and Public Libraries: A Summary Australian Perspective Brendan Fitzgerald Wayne Hawkins Tom Denison Tegan Kop 213

I Introduction 213

II Accessibility and Libraries: The Governance and Standards 216

III Current Australian Research 222

IV Library Case Studies 225

V Conclusion: Future Directions and Challenges 231

References 233

Libraries and the Future of Equal Access for People with Disabilities: Legal Frameworks, Human Rights, and Social Justice Paul T. Jaeger Brian Wentz John Carlo Bertot 237

I Information, Human Rights, and Social Justice 238

II Libraries, Human Rights, and Social Justice 240

III International Legal Frameworks for Disability 243

IV Libraries, People with Disabilities, and Human Rights 245

V The Inclusive Future of Libraries 248

References 250

About the Contributors 255

Editorial Reviews

Researchers in library science and disability studies review the long history of libraries serving people with disabilities equally and treating them humanely, describe what is being done now, and project efforts at full access in the future. Their topics include improving services for patrons with print disabilities at public libraries, developing accessible libraries and inclusive librarians in the 21st century: examples from practice, providing accessibility for people with disabilities at the College of Staten Island Library, the digital inclusiveness of state library websites, and libraries and the future of equal access for people with disabilities.

Annotation ©2016

Researchers in library science and disability studies review the long history of libraries serving people with disabilities equally and treating them humanely, describe what is being done now, and project efforts at full access in the future. Their topics include improving services for patrons with print disabilities at public libraries, developing accessible libraries and inclusive librarians in the 21st century: examples from practice, providing accessibility for people with disabilities at the College of Staten Island Library, the digital inclusiveness of state library websites, and libraries and the future of equal access for people with disabilities.

Annotation ©2016