accesspres
Post on 19-Jul-2015
256 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
A CHECKLIST DEVELOPED BY THE INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM COMMITTEE FOR THE OHIO LIBRARY COUNCIL
THE ACCESSIBILITY TEMPERATURE OF YOUR
LIBRARY
Presented by Susan CorlHead of Reference and Collection ServicesHolmes County District Public Library
ACCESSIBILITY IS ABOUT MORE THAN A RAMP, IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM!
Accessibility
HOW MANY THINGS IN YOUR BUILDING SAY “NO?”
Think About Your Library
WHAT TYPES OF BARRIERS ARE YOU
UNKNOWINGLY PUTTING IN THE WAY OF THE
PATRONS?
Think About Your Library
Physical Accessibility
Provide a comforting and welcoming place to visit
Suggestions for Physical Comfort Level
Staff at entrance to welcome and direct patrons
Staff should be easy to recognize
Make sure the library is safe and welcoming
Meeting Rooms
Open to religious or political groups
Libraries should not exclude any group based on subject matter or group beliefs
Library Bill of Rights helps when reviewing policies
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
Adopted June 18, 1948.Amended February 2, 1961; June 28, 1967; and January 23, 1980,inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996,by the ALA Council.
Pamphlet Display Area
Review signage
Lighten dark corners
Make it easier for patrons to find items on their own
Free Literature/ Petition Distribution
Develop and review policies for posting and distributing free material or petitions
Designate a space for free materials near heavily traveled areas
The Meeting Room
Post policies in a visible place
Suggestions for Meeting Room Policies
Contain time, place, manner of use Make sure your language is inclusive Follow Library Bill of Rights May place a notice that the library does not advocate or
endorse the viewpoints of meetings or meeting room users May restrict to library related events (be careful of language) May limit frequency of use, public vs. private If open to the public, address fees. (Do not limit access to
individuals unable to pay.) Have a room reservation form for signatures agreeing to
policy
The Display Board
Make sure staff is familiar with the policies and where they are located
And Exhibit Spaces
Sample policies are available on the OLC website at
http://olc.org/policies.asp
Suggestions for Display and Exhibit Policies
Make sure to have a written policy Make sure you provide the space on an equitable
basisUse inclusive languageMay limit to library related activities or groups
within the community (must apply to everyone)May post a disclaimerMay develop criteria for materials postedMay define and restrict appropriately
Think About Your Library
Do you have policies for the meeting room and display areas?
Do you and the rest of the staff know where they are located?
Do you have a process for complaints about displays or exhibits?
Staff Training
Physical Access
Accessibility = “individuals with disabilities should be able to use and access all the same services and materials in the library as their non-disabled peers, either through alternate means or with assistance.”(source: ALA website, Accessibility Basics for Librarians)
Equitable access to library facilities and services is required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
Library Services for People with Disabilities Policy
http://tinyurl.com/yj7ghtf
Facilities
Services
Collections
Tips for Staff
Offer patrons the option to sit at the front during activities
Allow time to process the information that you are presenting (on phone and in library) Count to 7
Be precise in word choice. Reword statements rather than repeating.
Have pencil and paper available for taking notes.
Speak clearly and directly to the patron
Suggestions for Technology Access
1.Screen Readerswww.afb.org
2.Cntrl + or –
3.Microsoft accessibility tips
4.Microsoft Ten Tips for the Awkward Age of Computing
Intellectual Accessibility
Give the patron ready access to information without prejudicial regard to language, ideas, content, or beliefs
Does your library censor materials?
Examples of censorship Removing, hiding or not
selecting controversial materials
Not purchasing political or religious materials
Not purchasing materials with reasoning that is doesn’t fit into curriculum or community
Privacy
Notify patrons about materials without disclosing the nature of the material
Access to Internet
Only parents and legal guardians can restrict children’s access
Make sure patrons are aware of Internet policies and rules
Search the Internet with assurance of privacy
Remove computer activity and destroy logs
Cultural Accessibility
Know your community and be aware of the information needs of the community. Do not let cultural differences become a barrier to information.
Know your community
Surveys or focus groups
http://tinyurl.com/2735vmc
Any cultural changesMeet community
needsMonitor services to
make sure they are in line with the mission
Cultural Barriers
Provide a comforting and welcoming place to visit for all people in the community.
Know the cultural expectations of all members of your community such as the acceptability of eye-contact, hand-shakes, or physical contact of any kind.
Economic Barriers
Whenever possible, all services should be without fees.
The American Library Association opposes the charging of user fees for the provision of information by all libraries and information services that receive their major support from public funds.
Accessibility ChecklistComfort Level YES NO1.Is the atmosphere welcoming? ___ ___4.Are all people of the community comfortablecoming to the library? ___ ___6.Do they feel welcome? ___ ___7.Can you identify staff? ___ ___8.Do the library staff wear ID? ___ ___9.Are they easy to tell apart from the patrons? ___ ___10.Do the patrons feel safe? ___ ___11.Is the parking lot well lit? ___ ___12.Are all patrons respectful of each other? ___ ___13.Is security available and visible? ___ ___14.Is there a safe place to lock up a bicycle? ___ ___
Accessibility17.Is the exterior signage welcoming? ___ ___18.Is the library building easy to identify? ___ ___19.Are the signs informative? ___ ___20.Are there enough signs to be informative but not too many? ___ ___21.Are the signs easy to read? ___ ___22.Is the signage free of library-specific jargon? ___
___23.Is there free program and community information and literature available? ___ ___
YES NO2.Are the corners well lit? ___ ___3.Is it easy to see the books/call-numbers/signs? ___ ___4.Does the library provide universal or family restrooms with baby changing stations? ___ ___6.Are meeting rooms open to all members of the community? ___ ___7.Is there an area of the library where literature can be distributed for free? Or information posted publicly? ___ ___9.Is petitioning permitted in appropriate areas? ___ ___
Censorship and Controversial Materials12.Is your library free from self censorship? ___ ___13.Is the collection well-rounded? ___ ___14.Is the collection comprehensively developed andwell-balanced in a range or variety of ideas? ___ ___16.Are controversial materials purchased for the collection? ___ ___17.Are controversial materials displayed for the public to recognize? ___ ___18.Are controversial materials located with the regularcollection ? ___ ___
Privacy22.If a call is made to the patron’s house, is the patron’s privacy ___ ___respected by not divulging the title and specific information?2.Does the library ensure that when a book arrives for the patron that there is complete privacy? ___ ___
YES NO2.Are privacy screens used on the public computers? ___ ___3.Are technical ghosts such as cookies, cache, orInternet history files deleted from the computers after use? ___ ___5.Is the patron computer use kept anonymous and protected? ___ ___6.Are all patron computer records destroyed after use? ___ ___
Access to Information9.Can the databases be accessed without a library card? ___ ___10.If a library card is required, are guest cards available? ___ ___11.Can a person without an address, such as a homeless person,get a library card? ___ ___13.Can the databases be accessed from home? ___ ___14.Are minors permitted to use any library resources? ___ ___15.Are computers free of filters? ___ ___
Cultural Accessibility18.Do the exhibits represent the community the library supports? ___ ___19.Do the photos and exhibits show people of many cultures and backgrounds? ___ ___20.Do the marketing and PR photos represent those in your community? ___ ___21.Are the phones answered so that the caller knows he/she has reachedthe correct party? ___ ___
YES NO2.Does the staff understand the cultural “dos and don’ts “ forthose different cultures? ___ ___4.Does the community speak the same language as the library staff? ___ ___5.Is the common vernacular used instead of library jargon? ___ ___6.Are foreign language or ESL materials available? ___ ___7.Are resources easily accessible to the visual or hearing impaired communities? ___ ___9.Does your collection represent the current culture of your community? ___ ___10.Has your community changed in the past few years? ___ ___11.Does your library provide training for staff development andstaff sensitivity? ___ ___
Fines and Fees15.Does your library provide non-print materials free of charge? ___ ___16.Does your library provide print-outs free of charge? ___ ___
TalliesNumber of talliesComfort Level YES___ NO___Accessibility YES___ NO___Censorship and
Controversial Materials YES___ NO___Privacy YES___ NO___Access to Information YES___ NO___Cultural Accessibility YES___ NO___Fines and Fees YES___ NO___
Goals
Choose the section with the highest number of no responses to focus your attention first
For More Information
To Access the Take the Accessibility Temperature of Your Library checklist go tohttp://olc.org/pdf/IFAccessibilityTemperatureTool.pdf
For more information about making your library more accessible to patrons, contact the Intellectual Freedom Committee at OLC.http://olc.org/IntellectualFreedom.asphttp://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/index.cfm
OLC Intellectual Freedom Committee on Twitterhttp://twitter.com/olcif
top related